I am so pssed OFF right now!

[Jester]

Okay, so the plan was to spend the day doing laundry, running errands, and in general getting ready for my mini-vacation. I wanted to get as much done today as possible, so that tomorrow, right after work, I could pretty much jump in the Jestermobile and skedaddle out of here.

First of all, I didn't wake up till 11:30, but that's fine, because it's not that late. But then, of course, being the King of Procrastination, I don't actually start DOING anything until about 1. Finally get a load of laundry in, go and get my hair cut and my beard trimmed (my haircutter rocks!), pay the water bill, pick up a couple of things at the grocery store....and then I decide to go to the eye place.

Now, a while back I broke my sunglass clipons for my glasses, and they no longer made the kind I had, which were awesome, so I figured I would just look around elsewhere for them. But even with a trip to Phoenix and northern Florida, I was unable to find any, so I figured that today I would go pick up some that weren't as cool, but still serviceable, and while I was there I would get my glasses cleaned and tightened. I picked out a decent pair of clipons, then turned my specs over to the crew. While sitting in the area they have for people waiting for this, I noticed the sign, "[Eye Glass Place] is not responsible for any damage incurred during cleanings or repairs," or something to that effect. I chuckled, knowing that with SC's you need those kinds of signs.

I shouldn't have laughed.

They broke my fucking frames!

Naturally, they are not responsible. Naturally, they cannot fix what they broke. Naturally, the frames I have, which are only 3.5 years old, are no longer made. (Even if they were, 3.5 years ago, they cost me $325. Am I nuts thinking they should last longer than this for that price?) And of course, I am low on contacts (I wear daily disposables), and have to drive to Fort Myers Beach tomorrow night after work. And I have to be able to see. It tends to help with the driving thing, and it is required by law with my vision.

Now, normally I would just get some new contacts, but there are a few problems with this. 1. It's been long enough since my last exam that I would need a new one before they could get me new contacts. That costs money. 2. The contacts cost money. 3. Contacts or not, after a long day with contacts in, especially when I'm driving at night after working all day, there comes a time when I need to actually wear glasses and ditch the contacts.

Naturally I am freaking out. No, I didn't go off on the crew, though I was furious (and they could see I was plainly upset by the situation). So I have been given a couple of semi-solutions. Semi-solution #1: They recommended a local jewelry store that does repairs, including eyeglass soddering. I went in there today, but unfortunately the guy who does that won't be in until tomorrow morning. I work tomorrow morning, so this is going to be tight, to say the least. (They say it takes only 5 minutes to do this, though.) Semi-solution #2: they gave me some "sample" contacts to get me through a couple of weeks, which is cool.

This put me about an hour or so more behind schedule than I already was.

To add to all of the above, my tires on my bike are flat. I had planned on bringing my bike with me to FMB, to ride in the morning, as I have been really bad and haven't been riding, but I just don't have the time to haul my bike down to a bike shop to pump up the tires (they have a different type of valve, so I cant' just pump them up with a normal pump or at a gas station), and the bike shops in the FMB area are all far enough away from where I'll be that I just don't want to bother with it. So I am bagging the bike idea, and am just going to chill on my vacay, and start riding when I got back here next week.

Just pisses me off. Bleah. This day sucks.

[MaggieTheCat]

Ugh, that does suck. How can they not take responsibility for damaging your glasses? That seems unreal to me. Stores have a "you break it you buy it" rule for a reason, but they don't have to follow it themselves? Lame.

Sorry you're having such a crappy day, Jester. I hope your trip more than makes up for it! Drive safe!

[Jester]

How can they not take responsibility for damaging your glasses? That seems unreal to me.

Ah, you forget that little sign they had posted, that an SC would never read, even if right in front of them (as this one was to me), that clearly states that if you have them clean or repair your glasses, any damage is not their responsibility. Meaning, you pretty much sign off on that stipulation if you have them do those things for you.

Does it suck? Yes.
Am I irked? Yes.
Am I going to deal with it like an intelligent, rational human being? Yes.

