Specs in The City & Cheaters Too

Am with Brian H.– this is my go to place for Rx glasses, and after multiple pairs here, I don’t see myself going anywhere else. There’s always new frames in all shades of grey and color to match any wardrobe spectrum.
Jon Paul is always great to work with from frame selection to pick up. There’s now a new system that does the behind the scenes insurance connection with VSP which makes the backend stuff of my company’s benefit so much easier on me!
Prices are listed on most frames but really look around and be sure to ask for recommendations and colors. So many options here… almost too many.
Great local business and great service. Will be back in subsequent seasons! :)

Always very friendly, and they have a great selection. I went in to get my glasses adjusted and was expecting to pay for the service, and the very friendly optometrist adjusted them for free. I really like the rest of the staff too.

Great selection. And really good lenses. First time in ages I haven’t fallen frequently due to my reading correction distorting where the ground is. Staying right side up thanks to them! And they’re sweet as pie too.

This is my go to place for Rx glasses, have bought multiple pairs here. He always has interesting and unique frames which you are welcome to buy and have your lens done elsewhere. I did that once and he was cool with that.
Some have complained that he will tell you if he thinks the glasses work for you or not, and it is not always yes. Isn’t that what you want? Honesty. I prefer a retailer that isn’t only in it for themselves. Besides, I have made bad fashion choices in the past and could have used this kind of advice.
Don’t let the list prices scare you. The industry as a whole will always have a sale or coupon available — exactly at the pair you are looking at. Just seems to work out that way.

I went into Specs last weekend for a repair job to my glasses and the owner was kind, enjoyable and responsive in helping me with my glasses. I’ll definitely be going back.

Just want to share the great customer service I got from Frankie when I returned a pair of sunglass readers that didn’t do the trick, and another pair of sports sunglasses that didn’t fit right. He kindly traded them for another pair that fit well, despite the fact that I didn’t have a receipt. This will keep my loyalty.

Walked in the store to purchase a couple of pairs of sunglasses. Within one minute of entering the store, I reached up on to the top shelf of their bookcase display to check out a pair. The glasses fell and broke. (Very cheaply made)
The salesman charged me for the glasses and even included sales tax! My family were regular customers there. I will never buy another pair of glasses here again!

This place is horrible. I went there twice and told the same guy I just needed a pair of plain reading glasses. All he did was keep showing my the $ 180 pair. Three times I said I don’t want to spend $ 180 on reading glasses. This place is over priced and only worried about up selling. I will not be going back to this place.

Excellent selection of high end frames and the personal service you’d expect at a premium store. I bought frames and lenses for much less than I had expected to pay and the glasses were ready in only a week.

This place is a rip off. I went in this afternoon, in a hurry, to try on some reading glasses. I was prescribed 1s by my eye doctor, but this store didn’t have them in stock. They said 1.25 are basically the same thing. OK…
As I was trying on the reading glasses, they told me they were $ 75 per pair but would give them to me for $ 65. Wow. Nice guys! NOT! When I said I hinted that I might just purchase one pair, it was like we were in Chinese flea market. They lowered the price to $ 110 for 2 pairs. Sounded good, right? The price went from $ 150 to $ 110 in 5 minutes, so I must be getting a good deal? I bought them!
I got home and google the frames. They retail for a total of $ 90 for both, anywhere else. I got screwed!
This place is just lame. I love the idea of a cool reading glasses store. But put prices on your frames and stop ripping people off!

I was looking for a specific brand and after searching online, found that this store carried it. I read the reviews on Unilocal,but thought I’d check out the store anyway. What a surprise to have the same experience as some other reviewers!
The worker and the manager were very friendly. When I asked the price of some glasses, the worker said they were $ 125. The manager immediately said that everything in that case was now $ 75. I knew that at just about any other store, online and bricks and mortar, the same glasses cost $ 49. I said thank you and left.

Alright, Franky, this one’s for you.
I’ve worked in sales for a long time, and I take great pride in my customer service. I have the pleasure of working with some of the finest chefs and restaurateurs in the city, and I get up every day delighted to go to work. Yeah, I know, I’m the minority. But as the saying goes, «It’s not work if you love what you do».
And I truly do love what I do.
What’s my point, you ask?
Simple: I love what I do because I make people happy all day by being their problem solving partner. Someone who, like any good partner, anticipates what they will need, foresees issues before they arise, and apologizes for mistakes while fixing them.
In doing so, I have a huge soft spot in my heart for those who do the same. People like Franky from Specs.
BACK STORY:
I bought an awesome pair of shades last week on a whim; I received a pay raise, the specs were beautiful and my spirits were high. I asked the price, Franky told me, I pulled out my card and he swiped it. Easy peasy.
But I got home and looked up my new pair of shades online — I like to know everything I can about new purchases — and, much to my chagrin, found my new found shades for quite a bit less all over the web.
Now I understand that the Internet is the almighty nemesis of the brick-​and-​mortar retail store. I used to own a retail shop myself — I get how difficult it can be.
But I also understand that to charge far more than the competition, those who ALSO have brick-​and-​mortar stores to contend with, is a bit uncalled for.
So I called Franky who remembered me, remembered my purchase, and who was very helpful with my queries.
He explained his side.
I explained mine.
It was all very civil and adult of us.
And in the end, Franky made me happy by putting customer service first.
And in return I will sing his praises from this day forward.
So thank you, Franky from Specs. Thank you for understanding that my hard earned dollars are just that: hard earned. Thank you for putting customer service first, and for being amenable to working things out. Thank you for not making me feel like just another number, and for stepping up as a human being/​store owner.
And finally, to those of you who have left negative reviews in regards to your experience at Specs, remember that all successful negotiations have two winners. Each part must be respectful and kind, while remembering that the other party needs to feel like they have won as well. In other words, you get more bees with honey than with vinegar.

