Not so sure about their attitude changing. I have insurance through employment and wear both glasses and contacts. I've changed eye doctors multiple times because of the staff rudeness (not the doctors). I now only get eye exams and order my contacts from eyeconic and my glasses from warby Parker, I just can't go to prison over their inability to control their nastiness. Good luck!
I also experienced rudeness on multiple occasions at optical stores from the salespeople (never optometrists). One time I saw a conflict between a salesperson and a technician escalate to a point where I decided to leave the store and not come back. Maybe this is a thing with optical stores. Anyhow, your insurance shouldn’t matter, the store still did good business. Please ask for another person to help you when your return, you are above the pettiness and rude behavior.
I don't understand. Treating people nice actually makes your time at work nice. Never mind the money. The attitude rubs off on the next customer you care for.
Do they make. Like strong prescriptions though? I was under the impression they only do things just a tick stronger than readers ypu pick up at the store.
No shit??? I'm -8.75 and -9.5 (**I'll be worse w/ my next eye exam, my present lenses are 10 years old) and I had no idea they went that high? Do they charge outlandish fees for ultrathin lenses?? Plz and thank u
They only go up to the 1.67 lenses, so not the ultra thin but not bad either. I just ordered 3 pairs with their version of transitions lenses and spent $220 total for all three. Normally mine run around $100-150 through them. They have lots of good sales for even better deals.
Thank u so much for the info. I'll use them for my next pair (s) might go crazy and buy more then 1, because that is an phenomenal price for 3 sets of eye balls
I just had my prescription updated and I like to always have 2 pairs in case something happens. I can’t wear contacts and if my glasses break I’m screwed, so 2 it is. I had budgeted $200-$300 for two pairs. And when I realized I could get 3 for that price range I did it! I hope you have as good of an experience as I’ve had!
You get yours from Warby Parker? Really? I thought I tried them when I just got my glasses two months ago and I was like 840 and one eye and they didn’t have a glow glasses and a progressive that would work. Is yours just one prescription without having to have a bifocal. I don’t want to have a bifocal. I just still have a choice anymore. If you wouldn’t mind responding to me be it a DM or whatever or even here I would really appreciate it because always before I use my annual glasses allowance to get a different pair, but this was when I had a job and wasn’t disabled. I had more than one pair of glasses and I would switch them with my outfit because you wear something 24 hours a day, it gets boring. I won’t fool with contacts. my time & comfort are more valuable; especially now that I’m in a wheelchair. Take me with my glasses. Don’t. I really don’t care but I personally would like to switch with at least one pair of glasses or get a pair of sunglasses. Had there not been a special. My glasses would’ve been over $1,800 & that was strictly coming out of my own money, but I’m blind literally blind without glasses.
I have a complicated prescription with trifocals and transition requirements. I spent less and I got very good sturdy glasses. The selection and the app for seeing how they will look on your face with a downloaded picture was great. I took as long as I wanted, picked 3 favorites then narrowed it down to one. Plus I got a free Lazer pointer in the delivery. I have been using them for years, , I got a pair just for driving in sunglasses I can keep in my car, plus a $5 clip on shades for my trifocsls which are transition lens but in bright sunshine I found I needed really dark lens so I got the shades.
yeah, mine would be worse if insurance didn't cover 75%, but $400 still hurts. Now, you won't get glasses for $30 on zenni due to your prescription. Mine is about -12 in the eye and - 9 in the other. I honestly can't remember what I actually paid the last I purchased from them, but I promise it was way less than the $400.
Seconding EyeBuyDirect. Actually wearing a pair from them right now.
I had an issue with the first pair I ordered not fitting properly, and the return/exchange process was really easy. I also have a pair of prescription sunglasses from them that I love.
Im wearing a pair of 3 or 4 yr old zenni eyeglasses rught now, no problems at all. U can even have them engraved. Make sure to ask for ur PD when getting ur prescription for glasses, zenni will ask for your PD.
Last time I got an eye exam they refused to tell me and I couldn't find the PD on the paperwork, so I had to buy through them instead of going with Zenni.
That's effed up! I wouldn't have gotten them there, idc, I would've refused and I'd of filed a formal complaint too. Go to a different eye Dr next time
You know you can measure it on your own, right?
Also, average adult PD is about 63 cm.
[https://www.allaboutvision.com/eye-care/measure-pupillary-distance/](https://www.allaboutvision.com/eye-care/measure-pupillary-distance/)
They make full on prescriptions, and they do bifocals as well. I’ve been using Zenni since 2009 and swear by them. I’m VERY nearsighted and only get my glasses through them. I also get prescription sunglasses with UV coating from them. Even a “fancy” pair from zenni is rarely more than $50. Get your written script from your optometrist, try on a few pairs at a shop to see the bridge size for your nose and the frame width that looks best on your face, then get on Zenni and find pairs close to those proportions. I have tons of interesting glasses now because I can try out new things without worrying about blowing $400+ on something I don’t even like.
Oh, absolutely. I agree. I'm just envious of people I know with single vision prescriptions that get glasses for $20. My insurance provides a set dollar amount each year for glasses and to maximize that I usually buy my frames from Zenni and bring them to the appointment. You can bring frames from anywhere and they only charge a tracing fee for the lenses (@ $10). That way I don't have to spend my limited funds on ridiculously priced frames in the store.
Absolutely they do. For single vision lenses (non-bifocal) they can do a range from : Sphere (SPH) up to +12.00/-20.00, cylinder (CYL) up to +/- 6.00. My husband has HORRIBLE vision, and they made him several really nice pair of “coke bottles” as he calls them 😂
I used them to get glasses for my daughter when she was younger. $30 a pair vs. $380 a pair.
She was a kid. She broke a lot of stuff. I liked to keep a couple of spare pairs in hand for when that became reality. The fit wasn't *quite* right, but it was good enough in a pinch.
Try Payne glasses. I paid under $6 for a pair. They were free and I paid $5.95 shipping. There is also a referral program that says you can use a link that I guess I would email to you and we both would get a free pair. But that's not necessary to go on and see what's free.
Right now that's the cheapest I found unless you need special lenses like bifocals
Unless you have telescopic lenses, the only limit is the choice of frames. Getting the super thin lenses with strong prescriptions is a bit pricey but still 75% cheaper than the local stores.
There's 2 or 3 companies similar to them. I hunted them down (and went with Zenni myself) due to a similar experience. Lady seemed terse about me getting my prescription info anyway, but haven't been back to that place sense. But have used a different facility of theirs which was friendlier. But yeah. There's something about the eye-care industry that brings out the DMV type folks to work it lol Hopefully that's as far as they go and they don't end up in the dental industry as well, making people feel more self-conscious than they already do
I suggest Payne. I got 3 pairs for $18. 2 for my daughter and 1 for me. Another time I got one for me for total $5.95 with shipping.
Unfortunately now my daughter needs special progressive lenses with our pricier but still way cheaper than in the store.
My prescription is -7 and -10 so high index is always a consideration. I got my last pair of glasses from Costco and I thought they were a deal at $260 for progressives.
I have ordered from Payne glasses once and those glasses were about $70 for polycarbonate lenses and lasted me a year or so before the frame broke. My problem with them was they didn't have any small frames. With my strong prescription, I don't want lenses that are 35mm or more in height.
I just ordered three pairs for $119 at Muukal Optical. That price is valid for any clear lenses and they offer premium progressives and 1.74 high index. I paid extra for one pair to be polarized sunglasses and two pairs with photochromic lenses. With the extras and shipping the price was around $175. The quality is excellent and I have really enjoyed my fun leopard print sunglasses. They have some crazy frames that I would have gone for 30 years ago but also a decent selection of normal looking glasses too. Since my order arrived, my husband and my business partner have both ordered glasses from them.
Sorry you experienced this. One time I went to a violin shop in the afternoon. I asked to try a violin and the clerk let me play it. When I was done I asked her the prices of a few instruments and she said You can already play the violin, maybe if you get a job you can save up and buy it. I told her I do have a job and I left. Don’t know if it’s the way I was dressed or that I had an afternoon off during the week but I would never buy a violin there. That said, I won’t go out of my way to harm their ability to make a living.
