Spex

This store has really gone downhill and we won’t be returning. Long wait time, rude sales help and a terribly disorganized optometrist. The one shining star is a young woman who assisted my daughter in learning how to use contacts. Spare yourself the attitudes and go elsewhere.

My family has been seeing the optometrist, Sanela Puskar, for several years, and she is a top professional. I used to have trouble getting the prescription just right, but she nails it every time, and the shop fulfills the scrip reliably. They have modern equipment (no more puffing air into your eyes) and a good attitude. The 4 starts instead of 5 is because the frames are pretty good – I’ve bought several there – but sometimes I have to keep shopping. Larry is very helpful, and does what a salesman needs to do: he tries to get you to consider changing up your style and going with something more contemporary (that fits your face). The prices are higher than I’d like, but sometimes I have to cough it up when the frames good.

I finally had the to go back for some shades. My experience was so positive that I am pushing my review up to 5 stars.
If you like Spex product lines I strongly encourage you to visit the Evanston store!

Bumping up my review to 3.5 stars. After posting the initial review about my eye exam, I got a call from the manager of this store, which I ignored because that’s what I do (sorry). Then I got a handwritten letter, sent to my house, with an apology and a hefty gift certificate!
I no longer live or work in the Evanston area, so I won’t be back at Spex anytime soon – but I hope they take my advice to heart, and I’m glad they’re working on their customer service; the manager went above and beyond in this instance.

I entered the store and no one acknowledged, asked me if I needed help. No greeting at all!!! The worse customer service I have ever experienced! I saw some really nice glasses, but no one bothered to help me!!! I was really appauled because as a nurse at the hospital I treat people with respect. The store was empty, but I guess they were to busy doing nothing to help me. My 1 star rating is to much for this place.

I have been going to SPEX for a decade. They have the coolest frames anywhere in Chicagoland. I receive compliments on every frame I buy from them.
And, Peggy is the world’s best optician. I would never purchase my glasses from anyone else.
Today, I was lucky enough to meet the sales rep from the Seraphin and OGI brands — also very nice and knowledgeable.
If you have to wear glasses, this is the only place to shop!
P. S.– Tyler helped me out today (²⁄₂₁). He is super cool and has excellent taste in frames. You must go to this SPEX location for your new glasses!

Honestly, this place is pretty shady. They will add on unnecessary services for a fee without asking you (they have some sort of specialized exam that is totally unnecessary for people who see an opthamologist separately and just need a glasses/​lens prescription from an optometrist). Also, I went in for a contact lens fitting and afterward they tried to sell me contact lenses that were more expensive than what I could get elsewhere. When I said that I wouldn’t be buying lenses from them, they said the fee for the contact lens fitting would increase as a result. Getting them to print my prescription/​refraction for me so that I could take it with me was like pulling teeth.

I’ve had two exams here over the course of a couple of years. A few years ago, the doctor I had was rude, and seemed annoyed with me even being there. But, I had a neutral experience with the doctor who did my contact lens check up a few days later. Two years later when I needed new glasses, I debated going elsewhere, but ultimately was lazy. Spex is near my house and could get me in over lunch. The female doctor I had this time around was fine. The staff in the store area was very nice and helpful. However, holy cow are their glasses expensive! I have insurance that is supposed to cover a decent amount and they were still too much! I have to agree with others who say that they’re not upfront about their charges. I was informed that I’d have «copays» for lens coatings, etc. They have various fees for the different scratch resistant coatings, etc., all of which are included if you go with a place like Warby Parker. Wish I’d just gone that route for the glasses-​would have saved me about $ 300.

