Eye yay yaaaay

I went to Hassans Opticians in Muthanna. I have been ordering my contacts at the Sharq locations (where I've always had great customer service) for years since they are the agents of Bauch & Lomb. I know I spelled that wrong. I did it on purpose. I can't see to google. Fekit.

Did you know that contact lenses are cheaper in Kuwait than they are in 'merica? Yup. Its true. Cheaper in price - a whole lot more expensive in terms of the Frustration Factor.

Isn't that true of a lot of things in Kuwait? Items/services are cheaper but then you factor in the frustration you have to go through to get it; is it all worth it? My sofa was - I love that thing - but OMG what I had to go through to get it made! sheeesh. I'm like the most patiently impatient person I know since I came to Kuwait.

I digress.

I figured that it was time to get my eyes tested again since I hadn’t done it in a few years, so I went to Muthanna where it is usually quieter. Dr. Dude did a quick exam and Sales Dude showed me frames. They explained that it could take “up to” 2 months to get my lenses. They’ve said that before, but I never had to wait that long. I found a pair of oo la la Escada frames; after much salesmen up-sell. They started me off at the KD 200 and up case. I was tired, I have only myself to blame; I paid more than I really wanted to pay, but whatever. They said the frames would take 20 days.20 days? For glasses??? So much for “Hour Eyes”! Jeez. In the States, you get them in an hour and sometimes while you’re waiting. What a crock. Anyhooooooo

My last pair of frames – 8 years ago – cost a whopping 10 KD from Noor Opticians. The only person who sees me in them is my dog. I just use them at night to watch TV before going to bed. They don’t have to be beautiful, but they are comfortable and after 8 years are still just fine.

After few weeks, I called back to see if the lenses might, by chance/by luck/by the Grace of God, be ready yet. Dr. Dude got on the phone and started shouting at me, “I TOLD you 2 months! ... and after my response of "unacceptable!" "LISTEN TO MEEE!” Oh no, he di’in’t. Kuwait’s faaaaaaaabulous customer service strikes again. Hey you with the money – give it to me now and then go to hell. In the world of sales, this is called “sell and go to hell”. Yessirreeebob. That’s what they expected me to do…. After KD 164. Cha-ching. It doesn’t even cost that much to go to the US on United right now (Summer fares are 150 KD r/t). Do you think that Hell is closer? Hmmmm. Subject to interpretation (or "Interpellation" since we are in Kuwait and they so love that word in the media).

Yet anyhooo again…. I, being the Angry White Woman that I am, called back and got their head office number. Talked to the receptionist who swore she could handle my problem. Talked to the HR manager who swore she could handle my problem. (No apologies so far…. ) Then I sent a fax to the owner. Somebody called me back and swore he could handle my problem. The next day, I get an e-mail from somebody else (how many? I lost count) who said that my contact lenses were in Customs. Whaaa - they can't see either? I waited… Ok so all told, it was purty dern close to 2 months when I finally got them. I got the glasses sooner, but no one would make eye contact (ha ha - no pun intended. really.)/look at me when I walked in the store and no one asked if I would like to have my glasses fit (which you’re supposed to do because as it turned out – they weren’t a good fit).

Please pardon my spelling mistakes. You see (I can't), as I write this, I can’t see my monitor (I know it is the big thing behind my coffee mug). Dr. Dude F’ed up – adding insult to injury or injury to insult as the case may be. They gave me the wrong prescription. I have headaches and I can't see. It's bad. I'm like Helen Keller behind the wheel: one hand on the wheel, the other on the road. I should fit in really well with everyone else out there.

I digress. As usual. B M C....
Blogs are so much better than comment cards because they are great therapy (and people see them).

I called the Muthanna branch to get my prescription and asked them to fax it or e-mail it to me. I literally couldn't get the lady to understand me. 12 (I counted) times, I tried in vain to give her my e-mail address. Nervous giggles at the other end of the phone. I finally asked her name. She was a DOCTOR somebody. WTF?! I asked where she got her degree and then gave up. In the Western world, if you are Dr. (firstname), you know you are screwed (like, "Dr. Jeff" or "Dr. Mindy"). Here, it seems to be the norm. Regardless, I knew I was screwed.

The Man is pleading with me to go back down to Hassans and fight for my money. I am so angry and I feel that I have been completely taken advantage of, but at the same time, not one person in that entire organization was an actual help to me. If anything, I’ve been yelled at (yo! me = customer) and no one has even said they were sorry. The Man is up for a good fight; I’m so close to vacation time that I don’t want to deal with their BS.

I can’t SEE! I have headaches. I hate Hassan’s.

I went back to Noor Opticians in Salmiya last night – to Dr. Vaheed, who has been there for 25 years. He remembered me when I walked in after 8 years. He smiled. He listened. He tried different things. He fit my glasses for me - making me more comfortable. He spoke to me calmly and without any quick movements. THAT is customer service. He is going to try to get me something else before I leave this week.

Don’t vendors understand the concept of competition? Don’t they realize that customers will just go somewhere else when they don’t get what they want? Make your customer happy; he/she'll come back.

I wrote back to the head office of Hassan’s and guess what – no response. Thanks. Another customer goes to the competition. Seeeeee ya (ha ha - I meant that)!