Selima Optique

Selima is one of my favorite shops in NYC — and the world! I will only purchase my eyeglasses from them — not only because of the fabulous selection, but mostly because of the very special customer service I receive every time — and especially from Sabrina at the Madison Avenue store. Sabrina has gone out of her way — even on her days off — to make sure that I was being taken care of. Thank you, Sabrina!

I had a wonderful experience at Selima Optique recently. I KNEW walking in that I would be splurging — their prices are WAAAAAY higher than what one would pay at a chain eyeglass store. But I also knew that I wanted to invest in a unique, flattering piece of art for my face, which is what I consider the frames I purchased recently. The frames at this store are absolutely gorgeous, which is why I went out of my way to go there.
I am so confused by previous reviewers who talk about poor customer service. I was helped by Sabrina, who is patient, friendly, and has great taste. I must have asked to try on 20 pairs of glasses… Finally she suggested one that I never would have thought to try on — and I nearly fainted with delight. Thanks to her, I found the perfect pair. To add some context, I do not look like a Madison Avenue big spender a salesperson would immediately sum up as «commission jackpot». She recommended a great place in the neighborhood to get an eye exam, and my glasses were ready in 4 business days.
I LOVE this store!

I LOVE SELIMA on Madison! They have a fabulous collection of glasses. I went in several times and tried on mostly every style until I was happy with what I finally bought. Cherie the manager was so patient, very friendly in fact I felt like I knew her for years. The store has a great energy to it, I wouldn’t shop for glasses any where else. Recently my daughter also bought a beautiful pair of glasses and had a wonderful experience picking them out purchasing and now wearing them.
Thank you SELIMA OPTIQUE!

Worst customer service ever. Nearly identical problems to the ones cited in previous review (except I paid full retail) and based on what I read, the same woman is still there sourcing problems. Gorgeous frames which I knew would cost a fortune. However I did expect efficiency if not decency from the store. There are so many places to buy unique designer glasses in NY. You don’t need S.O. Not this branch anyway.

Ok, this is going to be one hell of a lengthy review… just warning you.
For what it’s worth, let’s start with the good stuff. I seriously love my new glasses from Selima Optique. I’ve worn glasses since I was 9 years old and I’ve not loved a pair till these. Granted, my first ever pair of glasses were bright purple with neon pink and green polka dots, so I think perhaps my lack of taste in eyewear has contributed to my utter inability to find cute glasses. My new pair, however, is ADORABLE, and that is entirely due to the sales staff at Selima. I just tried on a bunch of frames and they told me what to get. Thank you, Selima!
That said, the rest of my experience wasn’t nearly as wonderful. I knew Selima Optique was expensive; the only reason I went is because I read on DailyCandy that Selima was having a sample sale. Lo and behold, the frames I chose were $ 120, only $ 20 over the cost of the nicer frames at Costco and a great deal — hurray! I asked how much glasses would be if I got the lenses as well, and the saleswoman told me they would be $ 220 — I was thrilled. They were within my budget and I loved them. I handed over my credit card.
The receipt I was handed to sign said I’d been charged $ 340. Turns out that there had been a misunderstanding, and the lenses were going to be $ 220 and the frames were $ 120 = $ 340. I told them directly that I had thought the entire cost would be $ 220, that there was clearly a misunderstanding, and that while I loved the frames I couldn’t buy them. Now, at Selima Optique all sales are final, and evidently earlier that day they’d had to ring through a return, so they were incredibly anxious to not do another refund — they told me repeatedly that they didn’t want to get in trouble with their boss (Selima, I’m assuming?).
We spent 20 minutes of arguing back and forth, with me repeatedly explaining that I couldn’t go over my budget, and them trying to guilt me into getting the glasses first at $ 320, then $ 300, then $ 275. After saying that I absolutely couldn’t afford more than $ 250 and saying I didn’t expect them to sell me the glasses at that price and I’m happy to just get the sale voided and go, they finally said ok to $ 250 and I bought the damn things.
Before I walked into Selima, I told myself I wouldn’t spend more than $ 250, no matter how nice the frames were. I’m happy I didn’t overspend, but arriving at the $ 250 amount was a nightmare. I still don’t understand why simply voiding the payment was so hard to do — they had JUST swiped my credit card and hadn’t put in the lens order or done anything else on the glasses. Additionally, the woman I was dealing with was pretty atrocious — she started off being super-​nice and then turned into the guilt-​tripping monster trying to force me to buy the glasses. I even offered to buy just the frames at $ 120 at one point and she threw a minor temper tantrum, refusing to sell me the frames because I wouldn’t buy the whole lot at $ 340.
So anyway, the order was done. Since they offered to include shipping, I asked that they ship the glasses to my work address, and they told me to expect them in about a week. One week later, I got a call from the same woman, whom we’ll call S, saying my glasses were ready to pick up. I explained they’d told me that shipping would be included. She pretended like she didn’t remember saying that and told me that since I didn’t pay for shipping separately there was no shipping label, and therefore my glasses couldn’t be shipped.
Now, I did get these glasses for a good deal (for a NY boutique), so half of me was saying to just suck it up and go pick them up. The other half of me, however, reminded me that I wouldn’t be able to make it to the upper east side before 7pm any night for at least the next week. That same side was getting furious — these people are crazy! First they don’t make the final cost clear, then they don’t let me acknowledge the out-​of-​reach price and walk away, then they lie about shipping?! Ridiculous. S at this point is berating me over the phone for expecting my glasses to be shipped to me on top of the fact that I got these glasses below cost (which I highly doubt). So I finally get mad and tell her that the cost of the glasses and the shipping are two separate issues and that I expect the glasses to be shipped to me — because that’s what they said they would do. She says she’ll send them to the shipping department and see what happens.
SO… I received my glasses a few days ago. Yes, I do love them. Getting them was absolutely horrid, after the initial trying-​on phase. The horridness was due solely to S — all the rest of the staff were incredibly gracious and charming and helpful, even the woman with whom I had the initial misunderstanding about cost. I’d return there (once making significantly more money), but I hope I never have to speak to S again. I’ve never had a more unprofessional encounter as a customer.