Saton Optiek

This place is shiny and attractive on the outside, but underneath lurks a not so nice side.

First the good points: the shop is nicely laid out, very modern, with hipsters manning the shop. Oh but it also turns out the hipsters are the optometrists! And they have robots that do most of the eye tests for them! And if you're the last client on New Year's Eve they'll give you a glass of champagne!

Now on to the bad parts: When I made my appointment over e-mail and when I came in to the store for that appointment I asked to have my eyes measured for glasses and contacts. After two visits I still only have info for contacts and not for glasses. When I called to get the glasses info today I was told I have to come in a third time to get another measurement so I can buy glasses. These people clearly don't value my time, since I've never had to visit an optician three times before to just get a glasses prescription.

And on top of that the guy on the phone was snarky to me that I just wanted to get the glasses prescription so I can order glasses online. Well yes, that is what I want to do, but only because I didn't like any of the frames in their store. I was upfront when I had the eye exam and said that I would probably get glasses somewhere else because I was looking for different frames than the ones they had available. At no point did the guy ask me what kind of frames I wanted or offered to help me get what I was looking for, so yes, I want the prescription from the eye exam I paid €45 for so I can get what I want somewhere else. It's not like I'm stealing the information, so why the attitude? Since when does getting an eye exam mean you have to be locked into buying glasses from the same place you got the exam?!

The other bad things about this place are they charge high prices for lenses and fluid, and I couldn't just get my measurements after the first visit because they wanted me to come back in and try out test lenses with the new prescription. Fair enough. Except when I came back in two weeks later to try the lenses they didn't have them. They never came in and nobody knew why and nobody bothered to call me to tell me not to come in because there was nothing to try on. So they gave me a cheaper type of lens to try out the prescription at least, if not the exact type of lens, and they wanted me to come back *again* when the lenses eventually came in.

I was actually relieved the lenses weren't in because it meant I could order my lenses online for about €100 cheaper for 6 months of lenses then what this place charges. Again, I would have bought their lenses if they were in stock, but they weren't, so I went elsewhere. And their lens fluid is like 4-5 times more expensive than what is available at Etos or Kruidvat, so I don't know what they think they're doing by charging so much for everything, but it doesn't make sense in the era of online shopping.

One of the guys working there even told me you can't buy lenses online in the Netherlands, so I had to buy them from this place. Either he was lying and assuming I don't know how to use google, or he was willfully ignorant, neither of which is very attractive. If you want a simple eye exam and no hassle, go elsewhere!

I went today and was really pleased with my experience! The optician was really knowledgeable, had all the latest equipment for testing eyes in about 200 different ways. I felt like I had a very thorough exam! He explained everything going on with my eyes (have terrible vision) and really took time to talk to me and explain my options regarding contact lenses, solutions, etc,

I am not in need of new glasses right now, but they had quite a selection of trendy frames, and while I was there they happened to air on the TV a segment of the local news featuring eyeglass trends at Saton! Quite cool. My husband is going there to get new frames this week, and I have no doubt he will come out looking stylish.

Saton is open until 7 most nights, so I was able to get an appointment after work! Very nice.