Pearle Vision

This place simply doesn’t do their job. I ordered a new pair of glasses and when they came in they were the wrong type and size. After reordering the second pair came back and the lenses aren’t what I wanted. Now I’m so far down the rabbit hole with these jokers I’ll probably never get away from them. Do yourself a favor and go anywhere else.

I’ve been coming to this PV for several years now; most times for the occasional prescription update and eye exam, and others to just get new glasses/​lenses.
Reading the poor reviews already posted, I’ve never had those issues before. I know my insurance is not the greatest, but have never been «scammed» as mentioned by other reviewers. The staff seems friendly, knowledgable and don’t appear to be telling me things that are not true. I’ve never had any billing issues and in fact have taken advantage of the interest free financing available — I get the most expensive lens types available so it helps to break up the payments. I’m pretty rough with my glasses, so I typically need new lenses after about a year or two.
My only two gripes, if you’d call it that, is they seem to have a relatively rapid turn over of staff; not sure why, but each time I go in, about every 12 — 15 months, they have someone else. Not a big deal, but makes you wonder. They also seem understaffed, which makes me feel bad for the one person on the sales floor trying to assist more than one customer, AND they have to answer phone calls. Also, I’m still waiting for one of the sales staff to get back to me regarding some possible snap on sunglasses to attach to the new set I just picked up. It’s been about a month.
So far I give 4 stars, but may downgrade to three if I don’t hear an answer on the sunglasses part.
Overall, not the best, but overall I’m satisfied.

Scheduled an appointment online — super easy process. Dr. Avary communicated every step during the exam. Very professional and easy to talk to. The staff — Polly and Lana were helpful and gave suggestions regarding frames/​contacts. Extremely pleased with the service and the selection of eyewear. Would recommend to my friends and family.

Wow, I should have read all the horrible reviews before I was charged $ 1,200 for two pairs of glasses and it’s now 8 weeks since they charged me and only only have one pair (which took 8 weeks and two exams since the dr on the first exam wrote script for too strong!).
First visit, did eye exam, ordered glasses and sunglasses. They said it would take 5 – 7 days. No calls, nothing. Called after 3 weeks, no idea where glasses were. A full week later, I called again to find out they were in. I go to try on, and I am instantly dizzy and nauseous, manager tells me to get used to it?! I tell him I’m seeing double, they tell me to get used to it?! What happened to good customer service? I complained so much, they gave me another exam only to realize the lenses were too strong for my eyes (no kidding!). So they have to reorder and another 5 – 7 days promised.
Again, no calls so after 2 weeks I call, no glasses. They called next day my glasses were in. I go in and still making me dizzy but figure, at this point, I want to just get away from them. We only revised the day glasses, not sunglasses so I asked for refund. NO REFUNDS. PERIOD.
MY family has been consistent customers here for years and NO REFUNDS, EVEN WHEN ITS THEIR MISTAKE.??
We have now called our credit card company to reverse charges and I’m making formal complaint to the Better Business Bureau!
DO NOT GO TO THIS STORE, HORRIBLE SERVICE, LACK OF KNOWLEDGE AND FRANKLY I FEEL THEY ROBBED ME BLIND!

Today, March 14, 2015, I went to this location to buy glasses. 1) The clerk charged my credit card and did not give an invoice. The clerk said I would receive the receipt by email within an hour. It’s now 4 hours since my visit, and I have not yet received an emailed invoice. I called the clerk, she said that she still hasn’t entered my information and it will be another hour. 2) While in the store I had to ask the clerk which was the better deal for buying two pairs of glasses: Using my insurance or taking advantage of the store’s buy-​one-​get-​one offer. The clerk didn’t know. I had to ask her to calculate the cost each way. She did not know how to do it. She spent 10 minutes punching numbers into a calculator, clearing it, writing amounts down, then crossing them out. I have no breakdown of the cost. 3) The clerk was not knowledgeable and not friendly. 4) I know… I should have walked out, but I liked the frames and didn’t want to start over somewhere else. 5) Once I see the detailed breakdown of the charges for each pair of glasses, I suspect I’ll be calling the store manager with more feedback.

Yay I get to write a 1 star review too!
So I got an exam done here. apparently my prescription had changed from the prior year (I supposedly have a stigmatism in my left eye), but no one informed me anything had changed. One of the women who worked in the front was so loud, obnoxious, and unprofessional I could not stand to stay there any longer and look for new glasses, so decided I would purchase new glasses elsewhere.
Went to a new place and bought glasses w/​my prescription. Tried them on, and was immediately dizzy and could not wear them. They tested the new glasses and my old glasses and said only difference was a stigmatism (which is how I found out), and they said this is probably causing the dizziness and to try and get used to it. I tried, I could not. So I called the store about the prescription. I talked w/​the doctor who said the stigmatism was so minor she would remove it from the prescription and could fax it to the store. Oh if only it were so easy! I’ve talked w/​about 3 different receptionists who all said they would re-​fax the prescription. Its been 7 days, and its not happened! I’ve been in that store multiple times. that store is always dead. its not as though they are swamped w/​work. I called again today and asked for a manager. Some girl said he would call me in 15 mins. its been 2 hours. I’m now on the phone w/​Pearle Vision Corporate office. So sad I have to call a corporate office to get a fax sent! This corporate # seems to have handled the situation though, so thank goodness for them. Corporate # is 513−765−6000, they will xfer you to some customer care line where you can file a complaint and they try to help you w/​your situation.
Had I not moved an hour away from this location I would have gone back. I never had a problem w/​this place and had been going for years. NOT ANYMORE :)

Worst place EVER! Flat out lied to in an effort to make a higher sale. Practically extorted, truth be told. Was a long time customer. NEVER EVER AGAIN for ANY of the Pearle Vision Centers. This branch ruined them for me.

