Wizard of Eyes

if i could give 0 stars i would!!! this has by far been the WORST place i have ever been to for eye glasses. my niece needed a new pair of glasses we went in to the «wizard of eyes «
we got there at around 10 to close … i explained the situation to the girl as she just stared at me like i was crazy, anyways she then said you have to come back Monday the computers are «shutdown» so i kindly asked what are her business hours she explained what the hours were i said «oh ok, one last question if someone were to walk in right now and want to purchase a pair of glasses could they? «and she shook her head side to side. i said» oh ok, that makes no sense then why do you have the door open? you close at 5:30 and its not even 5:30 yet!?» a girl from the back (there were 2 woman sitting at the back and 2 in the front one of which was helping me first) she goes (with attitude) «it does make sense my boss wants us to be out the door by 5:30 «i asked again «so why is the door open» (thats exactly what i asked the other woman…)she goes «someone can pick up or make an apt» i said «ok so i mean thats what i was trying to do im here to get help like whatever you can do to help» (in my head im like obviously i wanted to curse this girl out but i just kept myself calm throughout the situation because i knew she just didnt wanna help me and she was also being rude and possibly lazy. you could tell she didnt care much about her job because if she did she would have acted a lot more professional and not rude the way she did. anywho i said «so can i make an apt?! «she goes» yea and tells the first girl to make the apt «(in my head im thinking why is this girl working here she could have told me from the jump to make an apt and this would have never gone this far… oh well) as she grabs the pen the woman in the back goes its not gonna make sense because we dont have ur insurance and we need your information and blah blah blah you should come back monday … i was like «my niece had been here before shes in the system what does that have to do with anything ???» (like seriously this woman doesnt know me from a hole in the wall how does she know if i was gonna pay cash or if i needed insurance??? i was confused at this point and what this woman was saying wasn’t adding up. the only thing that i could understand from her actions were that she didn’t wanna help me let alone make an apt for me lol so i winded up leaving and she told me come back Monday. how I’m feeling i don’t wanna ever go back. i do understand it was a couple of minutes before they close but again why leave the door open? smh please don’t waste your time or your energy or money here. in a business wherever you are it is the people that make it and if you have a group of employees that work somewhere and are rude miserable and hate their job it looks really bad and people don’t wanna be around that. i gave them the benefit of a doubt after reading negative reviews about this place and they proved to me that the reviews are right! thank you Unilocal!!!

They weren’t very nice but I’ll give it a second try to see what happens… The visit went great. The only nice girl really helped me pick out a pair of glasses that looked great. Same day picked ‘e m up!

Horrible customer service!!! Girls are sitting eating food and drinking coffee and talking so they’re too busy to take the time out to ask what you’re there for. She just took my insurance card and assumed I was there for glasses yet she have me a case to take out my contacts! The doctor was annoyed that I wanted both but pricing for contacts hadn’t been discussed with me. He brought me back out to the girl and she told me she didn’t have to ask me because she sees too many people in a day to ask each customer what they need. The doctor stood right there and allowed her to argue (very loudly) with me about customer service and her nasty attitude which prompted me to leave and spend my money else where! The doctor didn’t even care that he would be losing a customer. Twenty minutes later, I spent $ 230 on contacts and the glasses were covered with insurance at nice eyeglass place on 105^th street and 3^rd ave. I will never spend my money with a business who is so rude to their customers. Their loss!!!

