Colaizzo Opticians

I was looking for new glasses in April. I live on Queen Anne, so stopped by Collaizo for the first time. There were 2 women who both helped me, and both were helpful and pleasant. I bought the most beautiful glasses I’ve ever owned. I constantly have people stopping me & complimenting me on my glasses, especially young people. I’m 67. Every time I put them on, I feel special. I’m going in soon to see if I can tempt myself into purchasing another pair. They are costly, but worth every penny. Nothing but good things to say about the people who work there. A young man fitted the glasses when I picked them up, and he, too, was pleasant and professional.

There are so many reasons that I go back to Colaizzo every time I need a new pair of glasses. The experience in the shop is fun — Camille stocks lots of colors, styles and shapes and has a keen eye for what works for me. Most importantly, the glasses help me see better than those I’ve purchased elsewhere. Camille is a highly knowledgeable optician, and knows how to work with my prescription, adding a tweak or two to give me the best vision and the best physical fit I can get anywhere. The glasses last as long as my prescription does, which mitigates my extra cost for artful, unique eyewear. I’ve had the same frames filled with new prescriptions-​they last forever. Service is well beyond expectation-​I was living in Europe for a couple years, and when I lost a lens-​holding screw, Camille sent an overseas «emergency repair kit» with little screwdrivers, screws, cleaning cloth and instructions! Colaizzo is terrific, I have 4 pair so far and wouldn’t dream of going anywhere else now.

Camille and her shop are an absolute delight! She went above and beyond all my expectations! She has an amazing selection of high quality and very fashionable eye wear collected from all over the world. You will for sure find something perfect and unique here. She has a great eye for seeing what looks good on your face and then forming them to fit your face so you leave with them set perfectly comfortable. I could only afford to buy one pair of sunglasses but she kept record of the other pairs I liked for future reference. I highly recommend going to Colaizzo Opticians!

Bought my third pair of glasses from Collaizzo Opticians. Unfortunate manufacturing flaw in my newest pair of glasses was expertly evaluated and corrected, by replacing the entire frames and lenses at no charge to me. This is how good business is conducted and why I will continue to trust Camille and her staff to assist me with all my eyewear. Thank you!

Horrible experience. The owner has issues and it trickles down into the experience. I’ve tried several times to use them because they have unique frames. I’ll take my business to a place that values people.

Go to Market Optical instead. Here’s why…
On one occasion, the clerk was rude to my wife. On a second occasion, the owner was again rude to my wife. Do they hate customers here? Sure seems like it! I will never spend money here… and I spend a lot of money on eyewear.
I would give a zero star rating, but Unilocal won’t let you post less than one star.
P. S. — Market Optical in the Pike Place Market has better frames, plus, they are nice! If you’re spending $ 500+ on frames, you’d think a little common courtesy would be included…

I honestly don’t know what shop the one-​star reviewers have been going to! I’ve been a satisfied customer for many years and have several pairs of glasses that Camille has recommended to me, three currently in active rotation. I stopped by today just to have a couple frames tightened and I mentioned to the shop associate (Camille wasn’t there) that I was ready to add to my glasses wardrobe again. We chatted a few minutes, I told her what I was thinking about, pointed out a few frames that had made me look twice, and I told her I’d stop by when Camille came back from her next buying trip. Not an hour later my phone rang and it was Camille, saying she was sorry to have missed me and talking a bit more about what she had to show me. Bottom line: I’ve never had less than stellar customer service from this establishment. Their glasses are pricey, that’s true, but I’ve never felt taken advantage of! I get compliments on every frame I own, and I’m looking forward to what Camille next finds for me.

I stopped by here today directly after my vision check, just to browse. I really had no intention of buying anything. I asked the sales assistant to find me something «Fabulous» and she said they were sure they could find me something. Camille, the owner, said that she had exactly what I was looking for in the back and disappeared while I looked at a few frames that I thought might work for me. They were so-​so, but the assistant was very cordial and helpful. Camille appeared with about 5 – 8 frames that were indeed «Fabulous» — so much so, that at first I thought I would never be able to decide. They all complimented my face, were striking and exceptional in appearance and really fit my description of «Fabulous.» I felt the frame price was fine but was slightly taken aback by the price of lenses. Camille took the time to explain what I was really getting — had David, another very helpful colleague show me how the color would work with a pair of «polorized» lenses and honestly sold me on the whole package. She was incredibly knowledgeable and I feel like I spent less time finding the perfect frames and lens package for me.
Everyone was incredibly helpful and they offered to work with me on how to pay for them.
I have to mention that I had bought a pair of glasses from them previously, in 2009, and was so bowled over by the service and selection that I decided to go back to them. I highly recommend them if you are looking for a selection that is high in style and fashion-​forward to be sure with an emphasis on customer service.

