Voorthuis Opticians

Walked in ten minutes prior to closing. No hello can I help you — nothing. I walked out after five minutes — to absolute silence. I’ve spent quite abut at their store on Upper Northwest DC. But the customer service here in Alexandria seems to be lacking.

I was driving by and needed an adjustment to my glasses. I didn’t buy from this store. The friendly lady Shetina said she couldn’t be liable for anything but was happy to help me make my glasses more comfortable.
They were immensely helpful. I appreciate it very much.

I have been working with Shatina for about 5 years. The location is a bit of a stretch for me, but I go because of Shatina! She is phenomenal! She will put you in things that you would never have tried by yourself. Shatina is friendly, smart, talented at picking out glasses for your face/​personality, and I have never felt the high pressured sales tactics I’ve experienced at other opticians. Also, Shatina will tell you the truth. What I also love about Voorthuis is that they will fix any problems with your glasses. I’ve spent almost $ 200 more on a pair of frames in store (instead of online) because of the service. Don’t let anyone tell you that this place is inexpensive. It’s pricey, but for the service and selection it’s worth it. As long as Shatina is there, I’ll keep coming back. Have purchased at least 5 pairs of glasses from her, and have brought in three frames from outside to have lenses put in.

I went in here a couple years ago when I was home from college. My contact had fallen out and I needed to purchase new ones due to my eye dr being. 4 hrs away. The lady who helped me was beyond rude and said some comment about me not being their patient and what not. However, I was their customer. Anyways, I rarely, if ever write negative reviews, but I really was appalled by my experience. Hopefully it has changed and the woman who helped me has been replaced.

Shatina provided exceptional customer service during my visit to Voorthuis in Alexandria. I walked in one day after visiting several opticians in search for a pair of rare, discontinued Chanel frames. As I proceeded to walk out after being told again that they’d been discontinued by a gentleman in the store, Shatina interjected by asking if she could help, and began to spend what would end up being a considerable amount of time calling Chanel and waiting on hold while they searched inventory thoughout the world for these discontinued frames. Shatina was kind, patient and ever so willing to go the extra mile. The outcome of Shatina’s diligence and helpful spirit was that she was able to track down and have one of the last remaining pairs of these frames shipped to the store for me.

They don’t have email? In 2013? You’re kidding me. I’m out of town, but I was told to get a copy of my prescription I would have to come into the store; not so easy when you’re 2,000 miles away!

I am completely aghast at the customer service at this place! I visited the optical in person a week ago in order to book an appointment for my annual eye exam and order new contacts. I spoke with a woman who quickly set up my appointment for a week from then (today). I have previously gone here for an annual exam, and for an issue I was having with my eye (all within the last 13 months), and therefore they already have all my information on file.
When I arrived for my scheduled appointment today, I was informed that they, «No longer accept my insurance plan as of this month.» They explained that they were, «…sorry, but we have discounted today’s regularly priced $ 160 exam down to $ 129.» I mentioned that that piece of information would’ve been useful to me last week when I came in to book my appointment in person. All they could say was that they were sorry and could do nothing more about it. One of the eye doctors then came out to speak with me, and was very unapologetic about the circumstances. He said, «What, do you want us to give you a FREE eye exam?» To which I replied, «No, but I do think that one of a few things should’ve happened: 1) I should’ve been informed that my insurance was no longer accepted here in advance via a phone call or e-​mail, 2) I should’ve been informed of the situation when I was booking my appointment in person last week, 3) If you want to keep my patronage, you should still honor what would’ve been my co-​pay today of $ 30 as my payment for today’s appointment since I have been extremely inconvenienced because of this situation.» The eye doctor continued to be extremely unapologetic, and blamed me for the situation. He then made a ridiculous analogy to Nordstrom which was completely irrelevant and made no sense whatsoever.
I did procede to give the very rude eye doctor some recommendations so that this type of situation doesn’t happen again: 1) Post signs on every desk in the office where they book appointments so that customers can see if their insurance is no longer accepted when it once was, 2) Notify already-​established customers when they are booking their appointments on the phone if their insurance is no longer accepted. The eye doctor didn’t have much to say about my recommendations, but I sincerely hope he takes them. Otherwise I project that this problem will continue.
Had they informed me when booking the appointment that they no longer accepted my insurance, I wouldn’t have booked the appointment in the first place. Better yet, had they called me or sent me an e-​mail last month to notify me (apparently my insurance plan was no longer accepted at Voorthuis as of the end of 2012), then I wouldn’t have visited their office last week to book my appointment.
I’ve always enjoyed visiting eye doctors, and selecting new glasses and contact lenses (the least painful of doctor visits that I know of), but this experience was a complete turn off! I can’t believe how incredibly rude the eye doctor continued to be to me. Even one of the saleswomen started apologizing to me because of the eye doctor’s unprofessional behavior.
Run, don’t walk, away from Voorthuis Opticians of Alexandria, VA. Their staff is highly unprofessional, and disorganized. This is no way to run a company… certainly not a doctor’s office where you’re supposed to feel cared for. I will never recommend any of my friends or family to enter the doors of this place. With so many options out there, this is one to surely avoid!