I came in early for a walk-​in appointment to get an updated glasses prescription. The women at reception weren’t overly kind, but this is NYC so what are you going to do. The wait wasn’t bad at all, only 15m.
My issue is with the quality of care for the eye exam. Having worn glasses /​contacts for most of my life, I have been to many eye exams and am quite used to the process («…which is clearer, 1… 2…, now 3… 4…»). The optometrist at the Wizard of Eyes was really sloppy, seeming to want to chat more than actually check my prescription (I don’t mind chatting, but I’m paying for a specific service). He quickly flipped through options on both eyes, without really bothering to see which was clearer. The whole ordeal seemed way too fast. They also didn’t do any of the usual additional tests (eye pressure or actually looking at the retina).
The prescription he wrote out seemed strangely off (major differences from my previous prescription and with significant improvements in one eye that seemed quite dubious).
Not feeling confident in the accuracy of the RX, I used a 20 $ exam coupon at another eye doctor that I’d visited previously (Cohen’s). The optometrist there did the full exam, that seems much more in line with previous exam experiences and included all of the usual tests. The second prescription was vastly different from the one from the Wizard of Eyes (by several steps in each eye, and on every other number). I trust the second prescription much more because A) it was a complete exam and B) it’s much closer to my last prescription which hasn’t changed much.
If you need an eye exam, I would definitely recommend going somewhere else, because it’s not worth getting a bad prescription and then dropping hundreds of dollars on a pair of new glasses.

I am writing this review in support of my spouse, who went to this shop to purchase his new glasses because he is originally from the neighborhood. He went to the store on three occasions, to purchase his glasses, to pick them up, and then to request a copy of his prescription (which he is entitled to). Each visit he was treated very discourteously by the office staff, and even more so by the owner. He is an honest man of disability using Medicare to buy his glasses and they treated him like some type of free-​loading criminal. He was spoken to in front of other customers in a most humiliating manner, for no reason, and was asked to leave the store and to never return, all because he requested his frames be adjusted and he be given a copy of his prescription. This is a terrible way to treat another human being, and if I was a customer waiting to be served at this store I would have walked out upon witnessing such appalling behavior. Please avoid or entirely boycott this establishment. there are other optical stores which will treat their customers with the dignity and respect that they are entitled to.

If you ever need a nice quick pair of glasses Wizard of Eyes is the place. Customer service is great. They take care of you as soon you walk answers all your questions. They have nice frame and good prices best of all glasses are done in 1 hour. I personally got myself one. The optician personally came out to make sure my glasses fit me prefect. Will keep my business with them.

I previously made a post on this business on June 11, 2014. The owner Richard Chavis responded to my review but ironically never addressed any of my points regarding his egregious and racist behavior, which should confirm for all existing and future customers of what really happened. This allegation that I am in the business of showcasing his products to purchase online is ridiculous. He has no basis for that conclusion. I am a working professional and I have worked too hard to protect my name and I demand respect. I am offended that you felt that I am trying to cheat you. Please read the other reviews which also points out his discriminatory behavior. A NOTE TO MR. CHAVIS: I did not ask for your permission to take a picture because that is not STANDARD PRACTICE. I have been wearing glasses for 23 years and I have never asked for permission to take a picture of myself to share with others for their thoughts. Let me help you with a business suggestion… PUT UP A SIGN IF YOU FEEL THAT STRONGLY ABOUT IT. But don’t act uncivilized and racist when customers as myself take a picture which they are accustomed to doing when shopping for eyewear. You were being unreasonable and a bigot. Also, when you snatched the glasses out of my hand and covered your case with newspaper, OF COURSE I DIDN’T GET OFF THE PHONE… I WAS TEXTING PEOPLE OF YOUR BEHAVIOR. You assumed I was taking pictures. Word to the wise, not all black people are criminals. You stereotyped me from the moment I walked in and you assumed I was going to cheat you. You owe me an apology, I am a professional with insurance to cover my expenditures. I work on Wall Street but actually wanted to support your business since I live in the neighborhood. I feel bad that you were cheated in the past, but to assume certain types of customer are all the same is the epitome and root cause of insensitivity and racist behavior for which you are guilty of. I took a picture with innocent intent to merely get my girlfriends opinion. You overreacted. For someone who has been in this business for 20 plus years, you should know that a eyewear purchase is a sizable expense and no one will make this kind of purchase without feedback from a friend or loved one, especially in this day and age of the smart phone. As a latino man and entrepreneur, I can just imagine the journey you have taken as a minority business owner, and I would hope you could understand how other minorities feel when they are treated less than a human being, the same way you treated me. Your actions were disgusting. I pray your actions are not shared by your employees, the East Harlem community, the Carmel, New York community, or your family and friends. I wish we could of talked reasonably at the time, but you were too fixated on your stereotypes which clouded your capacity for logic and reason. Not everyone is trying to steal from you, My initial intent was to support your business, I have no time to try and go online to cheat you. You were wrong and I pray you don’t treat anyone else as you treated me.

