Optometrists sell glasses to people who can’t see. Well duh! Yet in checking them out on the Internet I am interested to see how little account their web sites often take of that.
Their web sites exhibit all the usual failings, poor colour contrast, failure to enlarge text and images, the ubiquitous grey text, and no decent pictures of the merchandise. Even wearing my specs I had a headache in the end.
But it goes deeper than that. In all the many years that I have worn specs, (and I have worn them since I was two, longer than I can remember,) I have never been sent one of those cheerful reminder postcards that dentists send to remind you a check up is due from any optometrist. Nor have I had the friendly call the day before an appointment that I get from both my dentist and my hairdresser to make sure I actually turn up.
I have never been informed about special offers, like a second pair of specs for $99.99! Since my first pair cost around $600 I would jump at that, but I only found out about that one by chance. Sadly it wasn’t anywhere close by.
To be fair, when checking with some of my specs-wearing friends I have discovered that some optometrists do those things, but not all by any means. Capturing my custom for a lifetime would be a real goldmine. I have to wear them. I am so addicted that if I leave them behind or lose them I panic, even if I don’t have to read anything. I am developing a stress headache even thinking about it!
For years and years growing up I lamented the lack of fashionable specs available. Even in the sixties there were limits on the trendy frames I could find, or afford for that matter. Now there are designer labels littered all over the Internet. Ironically now designer frames are everywhere all the models are about half my age! You can’t win!
In case any optometrists or opticians read this I am on your side. I couldn’t function without you. I just think you are selling yourselves short.
