Oakley Sunglasses - Scams that damage your eyes

Have you considered buying fake Oakely sunglasses?

Have you considered the value of your eyesight too?

Many of us have at one time or another succumbed to the bargain prices offered online and then have been disappointed upon receipt and perhaps you may have been successful returning those precious 'oakleys'? to the supplier for a full refund. How many have actually succeeded? far less than those who haven’t, that's for sure.

But have you really considered the consequences of donning the fakes, and looking cool whilst saving yourself a nice wad of cash in the process?

Ultraviolet light is one of the prime reasons we wear sunglasses (apart from the kudos aspect) and in nearly all cases the fake oakley sunglasses will have little if any at all - result – U.V. into retina equals damage.

Then of course there is the risk borne out of wearing them in the first place, like larking around with a football at the beach - that is until you get hit in the eye like a friend of mine - result? Shattered lenses - hospital - and bills that were far more than a genuine pair of oakley's would have cost in the first place.

He was lucky, he lived to see another day. You might not be!

Do Some Research Before You Buy

The best place to do research is an official Oakley dealer or sunglasses store. Find the style you want, try them on, and look at them very very carefully and be sure to notice the following and make a mental note.

·       Identifying markings (trademarks, serial numbers, date, etches on lenses)

·       Construction (hinge action, lens fit, quality of rubber pieces, and emblems)

·       Composition (rigidity and feel of the plastic or metal)

If you can't get to a sunglasses shop or don't have one near you, go to the manufacturer. The official Oakley website has a vast amount of information about all the current sunglasses styles and colors that they offer, including pictures. You can also use official sunglasses retailer websites like The Sunglass Hut for other styles and colors that may have been discontinued and not currently available on the Oakley website. If you happen across a site that you have not come across before and the prices are not massively less than the others ( a dead give away) look around for any site disclaimers where the vendor try's to distance themselves from liability. 

Here is a typical example

"Although our eyewear is comparable in style and quality, it is not the authentic or genuine brand name sunglasses. We are in no way affiliated with, representing, associated, or sponsored by, Armani, Cartier, Chanel, Christian Dior, Coach, Dolce & Gabbana, Gucci, Ray Ban,Yves Saint Laurent (etc etc) or any other above mentioned name brands or their products. We do not represent our sunglasses to be original nor do we represent that they are exact copies, therefore they do not violate any copyright laws. We simply ask consumers to compare quality & price of the above mentioned name brands to ours. Any reference to brand names or "compare to" are made strictly for comparison. Also, let it be known that this site has no affiliation to, and is not associated or sponsored by any of these trademark owners. We simply ask the consumer to compare the price and quality of the designer brand sunglasses to ours." Well at least they state they are not genuine, assuming you find the clause on their site in the first place.

They are of course simply attempting to avoid legal action from the manufacturers themselves, which is their primary concern.

Spotting Fake Oakley's Before You Buy

Ideally people selling Oakley sunglasses would have the box with original price tag, a bag, warranty papers, and a corresponding receipt from an authorized Oakley dealer. That just almost never happens. Just because a sale doesn't include a box, warranty papers, and/or a bag, doesn't necessarily mean they aren't real. The reverse of that is, just because a pair of sunglasses comes with a box, bag, and papers, doesn't make them genuine either. Just because a seller says they are "Real" or "Genuine" or "Authentic" Oakley sunglasses, doesn't make them so. The seller could easily have been misinformed about their product from an unethical supplier.

Do the obvious things first

·       Quick glance - If the sunglasses look fake at first glance, then they probably are.

·       Check a seller's history, feedback, and return policy.

·       It's good if they have been selling Oakleys awhile.

·       Do the sunglasses have any identifying marks? (You should know from your research if they should).

·       It's good if a seller stands behind their product and allows you to inspect it and return it if not fully satisfied.

Tips to Spot  Fake Oakley Eyeglasses After You Buy

Not every aspect of authenticity can be determined until you get the sunglasses in your possession. The best way to determine a fake is to take your new purchase to an Authorized Oakley Dealer to determine their authenticity. I've found that not all people that work at these locations can even spot a fake and you can't always get to one that easily.

I've composed a small checklist of signs that point to an imposter pair of Oakley sunglasses.

·       Moulding process - There shouldn't be any seams in the plastic from a bad mold. Typically you will see a very noticeable raised line (seam) in the plastic on top of the bridge (above the lenses) and raised circles and/or lines on each of the ear stems if the item is fake. This is caused by a poor mould quality and manufacturing process in fake production. You will never see a seam line in a real pair of Oakleys and should only occasionally be able to see any hint of a circle from the ear stem mould.

·       Plastic consistency - Oakley only uses a rigid plastic. The sunglasses should not feel rubbery or soft. This doesn't mean they can't bend.

·       Frame color - The color on plastic (or metal) frames or emblems should never flake right off. The color should not come off if you lightly scratch the inside of an ear stem with your fingernail to reveal a clear plastic frame that has been painted. I have seen paint chips on metal frames, typically around hinges, but the chips are small, the paint is thicker, and the color will not continue to come off if you lightly scratch it.

·       Lens fit - You should not be able to wiggle the lens if you lightly try to move them. The lenses should not have any spots around its perimeter that do not have the same color as the rest of the lens. There shouldn't be any gaps between the lens and the frame.

·       Lens quality - When you try the lenses on, everything should appear just as clear as it did without them. Try looking at something very detailed with and without the sunglasses on. There should be no noticeable difference. If while wearing the sunglasses you are able to look outside the frame, you should see no drastic jump in image location. This can only be tested while sunglasses are in the correct position on your face, so it can't be tested on all styles.

Oakley does have "2nds" or "B-Stock" products that manage to get in the hands of some sellers. These are products made by Oakley that didn't quite make the final inspection process. They may have small imperfections of some kind (a scratch or bubble in the frame, a dot on the lens, a crooked symbol, etc. Oakley is very picky when it comes to quality control. These are not bad products or fakes; just beware the seller that may be trying to sell them as "New". Be sure to weigh the price you are willing to spend vs. the potential of a less than perfect product.

In conclusion

There are reputable dealers of Oakley Sunglasses on-line and off-line.

Consider the three P's : people, place, price.