Beach Lover
5,335 views
Just putting the truth out so everyone who reads this can be a better informed consumer. I will NEVER buy anything from this business again. I have purchased expensive sunglasses (one pair Chanel's were over $500) several times at both locations. I have never had problems until the Chanel's. The left leg kept becoming loose and falling off. I returned them to the store and they repaired them. That did not last, this problem happened again and again until finally the glasses fell off my face at Grand Boulevard and were damaged. The damage consists of two severe scratches/dents on one lense. Immediately took them to the Eye Gallery, the owner was rude but agreed to send them back to Chanel. We picked them up today after waiting for the store to call for over a month but never did. Today the manager at the store said Chanel refused to do anything. No replacement lense, nothing! The store claims that they had to pay to replace the left leg on the glasses. I am so angry. I feel that a $500 pair of sunglasses should not fall apart and that if you own any type of retail business that you should anticipate manufacturer defects and have a good plan to deal with the incidents. Customer service has really gone down everywhere.....even in the better establishements! I will never patronize the Eye Gallery or anything Chanel ever again!

Edited

Replies

37
Jdarg avatar
SoWal Expert
#2
$500 for a pair of sunglasses? Seriously?
John R avatar
needs to get out more
#3
$500 for a pair of sunglasses? Seriously?

my costa's were 250. and i know customer service is unparalleled.
SHELLY avatar
SoWal Insider
#4
Something tells me that you won't need to tell people twice about the hazards of buying a $500 pair of sunglasses.

I suggest everyone simply go out and buy 50 pair of $10 Chanel knock-offs at ImposterCity and toss them in the can like a used tissue should they break. http://www.impostercity.com/ImposterCity-Style-7490CLFR-pr-427.html

.

Edited

Geo avatar
Beach Fanatic
#5
I spent $180 on my Maui's. I never bought into paying more than 10 bucks for glasses until I moved here and looked at the water with my brother in law's polarized lens. Now (and ya'll might scoff at this) I really view this as a matter of safety. I want to be able to see what is in the water when I swim.
Jdarg avatar
SoWal Expert
#6
I spent $180 on my Maui's. I never bought into paying more than 10 bucks for glasses until I moved here and looked at the water with my brother in law's polarized lens. Now (and ya'll might scoff at this) I really view this as a matter of safety. I want to be able to see what is in the water when I swim.

I get paying money for performance/sport glasses, that actually have a function beyond being yet another accessory that a company can slap a logo on and have people pay to do their advertising.
beachmouse avatar
Beach Fanatic
#7
Mister mouse pays $400+ for eyeglasses because he really likes the super high performance Zeiss lenses. The frames themselves are the cheaper part of the deal.
Smiling JOe avatar
SoWal Expert
#8
My Costa's were only about $140, when I bought them back around 2003. The rubber ear guard eventually fell apart. I sent them back to Costa, and since I was out of my warranty period, they charged me $10 + shipping to completely replace the rubber around the ear pieces, like brand new, and they didn't even ask a question. The little rubber piece for the nose-rests finally broke down this year, but I wear them without having them repaired, because I like the glasses so much that I don't want to be without them for a week while they are being repaired. I agree, John R, Costa's level of commitment to their products, and their customer service is outstanding.

Shelly, don't you know that the cheap knock-offs may actually damage your eyes more than not wearing sunglasses, if they don't have UV protection? $10 can cost you greatly in the end.

I hope the diamonds on the $500 pair of glasses are still useful. Just kidding slightly, but not really. Regardless of my taste (or lack thereof), if you choose to spend money to purchase something, you should expect to receive value for your purchase, and it sounds like the company didn't stand behind its product. Remember that for your next purchase. Maybe style is most important for some of us. For others, reliability on products comes first. Always get some feedback from other owners of the product before spending 4 times the norm to purchase it yourself. People love to buy Land Rover Discovery, until they own one. They look cool and raise one's social status, but they are an inferior product. Read any consumer report and you will quickly learn to purchase something else, unless of course, you just have to have style at any price.
Kurt avatar
Admin
#9
I don't think it's appropriate to criticize the retailer. Sounds like they tried to help you out. It doesn't surprise me that the manufacturer wouldn't do anything because your lens hit the pavement.

Polarized lenses are a must on the water and they sure do magnify the beauty of the skies and sunrises and sunsets here in SoWal.
Beach LoverAuthor
#10
I don't think it's appropriate to criticize the retailer. Sounds like they tried to help you out. It doesn't surprise me that the manufacturer wouldn't do anything because your lens hit the pavement.