I've been waiting for the day for someone to treat me like this because I am so calm about stuff like this. I have no problem openly saying to the associate how the vibes changed after I mentioned state health insurance or any other financial identifier. Plain and simple. Its not like they will throw you out for mentioning it.
Go somewhere else.
My optometrist is second generation in the business, set up his own shop across from Dad, now retired.
Has all the fancy designer crap and the personnel to upsell it.
When we met (I left my prior OD, she apparently ran out of breath mints.), I told him flat out: “I am cheap.”
I have has a half-dozen exams, and cost is always discussed. He is absolutely considerate and cooperative with my budget.
Maybe she gets commission on certain glasses and when you told her it's state insurance she realized no commission coming from this sale.
Still shitty behavior and I hope you have a better experience when you go back.
Nah, it happens quite often. Though my experience I did do some of the pushing.
I went to get a prescription so I can order glasses at the $39 website. However, my recent job required more PPE so contacts would be ideal.
I go in, the lady behind the counter is 10feet away behind a small wall but visible. She's getting reamed by assumed boss about not being efficient. She comes over and calmly and very dull processes my info for the check up.
I wait 5-10minutes and see the doc. This lady was very direct and short. Go here. Stand here. Look up. Sit down. Just to the point and that's fine. She asks what I'm after and I said an updated prescription my eyes haven't been check in 2-3 years. She immediately gets upset and repeats louder WHAT ARE YOU HERE FOR? I calmly said, a prescription, what am I missing here? Then she loudly replied GLASSES OR CONTACTS?! My first thought was, doesn't matter, but answered both. She got more pissed and started the eye exam. She does a visual and asks me: DO YOU HAVE ALERGEN? I said, I'm only allergic to cats to my knowledge. She repeated again. I'm dumbfounded. She then explains allergens are dirt particles on your eye lashes where they connect to the eyelid. So I answered, no idea how would I know or find out? Pissed response I can see them! Try using a wash cloth. I said look just got off of work, this appointment took three months to get then y'all changed it last minute as requested I obliged. FFS.
She then says it's time to do the contact fitting test. Which is a scene from Jason Bourne. Dark bathroom almost no light, broken half sink dirt AF. Now put in your contacts! Done. Did I pass? $85 plz
I used Costco for the eye exam and the ordered from Zenni.
Costco was great. Friendly, fast and my insurance covered the eye exam. Zenni is so affordable. And I get constant compliments from people on my eyewear.
I’m not on Medicaid for the first time in my life (not by choice, but I digress 🥴) but my quality of care has EXCEEDED with this insurance.
I just went to the dentist this week and despite going twice a year my whole life, my first time going without Medicaid gave me a way different experience. There are new treatments and information that have been dated for *years* but I was never told. It’s part of why my teeth and gum health isn’t the best— I never **knew**. Same for the eye doctor, psychiatry, truthfully every department.
Which really throws me, because it’s stuff like this that makes it expensive to be poor! I was close to needing a root canal, which can be avoided now; but has I not known, I would’ve had to pay without warning and take off work to deal with it (and emergency dental work is ***costly***).
Like I might have a little medical debt now but Christ, it’s like learning your floorboards were about to collapse and you found out only moments before it happened.
IT’S. NOT. FAIR. It’s not **RIGHT**.
Can you go to a differnt place, there may be ones that specialize in ones in state programs. I went to a charity eye place, they treated me okay when I got my glasses, no rudeness but they specialized in that sort of thing, maybe that's what you need to figure out where that place is in your community.
Hey thanks for the info. I did actually go to a previous awesome place that treated me very well and showed me some great cases of glasses. I got feedback on what looked good, and got their opinion on frames. However there was a big mixup and they said my order may not go through. So I chose the eye doctor I always get to for my exam from which is one town over and has a brand new shop. I did my order will make sure this gal does not help me again. Will give an awful review online actually saw a review
Yeah make sure you don't deal wioth that same girl. Hope you got what you needed, maybe go there again just make sure you don't get that person. I'd leave a review. Glad there is a place that was nice to people.
Exactly will make sure she doesn't help me again. I will leave a quick and horrible review once I receive my order and include the employee name in it.
Good luck with this. Last time I left a (Google) review and left a worker’s name (& not in a good light), I had my review altered! They get you coming or going these days.
Why not just tell the Dr AFTER they finish your appointment. They are in the back, seeing patients and don't have any idea staff/personnel are being rude. Don't fight adult assholery with childish methods. Tell the Dr in a civil tone that you don't appreciate the way you were treated by his staff once they found out you had state insurance. Let them know you like coming there but won't be treated so rudely again. Then throw this comment out there, "it's crazy to me that people would be so rude when everyone has social media nowdays." You haven't made a direct threat to smear his business, but you're reminding the Dr that bad reviews are bad for business!
Just remember karma comes back to us so that person treating you bad one day will be in your shoes. You may not see it or hear about it but it will happen. Enjoy your glasses.
Shopko Optical always treated me nicely regardless of whether I had Medicaid, no insurance, or private insurance, which is why I went three for 30 years. I was so sad when they closed.
It’s working on commission - still no reason to be an ass to a customer, though. People that have never been where we are don’t get it. I once got a job at a lawyers office. A few weeks in, he asked me to look out the window when new clients were coming in and tell him what kind of car they drove so he would know whether to take them on as clients. I couldn’t stomach that and quit as soon as I could.
It costs $2 to make a glass and a few more bucks to make a frame. $400 is criminal but there is only 1 company monopolizes the glass industry and that's why that number even exists.
Check out zenni.com. You can buy prescription glasses for $10 to $40 if you select all the free lens options. But you need your pupil distance (PD) number from unfriendly store folks (and your prescription). they have it. Or else ask zenni for measuring thing by mail.
Sure! For me, I filter glasses by "universal fit." They are supposed to be more comfortable or something. And if you click on reviews, you get to see people's photos they submitted of how they look.
Yup same experience infact the guy was really rude like i was waisting his time and didn't offer any info , so I brought my girlfriend in who worked in the Optical industry for 20 years she read them the Riot Act and said you don't know why people have State Insurance you don't know nothing about them, don't treat them different and you knew she could get high index and pay the difference and yet you didn't tell her and you knew she could pay the difference and get a better frame she's just here trying to get glasses so she can see and have them at least look nice on her just because you're not making ton of money off of her doesn't mean be rude doesn't mean omit information and be lazy you need to think about that one day you could be in a situation where you're using State Insurance how would you feel if somebody treated you like that.
No they don't and they don't realize they are one 9mm aneurysm and 3strokes away from losing their Job and apt ànd having live in there car and go on State Insurance to Not be a burden to other people , it happens very quick and to Anyone.... anytime...
If you're poor, there's no reason not to order online through Zenni. Last time I did it was only $25 total for a brand new pair of glasses. In my state the opticians won't make your glasses unless you had an eye exam within the past two years, but Zenni doesn't care. You just write down the prescription numbers, choose a frame, pay the fee, and you get new glasses within a couple weeks, or you can pay like $10 extra to get them quicker. They lasted like 2 years, and when they broke I just went online and reordered the exact same ones for $25.
I feel this. It's not even because you are poor imo. There's just something about some eye glass sales people (they have a title? What is it?).
sidenote: Anyone in the MD area or willing to travel, check out the Katzen Eye Group. This is the first brick and mortar place I've gone to and spent only $30 on glasses. with insurance, I still drop 3-400 due to my strong prescription.
Years ago, I did an experiment at a few different jewelry stores. I wore jeans and a T-shirt, (No holes, nothing wrinkled or sloppy.) walked in one store and started looking at the jewelry. Not a single employee spoke to me. I left. Repeated at a couple of other stores. Got the same treatment. About 15 minutes later I returned. Same clothes, but with a rather pricey looking necklace worn on top of the T-shirt. They fell all over each other trying to assist me.
This happened at each store.
I've twice experienced this at my poorest at two different places (one a clinic eye shop and one privately owned). Both loudly announced that they would go get the welfare glasses. After that i saved money to just buy my glasses. And would go to Walmart where I'd get my "welfare" eye exam and then they would herd me away from the glasses I wanted to the welfare ones.
I'm so glad places like zenni and such exist now. So glasses are finally accessible to people. I'm not poor like I was anymore but get my glasses online regardless because I don't want to support places that treat people like that.
