thespectaclefactory.comReviews of thespectaclefactory.com

I was suckered in by their YouTube presence, and prepared to pay a lot more than other retailers for that ‘special’ service and ‘optimal’ outcome. In my experience, what was delivered was inferior to my favourite high street seller. Shan’t be going back.

Previously I have bought glasses from Specsavers. 2 for1 deal. Last year decided to buy what I thought would be a better pair of glasses that would last longer. Paid a bit more but thought it was worth it. How wrong could I be… The arm dropped off after 18 months. I went in yesterday to have it re attached and they refused saying they were only guaranteed for 12 months. Whilst I was in there I saw other very disgruntled customers ( not the same reason) I’m going back to Specsavers. They didn’t care.

I had the most horrific experience at the spectacle factory Preston, I was charged way above retail for a frame I had ordered only realised when I checked the RRP online via google, when I questioned this and wanted a refund I was met with abrasive rude snobby and abrupt attitude. Was told they’re the best that’s why they charge these prices. Robert is a crafty dishonest salesman, they seem to take your money quickly when placing and order and payments, when trying to question their high mark ups they just act like it’s not the case. The staff also are not educated enough on eyewear it was like entering a school playground. My uncle has been in the optical business for years so I’m not clueless. I’ve had to contact citizens direct and it’s been suggested I take this much further especially as we have consumer rights which these guys don’t take seriously, I agree with the other reviews. This place is a mockery and the truth needs to be shared! The store itself is in a very old, dead area more quoted for builders collecting bricks and metal than it is for high end eyewear. The online presence is not what the store reflects, it’s a different ball game altogether. Will not be using this company ever again. Save your money and don’t be blinded by the spectacle “factory” the store also had no vibe or presence, looked like a converted shed. Will stick to sunglasses hut or Mr Soho next time.

I called ahead before making a 2+ hour trip to this "trusted" opticians. I even booked time off work to come. Over the phone, I gave them the exact code for the product and was given a price. When I got there, I was told that price was actually for a different item and they'd "mistakenly" quoted me the wrong one. It didn't make any sense as I gave the exact product code, The staff didn't seem to care at all. No apology, no effort to fix the issue, just a shrug and "mistakes happen." Only after I complained did they offer £200 off which didn't seem genuine. I also spoke to Robot afterwards, thinking he'd take the feedback seriously. Instead, he acted arrogant and just went on about how they're the "best eyewear company." Completely missing the point. I came in ready to buy a Cartier frame and was hoping for a luxury experience instead I got one of the worst customer service experiences I've had anywhere. For a business with a decent following, the service was honestly shocking. What makes it worse is that I was genuinely excited to visit. I'd been watching their videos for a while and wouldn've loved to build a collection with them as the frames and lenses do look great. But after this experience, I honestly don't trust the service. If you're looking for a reliable and trustworthy opticians, I'd really think twice before coming here.

The Spectacle Factory, an eyewear retailer in Preston, UK, whose representative misled me repeatedly during multiple luxury eyewear purchases. Over the past few years, I bought seven pairs of glasses through their remote sales channel while living in Norway. Robert, who presents himself as an eyewear specialist via video consultations and social media, advised me on frame styles and lens configurations. I later learned that he is not a qualified optician and is self-taught. Key concerns include: - Being sold lenses branded as “SmartLife” from Zeiss, when some colors (e.g. salmon tint, pink gradient) do not exist in Zeiss’ offerings. These were reportedly created by the company, but misrepresented as branded lenses. - Frames significantly mismatched to my petite size and prescription (+5 and +3.25), causing discomfort and magnified visual distortion. - Dismissive email responses when I raised concerns, and refusal to exchange products that were promoted as customizable or fitted to me. - Possibly unethical customs practices — my expensive orders, including £1,000 Cartier frames, were consistently shipped with a declared value around £100, allegedly to avoid tolls. This appears to be intentional undervaluation. I have since paid out-of-pocket to replace several lenses and correct the poor choices made during these sales. I believe I was misled regarding both product type and the expertise of the seller.

I ordered two non-prescription clip-on lenses for my subtitle glasses — one sun-reflective, one for blue light filtering — and paid over $700. The sun clip was fine. The blue light lens, however, was completely clear and didn’t block blue light in any visible way. When I raised the issue, I was told the lens was “the best available” and filters up to 40%. That wasn’t remotely adequate for my needs, and the lens didn’t perform as expected. Despite multiple emails over several months, I was only offered a replacement if I paid more. No return label. No refund. Just more cost to fix what I consider a misfit between product and purpose. The whole process left me feeling like the service ended once they had my payment. I wish I had read more reviews beforehand. Hopefully this helps someone else avoid the same mistake.