For the record, I had a delightfully incompetent experience at this place. The incompetence was so delicious, I can’t help but tell you about it.
Went there — sales guy was nice, friendly, happy, and everything in between. The glasses I want — were being sold for 170… he generously said, I will give it to you for 115. Great? Right? The owner comes up and cuts in and says, for you, I will give you a deal you cannot refuse, I will sell you this pair for 155 — final offer. I’m like… your associate quoted me at 115? Heated moments.
Sadly enough, the glasses can be bought online for 96 — 115; so meh, I bought them knowing I was being overcharged a little.
What did, however, piss me off was that as they were ringing me up — the guy computed the tax incorrectly. I didn’t complain — what’s $ 1.45 more? Right?
I got my glasses, paid a little for the convenience of having them today and not tomorrow from some store online. I don’t regret it. But to the rest of you, do your research, don’t go here, but do go here for the show that the owner and associate put on. The level of incompetence and penny pinching is lovely!

Yeah, «I’ve experienced better» about sums it up. When I lived in LA last year, I took advantage of my VSP insurance and found a local eye doctor, went in for an examination started looking at frames. When I expressed that I already owned two pairs of glasses with a current prescription and was just looking at this as a fashion accessory, they began asking me questions about what I wanted to spend, and when I told them, they showed me to a 75% off clearance section of frames. I ended up getting a really great pair of Prodesign: Denmark frames for FREE. Boo-​yah!
I wanted that type of experience here, and didn’t get it. I felt like every pair of frames that they showed me were more expensive than the last, and when I attempted to explain that I wasn’t looking to spend that much money, I really got a cold shoulder for it. They just didn’t seem interested in showing me anything for under $ 500 or helping my shop for «a deal». Maybe I’m not fancy enough for this place.
I actually left and scheduled an appointment that afternoon for my old eye doctor in West Hollywood. Hell, with flight and rental car I’ll still get out cheaper than $ 500.
They do have beautiful things, but they only seem to be interested in helping you out if you’re wanting to pay full-​list price for their most expensive items. Y’all have seen Pretty Woman, right? ‘Nuff said.

As in previous Unilocalers reviews I can relate to feeling ripped off here… I saw a great looking pair of frames in thier winow and after purchasing them saw them on line for ¹⁄₃ the price. They do carry a nice selection, but $ 300 for frames I found elsewhere for $ 100 is crazy! Check them out for selection first and then research on line prices.

I stopped in the store during a weekend visit to San Francisco. The staff was attentive and helpful. I bought a pair of frames and paid with my credit card. About half an hour later, I realized that I could have paid using my Flex benefits card. I went back to the store and the clerk cheerfully canceled my first transaction and then charged the Flex benefits card.
I would definitely shop here again.

I find it interesting that most of the complaints are about people looking AFTER at other businesses and comparing prices. Um, is that really the store’s fault or your own?
This place is great. The owner introduced me to the concept of buying reading glasses frames (which he has a GREAT selection of under $ 100) and then getting lenses for them. He also is honest about the look of glasses, quality of the cheaper frames, AND is soooo patient with me.
I’ve returned here year after year. Usually I buy, sometimes I don’t. But is always a pleasant experience. The owner is running a small business and is a decent guy (as his offers to the disgruntled and low-​star customers note seem decent to me!). Also, the return policy is now 14 days.
Check it out. And be a smart shopper, not a mean one!

Specs in The City… wonderful, I don’t understand the negative comments (see above).This store is well stocked, best prices around. and management is extraordinary, goes the extra mile for you… wont’ comment a frame looks good (for your profile) to make a sale. unlike others in the area! If you want quality this is it… you can buy a fake online and then deal with the back and forth on line. Cheers.
Four Stars… I’ve been a customer for yrs. love the changing styles.

I wish I had checked out the Unilocal reviews before going into this store. I bought a pair of shades for $ 95 + tax. Then a few days later, just out of curiosity I checked the price of the same pair on Google Shopping engine: the prices quoted varied between $ 35 and $ 50. I was dumbfounded. Immediately returned to the store with a printout of the results page, demanding an explanation. The store owner did not have much to say, except that he did not understand how low they could charge online.
For consolation, he offered to give me a 50% discount on my next purchase in their store. On my next purchase??? In THEIR store??? Delusional, is what he is if he thinks he can get away with this.
Fool me once, shame on you!
Fool me twice, shame on me!

It’s like being robbed blind! They have a «no refund or return» policy because they know they are overcharging customers. Glasses are three times as expensive than if you bought on line or elsewhere. Highway robbery, you should be ashamed of yourselves!