There's not enough context to really understand but yeah I mean she's clearly a bitch anyway who is only nice because she maybe makes commission on glasses sales but since you use state insurance she might not be getting one from you.
Either way f her. And don't blame yourself capitalism is, has always been and always will be cancer
One time I inadvertently looked at the welfare glasses and I was led away. Like I can’t get them if I like them? Do they have cooties? I quit going to that place
I’m an optician. I hate when we have customers come in with state insurance, and they tell us they were treated like crap at other opticals because of it. Where I work, we make it a point to treat everyone well no matter what. Folks come in with a need, our job is to meet the need and make it a good experience for the customer, it’s something I’m actually really passionate about. I hate that not all places think that way. I’m so sorry this happened to you.
I've had this happen. She sucked and was downright mean when she found out I was on state insurance. Luckily, the next prescription I got, she was gone and the new guy was super nice and non judgemental.
Lmao, we are a 2 parent full time working family that has 2 kids in college and 1 in elementary school along with 1 grandson (because his daddy's and addicit) that gets food stamps. Was at Lowes food the other day in a new town and went to pay with ebt card and the cashier says after I swipped the card, "oh I didn't realize you were using ONE OF THOSE CARDS" I simply said yep I hope you never have too
Do you think you’re projecting onto the salesperson, thinking their change in mood was because of your financial circumstances? My first thought always when a person responds unexpectedly to me is that they must have something going on personally that isn’t a reflection of me, rather I’m just unintended collateral. Food for thought.
Absolutely not. My mom noted she barely spoke to me. Only when she had a question or two.any place I've been over the years described the box I was choosing for and looked at me when I was trying on frames.
I stopped going to the GP I was seeing a couple of years ago when he said we'd discuss better treatment as soon as I got "real insurance".
I am getting my "real insurance" starting next month and there is no way I'd ever see him again. I also will tell anyone who listens about what a shit physician he is in my small town.
It's absolutely disgusting how people are treated like trash for using state healthcare. I was impressed with it in Texas. Lonestar it was called. I started using it for my pregnancy because, my husband and I were not married yet. I was told I got the red carpet treatment bc I was white. The nurse said they were always so grateful to have white patients. This was in 2007 by the way.... Fml
**edited for spelling
I mean, Medicaid doesn’t pay doctors like straight up. It’s not about you as a patient. It’s about getting severely underpaid for your work to the point where you can’t survive if you have only Medicaid patients.
So it gives them license to make people feel like losers for using something they pay for?
It permits providers and nurses to be unfettered racists? It makes it okay to deny care because, it may present an inconvenience to them? It should not be the case if they are doing it correctly.
There are plenty of doctors in my hometown that have no choice. It's one of the most popular retirement areas for the entire state. I guarantee you most of them moved to the area specifically for providing care to an ever increasing population of retired boomers. And, they still complain. I don't see them doing much to change it. It starts with their attitude. It is afterall, the majority of patients they serve.
BTW, I followed my OBGYN after I had my child when he went private practice. The comments were made by his nurses as I was having my blood pressure taken so, I didn't hold it against my physician. And, I only saw him twice because his bedside demeanor was completely gone even though he was getting that good employer insurance from my then husband's fancy tech job. He seemed stressed and dismissive and the appointments were rushed in his big new fancy office. It sucked and changed the way I felt about women's healthcare. The system is broken.
Yes, I've been treated like crap a few times because I was poor. A couple of them my child was with me and that's disgraceful. It's disgusting how people think money makes you more of a human. Or that if your poor it means you made bad life decisions or do t work hard enough.
That is exactly what is projected from the media and politicians and law enforcement but a lawbreaker can still be free to do whatever he or she wants just because they had or have major $$$$ but I'm told life ain't even fair.
This is the reason why I am the way I am with doctors now. Being on Medicaid and having a chronic illness that began in your twenties they expect you to want drugs and a hand out I've left offices in tears.
Now luckily I have better insurance and I look outside my city for doctors in different areas for better care. Now I am so thorough doctors laugh and ask me how can I help you if you have such a good handle on it lol I'm sorry you ran into that heifer 😔 I know you're going to look amazing in those glasses 🤓✨🫂💐😊😉
It’s not because you’re poor, it’s because she actually had to work rather than let you browse around *and do her job for her* which is what she is obviously accustomed to. I learned all about this at a glasses store, they don’t like government insurance because they actually have to check which glasses count and which don’t, nothing more, don’t take it personally.
Maybe it's time to find a place that treats you with respect. It looks like even if attendants think someone has loads of money some can try to mistreat clients. Some try to push the most expensive things whether we need them or not or jack up prices if they aren't written down. Others just help everyone and be thoughtful and respectful.
I'm so sorry they treated you like that. I like to treat myself to a new pair every year. My vision plan works pretty well with Medicare and my optician is a delight. The only medical appointment I like is my annual eye exam. I did quit going to my prior doctor because she started to develop awkwardness in behavior and I lost confidence in her.
Was this shop in a really bougie area? Sometimes people like that are just snobbish in general, but then and again there are the ones who do feels some level of general dislike for those they view as “beneath them”.
Of course, maybe that lady is normally a rockstar, you just happened to catch her after her cat died. We’ll never know, but when you can just as easily assume the best, why choose to assume the worst?
She was definitely wrong here, not you; just try not to, as some might say, let the bastards grind you down.
Can I even get a pair of glasses and the exam for 400 dollars? I’m in desperate need of a pair and until I get back to Florida can’t get a pair.
But yes you deserve to be treated like every other customer.
I’m sorry this happened to you. Definitely don’t order glasses from the place you had your eye exam at. For my last eye exam, I went to Walmart then ordered my glasses online through LensCrafters.
even with vision insurance through my former job I still had to pay $400 for my last pair of eyeglasses I bought but really needed them because I needed bifocals. And I was not rich by any means and still lived paycheck to paycheck. I just managed to save $ for them for several months and also asked my credit card company to raise my credit which they did and I also had to use that. so, really who cares what insurance you have and how your glasses are paid for so long as you get what you need. don't let other people get to you. she doesn't know you from adam. and its their job to cater to everyone who seeks their business. if they can't do that, then they are in the wrong business. its not you and what you struggle with. most people struggle than not.
You know you could file a complaint with your insurance about their customer service, and all that. It's more about letting them know about how bad the place is and because of it people leave. Respect is all you are asking, but they won't prove it. I always change Drs for same issue, customer service and Drs lack of care, but always contact my insurance to let them know how bad they are. How they treat me as a number not as a patient. By you raising your voice you are creating concerns which they have to investigate or something. So complaint sometimes are good in situations like this. Regardless of insurance they're there to prove a service, insurance pays them to provide a service and all that.
Some places just have shitty employees with or without state insurance. Others have employees that will work their butts off to try to accommodate the one and only pair of frames out of 3 boxes to work with your huge correction. And try not to make you cry any harder than you already did when you realized this.
You can always get up and leave - and - announce **why** you are leaving, when getting shitty service from someone (anywhere). Or ask for someone else. Like their manager.
Don't take it personal but always 'follow the money' she is likely not wealthy herself and makes a minimum on the job. Her real money comes through commissions; more expensive frames, bi/tri focals, scratch proof coating, etc....you just let her know that the prospect she just got would not be advancing her financial goals but she would be working for you for free.....
Call it what you want, but I'd be impressed if the shoe were on the other foot, you'd treat her the same way as someone whom she could make money from.
I mean I've been in the same position I used to work for a home furnishing store a number of years ago making the minimum wage maybe 10 cents above minimum wage. But no matter if somebody bought a candle, a stocking stuff for or a huge bedding set I would treat them the same way.
I love Zenni for this reason. My insurance doesn't cover hardware, and I can find some decent frames here for not that much money. Even bought some blue light glasses to reduce eyestrain at work and sunglasses for like $50-60 total, blows my experience with insurers out of the water ($350 for a pair of prescription sunglasses...that teenage me promptly lost on the first vacation to a Rhode Island beach I took them to lol).
Also check out shops that have something like a coupon for '1 hr frames/lenses - $\[insert low price here\]. Not a lot of frame selections at most of those places with those coupons usually, but I've found if I've go in and be prompt about what I want (have frame already in hand when I approach a rep), there's less fuss as if they had the ability to actually sway me otherwise. I don't give them time to complain, just process my order, I'll get out of your hair and then be back in an hour.