Quick, friendly, and professional. Stopped in to purchase new lenses for my existing Silhouette frames. Jamie provided excellent service and was able to identify what coverage my insurance provided. Staff was knowledgeable on the product line and options available. They also don’t add in «mounting fees» or ask you to sign damage wavers to put lenses in your frames. Very satisfied.

They have HORRENDOUS customer service, and they don’t even care to truly make sure your glasses fit right. They act like they’re doing you a favor if you ask for more adjusting – and it’s not as if they’re selling discounted frames. These glasses easily cost close to $ 1,000 so it’s infuriating to have these people «waiting» on you – I think there’s better customer service at Costco!

We were out shopping for glasses, and I explained to the polite saleswoman that I had found some rare glasses online that I might order and have Voorthuis add lenses, but that I wanted to look around their store too. She was very helpful in explaining which of the rare glasses may or may not fit and why. I also found some other frames I liked just as much and wanted to go home and compare all of the glasses online to see which I liked better.
Later, I called to ask for more information. I spoke to a fellow – the same person who, in the store, bumped into and pushed aside my wife twice without a single apology or «excuse me». He was quite rude and completely unhelpful. He declared, the entire time on the phone, that he wasn’t being rude, then went right back to being irritating and demeaning.
So the one polite saleswoman and very interesting glasses selection earns Voorthuis two stars, but the intensely rude fellow loses them three. I would therefore not recommend Voorthuis.

Beware that behind the glitz, Voorthuis customer service can be severely lacking! After doing business with them multiple times I found that when things go wrong, they can go really wrong. They sold me a pair of glasses and then were unable to fulfill the order. Things happen, but the galling part is that they don’t seem to take any responsibility for the product they sold or be willing to do anything to help mitigate the damage. Weeks later I am still fighting with them to get a refund for a cancelled order. Paying higher prices at a boutique may be worth it if it is backed by boutique customer service, but that is not what you’ll get at Voorthuis.

Do not go to this place. Great salesmen. Awful service. I was assured that my glasses would fit once adjustments were made (I have a hard-​to-​fit nose). Once I picked the glasses up, I was told that nothing could be done about the fit of the glasses (they were «perfect» when I was being sold them) and that «there’s nothing [they] can do about it». The glasses (nose pads) fit so poorly that I was starting to develop severe redness in the area. Then someone told me to go to the Montgomery Mall (Bethesda) location and see a gentleman named Nep. This guy is wonderful (thorough, precise, and totally adjusted the glasses/​nose pads to fit the way they were meant to fit on my nose/​face). Because of him, I decided not to return the glasses, demand a refund and/​or dispute the purchase on my credit card.

I love this place!!! it rocks my socks!!!
Dr. Burris is the best! She did such a great job that my vision can pores.
Shatina and Jaime know what they’re doing and won’t have you walking around looking like, bad…
And Doug, the Jack of all Trades, made my glasses look spiffy.
So if you’re in need, drop on in. They’re awesome!