This has been an issue that has been addressed a lot lately so I figured I would make a thread for some clarification.
Last year Oakley started labeling their wire frames as "Made in China." According to an employee I spoke to, the frames were being made there for awhile but it was labeled as being "Made in USA" because the frames were sent to California then assembled with lenses at HQ. Now what is happening is that the lenses are being sent overseas to be assembled where the frames are made, China.
There has also been a change in O-Matter frames as well. Lifestyle frames no longer state "Made in USA" but rather have "Assembled in USA" written on the packaging. So what is happening here is what was going on with wire frames, they are being made overseas then assembled at HQ. Changes have also been made with accessories like the earsocks. The rubber kits used to have one earsock that stated "Made in USA" but now are blank (with the exception of the name style on one end) and a "CE" (conformity marking for products sold in Europe) badge on the other. Another employee I talked to stated that the new Cavendish Radarlock had "Assembled in USA" on the packaging.
Where does this leave the consumers and collectors? Considering that acetate, womens and RX frames have been made overseas (China, Italy, Japan) for quite some time I personally don't see where the difference is. From what I can tell, most importantly, is that the lenses are still (for now) being made in the USA at HQ. Before jumping down my throat and saying that Luxottica is at fault, how do we know that? How many other companies have relocated to overseas production? Most people wouldn't be able to spot the difference between an American made product and an identical one made overseas. Personally I think frames were being made overseas for a long time prior but with production changes are now being labeled as such. The truth is that we will never truly know (unless you know an engineer or developer at HQ) and honestly I don't think there is any physical difference. The origins of a product do not necessarily dictate quality. Please note that I do not in anyway support Luxottica with their price hikes and overseas production, if anything prices should be cheaper.
My main conclusion here is to let everyone know and to keep this discussion in one area, as it seems to be all over the forum now. I personally don't care where they are made as long as quality isn't affected. From what I can tell there hasn't been a drastic (or even marginal) decline in quality. For those that are concerned, remember that all Apple products also state "Designed in California, made in China," just like Oakley is doing now. As far as I can tell Apple is still doing very well and nobody complains that their iPhones are made in China.
Discuss. Flame suit ready.
Last year Oakley started labeling their wire frames as "Made in China." According to an employee I spoke to, the frames were being made there for awhile but it was labeled as being "Made in USA" because the frames were sent to California then assembled with lenses at HQ. Now what is happening is that the lenses are being sent overseas to be assembled where the frames are made, China.
There has also been a change in O-Matter frames as well. Lifestyle frames no longer state "Made in USA" but rather have "Assembled in USA" written on the packaging. So what is happening here is what was going on with wire frames, they are being made overseas then assembled at HQ. Changes have also been made with accessories like the earsocks. The rubber kits used to have one earsock that stated "Made in USA" but now are blank (with the exception of the name style on one end) and a "CE" (conformity marking for products sold in Europe) badge on the other. Another employee I talked to stated that the new Cavendish Radarlock had "Assembled in USA" on the packaging.
Where does this leave the consumers and collectors? Considering that acetate, womens and RX frames have been made overseas (China, Italy, Japan) for quite some time I personally don't see where the difference is. From what I can tell, most importantly, is that the lenses are still (for now) being made in the USA at HQ. Before jumping down my throat and saying that Luxottica is at fault, how do we know that? How many other companies have relocated to overseas production? Most people wouldn't be able to spot the difference between an American made product and an identical one made overseas. Personally I think frames were being made overseas for a long time prior but with production changes are now being labeled as such. The truth is that we will never truly know (unless you know an engineer or developer at HQ) and honestly I don't think there is any physical difference. The origins of a product do not necessarily dictate quality. Please note that I do not in anyway support Luxottica with their price hikes and overseas production, if anything prices should be cheaper.
My main conclusion here is to let everyone know and to keep this discussion in one area, as it seems to be all over the forum now. I personally don't care where they are made as long as quality isn't affected. From what I can tell there hasn't been a drastic (or even marginal) decline in quality. For those that are concerned, remember that all Apple products also state "Designed in California, made in China," just like Oakley is doing now. As far as I can tell Apple is still doing very well and nobody complains that their iPhones are made in China.
Discuss. Flame suit ready.