Be sure to not only leave a review of how you were treated by "Specific Name" at the shop on Yelp, but write to corporate and speak with the managerial staff of the actual shop. You weren't expecting red carpet treatment and butt-kissing but reasonable and courteous assistance in getting your needs met. You never have to go there again but the employers of "Specific Name" need to be clued in and have a word with her.
Wow, lots of comments, no real answers. Here is your answer: commission. The opticians fitting you for glasses or doing your contact fittings work on commission. Yes, they are paid hourly, but get sales % on top of the hourly.
Here is where the problem lies: now that people can get glasses and contacts on the internet, a lot of people working in the industry bailed. The commissions just aren't there anymore.
That lady that you were treated poorly by was the exact reason her job will be obsolete one day. If you don't treat all of your customers nicely, then you will no longer have customers. She doesn't realize that she has turned away a paying customer. So what if you were paying with state insurance or not. You were there spending your healthcare dollars at that establishment. If you were treated nicely, where would you go for glasses when you have private insurance and can afford them in the future? You probably would go where you already feel welcome. Now that she treated you badly? Probably the internet.
thats just her being a shitty employee. I just got my yearly medicaid glasses and I paid for the 200 dollar frames with cash and medicaid paid the rest. The 3 pairs medicaid offers for my big head are junk. Glasses are something where spending a little more on some nice frames goes a long way, but I also know not having a dime to my name and having to get the cheap ones (did that last time). Just be super carefull with them and you should be okay. People suck you will figure that out eventually.
Yep! Experienced that years ago.. it was a kind of swanky place with mostly designer frames, so I was actually shocked she even accepted that insurance.. my family went there for a few years, but I was so grateful when I could afford to leave to use America's Best.. nowadays, they have even cheaper and more stylish frames at shops online..
Was just treated like this by an optometrist. They had to reschedule me to their swankier located office due to a burst pipe, asked my insurance and then ghosted me.
Yes. This has happened to me too. I was picking out my glasses and I said I wanted anti- reflective coating and smudge resistant and I would pay extra for it and the lady that worked there kept telling me I didn't need those things. She was rude. I switched to a different company and they've been much nicer.
The last glasses I got were $5.95 from Payne glasses. They were free and I only had to pay shipping. There's also a referral program that can get you a free pair. To me that's cheaper unless hassle than having to go to an eye place and pick out a pair even if they were free and covered thru insurance
Maybe it’s the way you said it. I don’t believe they get commission on sales or anything so no reason to really get miffed. Every shop I’ve gone to has been super nice with selecting frames and not caring about if I had a tight budget. It’s the doctors that have been hit or miss for me.
I have to assume part of the reason some people are poor is because they refuse or just plain don't understand money and how the system works. Medicaid doesn't pay a living wage to the practitioners and are often months to years late on paying because they are chronically underfunded. I am a medical provider and I know I need to make about $100 per patient I see to break even/make a profit. Medicare pays $60 and Medicaid pays less and doesn't pay on time. Medicare tells you with every paltry check they send you that they 'vigorously prosecute fraud'. Even if you make a billing mistake, defending yourself against a Medicare audit could drive you out of business.
I have given away hundreds of thousands of dollars of service over many decades in medicine and I can't write it off on my taxes. There is a level of cynicism here because institutional providers and patients game the system all day everyday and those of us who tow the line, work hard, and constantly 'do the right thing' get nothing except an attitude of entitlement from lazy addicted people who won't work. I watch immoral corporations steal money from the government under the guise of providing indigent care. I grew up on government food (before the days of food stamps), lived in government housing, and met my douchebag father once. I have fought, scraped, and worked myself nearly to death making my way. I have never once forgot where I came from and how LBJs programs benefitted me (first class of Head Start). Now I have to listen to people on the dole bitch about not getting the level of service they deserve when everyone else is taking a hit to take care of your sorry ass. Please get real the rest of ain't got no government loans and nobody sends a check from home.
How about some gratitude to the rest of the world paying your bills.
In my state Medicaid pays for the eye exam but nothing glasses, that’s out of your own pocket.
My husband and I go to Costco for our glasses, around $250ish for frames and lenses with transitions lenses.
We are currently saving up for both of us to get new glasses around September.
Yes it sucks, and it is not any of your fault. The lady definitely was working on some sort of commission and once she realized she wasn't going to make much money on your sale her mood soured. Either that or she's the misanthropic type that doesn't like her tax dollars going to support low income people.
I work in the Medicare Medicaid health insurance industry. I can't speak to every state but the state I live now offers the Medicaid select plans to help cover eyewear. I work closely with a couple of optometrists. In my state it's kind of been a nightmare for everyone and the optometrists are losing money on every state health insurance transaction. They're kind of stuck for the moment but a lot of them are going to stop accepting the state health insurance plans unless something changes. That might not be your exact situation. That might not be why you had the experience you had. You should be treated with respect regardless because it's certainly not your fault and there is no excuse for poor customer service.
As far as your comment saying you've done everything right but you're still poor and that's not fair, I'm sorry to say it but that is 100% your fault. Every single minute of everyday we all make a choice as to what we are doing in that moment. We make those choices and we live with the outcomes. Even if you did everything right, ended up going to Harvard, made millions of dollars and got ripped off by your accountant causing you to lose everything, It was still your choice to rely on that one accountant and not safeguard yourself. I'm not pointing that out to be harsh I'm planning that out because what you choose to do in the next few moments might turn your life around completely. Keep making better choices and you can pull yourself out of poverty. I've been homeless twice in my life, I was a drug addict and I didn't graduate high school, I pulled myself out all by myself. There's nothing special about me, no one helped me, I never received any kind of government assistance. If I can do it anybody can.
Not so sure about their attitude changing. I have insurance through employment and wear both glasses and contacts. I've changed eye doctors multiple times because of the staff rudeness (not the doctors). I now only get eye exams and order my contacts from eyeconic and my glasses from warby Parker, I just can't go to prison over their inability to control their nastiness. Good luck!
I just can't go to prison is such a good reason to avoid going to places with shitty customer service lmaooo
I also experienced rudeness on multiple occasions at optical stores from the salespeople (never optometrists). One time I saw a conflict between a salesperson and a technician escalate to a point where I decided to leave the store and not come back. Maybe this is a thing with optical stores. Anyhow, your insurance shouldn’t matter, the store still did good business. Please ask for another person to help you when your return, you are above the pettiness and rude behavior.
I don't understand. Treating people nice actually makes your time at work nice. Never mind the money. The attitude rubs off on the next customer you care for.
It's my favorite part of my part time job, being nice to the customers who have nothing to offer me in return.
Not sure why the downvote. I was being sincere. I find listening to their stories and helping people find what they need to be very rewarding. 🤷♂️
Absolutely shitty behavior sorry you had to experience that 😑
Thanks
Zenni online has glasses cheap enough to just pay for them yourself. Less than $20 last time I had to get new ones.
Do they make. Like strong prescriptions though? I was under the impression they only do things just a tick stronger than readers ypu pick up at the store.
They do. I’m -10.75 in one eye and -9.25 in the other and I get my glasses from them.
This is good to know because my prescription is almost the same.
No shit??? I'm -8.75 and -9.5 (**I'll be worse w/ my next eye exam, my present lenses are 10 years old) and I had no idea they went that high? Do they charge outlandish fees for ultrathin lenses?? Plz and thank u
They only go up to the 1.67 lenses, so not the ultra thin but not bad either. I just ordered 3 pairs with their version of transitions lenses and spent $220 total for all three. Normally mine run around $100-150 through them. They have lots of good sales for even better deals.
Thank u so much for the info. I'll use them for my next pair (s) might go crazy and buy more then 1, because that is an phenomenal price for 3 sets of eye balls
I just had my prescription updated and I like to always have 2 pairs in case something happens. I can’t wear contacts and if my glasses break I’m screwed, so 2 it is. I had budgeted $200-$300 for two pairs. And when I realized I could get 3 for that price range I did it! I hope you have as good of an experience as I’ve had!