I am in the market for a particular pair of Oliver Goldsmith Manhattan frames, and per the Oliver Goldsmith web page, this is a local store that carries their brand. I emailed the shop to see if they had this pair in stock.
I was called back the next day (good), by a female sales associate, letting me know that they had actually just sold the last pair of that style, but that if I wanted to special order, I could put 50% down and get them, or to just come in because she knows they would have something I would love. I then explained that I actually still need to see if they even look good on my face, as have not tried on. I then asked if they were a staple item in their store, and she said yes, so I asked when they would be reordered so I could go in and try on. She put me on hold to talk to manager to find out when they would be on order, and when she came back on the line, instead of answering my question, she once again kept trying to get me to come in and try other glasses as she knows I would be able to find another pair.
Bottom line, they were not listening to me. I’m not in the market for a new pair of sunglasses, I have plenty. I was in the market for a $ 440 Manhattan frame, period, and they were more concerned about me just coming in to try something else.
That her suggestion just kept being come in to my question of when they will be in again, made me never want to step foot in that store. And, after reading more of these reviews, I see I’m not the only person to run in to terrible customer service here. I just happened to be on the phone, and never set foot on the premise!
I never did get a straight answer about when they would be re-​ordering this style of frame.
No matter how great the glasses are, the client/​patient needs to feel listened to.

Go here for the latest Euro looks. I bought two pairs of frames from Colaizzo. One is outstanding and I’ll use them until they fall apart (three years, so far so good and I’ve traveled the globe). The other frame from the same design team was just so-​so. The products are expensive and some are too trendy for the price. So, choose carefully and walk out if you have the slightest doubt. If it feels right and you can afford it, however, spring for the extra cost. I was glad I did.
The owner and staff are mercurial as the reviews show. Sometimes customer service is outstanding. At other times, it’s so subpar you wonder how they stay in business. I’m in the market for new frames, but have chosen to see what else Seattle has to offer. For these prices, I want the whole consumer experience to work without a hitch.
If you do buy at Colaizzo, the company ships overseas if you need that service (they also fit the frames to your face expertly).
Pamela

I have been a client of Camille’s at Colaizzo for 20 years. The service is superb and the selection of frames outstanding. Camille has a real“eye” for being able to select fantastic eyewear that will enhance your appearance. Admittedly, this is a boutique and the prices reflect this. «Quality of services is long remembered after price is forgotten.»
Dr. Sid

Over fifteen years, I bought three pair of glasses at Colaizzo, and it’s true that you get what you pay for. Each pair fit perfectly, looked great, and lasted me many, many years. Their service is unmatched, too. My last pair lasted nine years, and they were always willing to refit, clean, and tuneup the frames for no cost. Occasionally, I had to pay a little to get a new nose pad or to replace an ear piece. But over the life of those frames, the cost was negligible.
If you want great frames, a great look, and great service, Coliazzo is the place to go.

My two experiences with Colaizzo point towards price gouging the customer.
The first experience was when I needed lenses for frames I had purchased elsewhere. The store quotes me a price of $ 400 which turned out to be $ 225 higher then I ended up paying at a reputable store downtown.
The second experience was when I stopped by this morning to see if I could get a replacement plastic nose piece (the $.02 kind). The owner charged me $ 10 for a minute process to replace the nose pads. I had no other choice so I paid the ridiculous price.
If you don’t mind paying an inflated price then this is the place for you.

Agree with the overall thrust of the comments, very high quality and unique glasses and great lenses. And yes not inexpensive. I bought a couple of pairs of glasses and have been very happy with them.
I wanted to add that Colaizzo has been very fair and generous in needing to do some rework to my lenses (problem was not caused by Colaizzo). I have found them to be very helpful with problem solving and repairs.
Colaizzo will be the first place I look for my next pair of glasses.

I was in there browsing and took a picture of myself with some glasses on to get my sister’s opinion (she lives on the east coast). The guy came right up to me and said, «No pictures,» very rudely. I thought he was joking and tried to make a joke back. Then very stoically he repeated it again. I won’t use the word I want to call him here b/​c it will probably get screened and I want people to know what they are getting here. By the way, I’ve never wrote a Unilocal review before.
Also, the glasses are terribly overpriced and trying WAY too hard. Expect customers to be as pretentious as the owners. People buying at this place are probably insecure and trying too hard to get noticed. I’m sure that statement will probably bring some people into the store. In a competitive economy, don’t expect good customer service. They lost my business.

