Walmart Vision Center

I called yesterday to determine the availability of an item in store, as I was having trouble with their website. The customer service agent (if you could call them that) was extremely busy and could not take the time to look up my item. He said that if the website says it’s in stock then it is.
Showed up this morning to grab my item and turns out that the item is available online only. The service yesterday compiled with an exchange of information with a less than interested store manager leaves me with zero respect for this store.
Between the manager and the phone representative yesterday both had the opportunity to help but neither showed even the faintest interest in doing so, and the only reason the manager helped figure out the fact that it was online only was because I forced him.
FAIL

Came here to get an eye glass and contacts exam. Made appointment prior and arrived promptly for my appt. It was around 4 pm in the afternoon and there was only ONE person working in the vision department. He was helping a customer in the backroom with some glass adjustment problems so I just stood around and waited… and waited… for about 10 minutes. –_​– Finally, when he was done, he checked me in and told me to go wait in another area for the optometrist to see me. The optometrist came out rather quickly and got me set up and everything. Had my eye exam just like any other previous eye exams and got my prescription. I was told that someone will be over to ring me up. So… I sat there waiting and waiting for that same guy to ring me up… but he was doing something else with another customer. Then, this other guy came back… from break or whatever, and asked who he should help, me or this other customer who came in after me, and the freaking guy pointed to the guy. I waited for another 15 minutes before I got to pay and leave. Bull.

Best exam I’ve had. Dr. Ho really listened to me. Good prices on contacts and glasses. Takes VSP.

Yes this is WalMart. However, both my eyes and my money are important to me. I found myself in need of new contacts and the local eye doc was on vacation, The folks at WalMart could get me in right away. They were super busy, yet each person I encountered was professional and knowledgeable. The initial pair of trial contacts didn’t quite work for me– and the doctor expected they might not. He gave me two options, said to try one for a week, see how it goes. When I scheduled my follow-​up, he wasn’t available, but the other doctor was. She carefully reviewed the notes from doctor #1 and gave me a second trial pair. Both of the physicians explained the pros and cons of many lenses, what may work best for my needs, and answered all of my questions. The front staff ordered my contacts for me, answered additional questions, were exceptionally courteous and my corrected vision is excellent without having to break the bank!

Have you ever been moored off somewhere you didn’t expect to be when you realize you’ve completely run out of contact lenses and are soon to be blind as a bat? No? Well, lucky you. I ran out of contact lenses while on an emergency extended trip to Renton. As someone with a (mild) astigmatism) and a childhood full of questionably traumatic opthalmologist exams, someone else says eye exam… I say…“Yeesh…do I have to?” In Renton? Far away from anyone I know well? With some mystery doctor? Yeesh.

I’m not one for big box stores and I do find many of Walmart’s business practices absolutely unforgivabe but after calling around town a bit pricing exams there was no way I was going anywhere else. I have had eye exams in NYC for 50 dollars and LA for 75 but, the local non-​walmart optometrist in Renton said the fee would be 160 — JUST FOR EXAM AND FITTING — NO LENSES. What? Why? A Walmarting we shall go!

tl;dr: I was freaking out because things in Renton generally seem sketchy as all heck and eye exams make me pretty nervous in general.
However, no need to worry. From making the appointment to exam, the staff here were all wonderful. Even when I couldn’t get my lack pair of contact lenses back out of my eye.

I was seen by Dr. Ho who did a thorough exam. With no scolding or awkwardness I’ve had previously from optometrists who must secretly get off on teasing the myopic. The pleasant Dr. Ho wrote me a new annual contact lens script. And I was out on my way within the hour for 160 INCLUDING 6^th months of lenses! Super pleased! Could not have had a better experience!

I was a little hesitant about getting an eye exam at Walmart but optometrists in WA charge a lot more than optometrists back in CA where I’m from. This Walmart has pretty bad reviews, but I doubt those people have ever stepped into a normal Walmart like the one in Sacramento, CA. The Renton Walmart is actually okay.
Dr. Ho was very friendly and explained what he was doing and why as he was doing it which was very reassuring. He’s also not bad on the eyes if you know what I mean! The eye exam and 6-​months’ worth of my usual brand of contact lenses cost me less than $ 150 overall. Amazing!