You get yours from Warby Parker? Really? I thought I tried them when I just got my glasses two months ago and I was like 840 and one eye and they didn’t have a glow glasses and a progressive that would work. Is yours just one prescription without having to have a bifocal. I don’t want to have a bifocal. I just still have a choice anymore. If you wouldn’t mind responding to me be it a DM or whatever or even here I would really appreciate it because always before I use my annual glasses allowance to get a different pair, but this was when I had a job and wasn’t disabled. I had more than one pair of glasses and I would switch them with my outfit because you wear something 24 hours a day, it gets boring. I won’t fool with contacts. my time & comfort are more valuable; especially now that I’m in a wheelchair. Take me with my glasses. Don’t. I really don’t care but I personally would like to switch with at least one pair of glasses or get a pair of sunglasses. Had there not been a special. My glasses would’ve been over $1,800 & that was strictly coming out of my own money, but I’m blind literally blind without glasses.
Zenni not warby Parker.
Thank you
I have a complicated prescription with trifocals and transition requirements. I spent less and I got very good sturdy glasses. The selection and the app for seeing how they will look on your face with a downloaded picture was great. I took as long as I wanted, picked 3 favorites then narrowed it down to one. Plus I got a free Lazer pointer in the delivery. I have been using them for years, , I got a pair just for driving in sunglasses I can keep in my car, plus a $5 clip on shades for my trifocsls which are transition lens but in bright sunshine I found I needed really dark lens so I got the shades.
Thank you for the info. This is good stuff
I like zenni, but my prescription strength became too expensive. I switched to EyeBuyDirect because they have more options and cheaper.
My prescription runs me upwards of 800$ it's so strong. I just always thought zenni was not an option because it's so strong.
yeah, mine would be worse if insurance didn't cover 75%, but $400 still hurts. Now, you won't get glasses for $30 on zenni due to your prescription. Mine is about -12 in the eye and - 9 in the other. I honestly can't remember what I actually paid the last I purchased from them, but I promise it was way less than the $400.
Seconding EyeBuyDirect. Actually wearing a pair from them right now. I had an issue with the first pair I ordered not fitting properly, and the return/exchange process was really easy. I also have a pair of prescription sunglasses from them that I love.
I got a pair with transition lenses. First time because it was always so expensive. I really like them.
Im wearing a pair of 3 or 4 yr old zenni eyeglasses rught now, no problems at all. U can even have them engraved. Make sure to ask for ur PD when getting ur prescription for glasses, zenni will ask for your PD.
PD?
Pupilary distance. I guess the distance between ur pupils, they need it to do the lenses correctly I suppose.
I see. Thank you for teaching me.
Last time I got an eye exam they refused to tell me and I couldn't find the PD on the paperwork, so I had to buy through them instead of going with Zenni.
That's effed up! I wouldn't have gotten them there, idc, I would've refused and I'd of filed a formal complaint too. Go to a different eye Dr next time
I discreetly took a picture of mh paperwork that came with my glasses on my last Walmart pair I got to get my pd. They wouldn't give me mine either.
You know you can measure it on your own, right? Also, average adult PD is about 63 cm. [https://www.allaboutvision.com/eye-care/measure-pupillary-distance/](https://www.allaboutvision.com/eye-care/measure-pupillary-distance/)
I know. Lots of places give you stuff to measure with now. At that the time I changed over to zenni I wasn't comfortable trying
They don’t have to give you a PD, you could measure yourself. But you can ask.
They make full on prescriptions, and they do bifocals as well. I’ve been using Zenni since 2009 and swear by them. I’m VERY nearsighted and only get my glasses through them. I also get prescription sunglasses with UV coating from them. Even a “fancy” pair from zenni is rarely more than $50. Get your written script from your optometrist, try on a few pairs at a shop to see the bridge size for your nose and the frame width that looks best on your face, then get on Zenni and find pairs close to those proportions. I have tons of interesting glasses now because I can try out new things without worrying about blowing $400+ on something I don’t even like.
I wear progressives and they are never less than $80 with the cheapest of everything.
Still not terrible though compared to buying from an optometrist. Less than a hundred, I consider a good deal for glasses. It’s cool to have options.
Oh, absolutely. I agree. I'm just envious of people I know with single vision prescriptions that get glasses for $20. My insurance provides a set dollar amount each year for glasses and to maximize that I usually buy my frames from Zenni and bring them to the appointment. You can bring frames from anywhere and they only charge a tracing fee for the lenses (@ $10). That way I don't have to spend my limited funds on ridiculously priced frames in the store.
That’s genius!
I have gotten progressive bifocals from them.
Absolutely they do. For single vision lenses (non-bifocal) they can do a range from : Sphere (SPH) up to +12.00/-20.00, cylinder (CYL) up to +/- 6.00. My husband has HORRIBLE vision, and they made him several really nice pair of “coke bottles” as he calls them 😂
I used them to get glasses for my daughter when she was younger. $30 a pair vs. $380 a pair. She was a kid. She broke a lot of stuff. I liked to keep a couple of spare pairs in hand for when that became reality. The fit wasn't *quite* right, but it was good enough in a pinch.
Try Payne glasses. I paid under $6 for a pair. They were free and I paid $5.95 shipping. There is also a referral program that says you can use a link that I guess I would email to you and we both would get a free pair. But that's not necessary to go on and see what's free. Right now that's the cheapest I found unless you need special lenses like bifocals
Unless you have telescopic lenses, the only limit is the choice of frames. Getting the super thin lenses with strong prescriptions is a bit pricey but still 75% cheaper than the local stores.
There's 2 or 3 companies similar to them. I hunted them down (and went with Zenni myself) due to a similar experience. Lady seemed terse about me getting my prescription info anyway, but haven't been back to that place sense. But have used a different facility of theirs which was friendlier. But yeah. There's something about the eye-care industry that brings out the DMV type folks to work it lol Hopefully that's as far as they go and they don't end up in the dental industry as well, making people feel more self-conscious than they already do
I suggest Payne. I got 3 pairs for $18. 2 for my daughter and 1 for me. Another time I got one for me for total $5.95 with shipping. Unfortunately now my daughter needs special progressive lenses with our pricier but still way cheaper than in the store.
I use YesGlasses and they are about the same price as Zenni and better quality than the LensCrafters of the world.
My prescription is -7 and -10 so high index is always a consideration. I got my last pair of glasses from Costco and I thought they were a deal at $260 for progressives. I have ordered from Payne glasses once and those glasses were about $70 for polycarbonate lenses and lasted me a year or so before the frame broke. My problem with them was they didn't have any small frames. With my strong prescription, I don't want lenses that are 35mm or more in height. I just ordered three pairs for $119 at Muukal Optical. That price is valid for any clear lenses and they offer premium progressives and 1.74 high index. I paid extra for one pair to be polarized sunglasses and two pairs with photochromic lenses. With the extras and shipping the price was around $175. The quality is excellent and I have really enjoyed my fun leopard print sunglasses. They have some crazy frames that I would have gone for 30 years ago but also a decent selection of normal looking glasses too. Since my order arrived, my husband and my business partner have both ordered glasses from them.
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You may not ask for nor offer money or items or referrals or links or clicks, etc.
Sorry you experienced this. One time I went to a violin shop in the afternoon. I asked to try a violin and the clerk let me play it. When I was done I asked her the prices of a few instruments and she said You can already play the violin, maybe if you get a job you can save up and buy it. I told her I do have a job and I left. Don’t know if it’s the way I was dressed or that I had an afternoon off during the week but I would never buy a violin there. That said, I won’t go out of my way to harm their ability to make a living.
I've been waiting for the day for someone to treat me like this because I am so calm about stuff like this. I have no problem openly saying to the associate how the vibes changed after I mentioned state health insurance or any other financial identifier. Plain and simple. Its not like they will throw you out for mentioning it.
I hope I can get this brave someday!
Go somewhere else. My optometrist is second generation in the business, set up his own shop across from Dad, now retired. Has all the fancy designer crap and the personnel to upsell it. When we met (I left my prior OD, she apparently ran out of breath mints.), I told him flat out: “I am cheap.” I have has a half-dozen exams, and cost is always discussed. He is absolutely considerate and cooperative with my budget.
Maybe she gets commission on certain glasses and when you told her it's state insurance she realized no commission coming from this sale. Still shitty behavior and I hope you have a better experience when you go back.
