I had just received my new glasses - which I ordered online - having chosen transitions. It was full sun the first time I wore them outside. I noticed they were not getting as dark as I expected, so I decided to go to our nearby store and ask if they could replace the lenses somehow or just remove the charge for the transitions.
My wife was with me. The woman who greeted us was unfriendly from the start. That included her body language. Defensive. She stood in the doorway, with some kind of clipboard in her hands. Off-putting is the best word to describe her, then she got worse. She had an annoying tone in her voice as she proceeded to say “no” to every request for customer service. Then, as we didn’t just walk away defeated, she said only the head salesperson could answer.
But, before the greeter went back to get her, she argued with us about the level of sunshine on that day - Friday, April 25, 2025. I said I was just in full sun! No she insisted it’s overcast today.
Go outside and see for yourself. In a word, attitude, very bad attitude. Not to mention, she might need a new prescription.
We waited and waited for someone to appear from the backroom. I noticed a woman who joined the rest of us but neglected to approach us. The greeter who went to get her said nothing to us (like not even here she is). She didn't even point us out to the other employee. I had to ask are you the one the greeter said we should address with our concerns? (They never even gave us their names.) I might be the one, I think she said, mumbling and rocking a bit as she said it, that is, also leaking attitude both with her tone and demeanor. So, I proceeded to ask if I can just get refunded for the cost of the transitions...No! The system won’t allow that.
So I said in other words I’m gonna have to return these glasses, which I don't want to do, and wait to get clear lenses back and that's my only recourse? I have to go out of my way not the other way around. I added I’m sensing attitude here - she snipped what do you mean by that - my wife added she’d taught customer service and was duly unimpressed. (She was being modest; she’s a Fulbright scholar with triple masters degrees only one of which is an MBA; but along with other things, yes, she’s an expert in customer service).
My wife added to her remark that because of the lack of customer service they were starting to get on her nerves, too. Again, we witnessed the posture and the tone. What do you mean? I said “I’m going to corporate.” My wife added “because you are not getting it.” She only consults for a fee, like everyone else, so she didn’t give them a “free” lecture, which she can do.
Earlier on, my wife said she thought the demo pair looked better than the ones I was sent. She complimented the greeter’s glasses (rectangular shaped tortoise) because the pattern was not as irregular as my pair. So, then my wife said, could they at least pop those out and replace them with the nicer pair.
Again, there was a reason to say no in a snippy tone. My wife informed her she’d read online that someone did just that in another Warby Parker and was treated well.
"Rectangle tortoise" shell gal was a perfect example on how not to serve a customer. It was pretty overwhelming.
The other one was wearing big white chunky glasses. She was no better.
I said I’m going to corporate and added “because they were very nice online” when I ordered them. It was not a disappointment this time either.
Not only am I getting a refund for the transitions (bc they could not be darkened as to the company offering only one shade) but they are sending me another pair for free to compare to the ones my wife thought could be better looking. Exactly the same, lenses and all. My choice on which to keep and which to return.
Go there to look at the frames, but I recommend bypassing the store and ordering online. They are nicer and much more competent.
This is the kind of experience my wife used to share with her university students on how not to treat customers.
Online gets 5 stars. Store only 1.
Response from Warby Parker
April 29, 2025
We are incredibly sorry to hear about your experience, Chuck. This is not the level of service we aim to provide, and we will absolutely pass your feedback along to our team. If you would like to discuss your experience further, please reach out to us at reviews@warbyparker.com