Are these Oakleys Fake? Sorry for age-old topic

shane r
shane r Posts: 326
edited July 2011 in Road buying advice
I bought some Jawbones of fleabay. I know, I know-minefield. But I was very careful to make sure they said they were genuine, checked feedback etc.-all looked good and they weren't cheap!

I get them and right away they seem not quite the quality you'd expect.

I emailed the guy and this is what he said:

"These are oakleys intended for the asian market hense good quality they comprimise a little due to their lower price.
They are differnt to their Western counterparts regarding quality of the frames but none the less counterfit oakleys are very poor in comparison."

Safe to assume this is complete bullshit?
Coupla Road Bikes
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Comments

  • Gazzaputt
    Gazzaputt Posts: 3,227
    Yes.

    Asian fit Oakleys are a litlle smaller in size that is all.
  • explosifpete
    explosifpete Posts: 1,327
    sounds like it to me
    http://www.iwaxstudio.co.uk/
  • shane r
    shane r Posts: 326
    Bummer. They are pretty close. Hard case, two sets of nose pieces (with proper rubber), three sets of lenses. They LOOK the part.
    Coupla Road Bikes
  • moonshine
    moonshine Posts: 1,022
    details on Oakley site

    http://www.oakley.com/asian-fit
  • Paul E
    Paul E Posts: 2,052
    Aisian fit just change around the nose area, size wise they are the same
  • cougie
    cougie Posts: 22,512
    How cheap were they ? And look at newsprint right at the edge of the lens - does it start to distort the letters ? Genuine lenses wont.
  • explosifpete
    explosifpete Posts: 1,327
    you can report fake ones on the oakley site
    http://www.iwaxstudio.co.uk/
  • explosifpete
    explosifpete Posts: 1,327
    you can report fake ones on the oakley site
    http://www.iwaxstudio.co.uk/
  • alan_sherman
    alan_sherman Posts: 1,157
    Oakley don't seem to have the same quality as they used to (to me anyway). I do have some Radars, they fit me well, and the lenses don't distort. But the plastic frame is just plastic - it doesn't look or feel any different to a £20 pair of glasses to be honest. The arms aren't even at the same level (i.e. a slight twist in the frame).
  • nferrar
    nferrar Posts: 2,511
    Yeah I have custom Radars direct from Oakley and can't say the lens impresses me, clarity-wise it's good but they scratch very easily.
  • bisoner
    bisoner Posts: 171
    Get some Bolle safety glasses from ebay. They work perfectly for cycling and at around £6-8 a pair you wont cry when they get broken/lost/scratched.....................
  • shane r
    shane r Posts: 326
    That's the thing, this is my 4th pair of Oakleys-I also have some Monster Pups, e-wires, Wardens and now these. I also have a pair of Bolle and a pair of Avenir-both specifically for cycling. But I was after the perfect pair and it seems like Jaw Bones are far and away the choice of the pros.

    Paid £100
    Coupla Road Bikes
  • greasedscotsman
    greasedscotsman Posts: 6,962
    shane r wrote:
    But I was after the perfect pair and it seems like Jaw Bones are far and away the choice of the pros.

    Paid £100

    The Pros are given them, so doesn't really count for much. For £100 or so you could have got some M Frames from Oakley, probably the best glasses they make (well Pro M's are the best, but they don't make them any more). Anyway you can return the ones you have from Ebay?
  • trooperk
    trooperk Posts: 189
    shane r wrote:
    it seems like Jaw Bones are far and away the choice of the pros.

    When a company pays sponsored rider to wear new product they will wear it regardless how good it is.
    Specialized-The clitoris of bikes.
  • trooperk
    trooperk Posts: 189
    If the seller didn’t make a point of them being Asian fit you should return them.
    and also hands up the people thought Asian fit were for people from India :)
    Specialized-The clitoris of bikes.
  • shane r
    shane r Posts: 326
    I understand the whole sponsorship thing. But 'Bones do have an excellent reputation around the forums and internet in general. I do love the fit.

    I'm sure I can get my dosh back as I paid via paypal-just wanted to make sure that there wasn't some truth to this guy's c@ck-and-bull story.
    Coupla Road Bikes
  • Eyon
    Eyon Posts: 623
    I bought some Jawbones yesterday, so comfortable and block loads of wind at speed. I paid £144 from my local optitions, with 2 sets of vented lenses. Very happy with my purchase.
  • Monty Dog
    Monty Dog Posts: 20,614
    The material cost of a pair of Oakleys is no more than for a pair of the aforementioned £6 safety glasses, what you're paying for are the expensive marketing campaign and the freebies to 'sponsored' athletes. Oakley's quality went south about 10 years ago when they realised that fat blokes in loud knitwear thought they'd look cool.
    Make mine an Italian, with Campagnolo on the side..
  • shane r
    shane r Posts: 326
    Monty Dog wrote:
    The material cost of a pair of Oakleys is no more than for a pair of the aforementioned £6 safety glasses, what you're paying for are the expensive marketing campaign and the freebies to 'sponsored' athletes. Oakley's quality went south about 10 years ago when they realised that fat blokes in loud knitwear thought they'd look cool.

    Thankfully I'm neither.
    Coupla Road Bikes
  • greasedscotsman
    greasedscotsman Posts: 6,962
    Monty Dog wrote:
    The material cost of a pair of Oakleys is no more than for a pair of the aforementioned £6 safety glasses, what you're paying for are the expensive marketing campaign and the freebies to 'sponsored' athletes. Oakley's quality went south about 10 years ago when they realised that fat blokes in loud knitwear thought they'd look cool.

