From July 1, 2018, opticians and hearing-aid acousticians will have to issue a detailed estimate to their customers. A measure of transparency welcomed by the sector.
When buying glasses, the details of the service are a bit vague. It is indeed difficult to know exactly how much the thinning of the lens, the anti-reflection or anti-fog treatment costs. But from the 1er January 2018, eyeglass wearers will know what their equipment cost them.
From this date, opticians will be required to display their prices on their storefront, and to issue a quote before any purchase. The same goes for internet sales sites. These new rules also apply to hearing care professionals. This transparency measure adopted during the vote on the Macron law is described in 2 decrees published at the beginning of May in the Official Journal.
These provisions apply “to all products and services of hearing impaired hearing aids (hearing aids and essential accessories or related to the operation of the device)”, as well as “corrective lenses, frames, corrective lenses and equipment for amblyope delivered to physical or remote points of sale, whether or not they are reimbursed by social health insurance plans ”, specifies one of the orders.
Also, nothing will change with regard to the sale of sunglasses or lens care products.
The same quote everywhere
In addition, the texts provide for providing professionals with standardized quotes. They will list precisely the characteristics of the products as well as their prices, and will distinguish the prices of the products from those of the services. Manufacturers will also be cited. Objective: to allow customers to easily compare quotes from different opticians or hearing care professionals.
For professionals in the sector, this framework will bring transparency and enhance these professions. On the site Acuity, Alain Gerbel, president of the National Federation of Opticians of France (Fnof), considers that “this text reassures, secures, and goes in the direction of a desire of the profession to specify what it does, how it works and above all to set up total transparency ”. Ludovic Mathieu, president of the Group of Industrialists and Manufacturers of Optics (Gifo) agrees: “The optician must seize these opportunities to enrich his profession, develop his services to ultimately bring more satisfaction to wearers. It is undoubtedly the start of a new chapter in the profession. From now on, the optician’s service will be known and recognized by the consumer ”.
Recalcitrant professionals will be liable to a fine of up to 3,000 euros for a natural person and 15,000 euros for a legal person.
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