There is a saying that "one bad apple spoils the bunch". Unfortunately, that is true of Sunnyvale Optometry. Dr. Nguyen is an outstanding optometrist I recommend highly. Mavis is very good at helping one pick out and adjust glasses. However, the behavior of their front desk, and perhaps only one person in that front desk, is truly appalling, and the response of her supervisors is one of calm indifference.
I had an appointment at 2 pm January 10, but, due to some health issues during the past weekend, decided to reschedule. I called in at 1 pm January 9, over 24 hours beforehand, with plenty of time left in the work day.
I spoke to Melissa, who did not initially identify herself by name. She offered me an appointment near the end of January. I thought about it, but then asked whether it would be possible for me to switch my appointment with anyone who had an appointment the following week, from January 15-19?
This seemed reasonable, considering there had been a long wait list to be seen earlier by Dr. Nguyen just a couple of weeks ago.
Melissa told me that this wasn't possible. When I tried to ask if there was a wait list of people she could call, Melissa interrupted me mid-sentence and told me again this was not possible, as I were about to repeat my last question, without even waiting to hear me out. She then continued to interrupt me (I was as surprised as anyone as to why she was so immediately hostile), until I literally had to ask her to let me finish without interruption.
Melissa's response to the question about a waiting list is that there was no one on any waiting list to see Dr. Nguyen. I thought this highly unusual, on account of being told there was a very long waiting list when I first made my appointment in December. While it might have become smaller since the end of the holidays, it wouldn't drop to zero, would it?
A minute later, Melissa admitted she had lied, and there WERE "two or three people" on the waiting list. However, Melissa refused to call or ask them if they would be willing to swap appointments with me, because "Sir, we're not going to bother people just to accommodate YOUR schedule" she told me in a severely annoyed tone.
I told her that it would be okay if they refused but would appreciate her calling to find out, in between Melissa continuing to interrupt me. Needless to say, she refused.
When I later relayed this story to a friend of mine who also works as a receptionist at a doctor's office, she was aghast. "I call people to reschedule and swap and change appointments all day long! Most people are happy, not bothered to see a doctor earlier. She just didn't want to call anyone."
I ultimately decided to keep my Jan 10 appointment. However, after being off the phone for a few minutes to think rationally, I felt that being a long-time patient who was going to pay out of pocket for the visit, basic civility and a willingness to dial a number or two weren't too much to ask for.
I called back to cancel my appointment and speak with a supervisor. And here is why I'm giving Sunnyvale Optometry 2 stars instead of 3.
It turns out that Melissa wasn't some new employee, but the front office lead! Moreover, the first supervisor I spoke to was completely unconcerned with what had happened.
She repeatedly made excuses for Melissa, didn't apologize, and chalked it up to a "he said, she said" situation. When I told her I would be very glad if she were to listen to a recording of the call to determine what had happened, she dismissively laughed at me and told me "I believe you, sir" in a condescending tone. She also promised that Sunnyvale Optometry would be in contact with me the next day.
Needless to say, they were not.
Next day, I call back myself and was able to speak to Mavis. The first supervisor had, of course, lied about the subject of my complaint, mentioning nothing about Melissa's behavior, and merely that I wanted a date to reschedule they couldn't accommodate, as opposed to simply wanting them to make a phone call to determine this, regardless of outcome. Mavis at least talked with me in a civil manner, and apologized for the incident, although she too made excuses for Melissa's behavior. (No, interrupting a customer mid-sentence is NOT "helping")
However, she also didn't offer any type of resolution to fix the situation. (Which would have been very simple, too)
Thus, Sunnyvale Optometry, despite an excellent optometrist, allowed terrible front office behavior to chase away a patient.
Worse, they are profoundly unconcerned about it. read more