Visionworks

Really bad customer service. Won’t be coming back to this location. Nothing was very welcoming, or inviting about my experience at this Visionworks location.

If I could give zero stars, I would! The customer service here is absolutely atrocious. The people who work here (including the doctor) need a serious lesson on customer service and attitude.
The policy and prices vary depending on who you talk to and what mood the person helping you is in. I came here for contacts and the doctor prescribed me a silicon based contact lense that scratched my eye. I tried to return the 6 boxes o purchased and they told me that I should have used the sample contact first, ONLY THEY NEVER GAVE ME THE SAMPLE. Never got an apology and still had to talk to manager to EXCHANGE for another type of contact. This place is a joke.

I had contact lenses test here, really didn’t like the whole experience. Would never return to this store. Sorry just awful.

What a great experience my husband and I had getting glasses here. Connie, Jose, Keisha, Verin and Dr Allen were true professionals! Our glasses fit perfectly due to Jose’s meticulous and I mean meticulous adjustments. We’ve never had anyone come close to ensuring our glasses fit like Jose did. Plus we learned to never clean or wipe your glasses dry as it can scratch the coatings… good to know!

I had a wonderful experience at this store. The Doctor, along with Connie and Virin were very helpful in helping me find the perfect glasses. They even did a second exam free of charge just to assure me that the lenses were the correct ones. Not that I doubted them, but doubted myself.

I should have taken heed to the reviews. I visited here for contacts. As suspected my vision hadn’t changed and I just needed an updated precription to order new contacts. So why was I charged a fitting fee for contacts, when I have the same RX. Why was I told that my insurance would be out of network… when I asked if they were in my network. I am annoyed because the test itself was great. But they are shady when it comes to upfront pricing. They also told me that my contacts would be available for pick up in a week, it’s now 2 weeks later and I still haven’t received a call, email or smoke signal. I will not be returning after I get my contacts.

It is difficult for me to get downtown but when I did at 5:30 on a Saturday to pick up my glasses they were closed even though the hours say they are open until 6. I saw an employee run in the back when she heard me trying to open the door. It’s not helpful to buy glasses if I can’t pick them up because the store randomly closes early

Never again! I came in here for a discounted eye exam, seeing how my vision plan is an eyewash (see how neatly that worked?). I filled out my forms, took a seat, and immediately was badgered to look at frames. Err… no thanks… part of the fun of getting glasses is getting to pick out designer frames on the order of those offered at Spex, who offers a mile-​long roster of top name brands. The guys at the counter actually *chortled* when I said I just wanted to sit and read my book. Now, I know I look young, and I am the first one to laugh, especially at my own expense, but I found this to be wholly unprofessional. The rest of the exam went off absent any explanations, and the woman administering the Collier test gave one of the most incoherent set of directions I’d ever heard. Plus one star for being close to Zara in Block 37.

I spent a fortune on frames/​lenses about a month ago, I picked out an expensive frame, maybe the most expensive in the store, got lenses with every type of finish, including anti-​glare and anti-​scratch, and the price got up there, but I was okay with that.
A week after I pick them up from the store, I find this weird spider-​web crack in one of my lenses. That’s weird, I just ordered these two weeks ago, and they’re supposed to be scratch resistant. I returned to the store, they told me there must have been a factory defect *I* missed upon picking them up (as though they have no responsibility for their own defective product) but agree to give me a new set of lenses for free, in in 5 days. 10 days later no call from the store, so I call them, and of course they called and left me a voicemail 5 days ago. Uh, no they didn’t, I went through my phone a million times to check. But of course, *I* must have missed it, there was something wrong on MY end. Never theirs.
I drop of my glasses, pick them up an hour later, check the thoroughly, and the employee gets impatient that I’m taking such a long time to okay the quality of the lenses. I take them and leave. THE VERY NEXT DAY I find yet another scratch on my supposedly scratch resistant frames. I don’t have time to go back that day, so I wait to see how much worse the lenses will get. One week later I have a huge gash across one of my lenses (from what? I don’t know. Seeing as all I do is put them on each morning and take them off each night).
I go in today to return the pair of glasses, after all the money I spent, it’s clear these are just a rip off. The moment I say I want to return the glasses, all the employees become extremely rude to me. «What have you been using to clean these lenses?» «The cloth you gave me» «Well, if you haven’t been washing it after each use, there’s your problem» What? The microfiber cloth has to be machine washed after every use? For christ sake.
I explain that I’ve only had the glasses a month, that particular set of lenses are two weeks old, and I expected better than to have any scratches at all on them after such little use. The employee starts arguing with me over the amount of time I’ve had them, claiming it’s been longer than two weeks. You’re right, it’s totally acceptable for glasses to be scratched to kingdom come during normal wear after 3 weeks.
Considering my backup pair was 3 years old and didn’t have a single scratch on the lenses, it must have been MY fault for overestimating the quality of Visionworks, my bad. Won’t happen again, I promise. After refunding my money the employee assured me with all the contempt in the world that it’d be a full 60 days before my insurance would get reimbursed, and I’d have to wait until after then if I wanted my vision insurance benefits.
I left the store, walked over to Eye Appeal on Wabash, explained the situation to office, they called my vision insurance, got it sorted out, and found me a very similar pair of designer glasses with all the trimmings for HALF THE PRICE.
Just stay away from visionworks. Save your time and money and enhance the general quality of your life and go ANYWHERE ELSE.

