Cohen’s Fashion Optical

I ADORE this store, the techs and all workers are the sweetest and most accommodating people I’ve worked with. I use to see someone that was unpleasant and made me leave feeling horrible about coming back and I’m happy to say I won’t have to be going back to them because I’m EXCLUSIVELY coming to this Cohen’s from now on. Taliah and Alex are particularly amazing but, as I said, they all make the experience as amazing as possible!

Funny how the price changes here… When I came in I was quoted $ 79.95 per pair, when it came time for me to pay — $ 539.95 PER PAIR !! NOT !!!

After I wrote my negative review on Unilocal I received the same b— s — - response ftom the woman who calls herself Jenna in customer service that all the other negative reviewers received. It seems to be a computerized bs reply and I am going to look into this and take serious financial action. She asked me to give her my full name and telephone number but she doesn’t give hers. BS is too kind a word for this response. They have met their match in me. IIs not over till the fat lady sings. Don’t go to this branch of Cohen Fashion Optical or go at your own risk of fraud. By the way they are not accredited by the Better Business Bureau. Be warned about patronizing this franchise. Shady is too good a word for them. Read all the negative reviews. They are eerily similar.

Worst eyeglass store I have ever been to, and I have worn glasses all my life. Employees incredibly rude and unhelpful. Also, needed to get itemized receipt and had to call over, and over, and over to get this. Employees acting like I was such an imposition on them.

The selection of frames at this store is truly impressive. They have the well known brands as well as very exclusive European items. The prices are competitive. The location of the store is right next to several train lines, buses, etc., so I can see how it would get really busy at this store, but when I came in after lunch, they were not busy and I was very satisfied with the help of the sales person. I picked a frame that I doubt I’ll see worn by other people. This store is very unique in its selection of frames, and I’ll be definitely returning here in the future.

How can such a rude establishment still be up and running? I called this location at 5:30pm asking them if they took my insurance so I can have an eye exam. They told me yes they take the insurance and to come in before 7:00pm. I show up at 6:15pm and the 2 woman at the counter tell me «well your insurance is closed right now so we can’t verify if you’re eligible for an eye exam» so I asked «why wouldn’t you tell me that when I just called?» The older woman’s response was «well no offense but it’s not my responsibility to tell you how your insurance works». Excuse me?! If your store requires a verification by the sales person, yes that is your job to tell me the house it can be done. She never apologized she just continued to say it wasn’t her job. I then walk down the street to «Eye to Eye vision center» and they called the number behind my insurance card and had verification within 2 seconds. So what exactly is wrong with Cohens? Management should really reconsider who they have working at their front counter. So disappointing!

What a store– from the highly professional doctor on my exam, Dr. Chen, to the friendly, efficient staff, after being seen by two different «best doctors» people, Dr. Chen alerted me to the fact that my distance vision without glasses would fail the driving test, and that 62, I am developing cataracts in both eyes.
I am sure my other doctors may be rated «best», I am sad to think that that they just haven’t cared enough, or are too busy «helping» others, but it is rather shocking to me, that for a small fee, I received super-​duper care.
Boo Grace

I wanted to use a Groupon that had expired but, according to Groupon, was still worth the value paid for it. The staff gave me a really hard time about using the Groupon and was not friendly. The optician was the worst. She was irritable and actually argued with me that I could see better than I was letting on. Really? The customer service was poor and they were very pushy about me ordering frames from them. I ordering glasses online instead and won’t ever return to Cohen’s Optical again.

I do have to thank customer relations. After reading this review they contacted me to issue a refund for my eye exam.
Although I this gesture will not change my feelings toward Cohens in the future, it did not go unappreciated.

