Quality Optical

I’ve used Quality Optical for my lens without issue. The selection is extremely large and I’ve never had any concerns with the staff when ordering or picking up my purchases.

Recently, I discovered an internet retailer who has a unique iPad app that allows you to take a photo of your face, and then uses the resulting photo to try on glasses from a large number of manufacturers. What a great concept of being able to view hundreds of styles in your own home, and spend the time narrowing down what really resonates in terms of taste.
I used the app to narrow down their vast selection to 6 different companies, and thought I would call Quality Optical to see if they carried any of these suppliers and the frames I selected. I called Bruce at Quality Optical in advance, and when he confirmed that they carry 2 – 3 of these frame manufacturers, I came into the store.
You would think that Quality Optical would be thankful that I chose to do business with them, rather than give the opportunity to this internet retailer. Think again. Bruce checked on the styles I preferred, and immediately either discredited some of them, or stated that he used to carry this or that style, but none were in stock. He also seemed very defensive about the prices offered by the Internet retailer without me raising a single question about pricing.
I mentioned to him that I have coverage under my employer’s VSP vision plan, which their company participates in as a provider. He responded by asking me «what’s in it for me/​» when I asked if it were possible to order any of the frames of the lines they do carry but did not have in stock. Unbelievable! I was taken back by the arrogance of this local retailer dealing with a past customer. He reluctantly offered to order ONE FRAME from the manufacturers that he carried at no-​risk, but nothing more.
I ordered one single pair, hoping that it was the right selection, and came back home. I went back online to the internet retailer, and again checked out their pricing and selection. I ended up chatting with an internet rep, who helped guide my selection and even offered expedited shipping and a $ 50 credit towards an order.
Their prices were even less than my discounted price via Quality Optical with my VSP discount rates, and they offered a free upgrade to polycarbonate lenses. What’s more, I could order 2 – 3 frames with lenses made to my prescription, and have 30 days to evaluate them before deciding to keep them, or return them for a 100% refund including return shipping! What’s more, if I opted to take a 15 day trial, they would not charge my credit card until the end of the 15-​day evaluation, still giving me up to 30 days to decide whether to keep them. All done with a smile and an attitude that suggested that they valued my business. With a quick iPhone picture of my prescription and a text message to their office, my glasses were immediately put into production, and my expedited shipping for the order placed on Saturday would reach me no later than the following Tuesday!
It seems to me that my preference of supporting the local merchant and «little guy» may be wrong-​headed. It seems that the internet has created a competitor who seems more interested in my business, carries more selection of inventory at cheaper prices (not that this was my objective) and can get me the finished product faster. Candidly, the negative and undeserving attitude suggests to me that Quality Optical, and other «last century» eyeglass retailers will soon go the way of the milkman who delivered milk to your outside box by the garage, and the iceman who delivered ice to your door. If these old school merchants cannot figure out how to compete in the 21^st century, and are going to take a «business-​as-​usual» attitude and ask me to kiss their #&#& rather than provide me with a range of products and ability to cater to my needs, let them dwindle into obscurity and close their doors.
«What is in it for me/​» still sticks in my craw as an amazing comment. Let’s see … how about a sale of a frame and lens set at a discounted fee schedule that you, not I, agreed to when you signed an agreement with VSP to become a participating provider? Would you prefer that I had not come in at all so that your small supply of frames sits on the wall? Guess what? Wish granted.
For this experience, I would rate NO stars, but that option did not exist, and so I’ve given them one, which was far more than deserved.