Used to come here often but the service sucks so bad it’s not worth my time. I decided to go to solo eye care. Both times I had contact Lens ordered they never called me to tell me. Several days passed the timeframe of 3 – 4 days I called and found out that they had already come in. This happened twice. The first time I understand but two times, hell no. I also have been placed on hold for way too long and the lady in there with a raspy voice is straight rude when she wants to be. Unpredictable service and attitude coupled with poor follow ups makes this place a last resort.

If you watch ’60 Minutes’ you might have seen the article about an Italian EyeWear Company that is buying out many other smaller eyewear companies, Visionworks has resisted and so, my husband and i were happy to go and give them a try, especially as they had their offer for $ 19 eye exams and BOGO Free offer.
The optometrist, Dr. Karynn Allen, was so thorough and professional, and even though I was there for ‘specs’, she said that the dryness on my cornea would be relieved by drops that I can use while wearing my contacts… she gave me a sample size.
Larry was helpful, but not a ‘hard sell’ and when I decided that i didn’t really need two pairs of glasses, he scheduled my husband in for an eye exam right then and there and my husband could take advantage of the BOGO offer.
I have read the other less than stellar reviews for this Visionworks but found that the Staff were respectful of everyone who walked in to their store… not just my husband and me. And the fact that they are trying to not be taken over by a foreign company makes me want to stick with them even more.
I got my glasses the very next day!

Save yourself some time and aggravation — go elsewhere! I’ve been wearing and purchasing glasses for many years. I’ve never had a pair fall apart after several months. I don’t even recall ever being offered insurance before. I still have glasses that I purchased years ago!
I only went to Visionworks because they are located in a mall that I frequent on Roosevelt and Canal. I went in to see if they could repair two pairs of glasses — they could not. So I ended up buying a pair that would have cost over $ 550.00 without my insurance!
Fast forward five months and I return because the glasses feel really loose. They were supposedly tightened — still felt loose to me, however. (I also purchased new lenses for my sunglasses at their urging.)
A week later, my eyeglass frames fall apart and the manager says they can’t be repaired. But, of course, I can purchase more frames for another $ 160.00 bucks!!!
What? Really??? No discount? No customer service goodwill?
I’m done! Glad I purchased them in December instead of January, otherwise I’d be screwed (and blind) until next year!

This place is super shady (no pun intended). So, I was here a few weeks ago for my exam and to pick up glasses. Things didn’t start out well. When I made the appointment, I asked if they had access to my records from their location at Six Points. They did not have those records there when I went in for my appointment. I didn’t think it was the most thorough exam ever, but the doctor was nice.
I had a hard time communicating to the optician that I wanted to know how much it would be to *add on* sunglasses. Instead she kept totaling up how much it would be for regular glasses AND sunglasses. «Okay,» I wanted to say, «Now subtract what the sunglasses would cost and tell me that number.»
I went back today for an adjustment. When I’d picked up the glasses, they didn’t do a thing except put them on my face. (Are all glasses supposed to just fit you automatically after they leave the factory? I didn’t realize my face was standard issue.)
After asking for the adjustment, I was told that if something happened to them they wouldn’t be responsible. Ummm… but why WOULD something happen? They’re licensed opticians, right? Shouldn’t they know how to make small adjustments to glasses without breaking them? Never in my life has an optician told me that, let alone in regards to glasses that I bought at this very shop.
When I got the glasses back, they looked like they’d been smeared with grease. Folks, if you use the same microfiber cloth for everyone’s glasses without washing it, you’re eventually just going to be painting grease back ONTO people’s glasses. So I left with streaks all over.
I’m now back at my desk and realized that one of my lenses is bulging out at the bottom of the frame; it looks like it’s about to pop right out. Do I go back right after work? I really hope that woman didn’t melt the bottom of my frame while adjusting the temples…
Bottom line: Don’t come here unless you want some very basic service.

