Complaint Review: Lafont Eyewear - New York New York

Last year I received a gift of a brand new pair of optical frames that I`d wanted, but could not afford, as a gift from a friend. They purchased them about 400 miles away from my home, in San Francisco.  The frames were several hundred dollars, without the prescripton.  As I  already had some glasses that I was using, and was not scheduled for a new prescription for a while, I kept them in the packing materials, and waited for my next eye doctor appointment.

Several months later, it was time to see the doctor, so I had him put my new prescription into my Lafont Voilette frames.  After wearing them for less than 8 months, I was standing in a store, and they literally fell off of my face.  Upon examining them, it appeared that there was a tiny crack inside the tortoise shell on the earpiece near to where they attach to the main eyeglasses, and they had just separated.

I went online and contacted LaFont via their website, to see if they had repair parts available.  After 2 weeks, I received no reply, so, I re-sent a message, and about 3 days later, heard from a representative of the company, who gave me instructions to contact a local retailer who would be able to get me the parts and who was supposedly EXPECTING to hear from me.

The next day, I went to the specified shop, and after waiting for about 20 minutes, was told that nobody knew anything about my situation, and that they would take my information and check on the parts.  They told me that they would get back in touch with me.

I thanked them for their help, and then contacted Lafont to let them know what had happened.  I waited to hear from them, but after 3 weeks, never heard from the eyewear store OR from Lafont.  As I had no issue with the eyewear retailer, other than poor follow up, I continued to contact Lafont.  I let them know what had happened with the retailer, and asked for them to please send me replacement eyepieces, and I would screw them onto the glasses myself.  It was a simple repair for a very simple item, or so it seemed.  I sent my address, and thanked them for their help.  It seemed like such expensive glasses should certainly last for at LEAST a year.   They look BRAND NEW, with no scratches, or anything else. 

It has now been several weeks, and Lafont has not returned any of at least 5 emails.  The person who had initially seemed to be so willing to help, has ignored me completely.  I am very disappointed that a company supposedly selling premium eyewear, costing hundreds of dollars, does little to stand behind their product.

I recognize that this particular frame is now discontinued, but, this does not eliminate the fact that it was purchased for me NEW, and has not lived up to the standard expected of a premium product.