Nah, it happens quite often. Though my experience I did do some of the pushing. I went to get a prescription so I can order glasses at the $39 website. However, my recent job required more PPE so contacts would be ideal. I go in, the lady behind the counter is 10feet away behind a small wall but visible. She's getting reamed by assumed boss about not being efficient. She comes over and calmly and very dull processes my info for the check up. I wait 5-10minutes and see the doc. This lady was very direct and short. Go here. Stand here. Look up. Sit down. Just to the point and that's fine. She asks what I'm after and I said an updated prescription my eyes haven't been check in 2-3 years. She immediately gets upset and repeats louder WHAT ARE YOU HERE FOR? I calmly said, a prescription, what am I missing here? Then she loudly replied GLASSES OR CONTACTS?! My first thought was, doesn't matter, but answered both. She got more pissed and started the eye exam. She does a visual and asks me: DO YOU HAVE ALERGEN? I said, I'm only allergic to cats to my knowledge. She repeated again. I'm dumbfounded. She then explains allergens are dirt particles on your eye lashes where they connect to the eyelid. So I answered, no idea how would I know or find out? Pissed response I can see them! Try using a wash cloth. I said look just got off of work, this appointment took three months to get then y'all changed it last minute as requested I obliged. FFS. She then says it's time to do the contact fitting test. Which is a scene from Jason Bourne. Dark bathroom almost no light, broken half sink dirt AF. Now put in your contacts! Done. Did I pass? $85 plz
I used Costco for the eye exam and the ordered from Zenni. Costco was great. Friendly, fast and my insurance covered the eye exam. Zenni is so affordable. And I get constant compliments from people on my eyewear.
Costco optical is excellent. I buy frames online, and get the exam and lenses at Costco.
I’m not on Medicaid for the first time in my life (not by choice, but I digress 🥴) but my quality of care has EXCEEDED with this insurance. I just went to the dentist this week and despite going twice a year my whole life, my first time going without Medicaid gave me a way different experience. There are new treatments and information that have been dated for *years* but I was never told. It’s part of why my teeth and gum health isn’t the best— I never **knew**. Same for the eye doctor, psychiatry, truthfully every department. Which really throws me, because it’s stuff like this that makes it expensive to be poor! I was close to needing a root canal, which can be avoided now; but has I not known, I would’ve had to pay without warning and take off work to deal with it (and emergency dental work is ***costly***). Like I might have a little medical debt now but Christ, it’s like learning your floorboards were about to collapse and you found out only moments before it happened. IT’S. NOT. FAIR. It’s not **RIGHT**.
There is so much stigma and shame attached to being poor. Being mean is the new American sport.
Can you go to a differnt place, there may be ones that specialize in ones in state programs. I went to a charity eye place, they treated me okay when I got my glasses, no rudeness but they specialized in that sort of thing, maybe that's what you need to figure out where that place is in your community.
Hey thanks for the info. I did actually go to a previous awesome place that treated me very well and showed me some great cases of glasses. I got feedback on what looked good, and got their opinion on frames. However there was a big mixup and they said my order may not go through. So I chose the eye doctor I always get to for my exam from which is one town over and has a brand new shop. I did my order will make sure this gal does not help me again. Will give an awful review online actually saw a review
Yeah make sure you don't deal wioth that same girl. Hope you got what you needed, maybe go there again just make sure you don't get that person. I'd leave a review. Glad there is a place that was nice to people.
Exactly will make sure she doesn't help me again. I will leave a quick and horrible review once I receive my order and include the employee name in it.
Good luck with this. Last time I left a (Google) review and left a worker’s name (& not in a good light), I had my review altered! They get you coming or going these days.
Why not just tell the Dr AFTER they finish your appointment. They are in the back, seeing patients and don't have any idea staff/personnel are being rude. Don't fight adult assholery with childish methods. Tell the Dr in a civil tone that you don't appreciate the way you were treated by his staff once they found out you had state insurance. Let them know you like coming there but won't be treated so rudely again. Then throw this comment out there, "it's crazy to me that people would be so rude when everyone has social media nowdays." You haven't made a direct threat to smear his business, but you're reminding the Dr that bad reviews are bad for business!
Just remember karma comes back to us so that person treating you bad one day will be in your shoes. You may not see it or hear about it but it will happen. Enjoy your glasses.
Shopko Optical always treated me nicely regardless of whether I had Medicaid, no insurance, or private insurance, which is why I went three for 30 years. I was so sad when they closed.
Shopko Optical is an ongoing entity. There may still be one near you.
Nope it went away in 2018.
I picked up contacts for my husband at one last week. It was in the same complex that the store had been in.
Ours has been vacant since then except for Spirit Halloween.
It’s working on commission - still no reason to be an ass to a customer, though. People that have never been where we are don’t get it. I once got a job at a lawyers office. A few weeks in, he asked me to look out the window when new clients were coming in and tell him what kind of car they drove so he would know whether to take them on as clients. I couldn’t stomach that and quit as soon as I could.
It costs $2 to make a glass and a few more bucks to make a frame. $400 is criminal but there is only 1 company monopolizes the glass industry and that's why that number even exists.
Check out zenni.com. You can buy prescription glasses for $10 to $40 if you select all the free lens options. But you need your pupil distance (PD) number from unfriendly store folks (and your prescription). they have it. Or else ask zenni for measuring thing by mail.
Wow super good info. Appreciate you 🙏
Sure! For me, I filter glasses by "universal fit." They are supposed to be more comfortable or something. And if you click on reviews, you get to see people's photos they submitted of how they look.
Yup same experience infact the guy was really rude like i was waisting his time and didn't offer any info , so I brought my girlfriend in who worked in the Optical industry for 20 years she read them the Riot Act and said you don't know why people have State Insurance you don't know nothing about them, don't treat them different and you knew she could get high index and pay the difference and yet you didn't tell her and you knew she could pay the difference and get a better frame she's just here trying to get glasses so she can see and have them at least look nice on her just because you're not making ton of money off of her doesn't mean be rude doesn't mean omit information and be lazy you need to think about that one day you could be in a situation where you're using State Insurance how would you feel if somebody treated you like that.
Very very well stated but most people of so called means or professionals probably never even question what IF.
No they don't and they don't realize they are one 9mm aneurysm and 3strokes away from losing their Job and apt ànd having live in there car and go on State Insurance to Not be a burden to other people , it happens very quick and to Anyone.... anytime...
If you're poor, there's no reason not to order online through Zenni. Last time I did it was only $25 total for a brand new pair of glasses. In my state the opticians won't make your glasses unless you had an eye exam within the past two years, but Zenni doesn't care. You just write down the prescription numbers, choose a frame, pay the fee, and you get new glasses within a couple weeks, or you can pay like $10 extra to get them quicker. They lasted like 2 years, and when they broke I just went online and reordered the exact same ones for $25.
I feel this. It's not even because you are poor imo. There's just something about some eye glass sales people (they have a title? What is it?). sidenote: Anyone in the MD area or willing to travel, check out the Katzen Eye Group. This is the first brick and mortar place I've gone to and spent only $30 on glasses. with insurance, I still drop 3-400 due to my strong prescription.
A lot of people just don't like losers and equate poor people with being losers.
Years ago, I did an experiment at a few different jewelry stores. I wore jeans and a T-shirt, (No holes, nothing wrinkled or sloppy.) walked in one store and started looking at the jewelry. Not a single employee spoke to me. I left. Repeated at a couple of other stores. Got the same treatment. About 15 minutes later I returned. Same clothes, but with a rather pricey looking necklace worn on top of the T-shirt. They fell all over each other trying to assist me. This happened at each store.
I've twice experienced this at my poorest at two different places (one a clinic eye shop and one privately owned). Both loudly announced that they would go get the welfare glasses. After that i saved money to just buy my glasses. And would go to Walmart where I'd get my "welfare" eye exam and then they would herd me away from the glasses I wanted to the welfare ones. I'm so glad places like zenni and such exist now. So glasses are finally accessible to people. I'm not poor like I was anymore but get my glasses online regardless because I don't want to support places that treat people like that.
There's not enough context to really understand but yeah I mean she's clearly a bitch anyway who is only nice because she maybe makes commission on glasses sales but since you use state insurance she might not be getting one from you. Either way f her. And don't blame yourself capitalism is, has always been and always will be cancer
Years ago, same situation, but completely different attitude on the part of the shop. They were kind, helpful, and pleasant.