I am thoroughly pissed! I went to get an eye exam and (initially) two pairs of glasses in their bogo deal. I had used the Hillside location successfully in the past, so I tried te downtown location. Had I checked with Unilocal,I would have seen the dramatic difference in their ratings! Even though they are a chain, their computer system does not share patient information between locations, so they had no record of my previous history or prescriptions!
The eye exam only succeeded in dilating my pupils and having me walk around with a disposable pair of shades on my face. The optometrist was not able to correct my vision to ²⁰⁄₂₀ and wrote a referral for an ophthalmologist (a service the do not provide). Even though the doctor could not correct my vision that didn’t stop them from prescribing and selling me a pair of glasses! The hustle is that they sell you cheap frames and stick it to you with the lenses. Their prices were so high, I was only able to but one pair of glasses! Got my glasses on-​time, but I still am having difficulty seeing. Their frames just broke this morning (five days after I picked them up)!
To make a long story short: eye exam was not accurate, frame «deals» are a scam, and their frames flimsy. If you value your vision and your money, avoid this store! All they are good for is occasionally cleaning your lenses when you are in the area.

Don’t use Visionworks for prescription glasses if you need them and if you value your sanity. My wife ordered two pair from their Clark ST Chicago store on December 23. Ever since, only lame excuses and attempts to put the blame on their «lab.“l But try to contact the lab and the store says they can’t and when I tried to phone a lab supervisor for Chicago he hung up on me. These people are terrible and their service is execrable.

Update — both pairs of glasses fell apart within one month!

If I could give them NEGATIVE points that would be better. I have never written a less than good review… but I literally could not help but to save all of you the time and trouble of going to this place.
I initially decided to go because I just needed a quick check up, new contacts and glasses. My initial appointment was really long, and even though the doctor was helpful and nice the rest of the staff was completely useless. Everyone at the front desk seems completely annoyed that they HAVE to help you.
I was then given the opportunity to participate in a fantastic negotiation with a sales girl about the kind of glasses I wanted. No, your promotion that I asked for did not include XYZ to bring the price up by $ 250, and be careful rolling your eyes like that at me, they may get stuck!
Fast forward 2 months. Both pairs of glasses I had purchased are broken. I called in to get my contact perscription information faxed to me so I could order through 1800contacts and avoid these people altogether. It took me from 10am to 3pm and 5 phone calls to get a hold of someone who had any clue how to help me.
After all of that, I was told that I had to come in for a $ 60 appointment to tell the Doctor that the contacts were fine. Are you kidding? I have to take another 2 hours out of a day to pay $ 60 to say «the contacts are fine please write a prescription» to someones face?!
See ya, vision works. I hope that your $ 1 piece of s products make you enough money to stay in business… because lord knows your customer service isn’t going to do it.

Accommodated me with a walk in
I bought several frames from them
One broke a few months later at the nosepad and I did not purchase a warranty. After some discussion with them they replaced it with a brand new frame at no cost to me.
The first woman behind the counter was of no help. I had to talk with the store manager.
Overall good vale for money.

I don’t really have time to be writing this review, but too many things have gone wrong not to give you all a heads up. I’ve been in there four times, hours of my life I’ll never get back *wipe tear. My first time, the women behind the counter refused to help me because she was «going on lunch in 10.» The Second time, the same women took my insurance card and walked away to clean random pairs of glasses hanging on the racks… oh ok, wait, wha? Unfortunately, I found some frames I really liked and therefore returned. Third times a charge – a mere 2 hours later I had placed an order. Fourth trip back… I picked up my glasses today and they’re crooked. Wtf. Dude, c’mon. I just want to see. So after work I’ll run down there for round five, because hey, I don’t have tickets to a M83 concert tonight or anything.
Un
Be
Lievable.

I have been bragging for decades that I was the only member of my family that didn’t need glasses. How false that was. I know that now. I realized that I couldn’t see when my blind-​as-​a-​bat hubby could read signs easier than I could. Not acceptable. I saw an advertisement that an eye exam was @$ 45 and glasses were buy one, get one free. The eye exam was quick and painless, except for the fact that I now have to admit I need to wear glasses. All the time. Crap.
Here’s the fun part: they put prisms in my glasses so that my eye muscles didn’t have to work as hard. Felt like I was hallucinating. Yippee! No, wait. Not cool. I was seeing rainbows and colors and all sorts of stuff. I took them back. Instead of two pairs of glasses, I decided that I wanted a pair of regular and a pair of sunglasses. Lovely. The sunglasses had a polarizing glaze on them and I saw more rainbows and strange colors and bulleyes and… you get the picture.
To make a long story even longer, I will just say that these people have the patience of saints. They understood my problems and fixed my glasses each time. They made sure that my frames fit well and were exactly what I wanted (look Ma, no funky rainbows!). I am sure that they have seen enough of me, but they truly are an awesome bunch.