Hot Shots Eyeware Repair is located at 690 Carlsbad Village Drive, #102, in Carlsbad. “The people who get helped know who helped them.” “Talking about it would defeat the purpose, wouldn’t it?” he asked coyly. He did, however, hint about “calls from school nurses.” Stephenson does a lot of pro bono work he won’t talk about. Finally, he said he would replace the face plate for free.” He kept repairing my glasses over and over again for 13 years. “It is unconventional to have someone this reasonable and accessible to take this good care of our glasses,” Grady Aldridge said. “When she returned with her boyfriend the cops were already here.”įor most customers Stephenson is a modern-day Santa toiling in his workshop. “She threw hot coffee on me and ripped her clothes on the way out so it would look like I attacked her,” he said. On another occasion, it was a woman who ambushed him. “He had a heart attack right here on the carpet.” “He told me to quit and I said I wouldn’t,” Stephenson said. Stephenson jumped on the assailant and the men scuffled, rolling into the waiting room. The mild-mannered Stephenson refers to an incident in which the husband of a disgruntled customer ran into his workroom and pinned him to the counter. “If I make a mistake, cops could be called or women could send their husbands down here to threaten me … which has happened.” “My work affects the way people see,” he said. What many don’t appreciate is the precision that is critical to his trade. “I’ll say, ‘I won’t let you sit there for more than 15 minutes.’” “They’ll call me from their cell phone in the waiting room and want to see me,” he said. “I used to get frustrated and found it was wearing me out,” he said. In the time it takes to argue, he says he could have fixed the problem. One thing Stephenson doesn’t like is conflict. I’d have to be fired by thousands and thousands of people (to impact on business).” “Instead of cleaning three cars for $100 each, you clean 10 cars for $10 each,” he said. Today, Stephenson works steadily in his windowless workroom, monitoring activity in the waiting room with a surveillance camera. All that changed around 1998 when he began generating regular work from doctors. Stephenson worked nights at 7-Eleven to cover business losses the first couple of years. “I’d adjust glasses at old folks’ homes and they’d call me ‘hot shot’ or ‘tiger’ - things old guys say.” The business name “Hot Shots” was inspired by volunteer work with the Lions Cub and Lenscrafters’ Gift of Sight programs. In 1994 he went out on his own, renting space above his current location. Frustrated that he was unable to repair clients’ glasses, he made a deal with Leventhal to offer a new service. Stephenson got the idea for his business in the early 1990s working as an optician for Dr. By the end of the week he’s repaired hinges, replaced bridges and removed scratches from lenses for about 1,200 customers. on Monday, chances are people are already gathering. The Soup Nazi metaphor also comes from the efficient, regimented manner in which he handles customer service. But unlike the Soup Nazi who terrifies his customers, Stephenson charms them with humility and generosity that are rare these days. His most popular service is adjusting eyeglasses, something he does for free. He specializes in while-u-wait eyeglass repair at prices that are so affordable, many people think they’re unreasonable. Stephenson owns Hot Shots Eyewear Repair Specialists at the corner of Carlsbad Village Drive and Madison. “I said, ‘Dad, that’s a good thing,’” Stephenson said smiling. CARLSBAD - Bill Stephenson’s father was upset when he heard his son was known around town as the “Eyeglass Nazi.” He was unaware of the reference to the Soup Nazi character on “Seinfeld” remembered for lines of faithful customers who filed out the door and down the street.
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