[JuniorMintz]

I fix glasses all day long and while I rarely have breakages, it's an unfortunate thing when it *does* happen. 99% of the time when they break it's due to everyday wear and tear (and often times flat out abuse by the patient, although I seriously doubt that's the case in Jester's situation) on the frame that we have no control over. Comparing this situation to your typical "you break it you buy it!" policy is like comparing apples to kiwis- customers should absolutely be held accountable when it comes to brand new merchandise that they have damaged in store, but it is unreasonable to hold optical repair shops to the same standard when the merchandise in question has been out of their store for weeks, months, or even years at a time.

I know it sucks when you spend $300 plus on your frames, but even then, unless the frame in question is made of titanium, frames don't typically last for much longer than 2 to 3 years. This is why most vision plans cover frames on a 1 (if you're lucky) to 2 year frequency period.

Also, assuming the frame was a brand new model when you got it, if it's been phased out in only three years, it was probably with good reason. Just about every time I've seen a frame discontinued that quickly, it was because of some horrible production issue where every other frame off the line was defective in some way.

In other news, to avoid last minute emergencies I'd like to remind all contact lens wearers on these boards to always order replacement lenses in a timely manner (when it's possible, anyway). For those of you who wear monthly disposables, I recommend re-ordering as soon as you open your *second* to last pair. Daily wearers should re-order when they are down to about a 2 week supply.

And on that note, I step off my soapbox.

[MaggieTheCat]

Hmm, well, that does make sense when you explain it, JM. I forgot that there are so many people out there who don't take care of their stuff. Thanks for clarifying.

[JuniorMintz]

LOL no problem Maggie. And believe me, the times I've broken a frame during repair (for me, it happens maybe once a year, if that), no one was more horrified about it than I was. I was always SHOCKED when the patient was nice and understanding about it... their understanding made me feel even worse, in a way.

In my line of work, you know you're official when you A) break your first frame, and B) stab yourself with the screwdriver on accident. Bonus points if they happen at the same time.

[Der Cute]

Jester, *Hugs*. I sowwy you're having a sh1tty day.

Cutenoob

[MergedLoki]

I could see if YOU broke something obviously how they'd not be responsible but that sign makes no sense.

if THEY are handling your glasses and THEY break YOUR glasses then THEY are indeed responsible. at the least for hiring someone so ham fisted they snap glasses frames.

Or maybe i'm thinking of it the wrong way, maybe signs like that shoul dbe everywhere.

I could throw a few up in the hospital 'we are not responsible for your health and well being while here. if you are sick tough shit'

[JuniorMintz]

I fix glasses all day long and while I rarely have breakages, it's an unfortunate thing when it *does* happen. 99% of the time when they break it's due to everyday wear and tear (and often times flat out abuse by the patient, although I seriously doubt that's the case in Jester's situation) on the frame that we have no control over. Comparing this situation to your typical "you break it you buy it!" policy is like comparing apples to kiwis- customers should absolutely be held accountable when it comes to brand new merchandise that they have damaged in store, but it is unreasonable to hold optical repair shops to the same standard when the merchandise in question has been out of their store for weeks, months, or even years at a time.

I know it sucks when you spend $300 plus on your frames, but even then, unless the frame in question is made of titanium, frames don't typically last for much longer than 2 to 3 years. This is why most vision plans cover frames on a 1 (if you're lucky) to 2 year frequency period.

MergedLoki, I'm quoting myself on the assumption that you didn't see my explanation for why it is not fair or practical to hold optical repair staff responsible for breakage during adjustment before you posted. Also, while I am certainly a lot of things, "ham fisted" is NOT one of them.

[MergedLoki]

MergedLoki, I'm quoting myself on the assumption that you didn't see my explanation for why it is not fair or practical to hold optical repair staff responsible for breakage during adjustment before you posted. Also, while I am certainly a lot of things, "ham fisted" is NOT one of them.

you're right i didn't see your post. well saw it didn't read it though (skimmed lol).

[JuniorMintz]

you're right i didn't see your post. well saw it didn't read it though (skimmed lol).

Can't fault you for that. Sometimes I ramble.

[dalesys]

..
In my line of work, you know you're official when you A) break your first frame, and B) stab yourself with the screwdriver on accident. Bonus points if they happen at the same time.

In my line (electronics tech / card access) it's when:
You let the smoke out of an expensive >> $1000 piece of gear
Manage to lock everybody out of their facilty in Minneapolis (from Salt Lake!)

As the first engineer I worked for said:

"Experience is measured in equipment ruined. Don't get experienced too fast."