Eye Encounters

If you want bad customer service, and incorrect lenses then this is the place to go. The staff wanted to rush me into deciding on what frames to get and acted like it was asking to much to see another pair, at times she would say none of those will work for you. So as I seem slightly interested in frames she railroads me and I purchase three pairs of glasses. two pairs i cant see out of the lenses and the third are supposed to transition light to dark but the do not as well as the fact that they all look terrible on me. I asked regarding a return for store credit and the sales person acted so unprofessionally the receipt I was given had a return policy stamped on the bottom. I asked to see the actual return policy as I would think any reasonably managed store would have a written return policy not just the policy of whatever she says is the policy at that moment. I spoke to one of the managers who reluctantly offer to see what he could do, so we will see. There are tons of other places eager and happy to have your business so I would suggest anywhere but here.

A wholly unprofessional quack operation. I saw two of their eye doctors. Each spent, with no exaggeration, just 5 minutes measuring my prescription. Each came out with totally different numbers and had no bedside manner whatsoever. The reception staff is lackluster and unprofessional. One employee (Betty? Round, short hair, white) should be fired for her aggressive behavior toward customers. She yelled at and patronized me for explaining my discomfort: «DO YOU WANT FREE STUFF, IS THAT WHAT YOU WANT?!» Refused to apologize when asked and deserved. The staff lost my original prescription and didn’t take the inconvenience seriously (read: laughed it off). I watched them all handle merchandise very casually and without care frequently (read: throwing things around). The glasses frames are all cheap and unclean (smudgy and greasy). If you don’t care about service, products, or getting a trustworthy prescription, this is the place for you.

Literally been sitting here for an hour and they tell me there are three people ahead of me. I had an appointment. I’m furious with the service, not to mention there aren’t any seats here to sit. The office is chaotic at best. It is cheap which is definitely a pro but this service is awful.

I walked in to check out some glasses but didn’t end up getting one because the workers were so incredibly rude. At least treat your customers like human beings if you want some business.

When I step into an optometrist’s office, I expect to speak with some competent people. Instead, I got an extremely rude, arrogant, and distasteful front desk person who only knew how to make mistakes.
First off, I have insurance, so my contact fitting fee was only supposed to be $ 42.50. She insisted on charging me $ 60, and when I tried to tell her I was informed that it was $ 42.50, she consistently rudely cut me off to tell me I was wrong. Thankfully, another worker was there to gracefully tell this lady she was wrong.
After my exam, I tried on some daily contacts from an unknown brand, which hurt my eyes. Since the optometrist decided to disappear, I went to the front desk to notify them that these were hurting. Before I could finish my sentence, the dense lady again cut me off to tell me what I owe while writing me a prescription for contacts I didn’t even try on.
I finally got the other lady to hear me out and I told her that a, the prescription she just wrote isn’t even what i’m wearing, and b, doesn’t matter anyway though because the ones i’m wearing hurt. Shocked, she asked me why they were in my eyes still and told me to take them off (at least someone at this place cares?). When I asked for the brand that they actually wrote the prescription for, they told me they were out. Seriously? How can you be an eyewear store and be out of trial contacts? AND HOW CAN YOU WRITE A PRESCRIPTION FOR CONTACTS THAT YOU DON’T EVEN HAVE AVAILABLE?
Anyway, they gave me two days worth of daily contacts and told me those are to hold me over until my contacts arrive. Confused, I asked if my contacts would be ready in two days, because that landed on a holiday. Of course, I should have known better than to ask this nonsensical woman a logical question, because she just looked at me like I was stupid and said yes.
FAST FORWARD 6 DAYS.
Of course, I have still not gotten my contacts. When I called to ask why I haven’t received any phone calls, I got yelled at by the incompetent woman, stating that I misunderstood her. She then proceeded to accuse me, saying that I INSISTED on them writing the wrong prescription for me, which is the ONLY reason why they wrote it for me. EXCUSE ME? Please don’t blame customers for your mistakes, and if you’re going to try, at least MAKE SOME SENSE at it. A simple APOLOGY would’ve fixed everything. Instead, she said she would call my insurance company to cancel my order and then hung on me.
She then decided to call me back, and HUNG UP ON ME TWICE. HOW OLD ARE WE NOW THAT WE ARE PRANK CALLING PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE A BUSINESS, or at least an ADULT? After the third time she called, I screened her phone call, and she left me a four minute NASTY VOICEMAIL about how I «was WRONG, and she was RIGHT,» literally in those words.
Now, all this aside, there is one pleasant lady there, but she needs to get herself out of there to disassociate herself with the UTTER HORROR this place is. Yes, this place will get you an appointment same day, but it’s only because no one wants to deal with this exponentially futile business.