I’m afraid to say this store is still NOT upfront about costs despite the negative remarks on Unilocal,which i unfortunately didn’t read until after the event. I recently made an appointment here to have my eyes tested and whilst doing so enquired about my VSP insurance plan and asked what it covered. I was assured by Michael that I would only have «a very small amount to copay, maybe $ 10 or so».
A few days later I arrived for said test which seemed to be done in 3 stages. Prior to this I was handed a clipboard and asked to read and sign the statement on it. The first stage of the test was getting some tests done in a side room with one of the Docs assistants. Stage 2 was the actual test which was very good, the Doctor did a good job explaining the various tests, for one of which she had to dilate my pupils. After the test was complete she sent me back in to pick out frames and said she would call me back into her room soon. I did think it strange that I was being asked to pick out frames some of which cost several hundred dollars despite the fact she knew I couldn’t focus on anything and I did make this point to Michael and told him I would come back the next day when I would actually be able to see again. After a while she did call me back in and gave me a dark visor for the drive home which was nice. Then I went to pay for my test and was handed a bill for $ 60 not $ 10. TBH i didn’t say anything at this point as I still couldn’t see and was a bit flustered.
The following day i returned to pick out frames as promised and eventually settled on a pair that had a sticker price of $ 150. I did pick a different color to the one on display but wasn’t informed of a price difference. Lo and behold when I got home and checked my receipt i was actually charged $ 190 for my frames.
A few more days passed when I got a call to say that my frames were in. I brought my receipt to the store with me at this stage to query both the cost of the eye exam and the frames. Remember the clipboard, apparently the hidden costs for the eye exam are mentioned there despite being verbally assured that I would be only $ 10 out of pocket. The extra $ 40 for the frames was because I picked a different color, again I was not advised of this at the time. All in all I feel that I paid $ 90 more than I thought I was going to have to spend. So for me the bottom line is that if you’re going to use this store go in with your EYES OPEN and take what you’re told with a pinch of salt. This was my second pair of frames here at a total cost of close to $ 900 and I won’t be going back.

Do NOT go here for an eye exam. I made the mistake of doing this once and despite the fact that my terrific insurance is supposed to cover this, this is the one and only place where they tacked on extra fees not covered by the insurance.
I did go back a second time with a prescription for another place (since I knew of their eye exam scam but still found they had a good selection of frames). Customer service in the showroom is only so-​so, as well. One person was too busy making a personal call to bother with me… so I browsed for a while until someone else finally finished with a customer and came to my assistance. She consistently steered me towards the most expensive frames in the showroom… telling me the most costly ones looked best. I should have taken a friend along for more feedback, as when I eventually got my glasses that cost $ 1500 (!!) my husband thought they were not good on my face and it was too late to send them back. I did order clip-​on sunglasses to go with them for $ 150 or so extra. and they came back in a color different from the frames, despite the fact that the showroom person at Spex told me they would be the same two-​toned color as the frames. I did tell her I would not accept the sun-​clips since they were not as she described them… and miracle-​oh-​miracle, she was suddenly able to reorder them in the proper color! This was my second attempt to use this neighborhood store… I will not be returning again.
DO what a friend does: go to browse their frames, then order the same frames for half the price at another more normally priced independent place.
I thought this place was an independent place, which was why I initially went there – but they are a chain so you are not supporting an independent local business when you shop here.

I was surprised to see some really bad reviews of this Spex. I have been a customer for 2 or 3 years and always had a very good experience. It’s a nice store with friendly/​helpful staff, a lot of choices at various price points, although I have to admit that they target an upscale market. This is not For Eyes or a place like that.
When I first came to Spex I had a prescription from another store in Evanston that was close to my house. I had an exam and couldn’t decide on a frame. Eventually I stopped in at Spex and fell in love with a pair of «frameless» glasses, which the other store didn’t carry. So I gave them my prescription and ordered the glasses. When they came, I was really disappointed because I could not see as well as with my old glasses. They did an exam and found that the other store had made an error. They didn’t charge me for the exam and ordered a new pair of glasses. Needless to say, I was impressed and grateful.
Earlier this week I broke one of the arms on my glasses. I stopped in and they installed a temporary one and ordered a new one. It arrived today (2 days later). They installed the new arm, gave me a cleaning cloth and liquid and I was out of there in less than 5 minutes. I’m impressed again.
As for the person commenting that they don’t provide attention. I love that. When I’m shopping, the last thing I want is someone hovering over me like I’m at a used car lot.
As for being up front about cost, I didn’t have this experience. The lady wrote out a detailed cost for me when I was buying my glasses.

