Optometry By the Bay

I’ve been seeing Dr. Respecio for over 6 years. He’s a great doctor. However, the service from the ladies who run the reception area are clueless. Make sure if you order anything, you follow-​up as they have a tendency to forget and 2 weeks later you’re back to placing the order again! Please bring back Eliza and Esmerelda! They were the smartest, friendliest and most personable staff the office ever had. If someone knows what optometrist office they’re now working at, please post.

I’ve been going to Dr. Respicio for the past 5 – 6 years and some how the service here has been declining each year. I have no problem what so ever with Dr Respicio but the office itself has got me weary. Almost 2 months ago I received a e-​mail notification that my annual eye exam was coming up so I booked an appointment. The day before my appointment I get a call from one of the assistants and tell me I’m unable to be seen because it was still within a year of my eye service and that I should be seen in 2 weeks. Okay fine but why was the e-​mail notification sent so early and how come the assistant who I talked to didn’t notice this when my appointment was booked? Finally I was seen and was given some trial lenses and usually I would get a follow up call to see how I like the trial lenses. Nope, didn’t receive a call from anyone for almost 3 weeks so I ended up calling the office. Yesterday, ⁸⁄₂₄ I went to their office before 5:30pm to pick up my contacts, WTF office was closed. Ugh! Going to find another optometrist. I think I’m done with this place.

Went back to see Dr. Respecio as my old glasses had scratches. Had a great experience with almost everyone. Once my prescription was identified, a guy inserted himself into the measurement for my graduated lenses. He insisted on explaining everything he was doing in very technical terms that I literally did not understand. And I love technology! Some sort of new method, I gathered. Very frustrating and time consuming.
However, when I got those glasses the measurements were way off. I could see perfectly at a distance, but seeing my computer monitor required an abnormal head tilt. And anything closer was a disaster.
I went back and they simply applied my old lenses graduated lenses system to my new prescription. Less than a week later, my new glasses arrived and were perfect!
I have never had better vision. 5 stars to Dr. Respicio and his staff, but knocking off a star for guy who did the first fitting.

I found this office on a list of VSP providers through my job, and I am so happy I chose this one. Dr. Gabe and his staff are all really nice and helpful. I felt nervous going in because this was my first time getting glasses but I had a full informational, and interruption– free eye exam. I really liked that Dr. Gabe told me what I needed and let me decide if I wanted any extras without being pushy.

Person who took our sunglass orders didn’t have good customer service. It’s like she didn’t want to order them. I felt like she quietly sighed throughout the whole process. And when she charged our card, my husband saw her whispering to the other receptionists. That was rude. Dr Respicio is really really nice. It’s why we come back every year. The original 3 assistants that we see there year after year are the ones we’re used to. They’re really nice and PATIENT. Assistants that were there today are not so friendly. Only the one younger girl was. If we have to deal with this kind of service again, I’m switching to another doctor. I’m giving 1 star for the customer service. But 5 stars for Dr. Respicio.

My husband was the one that needed glasses. His experiance was fine. They said that his glasses would take up 4 weeks. WOW! 4 weeks?! Really?! With technology now still 4 weeks?! Where do they get the frames all the way from China?! The lense it self what from India?! Anyway we got the glasses and he was happy with it. Then of course knowing my husband he put it down at his work and someone stole them. So we requested the same exact one and after more then 4 weeks the glasses was still not there. That was week 6. The receptionist looked confused and was not sure why the glasses was taking so long. The lense was there but not the frame. After couple more weeks we got a call saying the glasses was ready. So my husband came in. I stayed home and got a call from him saying that they ordered the wrong frame. OMG! Really?! So he showed the extract frame that we ordered and the receptionist took it and install the lense in it. Their frames are expensive so I’m thinking well since it was a display frame we should get a discount or something. Told my husband to contact them and see what they could do. Afraid of knowing my husband he never did it. But I will. =) We will see what they will say.
So my advice to people… If you don’t want to wait a month in a half for your glasses and you want to make sure that you got what you wanted stay away from this place. Sure the ladies was nice ladies and the place look welcoming but if you get migrane from not having a glasses; customer service and the place wont matter.

