After making a decision to purchase a pair of Oakleys online, you obviously can’t wait to step out wearing them. Purchasing online saves time and is very convenient but there are a lot of fake Oakley sunglasses. Although you can do homework on the store before check out, the actual check time is when the sunglasses arrive. You should know features to look for to tell you have made a great investment. At a glance, here are simple checks to ensure that you have bought genuine Oakley sunglasses.
Check origin
Oakley sunglasses come with “Made in U.S.A” painted or engraved inside the arms of the frames. You have to keep in mind that all Oakleys originate from the USA only. A pair originating from Taiwan or China is obviously a replica, and not worth your hard-earned money. Never hesitate to ship it back and get a refund.
Frame color
When your pair of Oakley sunglasses arrives, the never hesitate to visit Oakley.com for a color comparison of the frames with the product you have received. Genuine Oakley sunglasses have frames with easily recognizable neutral metal tones. Fake glasses come with frame knockoff color with a lighter shade compared to genuine products. This is because makers of fake products apply paint on plastic instead of metal.
Oakley logo
Genuine Oakley sunglasses online have a logo on the frame nosepiece. Rub a pencil eraser slowly over the logo to verify its authenticity. A fake logo slowly wears off revealing the screen printing method used to apply it on. The logo on genuine Oakleys doesn’t rub off easily but depreciates gradually. Additionally, Oakley sunglasses come with raised logo letters but never wear off easily.
Quality and weight
Real Oakley sunglasses have frames made of high-quality plastics and metals. This gives these glasses heavier weight compared to fake products made with cheap plastic and metal. Additionally, genuine Oakleys have a frame with a lot of girths. Fake counterparts are made with cheap plastics and metals like aluminum making them weight significantly less.
Look for stickers
No genuine Oakleys product comes with a sticker anywhere. The manufacturer doesn’t place stickers on any of its product lines. Even when purchasing Oakley prescription glasses, keep in mind that these come directly from the factory-made to fit. These come from Oakley in a box with a warranty card. This gives peace of mind that you have made a worthwhile investment.
Warranty card
The easiest way to ensure that you have purchased genuine Oakley sunglasses is the warranty card. Fake options come without the warranty card. However, check the card to verify its authenticity. Look at the serial number that should match with that etched into the right arm frame. The card should have a heavy feel made of quality plastic and bears Oakley’s customer service number. Other features to check on the warranty card include:
- Transparency
- Name of the frames
- Frames manufacture date
- Other warranty information
This warranty lasts 5 years but you have to verify and activate the card by calling the manufacturer or mailing the card to them.
Check the nosepiece and rubber
The company applies rubber on the nosepiece. This feels cushy and sticky, a trick that comes from the manufacturing process. Fake products come with a nosepiece 0that feels firm and plastic with a polished look. Genuine Oakleys have a rubber nosepiece with a soft feel and without seams. These don’t come with raised lines on the arms and around the frame.
Check ear socks
The ear socks on fake Oakleys easily slides on and off since they are from cheap plastic. It might also result from a gap caused by misaligned parts between the ear socks and frames. Genuine Oakleys have ear socks that easily slides on and off when fully flushed to the frame. Fake options have poorly cut ear socks that don’t fit in the frame.
Case and a cleaning cloth
Expect your purchase of Oakley sunglasses to arrive in a high-quality case of microfiber pouch. Any of these should have the Oakley logo and absence obviously means the product is genuine. The package should include a cleaning cloth in case your purchase comes in a hard case. For the pouch, there is no cleaning cloth since the pouch itself serves a similar purpose. The pouch and cleaning cloth are from microfiber material ideal for cleaning glasses safely.
Bottom line
Oakley sunglasses are for everyone. Luckily, you can shop your pair conveniently online. However, you have to be smart enough to tell that what you receive is a genuine product. After finding a reputable online store, browsing through the products, and checking out, it is normal to wait eagerly for your purchase. On arrival, never miss doing the above checks to have peace of mind that you have received a genuine product.