They were quick, thorough, and cheap. I got in on the same day (with an appointment) and was given my prescription to order contacts online with no fuss. Exactly what I was looking for. I also was tempted by the large selection of frames for cheap. Maybe next time.

This place is impossibly awesome. I had medical insurance, and to get a regular eye exam through it I’d have a $ 50 copay. But, that didn’t include contact lense exam and fitting, which is an additional $ 75. Plus, I’d have had to wait for an appointment.
I contacted Eyeglass Encounters and they have a deal with both exams and fittings, plus two boxes of my lenses, plus another sample set of lenses for $ 129 total. They don’t take my insurance, but for $ 4 more than I’d have paid anyway, I got a whole bunch of lenses. Can’t beat that! Plus, when I called for an appointment, they had one available on the same day. The staff is friendly and helpful, and they go out of their way to treat you well. I cannot recommend the place enough!

Came in here because it was the day I was supposed to resign from my job and still had to use my flex spending. The woman at the front was SO helpful and explained everything so thoroughly. Because I was was still working for another two weeks and my schedule did not correspond with the store’s hours she was willing to wait an extra 30 mins a few days later so that I can pick up my new prescription sunglasses!!! Talk about killer customer service AND price!

I’ve had a few experiences with Eyeglass Encounters in the past few years, and they’ve been mostly positive.
Let me get the bad out of the way:
1. I made an appointment and had to wait over an hour to actually be seen once I got there. They did their best to get all of my information and do anything else they could before the doctor could see me, but it was still frustrating.
2. I once went into their Chestnut St. location because I wanted to know what my actual prescription was (there was a cute pair of glasses I found online and wanted to order). The woman was very pissed that I dare even ask because any glasses I would find on the internet couldn’t possibly be like the ones you could get in an actual store. I think she was just mad thinking that I was taking a chunk out of her commission. I DID come back in and buy glasses next time I needed a new prescription, so I support local businesses. It’s just that I have a right to know my prescription and buy a pair elsewhere, too.
Ok, now the good:
1. Pretty good choice of cheapies. Something for everyone — straightforward designs, vintage-​esque frames, etc. They’re cheaply made but they work well, and for the price, how can you beat it. I have never done the 2 pairs and an exam for about $ 80 because I’ve never needed to, but that is a pretty darn tootin’ good deal.
2. Other than the woman I pissed off that one time, they are really nice here. You do get the feeling that they’re trying to sell you, but I mean… can you fault them… they are salespeople.
3. They have some higher end glasses here if you want convenient and cheap service for everything else. I got some nice Ray-​bans here today.
Basically, Eyeglass Encounters is convenient and cheap, and has what I want. I’m both too lazy to find a new eye doctor, and if something isn’t broken, don’t fix it. I like this place.

Pretty quick service and efficient for a small store around City Hall. Just wish they had more chairs for people waiting. I had to take off my contact for an eyeglass exam so they handed me a contacts holder — which was supposed to be new but there was a lot of lint inside. Also saw a lot of dust around their contacts table (which was small, should be a counter). The equipment in the exam room also seem a little outdated and I hope they wipe down everything with every patient that comes in. The optometrist didn’t speak much but the receptionist was more than helpful in explaining everything while keeping a cheerful demeanor. I brought in my own frames and just needed to get lenses in — and she was very thorough in explaining the prices under my VSP insurance and recommended what was best and cost efficient for my prescription. Even with insurance, my bill came up to $ 146 just for lenses and the exam. Getting prescription glasses can be a hefty purchase.
Frames selection was average — most were on the wall and very few in the glass boxes and counter. Everything is mixed up so you have to pick around. Overall, this place is a better alternative to America’s Best (worse experience ever). There’s something about that chain store that drives me nuts from the tacky selection to the grandmas they hire who are hard of hearing. So yeah this place is a good choice for those looking to save and get going. My glasses were made in a little over a week (too bad they don’t have 1-​hr service like Lenscrafters).
There is literally no parking since it’s smack in the middle of Center City unless you’re one of the lucky few who can snag a spot on the street at the ever-​rising PPA prices. Appointments aren’t exactly on the dot so I would suggest getting dropped off or taking public transportation.