I am seriously regretting ordering my glasses from this place. I went the extra distance since this place had the TagHeuer frames that I wanted and they are open on Saturdays. I was told that my glasses would be ready in 1 – 2 weeks. It has now been two weeks and the glasses are still not ready and they have yet to even leave the lab. I explained to Angelica that I needed to pick them up before I leave on an extended business trip, but she seemed as if she could care less. She said that they will be there next week, but unfortunately I will be too far away to pick them up for the next month.
In a world where glasses can be made in an hour, why does this place take more than 2 weeks. My husband ordered his glasses the same day from another optical shop and had them in less than a week.
Now they are trying to shake me down for $ 30 express shipping fee because they were unable to meet their commitment to delivering a product on time.

I have been going to Dr. Gabe since they opened thru friends recommendation. Dr. Gabe was very nice, calm and very professional. The previous office staff were very nice and efficient when the clinic was just starting. After a few years I started noticing how the office staff started to change. I was so disappointed when they started charging $ 70 as my copay when I was only paying $ 10 from the previous years. And when I started to question one of the office staff, she really did not explain very well as to why my copay has increased!!! And also shouldn’t I get notified in the beginning if there were any changes or whatever on my coverage and in this case my copay!!! I had no choice but to pay that amount so I can get the hell out of that office! I have called and left them a voicemail the next day to find out exactly if my insurance coverage has changed or if they have increased their rates for an eye exam because of how much I got charged for a copay! NO RESPONSE TO MY VOICEMAIL!!! Called them again with a message to call back and guess what? NO RESPONSE! I have called the third time and finally talked to someone, and of course I did not get a straight answer! so my final request was to fax my Rx to me so I can have a copy. She said that she will do it right away, so I’ve waited but I HAVE NEVER RECEIVED MY PRESCRIPTION!
With this BAD experience, I will be going somewhere else and wouldn’t recommend to anyone I know. Dr. Gabe was really nice but it’s very disappointing to deal with his office staff! He should hire better people who knows what the heck they are doing!

The doctors at Optometry by the Bay helped me discover an issue with my son’s eye sight and are helping me to provide treatment. I am very glad that I came to Optometry by the Bay as the doctors have taken the time to examine him carefully and come up with the best treatment for him! Thanks!

I found Dr. Respicio very professional in his approach. I like his calm and polite personality. He really cares for your eyes. His staff and office is also very cool.
I have been going to him for years now and will highly recommend him

am i underprescribed? excellent word. because i squint from the back of class… maybe i think too hard when they ask, is it better from 1 or 2…1…or 2? i get a lot of compliments on the frames they recommended, tho! sexy staff or not, my top secret review algorithm must be more critical! to update rating on next visit…

Had an appointment today… But was called yesterday to tell me that my appointment was canceled due to an emergency. What a coincidence that was since they’ve done that to me before?! I’m a working mother of two young kids so I’ve taken time out of my schedule to make this appointment about a month ago!
With this experience I will be going somewhere else and wouldn’t recommend to anyone I know. Dr. Respicio was very nice and it’s unfortunate that I can’t rely on this office with my appointments to follow through.
***UPDATE*** In response to the Drs comment below I most definitely understand that I wouldn’t want to expose my kids with a «virus» that the Dr may or may not have. I too work for a Drs office and if he had been sick all week then I think as a courtesy to me I should have been called at the beginning of the week rather than the day before, in fact your staff called to confirm my appointment! So if the «virus» was the actual reason your staff canceled my appointment then I would advise your staff to tell me that was the case instead of it being an emergency!
I’m not surprised you don’t care about losing business, maybe that’s why you continue to lose stars on Unilocal and have an explanation for everyone that writes you a bad review… Hmmm… just saying. Maybe your not so nice afterall.