Polarized lenses are a must on the water and they sure do magnify the beauty of the skies and sunrises and sunsets here in SoWal.
One particular person is wonderful at the Eye Gallery, its just not the owner or manager. He has been great in the past. It is fair to criticize the retailer as when you operate a business you are somewhat responsible for what you sell and you certainly should value a repeat customer who has never complained before! I am so disgusted at people in this country refusing to take responsibility for a damn thing! Yes, Chanel's behavior is inexcusable and I will NEVER buy another item from the company but.....the Eye Gallery also lost my business and my friend's (who buy several pair of $500 sunglasses) because of their rudeness and lack of action. In my humble opinion, the retailer should have replaced the lense. The damn thing wouldn't have hit the pavement if the leg on the glasses wasn't a complete dud!!!
Matt J avatar
SWGB
#11
Given the current Holiday I feel you should feel the spirit and forgive. In addition you should be thankful that you have the excess income to purchase $500.00 sunglasses. Unburden yourself and donate that money to a charity for those who have a long way to go before $500.00 sunglasses are an option.
Miss Kitty avatar
Meow
#12
I think I can understand your frustration, but didn't you take a risk when you decided to wear the glasses knowing they were loose? Take this question as a friendly one from someone that wears at least two pair of glasses on their head. :biggrin:
SoWal Insider
#13
I think I can understand your frustration, but didn't you take a risk when you decided to wear the glasses knowing they were loose? Take this question as a friendly one from someone that wears at least two pair of glasses on their head. :biggrin:

spoken like a true lawyer's wife. :D:wave:
Kurt avatar
Admin
#14
One particular person is wonderful at the Eye Gallery, its just not the owner or manager. He has been great in the past. It is fair to criticize the retailer as when you operate a business you are somewhat responsible for what you sell and you certainly should value a repeat customer who has never complained before! I am so disgusted at people in this country refusing to take responsibility for a damn thing! Yes, Chanel's behavior is inexcusable and I will NEVER buy another item from the company but.....the Eye Gallery also lost my business and my friend's (who buy several pair of $500 sunglasses) because of their rudeness and lack of action. In my humble opinion, the retailer should have replaced the lense. The damn thing wouldn't have hit the pavement if the leg on the glasses wasn't a complete dud!!!

What actions and results would make you happy?
John R avatar
needs to get out more
#15
I love this thread, great holiday reading.
Smiling JOe avatar
SoWal Expert
#16
Happy Festivus!
scooterbug44 avatar
SoWal Expert
#17
You purchased an item, had the item repaired, then went back again (for damage incurred from dropping said item on the ground), the retailer sent the item back to the manufacturer for you, but they wouldn't fix it and at this point you had an issue w/ the retailer?

Sorry, but that doesn't sound like horrible customer service to me.
Beach LoverAuthor
#18
A more professional and friendly store owner and....an offer for the retailer to pay 1/2 the lense cost and me pay the other 1/2. I have offered solutions to the store. It must be nice just to sell merchandise and basically tell customers everything is their problem when the item is defective. By the way, the drop that scratched the lense occurred after the store assured me that the problem was repaired. It was not loose. If you saw these Chanel's you would understand. I now believe this design is just bad. Not very practical. I will forgive. It just gets old forgiving and taking a hit all the time.

Edited

John R avatar
needs to get out more
#19
Caveat emptor
Beach Comber
#20
Just take a step back and realize that you spent more for a pair of sunglasses than a lot of people (including me) have as their total net worth this christmas after the shutdown of many industries (including mine, the RV industry) and be happy that it was just a pair of sunglasses that inconvenienced you.

In times like these it could have been a foreclosure, the lack of access to basic medicine, the loss of your livelihood, losing a loved one to an unnecessary war, the threat of starvation, facing homelessness, the loss of your life savings through no fault of your own, or a terminal disease.

Think for a minute that all you had to do was squint for a few minutes when so many others are busy trying to keep warm because they can't pay their gas bill because the company they have worked overtime and on holidays for decided they were expendable.

Sorry to be a downer, but sometimes you need to count your blessings before you invent an inconvenience.
Smiling JOe avatar
SoWal Expert
#21
I think the moral of this story is for each of us to not spend $500 on a pair of sunglasses, because, eventually, they will break or we will lose them.
Beach Fanatic
#22
Are you SURE you were talking to the owner? You keep referring to the owner as "he". I know the couple that owns this store and the "he" is rarely involved. Usually the "she" is involved, but they don't even live here.
SHELLY avatar
SoWal Insider
#23
I think the moral of this story is for each of us to not spend $500 on a pair of sunglasses, because, eventually, they will break or we will lose them.

I think the moral of this story is...don't try to illicit sympathy for a broken pair of $500 designer sunglasses when the country, state and county are staring into the abyss at the deepest recession this generation will experience in their lifetimes.

.
Matt J avatar
SWGB
#24
I think the moral of this story is...don't try to illicit sympathy for a broken pair of $500 designer sunglasses when the country, state and county are staring into the abyss at the deepest recession this generation will experience in their lifetimes.

.

Kind of like, "Let them wear Prada!" :biggrin:
Beach Fanatic
#25
If you paid for these with a Credit Card, you can dispute the charge. Contact the credit card issuer. You most likely will win.
Matt J avatar
SWGB
#26
If you paid for these with a Credit Card, you can dispute the charge. Contact the credit card issuer. You most likely will win.

6 month limit to dispute charges and that's with even the best credit card. Also most credit card companies won't even talk about it if it's within 100 miles of your home address.

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