Gainesville Opticians

A one-star rating is generous. The OWNER (unlike the staff with whom I've interacted) is pretentious, condescending, disrespectful, and downright rude - the ultimate in customer disservice that I've experienced in my 12+ years living in Gainesville, or anywhere for that matter. I visited the store today ready to purchase one of two pair of frames that a very kind employee helped me select last week. I liked both very much and was ready to spend several hundred dollars on one, but I wanted to see the new frames that had arrived since the week prior (as the employee who helped me select the first two pair told me they would be) before I made a final purchase and substantial financial investment. After interrupting the conversation I was having with a kind young employee about trying on a few more frames, the owner told me that the frames I had selected are too big for my face (they were small - after I ruled out many other pair that were clearly too large) and began telling me what type of frames I "need". I listened, let her finish, and then very politely told her more about my preferences, thinking she would be helpful. Instead, she boasted that she travels all around the world (to Paris, NYC, London, etc.) to choose frames for her store and told me that "what you're looking for doesn't exist." Giving her the benefit of the doubt, I said that maybe the way I'm describing them is not clear - or that I was using the wrong terminology, and I tried to continue browsing, working with the very very polite employee whose job it is to help customers select frames. Almost immediately thereafter, the owner announced "I'm not going to let my only employee [in the store at the time] waste his time with someone who wants something that doesn't exist. I'm asking you to leave." Meanwhile, I was the ONLY customer in the store, over an hour until their closing time, and even my 9-year old son who was with me couldn't believe what he heard. She had just demonstrated the perfect example of how NOT to treat a customer if you're in the retail business. My family and I will NEVER return and caution anyone who wants to support local businesses not to give this woman even a penny of your hard-earned money. Go elsewhere (anywhere!) for real customer service.
1 7 years ago (07-02-2018)

This is hands down the best optician in Gainesville. They have a wide selection of fashionable frames, stylists to help you choose your best look, and top notch customer service. I have shopped and visited many other opticians in the area and there is no one who comes close to providing the level of personalization that Kim and her staff offer.
5 7 years ago (19-03-2018)

I have bought many beautiful pair of glasses at Gainesville Opticians. They have always been wonderful about taking care of any concerns about my glasses or prescription. And I have benefitted from Kim's advice as to which frames fit my face and will work with my prescription many times. I also appreciate her medical background. Kim has replaced expensive lenses for me that became scratched (within one year) for a nominal charge several times. She also helped me immensely when I got a faulty prescription from the opthamologist and just couldn't see right out of my brand new, expensive progressive lenses. Although I was a bit late bringing the glasses back and reporting the problem, she diagnosed the problem right away and went to bat for me to have the lenses replaced even though I missed the 30 day new prescription deadline. So, in my experience she has always stood by the glasses I have bought from her, and her staff has always been available to adjust my frames, or whatever I need. I love all the wacky, colorful, high style frames on display in the store. And also I like the convenience of having an optometrist right on site. When I refer friends to her store, I advise them to make an appointment, because it can get hectic in there when it is busy.
5 7 years ago (23-04-2018)

Greedy. Rude. Amazingly pretentious. I made the mistake of buying an expensive pair of eyeglasses here. The salespeople were polite. The second time I went in for an adjustment I noticed the salespeople had changed and the the owner was loudly talking to a client sitting one foot away from her in between mouthfulls of pizza. I had to wait for her to finish her pizza before I got any attention from anyone. The third time I went in the salespeople had all changed again, and the owner charged me an incredible amount of money for something very small, and got exceedingly rude and defensive when I inquired about what the repair actually involved. Instead of a simple explanation, I got loud, run-on boasting about her expertise, and the quality of her eyeglasses, how she traveled to get them, how current she was in fashion and the latest styles, and how successful she has been selling tens of thousands of eyeglasses. I decided that she was mentally ill and am never going in there again--plenty of polite and competent other stores, with an equally nice assortment of eyeglasses that are less expensive and who do not insult their customers or make them feel uncomfortable--I would not rate them with a one star, but a negative star.
1 7 years ago (07-05-2018)

Incredibly expensive, pretentious and rude staff. They'll charge you for adjustments and will nickle and dime you to death. Avoid it, like the plague.
1 7 years ago (08-05-2018)