I can’t review the actual service here because I couldn’t even get an appointment — but their phone service is terrible. I called this morning and the woman was so rude to me on the phone that I wouldn’t want to give them my business.
Her: Cohen’s yada yada yada
Me: Hi, can I schedule an eye exam?
Her: Yes, hold on.
Me: Waiting… Waiting… Waiting…
[7 minutes later I hang up and call back]
Her: Cohen’s yada yada yada
Me: Hi, I was just on hold is yo—
Her [interrupting]: Yes, honey, I know but you see I’m very busy here. I have customers and I just opened up
Me [ignoring the fact that I really don’t like to be called «honey» by anyone I don’t know]: I understand, but is your eye doctor here on Monday? (I didn’t want to wait on hold for another period of time only to find out that their doctor isn’t in on Mondays.)
Her: Yes, hold on.
Me: Waiting… Waiting… Waiting…
[5 minutes later I hang up, wait 10 minutes, and call back]
Her: Cohen’s yada yada yada
Me: Can I schedule an appointment or not? I’ve scheduled them in the past at other Cohen’s locations and know that you only need to take down my number and name and give me a roundabout time that I can walk in.
Her: I know, sweetie [“sweetie” bothers me even more], but I’m really busy
Me: Well, I’m kinda blind and need contacts and glasses — you just lost a sale.
[I hang up and don’t call back]
This is NYC, ‘honey’. We are all busy, ‘sweetie’. There is no reason to put someone on hold for that long and not check in with them to let them know you haven’t forgotten about them — it’s Customer Service 101.
I contacted another Cohen’s on 58^th and Lex — they were SUPER nice. I scheduled my appointment in less than 2 minutes.

Cohen’s is involved in the super-​shady practice of witholding PD (pupillary distance) when you get a prescription. If you specifically ask for it, they’ll show you their «disclaimer» which states that legally they aren’t obligated to give you this information.
They do this so you can’t use your prescription to get glasses anywhere else. I might not be so upset if they had told me this information BEFORE I paid for the service.
The optometrist was quick and professional, which is the only reason I don’t give them a 1-​star review.

Just picked up my glasses and I love them. I had the best experience here.
As I walked in, I was greeted by Tylisa. She was really friendly. She gave me some forms to fill and went out of her way to see if I had insurance. Unfortunately, I didn’t. But I still really wanted new glasses and they had a great selection. I must have spent more than two hours there.
I made an appt to get an eye exam at 2pm, and I was actually seen by the doctor at 1:55pm. Honestly, this was the only place I’ve been to where I got to see the doctor on time. I believe the optometrist name was dr.chen. He was very thorough and fast. Made the eye exam very painless and easy.
After the eye exam, I noticed that the person who was helping me earlier was helping someone else. So I stood there for a little while, wanting to try on some glasses. Sure enough, another person named Vicky approached me and asked if I needed help. She was extremely patient with me, because like I mentioned before, I must have tried on every pair of glasses. I literally wanted every pair. Vicky helped me narrow down the options, though it was very hard. She was really good and obviously knew what she was doing because I am in love with the pair of glasses I’ve got.
Another best part about the whole experience was how friendly everyone was. They did not pressure me to buy anything and was so helpful. Even the manager (or at least I think that she was the manager), Berneese. She came over a few times to make sure everything was going smoothly for me. I never had such great service before. They were all very accommodating and personable. You can def tell that they’re a team and that they know what they are doing.
Overall, I am just so pleased and satisfied. I’m considering getting contacts soon and will def go back there again!

Friendly, professional, caring. All of which is unusual in a chain. Very satisfactory experience. Only drawback — took 10 days to get the glasses. I have pretty complicated glasses — astigmatism, progressive lenses, anti glare, etc. but still it seemed like a long time. But the friendliness and professionalism of the staff made it all ok.

The price of an eye exam that includes a prescription for contact lenses as well as glasses was about half of what it costs at Lencrafters. However, when I took the prescriptions and tried to order glasses online from someplace else, Cohen’s would not release the pupillary distance that they measured; this is their way of trying to ensure that you only order glasses from them. Luckily, Lenscrafters was kind enough to give me this imformation from five years ago. I don’t foresee myself doing business with this place again.

