ASK BEFORE YOU BUY

The questions that reveal a good shop.

Price tags lie. Policies don't. Before you hand over money for glasses — anywhere, at any tier — ask these questions. The answers will tell you more about the shop than any review.

**"What's the warranty?"** Good shops stand behind frames for at least a year, often two, against manufacturing defects. Great shops replace a snapped temple without an interrogation. If the answer is vague, the warranty is imaginary.

**"Are adjustments free, forever?"** Any decent optical shop adjusts your frames for free — not just at purchase, for life. Tightening screws, re-bending temples, re-seating nose pads. This is table stakes. A shop that charges for a five-minute adjustment is telling you who they are.

**"What's the remake policy?"** If the prescription feels wrong, will they recheck it and remake the lenses free? The answer should be an immediate yes, with a timeframe (usually 30–60 days). Hesitation here is a red flag.

**"Who does the fitting?"** You want a trained optician, not a sales associate reading a script. Ask how long they've been fitting. Experience shows in the first thirty seconds of watching someone handle a frame.

**"Can I take my prescription and PD with me?"** The answer is always yes — it's your medical record. Watch the reaction. Enthusiasm means confidence. Reluctance means they were counting on your inertia.

Five questions, two minutes. The good shops love them. That's how you know. Bonus question for the road: "What happens if I sit on them?" The good shops laugh, then tell you about the repair. The bad ones go quiet.

Price tags lie. Policies don't. Ask the five questions.