Great glasses. Expensive but worth it. A professional staff with a bit of an edge that makes me feel like I’m in the right place for glasses with a bit of attitude. A great place to go if you are really nearsighted like me, a ripping –12.

Colaizzo Opticians is unique in my experience of opticians. Whether that’s good or bad depends on what you’re looking for.
Camille, the owner, is a wonderful eccentric world traveler: tiny, highly opinionated, often cranky, sometimes brilliant. Their web site does not lie: they have frames you simply cannot find elsewhere in Seattle, especially but not exclusively European brands.
They are NOT cheap. Do not go here expecting a bargain. You’ll get a unique and beautifully made pair of glasses, but as with many things in life, you pay for what you get.
Don’t expect super-​charming service either. They’re a little too Euro-​style and, well, eccentric for that. I’ve found the best strategy is to be firm but exquisitely polite.
They are often reluctant to do repairs, as others have noticed.
If they’re so expensive and the service is so… er, unique… why do I give them four stars? Because the glasses I’ve bought from them over the years have been consistently better quality than any other glasses I’ve worn. Because I’ve been stopped by strangers who’ve raved over my glasses and asked where in the world I found them. And because, at the end of the day, they’ve given me real value for the money I’ve paid.
Just know what to expect before you walk in the door.

be prepared for eye glass snobbery when you come to Colaizzo. But they have a darn good reason to be, they’re stuff is awesome!
I was alittle embarassed when I said I use to shop at Lenscrafters and the sales lady scoffed at me, but once I realized how far superior and unique their selection is I knew i’d never go back to my old ways.
I’ll also warn you that they are not cheap! The total for my frames and lenses (in my pic) were around $ 800. But you’ll walk away wearing a piece of art.

So here’s the deal.
The glasses are amazing. They are different, one-​of-​kind and fantastic.
The service: SUCKS. TERRIBLE. THE WORST.
And it may be a little harsh, but the lady that runs that place is a bitch.
I was so excited to get my new glasses, and although they were expensive they let me make payment, which was nice.
They also said they would adjust them at anytime for free, I just had to walk in. They, (my glasses), have given me nothing but grief and I hate them.
I don’t expect them to be returned by any means, but everytime I try to get them adjusted I don’t feel like they are listening to anything I am saying about the fit.
They disappear into the back come back, put them on my face and tell me I look great… almost swept out the store.
She actually will make you feel stupid, because she just doesn’t listen nor does she let you finish your sentence.
I’m stuck with these at this point, but for anyone who is considering getting glasses from them: HAVE THEM ADJUSTED FIRST TO YOUR FACE to make sure you want them.
If I would have done that, I wouldn’t have ever bought them.

I had a weird experience here.
I came for the first time with a Theo frame that had broken in half from the strain of 3 years of gentle handling, and this store said they weren’t fixable. Although I thought I’d made it blindingly clear I was a graduate student on a limited income, they kept trying to convince me to spend nearly $ 400 on a replacement frame.
Neither the store (or Theo) was especially helpful. When I called the store back later, they said they’d get back to me in «a bit». I finally called them back after two hours, and they were again too busy to speak to me. In the end, the store never actually returned my call.
Thankfully, I called up Eye Gotcha — wonderful opticians in San Francisco — and they offered to fix them from a thousand miles away for $ 100 by replacing the frame front.
Maybe this place is truly a great store — I don’t have the experience to know.
But, it really felt they were more interested in making a quick sale than building a long-​term customer relationship. Even though I’ve since finished grad school and transmogrified back into a yuppie with ample disposal income for expensive frames, I won’t be buying them here.
–
UPDATED 2.25.2013 AS PER OWNER RESPONSE: Actually, I’ve kept a backup frame and pair of lenses for a scenario like this one. That’s how I had a working pair of glasses during the 1 – 2 month period it took Eye Gotcha to replace them by mail.
The fact is: your store provided regrettably unhelpful customer service, and that is what my feedback reflected. I would encourage you to consider using the pattern of feedback you see here to grow as a service provider, rather than to suggest your customers are acting erroneously. It’s a shame that it seems to get in the way of your great taste being fully expressed.