I got my glasses here last year, because Cohen’s takes UFT insurance. I like my glasses, but everything else about this place was awful.
The first salesperson who «helped» me stood at the counter while I browsed the insurance-​covered frames & offered me unsolicited advice on every pair I tried on, despite my repeated assurance that I was just looking. Her advice was actually snickering as I tried on frames. So, yeah, I felt awesome. I considered leaving, but I really needed glasses.
I started looking at the other frames carried in the store, when another salesperson came over to ask me what I wanted. I said again that I was just looking, but apparently no one in the store understood that phrase. This second salesperson asked me what insurance I had & when I said UFT, she literally yelled at me that my frames were over in the corner. I gave her a stank face for a minute because I don’t like to be yelled at by anyone, & then told her that I was aware of that, I’d looked at them, & now I was looking at these. No apology, just a smirk. I guess I’m just funny looking to Cohen’s.
Still didn’t leave. I decided to get an eye exam. I made the mistake of asking about their prices for contacts & the salesperson snapped at me that my insurance didn’t cover both, still without any attempts at an inside voice.
The optometrist was no better. He didn’t yell, but he did, truly & really, scold me for having poor eyesight. I was at a complete loss. Like, really? Why else would I be here getting glasses?
Blah blah blah, rude rude rude. I left in a bad mood & waited for a phone call to put me in a worse mood. When my glasses came in, I told the salesperson who called that I was looking at a very busy week, I work an hour outside the city, & I wouldn’t be able to make it before they closed until Saturday, which was about a week from the phone call. She said fine. I realized when I hung up, I had been bracing for the impact of her yelling. Trauma.
When I went to pick them up on Saturday, the salesperson did not speak to me as I greeted her, asked her how she was doing, told her I needed to pick up glasses, told her when I had been called about the glasses being ready, & told her my last name. She did lots of dramatic rummaging around, slamming doors open & shut, & when she finally found them (in the bin marked «T»! Who knew?), stomped over to snap at me about waiting so long to pick them up.
Me: Yeah, I know, I told the person who called me this was the soonest I could come in and she said it wasn’t a problem.
Her: How am I supposed to know that!
Undelivered Snark: I dunno, there are these things called post-​its? Oh, wait, not my problem.
Anyway, whatever. I like my glasses, I hate this place. & apparently it’s not some superpower I have that fills the Cohen’s employees with rage. Both times I was there, I witnessed other customers being yelled at & spoken to rudely by the salespeople. I would just avoid, or go to one of their other locations that gets higher ratings.

Came here for my Saturday 1pm eye exam to get contacts for the first time. The woman who helped me was really friendly and helpful and she made the experience really pleasant.
I had to sign some forms for it being my first time there and my insurance information was taken. The person who was helping me filled out most of the form for me and just asked me to sign and date, while I went in for my eye exam. The exam was pretty standard. The optometrist put in my contacts for me for the first time and led me back out in order to learn how to take them out and put them on myself.
The woman who initially helped me came back to teach me how to take out my contacts and put them in. She was super patient and really helpful.
They had a big selection of designer frames also. I tried some on in case I wanted to buy glasses eventually. Everyone was so friendly and really helpful and patient the whole time, even though it was pretty busy that day. I was still able to get the personal attention I needed.
I would definitely recommend this place if you ever need an eye exam.

the too young sales staff made personal comments like you dont want to shop here after I didnt have my insurance form with me and wanted to check out some frames., They showed higher than average prices for designer frames and had very limited selection.

The service was good and the exam was fine and covered by my insurance with a 10 $ co-​pay.
I purchased contact lenses from this franchise location at a large mark up. Cohen corporate offices noted my dissatisfaction immediately and helped to resolve the price difference. I would highly recommend Cohen’s and their corporate stores as they have a price guarantee. Be careful with franchises and be sure to do a price comparison before purchasing contact lenses.

STAY AWAY!!! What a ripoff, and a dirty dump on top of it. I got an eye exam and the room was so dirty, and there were flies in there too. I should have left there and then. The place they give you to wash your hands should be condemned by the department of health. Then you have to put on your contact lenses next to a pile of open smelly food, GROSS! They wouldn’t let me take my prescription, said I had to order first from them. That is a lie! Save yourself the hassle and possible eye infection from the dirty exam room and contact lens area. Sales people are extremely pushy, obviously out for commission. Prices are three times as much as everywhere else I’ve been.
Bottom line: gross, staff rude, price gouging If I could I would give it zero stars

As a Teacher I have the UFT welfare fund benefits. I went here as it was one of their providers. The eye exam was quick, but impersonal. Also I wear contacts and glasses. I only get $ 175 towards glasses or contacts. If i had to do it over I would just have gotten contacts there. The low prices glasses are mostly not stylish though you may get lucky. My seemingly not too expensive glasses were over $ 300 and that included the $ 175 off. They really try to sell you stuff but i wasn’t having it and it still cost me this much.
Contacts and glasses are both cheaper on the internet just make sure you get a copy of your prescriptions to take home. For frames just try to memorize the brand, style name or number and then go order them online the price difference is significant.