Sterling Optical - Ridgewood — Local services in New York

WAY OVERPRICED. LOW GRADE WORK.

Let me start by sharing that I have used glasses all of my life. So when it comes to frames, lenses, fits and overall transactions I would have to say that I have seen it all. We've had an optical store that we were fans of for years and sadly Covid shut it down, so we found Sterling Optical in Google and they accepted my wife's plan and so she decided to give them a try.

The idea was to outfit a frame we already had with lenses and then get a complete pair of glasses with a 2nd pair of lenses. And in order to do the lenses, an eye exam. Simple enough. 2 sets of lenses and one frame shouldn't be so bad... we have always done this for years.

We went, and we found it a little odd that two other women there were complaining about prices and being pushed what they didn't want. We shrugged it off and figured it was just a coincidence that they were there at the same time with the same complaint. The wife goes in for her check up (which was a normal check up) and she came back out to pick her second set of frames and to settle the tab.

Well, the bill came out to $1,349... and that was bringing in our own pair of lenses!!! She, nor I, or our child has ever had a bill for glasses and a frame (without contacts or any other sort of service) past the $900 mark, let along over the $1300. But, we made it this far so we figured the glasses would come out amazing at that price.

A week goes by, we get called for the pick-up and instead of both glasses being available it was just the one we had the frame for. We trekked out on a blazing hot day to get one pair. We'd have to come back.

Another week goes by, we go and get the second pair which were the frames and glasses... and they were thick lenses, highly scratched on the sides instead of being polished off as any glass place would do, and the lenses just seemed to be put on oddly. Hard to explain but when you've worn glasses as long as we have you know to notice those details. It's as if the lense was not mounted correctly and just sat at the edge of the frame. Well, a day later right lens popped out on it's own at the office without reason like only saliva and good will was holding it in's spot.

We waste more time on going in to get the glasses serviced and they were not even surprised that the lens popped out or about our complaint about the sides of the lenses looking like cave-wall carving were made when they should be polished. They simply said, okay, we'll have the guys fix them.

Another week goes by.. and it's time to get them on yet another swelteringly hot day, but as they are needed we did and it's now visit number 5 to drop them off.

The following day... again, the lens popped right off. No force, no reason, it literally just popped off as if there is truly nothing holding it in place. Upon further inspection, they were done so poorly this time that the lens is smaller than the frame and there is a little pocket of empty space at the top of the lens where glass frame nor glass is filling it in.

We are about to back again for the 6th time on a transaction that was well over a grand for the shottiest, most unprofessional work that we have ever seen. Again, we've had glasses all of our lives and we have never dealt with a place as unprofessional as this.

I need to get glasses soon. Our son does to. As well as a few other family members. But even if this was the last place left to get glasses in New York, I'd hop on over anywhere else to get them done.

Who makes glasses that pop out of the frames? Who makes glasses that are not polished on the sides? Who makes glasses that don't fully fit the frame? Who charges THAT much for labor this cheap? Sterling Optical of Ridgewood....

I don't leave negative reviews often, so I mean this when I say this: steer clear of this place. The optometrist is very kind and will get through your appointment very quickly- but the sales side is just extremely unprofessional.

I visited the store in late April because I needed a new prescription/glasses badly. I had chosen this store because it was in my network/the only place with same day availability. After my eye appointment, I looked at their selection of glasses and found a pair that I really liked. I was told by the saleswoman that I absolutely needed to get the warranty, as well as the lens protecting coating for my glasses, bringing my total sale to well over $300. This was WITH my vision insurance. What the saleswoman failed to mention was that the glasses she had sold me were DISCONTINUED, meaning when they eventually broke not even a MONTH later they could not be replaced. So why sell me a warranty for glasses that I could not replace? When I went back to redeem my warranty, this is when I was informed of this but that I shouldn't worry because the grey pair was "almost identical." Spoiler, it wasn't. When they could see I was visibly upset with the grey replacement pair, THAT'S when they had the common sense to see if the pair I had selected was in another store. This was after I had asked to take a look at similar pairs, which they would also not honor the warranty on by the way. Eventually, after days of waiting they informed me that they found the last pair of the glasses I had selected in another store and I could come pick them up. When I did they very firmly informed me that my warranty was over and I could no longer replace them. So imagine my frustration when not even EIGHT months later, they broke again. In over 15 years of wearing glasses, I have never owned a pair as flimsy or as cheap as these. The fact that I paid well over $300 for them to break in such a short amount of time is beyond frustrating. I will never give my business to this store or any Sterling Optical ever again, and have informed my friends and family to...

Definitely not the place to go for an exam. I have always had astigmatism since a child. Went here for my yearly exam like a miracle the doctor told me my astigmatism was gone no sign of it. Any professional would know that astigmatism may only go away with LASIK surgery. They prescribed my glasses and contacts without astigmatism. Went back told them I could not see good with the contacts and glasses but the lady at the front told me the doctor could never be wrong. The doctor himself said it can’t be. They were persistent on telling me I’m wrong Instead of rechecking my eyes. I was not going to stand there and argue. So they ripped me off on my money plus I had to go to another doctor and get my eyes examined...