It has come to my attention that with the popularity of collecting reaching new heights, members have taken the liberty to customize Oakley products more and more. Now……customizing Oakley sunglasses is not something I am personally opposed to …… BUT……. with certain knowledge I have become aware that a few members are customizing sunglasses for a niche market that exists in this forum. This manipulation comes in many different forms including non-existent color ways, coatings, themes, etching, displays, and much MUCH more.
It is understandable that many people would like to buy unique items that personally speak to them as a consumer. It is the right of any buyer to purchase anything that they like….But; this has an inherent consequence here creating major problems to a vast number of collectors. These same people selling customized products are also flooding the market with replicated rare factory products in which have a major impact. These people who are experts in Oakley knowledge are recreating items that are known to existing collectors generating a major concern for people who assign value to items in their collection. I am lucky enough to find out this information from a few sources and I have become aware that this is being done intentionally. These people are also preying on less informed enthusiasts by trading their custom items for items that are more known or valuable to informed collectors. The most important factor in this message is that the people doing this are the ones I thought to be most trusted. This was the hardest thing to accept and prompted a statement that I think every collector here should read.
I have experienced the repercussions of this new menace first hand and I am concerned that this is the future of collecting. As to whom these people are? I will only say that they have extensive collections and a few are well known customizers.
In short, do not be fooled by these people, passion and love for collecting can easily turn into obsession or greed. PLEASE! Be wary of non-factory items and stay true to Oakley if you plan to pass items along. Do we really want such people in charge of a market based or exclusiveness? Oakley purposefully does not create items to stay true to exclusivity that protect consumers. Also remember the bigger picture, it maybe the people who love Oakley collecting the most that ultimately cause the most significant harm.
It is understandable that many people would like to buy unique items that personally speak to them as a consumer. It is the right of any buyer to purchase anything that they like….But; this has an inherent consequence here creating major problems to a vast number of collectors. These same people selling customized products are also flooding the market with replicated rare factory products in which have a major impact. These people who are experts in Oakley knowledge are recreating items that are known to existing collectors generating a major concern for people who assign value to items in their collection. I am lucky enough to find out this information from a few sources and I have become aware that this is being done intentionally. These people are also preying on less informed enthusiasts by trading their custom items for items that are more known or valuable to informed collectors. The most important factor in this message is that the people doing this are the ones I thought to be most trusted. This was the hardest thing to accept and prompted a statement that I think every collector here should read.
I have experienced the repercussions of this new menace first hand and I am concerned that this is the future of collecting. As to whom these people are? I will only say that they have extensive collections and a few are well known customizers.
In short, do not be fooled by these people, passion and love for collecting can easily turn into obsession or greed. PLEASE! Be wary of non-factory items and stay true to Oakley if you plan to pass items along. Do we really want such people in charge of a market based or exclusiveness? Oakley purposefully does not create items to stay true to exclusivity that protect consumers. Also remember the bigger picture, it maybe the people who love Oakley collecting the most that ultimately cause the most significant harm.
