Laurier Optical

The single worst company I’ve dealt with this year, returned two pairs of glasses for a refund that was promised in the beginning of January… For the past 6 weeks all I’ve been getting is The cheques is in the mail, we don’t know how to do a refund on visa, ect… Had to file a dispute with visa. Talked to Lex at head office BTW.

Let me begin by saying I am a single 35 year old female with no children, no debt, a full time job, moderate cost of living expenses and a fairly decent chunk of disposable income and an affinity for haute couture, in other word: I AM YOUR TARGET MARKET!
That being said, upon entering Laurier Optical in the Rideau Centre I was completely ignored. This is not the first time that’s happened at this location (in the summer I was in the market for prescription sunglasses and looked here), but this most recent experience really irked me. I want to get new frames by the end of the year and since I tend to stick with glasses I like for a long time I really have no price limit — I’ll pay whatever as long as I’m getting what I like.
After browsing for a bit and realizing no one was going to offer help I asked one girl behind a desk to unlock a case so I could look at a few frames. She said absolutely nothing to me, grabbed a key and unlocked the case without ever making any eye contact or even coming to a complete stop, unlocking the case as she was already turning around, and not even opening the door of the case. Uh, thanks. While I was looking at a few frames another lady did ask if I needed help, but since she was about to sit down with another customer I’m not sure what sort of help she could have provided, and it came off as more of a patronizing «we know you’re here so don’t try to steal anything» comment. By that time I had already decided I didn’t want to buy anything here anyways and was just looking at styles that I might want to find at other stores.
The only factor keeping this from a one star review is that they did seem to have a good deal on frames; regular prices are comparable with most other brick and mortar stores, but the sale prices dropped many designer frames by about 40%. So if you are looking for high end frames at a good deal, and can put up with exceptionally crappy service it’s worth checking out. I would rather pay more for my glasses and get exceptionally good service though.

Had an eye exam at the same location and used to buy my eyeglasses and contacts at this same store for the past 10+ years.
After my eye exam I went to ask about contact lenses and was told if I did not like Accuvue I could just look at the book they had with price list…
Absolutely no help in deciding what would be best for me.
When asked what brand I used was told they are no longer being made and told if I did buy them to get them from the same place (wow how helpful).
I then asked if there was a way to obtain samples and if there was a fitting fee as I had not bought contacts there in a couple years and was told they do not have samples and if I wanted some to just buy the contacts.
So apparently they no longer do fittings at this location and you can only order contacts now.
Also, I was interested in buying a new pair of eyeglasses and all the salesperson there (guy with glasses at the desk) did was hand me a coupon that said there is a discount when you get a eye exam.
At no time was any effort made to try and look up my customer info in their computer.
As well, my eye exam was not so great.
Was told that an issue with my eyelid «was cosmetic» even after I told the optometrist (Dr. Zhang) that it was considered a functional issue and covered under OHIP (as my 2 previous eye surgeries were paid by OHIP before).
So to have a Dr completely miss this is just not good.
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One more «issue» to take note of is that when the Rideau Store went from paper files to a computerized system that over half of their client info was lost and the store/​company did not keep any record of the paper files before checking this and realizing a lot of their client info was missing.
I found this out when I went to get a minor repair on a pair of eyeglasses and was told they could not find my info and so was not a client of their store.
While, I had bought at least 6 pairs sunglasses and 5 prescription eyeglasses at this location alone.
Plus years of ordering my contact lenses from the Rideau store, as well.
I do not like leaving overly negative reviews and did try to give this store quite a few extra chances to be better and even wondered why I kept on trying when this store does not seem to give respect to most customers.
If you do get contact lenses at this store, all the staff will try and push– no shove Accuvue brand down your throat… or well into your eyes more likely.
There is always a extra rebate for the Accuvue brand if you order them and the store prob makes more money on those I guess.
I used to buy another brand and some colored contacts (Freshlook) and the store staff went as far as telling me they ordered my colored lenses and would call to tell me they were in and I go to the store only to see they ordered a year supply of Accuvue and are trying to get me to buy it (even when those lenses keep falling out of my eyes and do not work for me).
This happened to me 3 times at the Rideau store and made me buy my contacts at another store instead.