I left my glasses in a cab my assistant told me to go to the wizard of eyes they have fast service. I had a new pair of thin and light lenses in less than an hour at an amazing price.

I was originally very skeptical to go here because of the location. I couldn’t have been more surprised at how thorough my examination was, how experienced Dr Carmel was and how accommodating the owner was. I have nothing but great things to say about this place — Yes — the front desk people can be a bit rough but I saw some of the super rude, mentally ill and other degrees of diufficult clientelle they had to contend with. I was polite and nice to them and they were polite and nice in return.

I came in to see the doctor at the wizard of eyes optical I was greeted with a smile and seen at a reasonable time. My sales person Karen showed me a pair of Gucci frames for a decent price, promised I would have my glasses in a hour. An hour later I was back to get my glasses. Where I also received a cleaning clothe and spray to clean my lenses. Overall a great experience at the wizard of eyes, great customer service.

I am close by and needed a pair of glasses before an overseas trip. I also had two repairs.
They were very polite to me. Their site guarantees an hour and 15 minutes after we walked out the door they called us back. They fit great, work great and they fixed my other two glasses for no additional charge.
It’s like magic to me.
I highly recommend the Wizard of Eyes.

the only good thing about this place is that they make your glasses while you wait. but the customer service doesn’t exist there. I got a pair of glasses 2 months ago, gave my info to the sales person to look up my credit card account and she applied to a credit card for me without my permision. They did nothing about it, they just don’t understand how credit works, how to handle customers issues that by the way were made by them

RUDE! The women that answer the phone and work the counter, completely RUDE! They don’t actually take the time to listen to you, they don’t seem to even want to help!

So I got my glasses from here about 3wks ago (wanted to spend some time with them before writing a review). First impression: these people don’t want my business (that, or, this must be a terrible place to work!).
NO ONE greeted me at the door and the layout is such they see you coming before your hand is on the handle. One lady was helping a customer, I understand that, but the other looked at me like she wished I’d go away. When she was sure I was there to stay, she dragged her feet to the counter and ripped into an orange while I was speaking to her. She clearly had no interest in selling me anything, but to her credit, she [eventually] answered all my questions. (at one point she turned her back on me in the middle of a question and if I raised my voice any louder to get her attention, it would’ve came off as hostile)
Never mind all that, I just want to get some glasses, right? When I went to Cohen’s 4yrs ago, they had a pretty nice selection for insurance folk. Not the best, but I was satisfied with what I chose. Here, the selection sucks! Nothing I wanted to wear. Eventually, I convinced myself I could settle for the pair I’m wearing now. But I regret these, after all. I got glare-​proofing ($ 60, not covered) and the damn rims seem to intensify all the glare that normally wouldn’t be there if they had the rim-​free glasses I originally wanted. Plus, now I’m noticing that my lenses are actually too thick for the frames and it looks like they’re going to pop out soon.
The lady (different lady from the one that greeted me) wasn’t at all helpful in picking out the glasses. She didn’t even know what it cost to put glare and scratch protection. It was obvious she was in training but no one was really supporting her. Not her fault.
Then the eye exam… Ms. Orange prepped me for the eye doctor. I know I’m not the funniest person around, but is it necessary to be so humorless? Ok, she was probably having a bad day, I’ll lay off her a bit.
But the eye doctor was a miserable wench, too! I waited a half-​hour and spent about 5min’s in there. The lady simply rushed the heck out of me. I’d barely tell her the letters and she’s on to the next one. She kept trying to get me to say I’m satisfied with the lens that was still a little blurry to me. I don’t know much about what goes into an eye exam, but this one did not feel complete. I’m still not sure the prescription I have is right for me, sometimes it feels like overkill. I still haven’t completely gotten over the feeling that everything is pressed up against my face, especially the ground. And I’m more prone to disorientation than before.
Finally, going back to pick up my finished glasses, I’m met with the same indifference as before. I’m handed my glasses in a case and the lady (different one this time) walks away, doesn’t care if I’m satisfied or not. Ok… I ask for my prescription (eye doctor wouldn’t give it to me for some reason) and they make this whole show of how it normally takes 30days but they’ll make an exception for me… really? If they weren’t all such humorless robots, I might’ve thought they were joking.
The owner is the only person that seems to show any life in there. He has a good-​natured salesman voice to him. I don’t trust him, but at least he’s got more charm than these people he’s apparently enslaving.
Why don’t I trust him? He gave me his «special» handkerchief for cleaning my glasses and it not only doesn’t work it makes smudges bigger and I fear it might be scratching them. The handkerchief that came in the glasses case does the job, though.
By the way, I have no receipt for any of this except for my prescription and maybe my debit card statement. They took it when I claimed my glasses. I get the impression they’re not open to returns, or something.
Two stars because I’ve experienced [way!] better, but all in all it was a painless experience. It is almost 99% likely I will never return here again despite how convenient it is.

