Classic Optical Center

I like my glasses, but will probably never return to this office for my glasses need. The Optometrist was wonderful but the staff member who sold me the frames seemed aggressive in his selling method and a bit condescending. He charged me the deposit for the glasses (I have insurance btw) and then when I returned about a week later after being called to pay the remaining balance and pick up my glasses, which we agreed upon after my visit, I was told they had not been started yet. I guess even with a deposit they wanted to have the entire payment. I also feel he was more interested in selling the more expensive frames than actually helping me find suitable frames (the prices aren’t listed on the glasses so you have to just trust whatever prices the associate tells you and you can’t browse by price). Maybe this is just the nature of the glasses business but I never felt this with my last glasses person. Also the receptionist greeted me with «do you have insurance?» And when I showed it to her said «this is fine», nothing friendly, no thanks for stopping by, no smiles. The location is great so I really think they have a great opportunity for better business if they become more friendly and use less aggressive selling methods.

Do not go here. I never write Unilocal reviews, but am compelled to ensure that no one else has to endure this terrible excuse for an optometrist. As other reviews here have stated, Dr. Bossin himself was nice, competent and professional. Everything — and I mean everything — else about this establishment is not.
I went there initially because I was leaving for an extended trip out of the country, and I was assured by John that I’d have my contacts before I left. I went in and had my exam. Simple and easy enough. Afterwards John comes out and literally writes a number down on a piece of paper and slides it to me face down on the table, in an attempt to get me to buy a year’s supply. This is an optometrist’s office, nod some shady backroom negotiating deal. He tells me «hes trying to work with me» etc. It took 3 seconds of math to determine he was blatantly trying to rip me off. I tell him no, and simply stick with my 2 boxes.
I’m then charged an outrageous $ 188 for a standard eye exam. I’ve been wearing contacts for 15 years and have never been charged this rate. I’m currently disputing this as a blatant rip off with my insurance provider.
Fast forward 2 weeks, and after repeated calls in which John pretends to not remember any of our previous contact/​conversations, I’m assured over and over again that my contacts are in. They’re not. I then leave the country for an extended period of time.
I’ve since moved, and on my return I’ve attempted to have them ship my contacts to my new address since I’m no longer in DC. They are charging me for the shipment. After already charging indefensible rates, and taking over a month to get a not so specialized order of contacts.
Do NOT go here.

I VERY rarely write reviews, but here goes…
As most others have written, the optometrist (Dr. Bossin, I believe) was friendly, informative, and answered all my questions. NO problems with him.
My concern, like almost everyone else, is the pricing practices here. I too was subjected to high-​pressure sales techniques to buy glasses, sunglasses, etc. I declined, and was fed lines I’ve heard while perusing used car lots («I’m trying to work with you here» «You don’t like saving money?!» etc.). Almost comically adding to the used car analogy, the salesman wrote all the prices down on a slip of paper instead of saying them aloud.
I can handle denying high pressure sales techniques, though. What motivated me to find my outdated Unilocal username and reset my password to write this review is the VERY shady, nearly fraudulent, pricing practices.
I wear contacts. I have since 2001. I’ve been to countless eye exams, with a different provider almost every time. For these exams, I’ve always been insured, and always paid a between $ 10 – 25 as my copay. I’m still insured, and Classic Optical billed me $ 138.
I immediately called my insurance provider, confirming that I have a $ 10 copay for vision exams. This leaves $ 128 for a «contact fitting», which my insurance company rep admitted seemed very, very high (most are in the $ 30-​$ 50 range, according to her expertise). As I have been to dozens of exams as a contact wearer and have NEVER been charged for this, I didn’t think to ask ahead of time if there’d be anything beyond the standard exam (silly me).
A bit of Google work indicated that all the tests I had during my exam (Biomicroscopy, Ophthalmoscope, Retinoscopy, etc.) are covered under the «standard exam» parameters under my insurance policy. A contact fitting generally involves measuring one to be given contacts for the first time, obviously. ALL the tests/​exams Dr. Bossin performed were standard eye exam fare, nothing out of the ordinary. Understandably, I was concerned about being charged $ 128 for a fitting that didn’t happen.
I called Classic and was repeatedly told that «a contact exam is different than a glasses exam». Perhaps this is true, but me simply being a contact wearer should not have made these standard exams (covered in my copay) so much more expensive.
Bottom line is: This place is very shady. I have been to dozens of eye exams as a contact wearer, received the same tests/​exams I did at Classic, and have never been charged a contact fitting fee. They charged me for one after the exam was done. Even IF I did need a fitting, $ 128 is exorbitantly high. I am urging my insurance provided to remove Classic from their list of providers on their website. Don’t support this business.

This place is a outdated and dishonest. I went in for my eye exam — which was fine since the actual eye doctor is nice — but I left with my purse $ 471 lighter. They completely swindled me for a pair of male (I’m a female) glasses from 6 years ago for $ 168 — and they were going to charge me more! They also tacked on contacts for $ 168 — the wrong contacts arrived 2 weeks later and after I insisted that they get my order right — I haven’t heard from them since. Still no contacts… One box of Acuvue 2 should cost around 20 — not 42 — like they are charging me. Insane! DON’T buy anything here.