I love my «Hit Parade» glasses! The wonderful, knowledgable staff helped me pick them out and I feel beautiful when I wear them. I am definitely going back.

SOOO friendly and inviting!!! I really enjoyed my experience there. I only wish that their variety of styles was a bit larger. Many of the glasses looked exactly alike.

This was my first encounter with Spex. The shop is conveniently located in my neighborhood. I was greeted by Kristy, who patiently helped select my frames and professionally assisted me through the process. She took considerable care to make sure my glasses were the right style and fit. I understand that the prices are a little higher, but the service and selection made it worthwhile. I’m very happy with my new glasses and plan to be back at Spex for the next change.

Customer service both at this and the Lincoln Square location have been terrible! Do not waste your time with a visit to this store. Walking into this small boutique-​type store, one would believe that he or she would be greeted with a «hello?» Nope, not here. I came on a Saturday to the Evanston location looking for a pair of glasses and was not once offered any assistance. No one said a word to me. Were they busy? Nope! Just rude, every single time I have been in here. Disinterested sales staff is quite out of their way rude when they do decide to finally speak with you. AVOID Spex like the plague. I truly hope to see this place out of business within the year. You simply do not treat your customers like this and expect to keep your doors open.
Glasses and sun glasses selection is really quite crappy! But that wont matter because you wont get any help looking or fitting anyway. TOTAL WASTE OF TIME!

I’ve been getting my glasses here for over 10 years – as has my wife and kids, my sisters and dad – and I swear by Peggy and her taste level. For us it’s been nothing but great experiences with her. She takes her time, she gives you an honest opinion, and she’s excellent at finding you the right frames. And I see other people waiting for her as well.
It may be that people are turned off by the prices, which can be high. But I don’t put a price on quality service, and I’m fine with shelling out the dough for a more expensive pair of glasses that I wind up wearing for years.

So Spex runs a scam. You came in because your insurance will pay for the eye exam so they hand you a piece of paper and say read… you sort of start to read and ask if you need to sign it. They say you do not need to sign so you give up.
Then some lady grabs you into a dark room for a «pre exam» .
Only after the eye exam is completed you find out that you are required to pay extra 50 bucks for that pre exam on which your insurance will not pay.

I try to avoid going to optometrists for my annual eye exam because in my experience (I’ve had glasses for 23 years!), they don’t know what they are doing. The lovely Northwestern University student insurance does not cover routine eye exams by ophthalmologists, so I reluctantly went to an optometrist last year for my vision prescriptions (wish they didn’t expire after a year!). My experience at this Spex on Central only reaffirmed my previous dislike.
The Good:
I chose Spex because it seemed like a hip place with a good selection of cool frames, so maybe the eye exam would also be a step up from my previous experieces at eyeglasses stores. The interior is nice, with a modern lime green and brown color scheme and the selection of frames is great. They have a lot of cool brands with great design elements, like La Font, Lindberg, and Oliver Peoples. The optometrist, Sanela Puskar, was pretty friendly, but she was the only one.