This is the only place to buy eyeglasses unless you’re Warren Buffett. 2 pairs for $ 80 – they are practically giving them away.
Here’s the best part, though: they’re incredibly good at what they do and impossibly friendly. I take all 7 pairs of my eyeglasses in for adjustments all the time and they happily do them for free. Once they even un-​tinted a pair for free with glorious results.
For an extra $ 10 they’ll tint any eyeglasses you select, turning them into sunglasses or just orange-​tinted glasses (which I enjoy seeing the world through).
Can’t say enough good things about this place. I’m in love.

This is an amazing place. The ladies at the front desk are very nice, helpful, and very familiar with VSP insurance. I’ve gotten several pairs of glasses from here, and I’ve been happy with them all. They carry lower-​cost glasses as well as higher-​end brands. I stick to the lower-​cost ones since I wear contacts most of the time, and I’ve found the quality to be good. I would recommend Eye Encounters to anyone!!!

My eco-​friendly, progressive mindedness gets queasy when I make choices to buy «cheap» products. Low cost garments are made in sweatshops in Cambodia & every time I shop in Old Navy, I have pangs of guilt. I tell myself that I should be perusing thrift stores rather than buying new clothing.
Truth be told, I get a little high when I buy products at a good deal. And perhaps there are some unfair labor practices going on, but I love Eye Encounters. They have been my regular optician for several years. I think they were America’s Best before that, but I’m not certain of that.
There is a woman who works the front office who is smart, assured and knows her way around the business. She’s been there for years and I like that I walk in there and they have my file and can give me continuity of service. I’ve bought glasses from them on 3 separate occasions & I keep coming back.
The price can’t be beat… This week, I got an eye exam and 2 pairs of glasses for $ 94. I paid an extra $ 15 for tinting.
Yes, the frames are cheap and plastic, but nobody notices that. I get constant compliments on my frames. And considering I am careless with my glasses, I’m glad I don’t pay $ 250 for glasses that will break in a year because I stepped on them.
This place is fantastic– feels like a mom and pop shop & the frames are out for you to try on, not hidden behind glass.
Final note: The optometrist is only available on Mondays & Fridays, but you can schedule an appt in advance. It takes about 4 – 5 days to get lenses.

I can’t believe no one has reviewed this place yet. I am so happy I chose this store/​dr. to get my prescription and glasses. I originally wanted to go to America’s Best where they have that deal where you get 2 frames filled for 69.99. But, they were so annoying there. So, I left and was just walking down the street when I saw the sign in Eyeglass Encounters window. 2 frames plus exam for 79.99. I checked it out and they were so friendly and helpful that I immediately made an appointment.
They totally hooked me up. I don’t have insurance so they gave me this discount card to use. She also gave me eye drop samples for free. They helped me pick out my frames and gave me honest opinions. The women at the counter is so nice. She really seems to take an interest in the customers. I felt like I had a personal assistant while I was there :)
I even have a weird prescription that I normally have to pay extra for but they gave me the 79.99 deal. Just like their ad says.
Plus, I got an appointment on the same day that I stopped by and asked for one.
The only con (kinda) is that they don’t have a huge selection of frames. They have one wall with frames that are for kids/​adults and unisex. no differentiation. So, you have to be able to sort through them. But, I can’t complain because I found 3 frames! I decided to fill a 3^rd frame that is just too cute to pass up.
They are even willing to go in the back and look for more frames for you in case you want a certain style or color. They even offered to order ones for me, and they do so without any trouble or griping.
Sweeeet!