The shop itself is dated and disorganized. The front office staff was highly unprofessional; the male attendant made inappropriate comments to me and another customer who came in with a question. The female was better, but worked slowly and took four tries to do the initial air puff test.
I did not feel that the exam was done in a sanitary manner. The doctor did not clean the equipment or wash his hands. As he went through the exam, he repeatedly bumped the eye equipment while I was trying to see which option was better. I asked for the doctor to look at a potential infection in one eye, which he said he could not do because he did not have the proper equipment… i.e. A q-​tip.
After the exam, the doctor tried to pressure me into buying new contacts and glasses, which I did not need. I declined. The male attendant told me the exam cost $ 88. I noted that was higher than I’m used to, and asked why it was so expensive. His (flippant) response: «I dunno, for whatever it is you did back there.» When I asked how much a normal eye exam costs, I got an even more flippant, «I dunno, a couple hundred.»
Needless to say, I will not be returning.

This was a seriously sketchy experience. The shop is kind of dingy, but hey, it must be expensive to have a shop downtown. The optometrist is a nice, older guy, and seems to do a fine job. But after the exam, you’ll get pressured with all sorts of skeezy, used-​car-​salesman techniques, trying to pressure you into buying new glasses TODAY. «We have a special deal for you if you’ll buy new ones today,» «You should spoil yourself with new glasses,» «oh, these are on the verge of breaking, they’re so old,» Your out of pocket will only be (writes a number down on a piece of paper) if you buy a whole year of contacts from us now.” After politely and repeatedly stating that no, I would not be getting new glasses and I needed to do my research before buying contacts, they charge me for the visit. I’m thinking, $ 10 co-​pay, they’re thinking $ 150 «contact fitting» fee. I gave in and paid it, but I felt mislead and will not be going back here even when I do buy new glasses or contacts.

This was on a list of places I could go with my insurance, so I made an appointment. When I arrived the doctor was running late but was pretty swift and professional with the appointment. My complaint is not with the doctor but with the gentleman who handles the actual sales.
He pressured me into getting some glasses that I really couldn’t afford, assuring me the entire time that he was giving me a 50% discount and that it was a great deal, and that he was throwing in all these features free of charge. He also seemed to be making prices up off the top of his head, since they don’t have price tags on any of the frames in the store. At the time I thought it was a good deal but now I realize that this man is no better than a used car salesman. He used the exact same tactics, throwing in all these extra features that I definitely was being charged for, he just made it seem like there was no other option.
So I walked back to my office, thinking about what had just happened, and decided I wanted to actually cancel the glasses order because that combined with the exam and my contacts was just too much. I called maybe twenty minutes after my appointment ended to see if I could change it. The gentleman who I had been working with said he would call me right back. He did not, and when I called back a few hours later there was no answer. I called back a couple of days later (after the weekend) and he told me that there was nothing they could do to reverse the glasses order. This is obviously a lie. I don’t know if he just didn’t feel like dealing with it because I had already paid, but I am quite sure there was something he could have done about it when I called before, immediately after the appointment. He also offered no explanation for not having called me back except that he «tried but a customer walked in».
The entire experience feels so sleazy to me and I feel completely taken advantage of. I would absolutely not recommend that anyone go here. Do your research and find a different place where you feel that your best interest is being listened to rather than getting swindled.

Classic Optical Center is awesome. Before I stepped into the store, I was searching all day in the neighborhood for new glasses. I went to several stores before that day, including For Eyes and My Eye Dr. I had a terrible experience in both of those stores. Not one sales associate from either of those stores approached me and asked if I needed any help finding glasses for at least fifteen minutes! This shows poor customer service to me. When I walked into Classic Optical Center, the owner approached me in a timely manner while I was browsing and said, «I know the exact glasses that would look great on you!» They were actually the exact glasses that I loved and wanted to try on before he approached me! To sum it up, a positive experience, great customer service and good prices!

The staff was super helpful and friendly from the time we arrived. John is very down to Earth and knowledgeable… a straight shooter too! Super funny if I might add… so he made for some good company while I waited for my hubby.
BTW…the hubster didn’t have to wait to be seen so there was zero wait time! They performed the exam, helped him with his prescription and we were out of there in no time.
Bottom line… no issues, great customer service, professional & friendly staff!

The optometrist here is great. He’s all business, and was helpful with me about my contacts. When I had my exam about a year ago, he told me I had been oversold at my last eye doctor and I didn’t really need toric lenses! So, he hooked me up with some new, super breathable lenses that fit my awkwardly shaped eye perfectly, without the extra cash.
Then I also needed updated glasses. So he sent me to the floor where I had the same exact experience that Tamar mentioned.
Yesterday, I stopped in a different optometrist closer to my office, one where I am not a patient, and they replaced the screw in my SUNglasses no questions asked. I was in and out in five minutes.
Today, I went back Classic Optical Center to get a screw replaced in my regular glasses (typically no big deal, like yesterday). I got a rigamaroll about why he couldn’t replace the screw on the spot and he asked me to leave them. I explained my eyes were really tired of wearing my contacts and I wanted to take them out. He says, «You can leave them in. Can’t you come back tomorrow?» So finally I kindly explained that I really wanted to take my contacts out and I would take my glasses elsewhere. Which I did — I went one block away, where I walked in and asked for help, and in less than five minutes I was out the door with my repaired glasses.
Unfortunately, the customer service here is completely lacking.