The Bad:
First of all, they took every opportunity to sell sell sell. I came only for a contact lens prescription. I told Dr Puskar that I was happy with my Acuvue Oasys lenses and was not interested in trying the Optix lenses they were peddling at Spex (there was a pitch about its unique extra oxygen-​permeability). Furthermore, it was unclear when my exam was really over, so I ended up having to ask the staff for my contacts prescription. I was told that they knew my prescription. When I said I needed to know it too (!!), they gave me a prescription but wrote «copy» in the signature field. Huh?! They overall made it very difficult for me to be able to get contacts or glasses elsewhere.
After putting in the drops to dilate my pupils, Dr Puskar told me to go see a woman outside the exam room (while another patient came in for their exam!). It turned out to be a sales woman who proceeded to have me try on different frames all over the store for about 20 mins. I am fairly blind, which Dr Puskar was well aware of, having just done my eye exam – I could not see what I looked like with the glasses on! Besides that, why were they having me go into the brightness when my eyes are being dilated? I’ve never been made to leave an exam room while my pupils are dilating! I followed along for a bit b/​c I was really confused. Was my appointment over? I asked why were they making me try on glasses, and they said it was because I had to wait anyways so it gave me something to do. I told them that was pointless if I can’t see anything, so then they sat me down to have me pay my bill; as I recall it was around $ 300! I did not understand how or why it was that expensive, and I felt cornered b/​c I couldn’t see and couldn’t ask the doctor about it, since she was in with another patient.
Somewhere in the midst of all this, I started to feel really dizzy. I have never in my life had this happen from getting my eyes dilated. When she came out, Dr Puskar was pretty nice and offered me water, and told me to lie on the floor in the back if I thought I was going to faint, so I wouldn’t get hurt (wow). I just sat in Spex for about an hour and a half waiting to feel somewhat normal so I could drive home. If only I’d gone to the Dempster St location, then I could have walked home… but they aren’t open on Wednesdays. (weird??)
I spoke to my mom while waiting, who told me that she’s gotten additional drops before that reverse the dilation. The doctor was in with another patient, so I asked the sales lady who’d been helping me about whether it’s possible for me to get «un-​dilated», but she was rude and very dismissive. I think she was helping another customer, but she knew full well that I was unable to leave the store because I was feeling so sick. When she finally let me speak to her, she said she didn’t know and I’d have to wait for the eye doctor to come back out (she was with another patient as well). How very unhelpful. I was asking her to interrupt the exam; if I were that patient, I wouldn’t have minded having that happen for someone who is sick b/​c of the exam. It turns out that they don’t have the undilating drops. They use a different kind of drops that my former eye doctor was surprised to hear anyone was still using.
In the end I left though I was still feeling lightheaded. On the way out I FINALLY got to talk to the manager, who made the sales lady apologize to me, and got me a real prescription I could take elsewhere. I had to tell her, however, that there was no way I could choose let alone buy glasses from them, right then, because I was about to pass out. Why is it so hard just to get that piece of paper? They did interrupt the optometrist this time, so she could sign the Rx and I could be on my merry way.
I ended buying a pair of glasses I’d tried on at Spex, but from a different optical shop. I love these glasses, thanks to Spex for introducing them to me!

I have to say that everyone at this location was polite, helpful, and conciderate of my time.
I found Peggy to be very upbeat, helpful and very much about customer service.
There was also a gentleman who assited me in picking out my glasses who was very Helpful and gave excellent customer service. I found there prices to not be the lowest but still a great value for the selection of upscale designers they carry.
I would be very suspect about the negative reviews of this location. I found the customer service to be top notch and everyone from the receptionist to the optometrist to be as polite and helpful as they come.
I tried Spex because it is close to my work but I definitely go back for all my eye care needs.

Just had a terrible time with this place. Bought a pair of prescription Oakley’s from this place. The customer service was great and I ended paying around $ 300 (so they were not cheap) but I love the shades and it was worth it.
Fast forward to a month later the shades fall apart when I am putting them on … since I only wear the shades when driving the shades sit in the car when not in use, I was concerned as to how they broke this soon. I called Spex and they asked me to come in. I did and I told them that I had paid extra for their «Total Care» plan which clearly states that you get one full free replacement for the first year.
Well they took unusually long to return my shades and when they did they told me that I would have to pay them $ 15. Now that is not a lot of money, but it is the principal of the thing. I showed them the literature of my coverage that clearly listed that the $ 15.00 fee was only to be paid if the manufacturer did not cover the warranty. Since this was a new pair and Oakley did replace it, then why should I still be charged.
The sale associate was really nice her name is Stacy. She really did a fantastic job of both handling the situation and the whole ordeal. But the manager of the store, I think her name is Peggy, she was rude and completely unreasonable … she could not answer why I was still charged for a very expensive pair of glasses even after I had purchased additional warranty. She started talking about how much the store had to pay for shipping and handling … at that point I realized I am not going to get anywhere with her. While I still talking to her she started helping someone else.
I paid the money and left, but Peggy will definitely not see me in that store again. I will go back to my usual place (lenscrafters) that really do know how to treat a client.