AVOID PEARLE VISION AT ALL COSTS.
I went to Pearle in Glenview to get an eye exam and possibly my first pair of glasses. I have eye insurance, and even called Pearle to verify my benefits before making the appointment. My benefits included an exam, and one pair of glasses per calendar year.
After a very brief exam the technician informed me I need further tests to rule out some more serious problems (scare tactics). I informed them I did not want to spend extra money on such «further testing». At this point the tech. asked if I had health insurance, as the «further testing» can be billed out under different codes and can be charged to my Blue Cross PPO. I showed him my Blue Cross card and he informed me that I have no co-​pay, and that I should do the testing. I agreed.
After said «testing» was completed 15 minutes later. I was told everything looked good but I have a slight astigmatism and will require glasses. I was directed to browse the store and pick out a pair of glasses. Keep in mind, my vision insurance covers one pair of glasses per year. I picked out a pair after 30 minutes of trying different pairs on, at which time the technician informed me that those glasses where too expensive to be covered by my insurance. I asked how much my insurance would cover for glasses. He informed me they cover 150 dollars. the glasses where slightly over 200, I asked if I could just pay the difference. He walked over to his «supervisor», Theresa McDonald.
As I’m typing this I am looking at her business card. On the card they actually misspelled her name, as Treresa, unbelievable.
Anyway, Theresa tells me I can pay 250 for the glasses and then the insurance can cover the lenses. But… if I do that the lenses won’t be in for 6 weeks. My other option is to pay for the lenses and frames and spend over 400 dollars.
At this point, SCAM pops into my head. I came here with vision insurance and was told I’d get an exam and a pair of glasses covered. And now they are talking about me paying over 400 dollars.
I ask about my benefits, and they then… only then after picking out the frames I like direct me to a back corner of the store and tell me if I want my insurance to cover the pair of glasses I’m forced to choose from 10 different frames they present me. Now these frames are the cheapest, ugliest frames you have ever seen. They don’t even have prices on them.
At this point my wife is telling me, lets just leave this is crazy. So we leave and go to Vision Works. Vision Works tells me with my vision insurance I can pick out any pair of frames in the whole store and they will have lenses put in them, fit them, and I can walk out wearing them in under 30 minutes. WITH ZERO MONEY OUT OF POCKET. And they kept their word. I will be going back to VISION WORKS for all my vision needs.
Now here is the kicker. The day after my exam. My boss tells me that somebody from Pearle Vision has called our office wanting to speak with me. They don’t call my cell phone number with they have, the decide to call my office. What the hell. I return the call to find out they lost my Blue Cross insurance information. Mind you I watched the «tech» write down my BCBS info. HIPPA violation anybody… so I provide them with the Blue Cross information.
Now…months later I get an invoice in the mail from Pearle saying I OWE THEM $ 350. Apparently they did not verify my Blue Cross benefits and eligibility before telling me my health insurance covers this «further testing». They charged Blue Cross over $ 500 dollars 354 of which apparently went toward my deductible.
So these dishonest, con-​artists are now billing me for $ 354 dollars.
STAY AWAY FROM PEARLE VISION AT ALL COSTS!!! THE ARE OUT TO SCAM YOU OUT OF MONEY ANY WAY THEY CAN, WHETHER YOU HAVE VISION INSURANCE OR NOT.
Go to Vision Works in golf mill.
I’d love to see a response from Pearle Vision to my complaint. But I doubt they will respond. What could they possible say, «whoops»?

I am not pleased with this branch by any means. I went here a few years ago to get contacts for the first time. The doctor was very pleasant and helpful, but things only went down hill once the doctor was out of the picture. Two times they ordered the wrong prescription and brand of lenses. When I returned the boxes of contacts I was told I could not get a refund, but rather had a store credit. What on earth can I purchase there for $ 200? I already have glasses and sunglasses. Not terribly happy with that policy and the lack of communication regarding the policy. 2 years later and I had to have a new examination so I went to a local boutique in the city aside from Pearle Vision. The experience was night and day and really opened my eyes. I also found out that the Glenview location never told me I had 2 different prescription strengths in each eye. Therefor, I was most likely putting the wrong contact lens in the wrong eye. 2 years and I was never told which strength goes in which eye. There appears to be a lack of communication across the board and I will never go back to Pearle Vision.

I usually come on to Unilocal to give glowing reviews of places we love. Unfortunately, this is my first one because we had such a negative experience here. We asked if they could help fix or even look at a loose/​broken-​off nosepad for our 4-​year-​old daughter’s first pair of glasses. They did not even look at it. Just said they couldn’t help. Never coming back here again.
if you’re looking for a place that is really helpful with kid glasses, just go a mile west to Superior Optical by the Jewel.