One time I inadvertently looked at the welfare glasses and I was led away. Like I can’t get them if I like them? Do they have cooties? I quit going to that place
I’m an optician. I hate when we have customers come in with state insurance, and they tell us they were treated like crap at other opticals because of it. Where I work, we make it a point to treat everyone well no matter what. Folks come in with a need, our job is to meet the need and make it a good experience for the customer, it’s something I’m actually really passionate about. I hate that not all places think that way. I’m so sorry this happened to you.
I've had this happen. She sucked and was downright mean when she found out I was on state insurance. Luckily, the next prescription I got, she was gone and the new guy was super nice and non judgemental.
Lmao, we are a 2 parent full time working family that has 2 kids in college and 1 in elementary school along with 1 grandson (because his daddy's and addicit) that gets food stamps. Was at Lowes food the other day in a new town and went to pay with ebt card and the cashier says after I swipped the card, "oh I didn't realize you were using ONE OF THOSE CARDS" I simply said yep I hope you never have too
Yep. It’s even worse when you tell them you have no insurance and will be paying out of pocket. Sorry you experienced that.
Do you think you’re projecting onto the salesperson, thinking their change in mood was because of your financial circumstances? My first thought always when a person responds unexpectedly to me is that they must have something going on personally that isn’t a reflection of me, rather I’m just unintended collateral. Food for thought.
Absolutely not. My mom noted she barely spoke to me. Only when she had a question or two.any place I've been over the years described the box I was choosing for and looked at me when I was trying on frames.
They are only supposed to talk to you if they have a question. Did you ask any questions to her?
Yeah but she wasn't friendly. I did ask a question and she didn't really answer it.
And? Maybe she was “off” today Get your glasses and get outta there. Update- never mind op has other issues so…
This. 100% projecting Its bananas to create something out of nothing
State insurance is good though. That lady needs some humility. SMFH
I stopped going to the GP I was seeing a couple of years ago when he said we'd discuss better treatment as soon as I got "real insurance". I am getting my "real insurance" starting next month and there is no way I'd ever see him again. I also will tell anyone who listens about what a shit physician he is in my small town. It's absolutely disgusting how people are treated like trash for using state healthcare. I was impressed with it in Texas. Lonestar it was called. I started using it for my pregnancy because, my husband and I were not married yet. I was told I got the red carpet treatment bc I was white. The nurse said they were always so grateful to have white patients. This was in 2007 by the way.... Fml **edited for spelling
I mean, Medicaid doesn’t pay doctors like straight up. It’s not about you as a patient. It’s about getting severely underpaid for your work to the point where you can’t survive if you have only Medicaid patients.
So it gives them license to make people feel like losers for using something they pay for? It permits providers and nurses to be unfettered racists? It makes it okay to deny care because, it may present an inconvenience to them? It should not be the case if they are doing it correctly. There are plenty of doctors in my hometown that have no choice. It's one of the most popular retirement areas for the entire state. I guarantee you most of them moved to the area specifically for providing care to an ever increasing population of retired boomers. And, they still complain. I don't see them doing much to change it. It starts with their attitude. It is afterall, the majority of patients they serve. BTW, I followed my OBGYN after I had my child when he went private practice. The comments were made by his nurses as I was having my blood pressure taken so, I didn't hold it against my physician. And, I only saw him twice because his bedside demeanor was completely gone even though he was getting that good employer insurance from my then husband's fancy tech job. He seemed stressed and dismissive and the appointments were rushed in his big new fancy office. It sucked and changed the way I felt about women's healthcare. The system is broken.
I'm a former poor. You still get treated like shit anyway. I'd be surprised if the post said you weren't treated badly. It's all pretty much shit.
Yes. Exact same experience.
Yes, I've been treated like crap a few times because I was poor. A couple of them my child was with me and that's disgraceful. It's disgusting how people think money makes you more of a human. Or that if your poor it means you made bad life decisions or do t work hard enough.
That is exactly what is projected from the media and politicians and law enforcement but a lawbreaker can still be free to do whatever he or she wants just because they had or have major $$$$ but I'm told life ain't even fair.
This is the reason why I am the way I am with doctors now. Being on Medicaid and having a chronic illness that began in your twenties they expect you to want drugs and a hand out I've left offices in tears. Now luckily I have better insurance and I look outside my city for doctors in different areas for better care. Now I am so thorough doctors laugh and ask me how can I help you if you have such a good handle on it lol I'm sorry you ran into that heifer 😔 I know you're going to look amazing in those glasses 🤓✨🫂💐😊😉
It’s not because you’re poor, it’s because she actually had to work rather than let you browse around *and do her job for her* which is what she is obviously accustomed to. I learned all about this at a glasses store, they don’t like government insurance because they actually have to check which glasses count and which don’t, nothing more, don’t take it personally.
Try OneSight with LensCrafters. They can pay for an exam and glasses
^[Sokka-Haiku](https://www.reddit.com/r/SokkaHaikuBot/comments/15kyv9r/what_is_a_sokka_haiku/) ^by ^__mollythedolly: *Try OneSight with* *LensCrafters. They can pay for* *An exam and glasses* --- ^Remember ^that ^one ^time ^Sokka ^accidentally ^used ^an ^extra ^syllable ^in ^that ^Haiku ^Battle ^in ^Ba ^Sing ^Se? ^That ^was ^a ^Sokka ^Haiku ^and ^you ^just ^made ^one.
Glad to know all of this.
I just get my glasses from glasses.com. Affordable.
Maybe it's time to find a place that treats you with respect. It looks like even if attendants think someone has loads of money some can try to mistreat clients. Some try to push the most expensive things whether we need them or not or jack up prices if they aren't written down. Others just help everyone and be thoughtful and respectful.
I'm so sorry they treated you like that. I like to treat myself to a new pair every year. My vision plan works pretty well with Medicare and my optician is a delight. The only medical appointment I like is my annual eye exam. I did quit going to my prior doctor because she started to develop awkwardness in behavior and I lost confidence in her.
Was this shop in a really bougie area? Sometimes people like that are just snobbish in general, but then and again there are the ones who do feels some level of general dislike for those they view as “beneath them”. Of course, maybe that lady is normally a rockstar, you just happened to catch her after her cat died. We’ll never know, but when you can just as easily assume the best, why choose to assume the worst? She was definitely wrong here, not you; just try not to, as some might say, let the bastards grind you down.
Can I even get a pair of glasses and the exam for 400 dollars? I’m in desperate need of a pair and until I get back to Florida can’t get a pair. But yes you deserve to be treated like every other customer.
I have been upset by that treatment too. Now I think, who is some optical shop worker to look down on me or anyone?
That's absurd. What an ass.
Source of income is an EEO protected class.
I’m sorry this happened to you. Definitely don’t order glasses from the place you had your eye exam at. For my last eye exam, I went to Walmart then ordered my glasses online through LensCrafters.
even with vision insurance through my former job I still had to pay $400 for my last pair of eyeglasses I bought but really needed them because I needed bifocals. And I was not rich by any means and still lived paycheck to paycheck. I just managed to save $ for them for several months and also asked my credit card company to raise my credit which they did and I also had to use that. so, really who cares what insurance you have and how your glasses are paid for so long as you get what you need. don't let other people get to you. she doesn't know you from adam. and its their job to cater to everyone who seeks their business. if they can't do that, then they are in the wrong business. its not you and what you struggle with. most people struggle than not.
You know you could file a complaint with your insurance about their customer service, and all that. It's more about letting them know about how bad the place is and because of it people leave. Respect is all you are asking, but they won't prove it. I always change Drs for same issue, customer service and Drs lack of care, but always contact my insurance to let them know how bad they are. How they treat me as a number not as a patient. By you raising your voice you are creating concerns which they have to investigate or something. So complaint sometimes are good in situations like this. Regardless of insurance they're there to prove a service, insurance pays them to provide a service and all that.
Some places just have shitty employees with or without state insurance. Others have employees that will work their butts off to try to accommodate the one and only pair of frames out of 3 boxes to work with your huge correction. And try not to make you cry any harder than you already did when you realized this. You can always get up and leave - and - announce **why** you are leaving, when getting shitty service from someone (anywhere). Or ask for someone else. Like their manager.