If I could give place zero stars I would. Had no idea how unpleasant my experience was going to get. Boy was I in for a surprise. Visited this place more than six times wasted over 8 hours in this office. Only to get the wrong prescription twice! Then told I shouldn’t go elsewhere and should have gave them up to 90 times to get it right. This was the eye Dr who told me this. My insurance still paid the Dr. for his services even though he failed to get my prescription right. On top of my insurance they charged me $ 120 for a contacts fitting fee. I asked if I could get a refund for what I paid out of pocket since the contacts were under prescribed. Dr. said though the vision was wrong he still put in the work and spent his time with me. That he shouldn’t give me a refund at all but would be willing to give me half of my money. I got a phone call saying I could pass by to pick up the check. And when I got there I was told the check was not written out. The receptionist seen what I had gone though and felt so bad she dropped of the check at my house during her lunch break. THIS PLACE IS A BIG WAIST OF TIME AND MONEY. I went to someone else and in no time I got my vision back. It sucks having to drive to work at four in the morning and work a eleven hour day without being able to see out one eye. He under prescribed me and told me I should be able to see. What a money hungry jerk.

The Dr. is so awsome! He really gets to know his patients, & truly cares about the health of your eyes. The staff & the Dr. are, so sweet & go out of thier way to help you.
I will never go back to Eye exam 2000 again!
They have a huge selection of the latest fashion glasses as well.

Dr. Gabe and his staff are awesome. They have an excellent selection of frames. Their personal touch and friendliness has made my experience better than any visit I had at a
national eye glass retailer.

My family and I go to Optometry by the Bay for all of my family’s optical needs. The staff at OBTB is friendly, organized, and efficient. They never fail to welcome you with a smile every time you walk in the office. They are very accommodating when it comes to scheduling appointments. The office itself is very clean and exhibits a modern décor. In the waiting area, we enjoy watching the large plasma screen that displays Dr. Respicio’s photographs to help the waiting time quickly pass by.
It is apparent that Dr. Respicio utilizes the latest technology for his eye examinations. The germaphobe in me especially appreciates how the staff takes the time to sanitize the equipment before each patient. Recently, my daughter had to undergo her very first eye examination because she needed to get eyeglasses. Dr. Respicio helped her feel at ease and comfortable during her eye examination. Afterward, she said it was a lot of fun and she even quickly found a pair of pink frames that she loves to wear! Who knew wearing eyeglasses could be fun?!?
Dr. Respicio is patient and takes the time to answer all of your questions. His eye examinations are thorough and detailed. The selection of eyewear is extensive. I highly recommend that you visit Dr. Respicio at Optometry by the Bay.

Aggravating. I found Dr. Respicio to be somewhat unattached, even rude, and the place was a mess. Not recommended.

I’ve been through a number of optometrists and by far Dr. Respcio is the most thorough of them all. Great expertise, updated techology, a large selection of frames and a wonderful crew (Lourdes is super!) My entire family have all switced to him and I’ve told all my friends he’s the best! FN

Great place so far; just had my first visit! I was impressed with the updated technology– I’ve never seen a picture of the inside of my eye before. Quick check-​up, and thorough evaluation of my insurance plan and what it exactly covered. Best thing: even though my daugher didn’t need glasses, the insurance still covered them, so they suggested getting her sunglasses. Never had that happen before! I will be returning.

I found Dr Gabe Respicio through the Hercules Chapter of BNI, the Dynamic Referral Group (see
)
The office is pretty cool and offers designer and non designer glasses. I told Dr Respicio some of the challenges I’ve found in picking a pair of glasses for me in the past, and he was kind enough to bring in some frames that I might be interested in from his Daly City office! I ended up choosing one of them as well.
The exam is pretty extensive and thorough. My exam took a good hour or so between the intake, initial tests done by machines and then the exam itself. That didn’t even include the time it took me to try to decide on a frame and get all the logistics worked out.