    Ehh? I still have a pair I bought over 20 years ago. Quality hasn't changed in the slightest. Design is much better though...
  • Supergoose
    Supergoose Posts: 1,089
    greasedscotsman wrote:
    Monty Dog wrote:
    The material cost of a pair of Oakleys is no more than for a pair of the aforementioned £6 safety glasses, what you're paying for are the expensive marketing campaign and the freebies to 'sponsored' athletes. Oakley's quality went south about 10 years ago when they realised that fat blokes in loud knitwear thought they'd look cool.

    Ehh? I still have a pair I bought over 20 years ago. Quality hasn't changed in the slightest. Design is much better though...

    To be fair, I would agree with Monty here. I own many different styles of Oakleys. I buy them fully aware I am a slave to my material greed, and captured by clever marketing.

    With regards to design and production I am paying through the nose for them. For me there is an element of brand snobbery. I think they work very well and I like them so who's to say I'm wrong? Agreed a set of Bolle's at a fraction of the price would do just as good a job. The points made re costs are true enough. Oakley's and their counterparts are wildly overpriced.

    As long as people like me feel compelled to buy them then there will always be a market.

    I need help.
    Rock 'n' Roule
  • greasedscotsman
    greasedscotsman Posts: 6,962
    Supergoose wrote:
    I need help.

    You need help? I have 25 pairs (I think...)

    Anyway, I'm not saying Monty is wrong with all of the points he makes. When I saw Greg Lemond wearing a pair similar to these...

    oakley-razor-blade-3.jpg

    ...I was hooked, had to have a pair. So clever marketing, of cours!. But the quality hasn't changed, just the design.If you look at the Razor Blades above, the arms weren't so great. Compare them to Radars or Jawbones, so much better in how they sit on your face.

    Anyway, this is going a bit off topic. If you want to buy some Bolle, then great, but don't think there isn't marketing invloved in them as well. I have another pair of Oakleys on their way from a mate in the US, hopefully they will match my spangly lycra and fat belly!

    8)
  • elliotlipski
    elliotlipski Posts: 71
    Bought a pair of jawbones for <£100 the other week (searched for a good deal)... So far I am super impressed with them. In comparison to my old BBB (£30ish) the jawbones optics are better, general quality is also better, granted I paid for the brand, but dont think I will look back..Oh, and the neon-yellow is a bit of a head turner too!

    Also tried the asian fit on and as others have said the only difference that I noticed was the nose piece and slightly slimmer.

    p.s. If Oakley can call a bit of rubber "unobtainium" surely that makes them far superior to anything you have ever bought?!! ;)
  • elliotlipski
    elliotlipski Posts: 71
    Bought a pair of jawbones for <£100 the other week (searched for a good deal)... So far I am super impressed with them. In comparison to my old BBB (£30ish) the jawbones optics are better, general quality is also better, granted I paid for the brand, but dont think I will look back..Oh, and the neon-yellow is a bit of a head turner too!

    Also tried the asian fit on and as others have said the only difference that I noticed was the nose piece and slightly slimmer.

    p.s. If Oakley can call a bit of rubber "unobtainium" surely that makes them far superior to anything you have ever bought?!! ;)
  • cornerblock
    cornerblock Posts: 3,228
    Paul E wrote:
    Aisian fit just change around the nose area, size wise they are the same

    Same same but different. :shock:
  • trooperk
    trooperk Posts: 189
    Cornerblock wrote:
    Paul E wrote:
    Aisian fit just change around the nose area, size wise they are the same

    Same same but different. :shock:

    Wrong, it’s also wider to fit the flatter and wider Chinese faces.
    Specialized-The clitoris of bikes.
  • Gazzaputt
    Gazzaputt Posts: 3,227
    Ok I have a pair of Radar Path cost was £90 instead of the £175 on the box. Noway would I pay £175.

    They are far far superior than the Pro Lite glasses that I paid £30 from Ribble.

    Comfort wise you don't realise you are wearing them. Lense is is another league.

    I can wear the Oakleys all day no issue cheaper glasses a couple of hours at most before they become uncomfortable.

    You do get what you pay for and if your happy with cheaper glasses then I'm happy for you.
  • trooperk
    trooperk Posts: 189
    elliotlipski wrote:
    p.s. If Oakley can call a bit of rubber "unobtainium" surely that makes them far superior to anything you have ever bought?!! ;)

    Jim Jannard who founded Oakley in 1975 developed a special rubber that still grips when wet call Unobtainium, he made motocross hand grip with the rubber after riders were complaining grips were slippery when wet, then he branch out to goggles and then sunglasses and the rest is history.
    spent most of my life wearing glasses and because of my flattish nose, I use to spent a lot of time pushing my glasses up on my face, when I was after a pair of riding glasses when I took up MTB in 1990 I tried on a pair of the original M frame and I was sold, what a bliss no more pushing up as the frame grips and stick to my face (Oakley wearers will know what I’m talking about), even now when off the bike I only wear casual Oakley’s with rubber nose pieces and arms, did have 16 pairs at one point before I sold some so you could call me a fan.
    Specialized-The clitoris of bikes.
  • hopper1
    hopper1 Posts: 4,389
    I bought genuine Jawbones for around £100.
    Yes, they are expensive, but they are also in a different class (IMHO).
    Have a butchers on their factory website, some bargains to be had on there :wink:
    Start with a budget, finish with a mortgage!
  • Simmotino
    Simmotino Posts: 295
    I had intended to buy a pair of Jawbones at the airport at the weekend but, having picked them up and having a good look at them, I didn't bother.

    They didn't look like £150 worth of glasses and felt cheap compared to my £20 pair I currently use. The lenses weren't any better either.

    I don't need a £150 logo on the side of my glasses, so walked out without buying and went to Pink instead :D

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