Attitude central! Avoid! Terrible customer service!

Let me start by saying I have never reviewed any business online before. This one really made me just want to put them out of business.
They are nice to you if you give them money, but the second they hear that you want to get contacts at another place, they treat you like shit and charge extra «fees». I always get my prescriptions and glasses here because they have good prices. I wanted to go back to color contacts so i got another eye exam and was going to go to costco/​1800 contacts since this place charges twice as much for contacts. No one had told me that I needed the brand of the contacts written on the prescription and i didn’t know because i always have been able to get contacts, color and glasses with one prescription. I went back to the Wizard of Eyes to ask if they could correct the problem for me. They rudely told me to speak to the doctor that examined me, i came back and they told me to speak to the manager, so i came back again. Before I could even explain my point, the manager told me (already pissed) that it would cost another 50 bucks to get the exam done over so they can fit me for color contacts (i’ve worn them for years in the past). He began telling me how he has bills to pay and that i was NOT a «customer», i was a «shopper». I already spent 75 for the exam because I have been getting prescriptions from them and he said it generally costs 100 for new customers. I asked if I could spend 25 and call it even since no one ever told me i needed a separate prescription (we were both at fault). He began going into how i was trying to cheat them when all i wanted was the prescription i paid for. He told me that he needs to pay his employees and that with all the cheap white people (I’m pretty sure he was white) moving into the neighborhood he was going to probably have to start charging more and not begin able to give such good deals… He said how he has to pay the doctor 500 a day to examine people and that i couldn’t understand how a business works. I have worked in advertising, retail, and customer service and i understand a lot about logic and what makes sense. I told him that the doctor is not busy all day and he pays them regardless if they see anyone or not. So for that 15 mins he/​she would be sitting there waiting for a «customer» I could be there spending an additional 25 dollars. He basically said come back tomorrow, pay the 50 dollars and thats it. He said I would have to get the prescription filled somewhere, and i told him no i dont, i can just stick to my regular clear contacts which i already have the prescription for.
I know how to speak to people and never gave an attitude or threatened anything, but their store motto must be related to F anyone who isn’t going to give us MORE money. I will most likely never go back and just shop at costco. The exam cost more, but at least it balances out with the price of the contacts. I mean come on, how can you tell someone who just bought something from you and has before that they are NOT a customer? The way you handle this situation is to work with the person to insure that they come back, he told me that I wasn’t supporting his business, well he wasn’t supporting me as a customer. I wasn’t trying to cheat them and I was willing to pay a little extra to get what I wanted from the start, but he was not willing to work with me. It was his way or the highway. Well now he lost my support and any future support i would bring through exams, glasses, repairs and recommendations (i’ve told friends to go there).

Cheap transition lenses. Hassle-​free.
Remind me that I need to go here next week…