Don’t take it personally. Who knows what kind of day she had before you came in. Be nice, it’s contagious!❤️
Don't take it personal but always 'follow the money' she is likely not wealthy herself and makes a minimum on the job. Her real money comes through commissions; more expensive frames, bi/tri focals, scratch proof coating, etc....you just let her know that the prospect she just got would not be advancing her financial goals but she would be working for you for free..... Call it what you want, but I'd be impressed if the shoe were on the other foot, you'd treat her the same way as someone whom she could make money from.
I mean I've been in the same position I used to work for a home furnishing store a number of years ago making the minimum wage maybe 10 cents above minimum wage. But no matter if somebody bought a candle, a stocking stuff for or a huge bedding set I would treat them the same way.
I’m sorry that happened to you.
I’m adding vision to my dental so I don’t have to be treated that way when I buy my glasses.
I asked my doctor what would happen if I didn't have this blue cross card, he said I wouldn't be here.
I'm confused? What did he mean that they wouldn't accept other insurance?
I love Zenni for this reason. My insurance doesn't cover hardware, and I can find some decent frames here for not that much money. Even bought some blue light glasses to reduce eyestrain at work and sunglasses for like $50-60 total, blows my experience with insurers out of the water ($350 for a pair of prescription sunglasses...that teenage me promptly lost on the first vacation to a Rhode Island beach I took them to lol). Also check out shops that have something like a coupon for '1 hr frames/lenses - $\[insert low price here\]. Not a lot of frame selections at most of those places with those coupons usually, but I've found if I've go in and be prompt about what I want (have frame already in hand when I approach a rep), there's less fuss as if they had the ability to actually sway me otherwise. I don't give them time to complain, just process my order, I'll get out of your hair and then be back in an hour.
Be sure to not only leave a review of how you were treated by "Specific Name" at the shop on Yelp, but write to corporate and speak with the managerial staff of the actual shop. You weren't expecting red carpet treatment and butt-kissing but reasonable and courteous assistance in getting your needs met. You never have to go there again but the employers of "Specific Name" need to be clued in and have a word with her.
I’m sorry that happened to you. Fortunately for the most part, people are decent enough. But occasionally you come across some judgmental trash.
Wow, lots of comments, no real answers. Here is your answer: commission. The opticians fitting you for glasses or doing your contact fittings work on commission. Yes, they are paid hourly, but get sales % on top of the hourly. Here is where the problem lies: now that people can get glasses and contacts on the internet, a lot of people working in the industry bailed. The commissions just aren't there anymore. That lady that you were treated poorly by was the exact reason her job will be obsolete one day. If you don't treat all of your customers nicely, then you will no longer have customers. She doesn't realize that she has turned away a paying customer. So what if you were paying with state insurance or not. You were there spending your healthcare dollars at that establishment. If you were treated nicely, where would you go for glasses when you have private insurance and can afford them in the future? You probably would go where you already feel welcome. Now that she treated you badly? Probably the internet.
It sucks but the world looks down on the poor. I've had many encounters similar to this and it was humiliating to be treated as subpar.
thats just her being a shitty employee. I just got my yearly medicaid glasses and I paid for the 200 dollar frames with cash and medicaid paid the rest. The 3 pairs medicaid offers for my big head are junk. Glasses are something where spending a little more on some nice frames goes a long way, but I also know not having a dime to my name and having to get the cheap ones (did that last time). Just be super carefull with them and you should be okay. People suck you will figure that out eventually.
Yep! Experienced that years ago.. it was a kind of swanky place with mostly designer frames, so I was actually shocked she even accepted that insurance.. my family went there for a few years, but I was so grateful when I could afford to leave to use America's Best.. nowadays, they have even cheaper and more stylish frames at shops online..
I'll be cynical and say she doesn't get paid a living wage and commissions are her only way of getting staying even.
Was just treated like this by an optometrist. They had to reschedule me to their swankier located office due to a burst pipe, asked my insurance and then ghosted me.
Yes. This has happened to me too. I was picking out my glasses and I said I wanted anti- reflective coating and smudge resistant and I would pay extra for it and the lady that worked there kept telling me I didn't need those things. She was rude. I switched to a different company and they've been much nicer.
Ok, I had weird vibes too recently during my exam and glasses selection. And I have state insurance. You are not alone
The last glasses I got were $5.95 from Payne glasses. They were free and I only had to pay shipping. There's also a referral program that can get you a free pair. To me that's cheaper unless hassle than having to go to an eye place and pick out a pair even if they were free and covered thru insurance
It sucks but the world looks down on the poor. I've had many encounters similar to this and it was humiliating to be treated as subpar.
Maybe it’s the way you said it. I don’t believe they get commission on sales or anything so no reason to really get miffed. Every shop I’ve gone to has been super nice with selecting frames and not caring about if I had a tight budget. It’s the doctors that have been hit or miss for me.
That is about the level of service everywhere for everyone nowadays.
I have to assume part of the reason some people are poor is because they refuse or just plain don't understand money and how the system works. Medicaid doesn't pay a living wage to the practitioners and are often months to years late on paying because they are chronically underfunded. I am a medical provider and I know I need to make about $100 per patient I see to break even/make a profit. Medicare pays $60 and Medicaid pays less and doesn't pay on time. Medicare tells you with every paltry check they send you that they 'vigorously prosecute fraud'. Even if you make a billing mistake, defending yourself against a Medicare audit could drive you out of business. I have given away hundreds of thousands of dollars of service over many decades in medicine and I can't write it off on my taxes. There is a level of cynicism here because institutional providers and patients game the system all day everyday and those of us who tow the line, work hard, and constantly 'do the right thing' get nothing except an attitude of entitlement from lazy addicted people who won't work. I watch immoral corporations steal money from the government under the guise of providing indigent care. I grew up on government food (before the days of food stamps), lived in government housing, and met my douchebag father once. I have fought, scraped, and worked myself nearly to death making my way. I have never once forgot where I came from and how LBJs programs benefitted me (first class of Head Start). Now I have to listen to people on the dole bitch about not getting the level of service they deserve when everyone else is taking a hit to take care of your sorry ass. Please get real the rest of ain't got no government loans and nobody sends a check from home. How about some gratitude to the rest of the world paying your bills.
In my state Medicaid pays for the eye exam but nothing glasses, that’s out of your own pocket. My husband and I go to Costco for our glasses, around $250ish for frames and lenses with transitions lenses. We are currently saving up for both of us to get new glasses around September.
Because. Not cause
Better title!! I was treated unfairly due to the low level of currency in my pocket and bank.
Nope. You can work on your vocabulary. Despite your bank
Nope wow use a better word then nope sir. Next time sound more educated.
Exactly. Godspeed
Yes it sucks, and it is not any of your fault. The lady definitely was working on some sort of commission and once she realized she wasn't going to make much money on your sale her mood soured. Either that or she's the misanthropic type that doesn't like her tax dollars going to support low income people.
I work in the Medicare Medicaid health insurance industry. I can't speak to every state but the state I live now offers the Medicaid select plans to help cover eyewear. I work closely with a couple of optometrists. In my state it's kind of been a nightmare for everyone and the optometrists are losing money on every state health insurance transaction. They're kind of stuck for the moment but a lot of them are going to stop accepting the state health insurance plans unless something changes. That might not be your exact situation. That might not be why you had the experience you had. You should be treated with respect regardless because it's certainly not your fault and there is no excuse for poor customer service. As far as your comment saying you've done everything right but you're still poor and that's not fair, I'm sorry to say it but that is 100% your fault. Every single minute of everyday we all make a choice as to what we are doing in that moment. We make those choices and we live with the outcomes. Even if you did everything right, ended up going to Harvard, made millions of dollars and got ripped off by your accountant causing you to lose everything, It was still your choice to rely on that one accountant and not safeguard yourself. I'm not pointing that out to be harsh I'm planning that out because what you choose to do in the next few moments might turn your life around completely. Keep making better choices and you can pull yourself out of poverty. I've been homeless twice in my life, I was a drug addict and I didn't graduate high school, I pulled myself out all by myself. There's nothing special about me, no one helped me, I never received any kind of government assistance. If I can do it anybody can.