Your biggest issue with Oakley's today

[Calgary Dreaming]

Yep only time will tell. The times are a changin'. I don't know if future generations will care as much as we do since they're grow up in an ever increasingly global manufacturing society.

 

[atty_65]

it still considered a step down in a collectors mindset like mine, i hope the production will be maintained for whats left of the model being manufactured
in the US. But i guess they started to saturate and testing the waters. The precedence is not enticing to us collectors but there is nothing we can do since we are still
considered minority and thats a sad situation we are in.

 

[Ex_Oakley_employee]

When I left Lux, this was on of the issues everyone was bringing up, how much of an affect in the long term losing 'Made in USA' on Oakley and 'Made in Italy' on the RBs is going to be. It is purely a perception thing, as like I say, for what it's worth, the standards I have seen with my own eyes in the Chinese factories put some western manufacturing standards to shame.

Slightly hypocritical having said that, but whilst I don't mind where they are made I'm not actually a fan of stamping 'Made in China' on the frame. It would be the same if they stamped 'Made in Brazil' or even 'Made in England' on it. It just doesn't look right.

This is one of my biggest issues with the forum. I don't mean to single you out, but it's something I need to get off my chest. Everyone wants to gripe about how everything that comes out is "tired" or "derivative". Look at an Oakley catalog from 1999 and you see about as much diversity. Unless you know the brand and the pairs well a Five, Ten, Minute, Straight Jacket, Eye Jacket, XX all look pretty much the same. The real core pairs that most people bought.

Now you want recycled designs? Throwbacks? People get all pissy when Oakley released the old school wires last year, called it a money grab. Wild wires from the 90's were back on retail shelves and this forum collectively BALKED.

The really outlandish stuff wasn't made to sell. They were done because Jim was a madman. Yeah, they helped exemplify the Oakley spirit and whatnot, they also sold for pennies at the old parking lot sales. As awesome as the Shoe One was Jim's still got a warehouse full he can't get rid of. They're great for collectors or people that buy a few pairs. They're terrible for a business that people only buy one of something from. I guarantee the vast majority of Oakley consumers buy 1 pair, and if they buy more it's either a function/fashion combo, or because they broke the first pair.

I think it's pretty clear Oakley doesn't want the $60 market. They never have, even when Jim was running the ship. They're a premium brand, and in 2014 "Premium" means $150 minimum for sunglasses.

TBH, this is probably the best post I've read on here to date in my short time around these shores, it actually really got me re-thinking my own views to an extent.

The only thing I disagree on slightly and this is an issue I had when I was working in the industry, is $150 doesn't mean Premium for a pair of sunglasses. I know, I know, it's a lot of money, but for me $150 should be around the bottom of the range if you want to market yourself as a leader in luxury sunglasses. You are right in 2014 that is what it means, I'm just disagreeing with the concept of what Premium should mean.


I've seen a lot of posts regarding China, as I thought having spoke to fans of the product over the last few years, it's always the issue that comes up. But I will reiterate this.

When I left Lux, this was on of the issues everyone was bringing up within the company after talking to fans, dealers etc., how much of an affect in the long term losing 'Made in USA' on Oakley and 'Made in Italy' on the RBs is going to be. It is purely a perception thing, as like I say, for what it's worth, the standards I have seen with my own eyes in the Chinese factories put some western manufacturing standards to shame.

Slightly hypocritical having said that, but whilst I don't mind where they are made I'm not actually a fan of stamping 'Made in China' on the frame. It would be the same if they stamped 'Made in Brazil' or even 'Made in England' on it. It just doesn't look right.

 

[Calgary Dreaming]

Change is always difficult to accept. It's human nature to resist, but do a good enough job and everyone accepts eventually. I remember the major backlash almost a decade ago when Oakley was moving towards squarish orbitals and practically phasing out the round and oval orbitals. These days, no one notices it and squarish orbitals are widely accepted. I would guess Made in China will be the same. 10 years from now no one will know the difference.

 

[Ex_Oakley_employee]

Each country has their own import laws. I don't know the particulars for other countries, unfortunately, though I suspect they do indeed have something similarl

EU law here is a little bit more complex, there are some grey areas for sure. But the factories in China aren't going to start producing different stamps for different markets, for financial reasons it'll be a one size fits all approach. With the US being the home of Oakley and a huge part of the market, whatever needs to be stamped on those products will be on all products.

 

[kronin323]

Was the Red event a big sham? Yeah, I think so.

I'm surprised nobody's bit back on that one...

 

[Dallas O Hog]

I'm surprised nobody's bit back on that one...

Those crickets lol

 

[GRFMotorsports]

Rust is entitled to his opinion as is everyone else. He wasnt there, I was. What happened there has been already been discussed here before. Personally I feel no need to comment, wait, I just did.

 

[kronin323]

Rust is entitled to his opinion as is everyone else. He wasnt there, I was. What happened there has been already been discussed here before. Personally I feel no need to comment, wait, I just did.

I wasn't there nor a member then so I don't feel qualified to form an opinion as such (not to say that Rust isn't but just me personally). I have read a lot about it, though, and I have my speculation about why he'd think that, but again not being there and just speculating I'm keeping it to myself.

But I was curious what would be said on one side or the other from those who were, just for my own education, and lacking any response to his original comment I thought I'd might poke the nest a little bit...

Not trying to stir up anything nasty, though...

 

[Rustpot]

Don't get me wrong, I would have loved to go, even in retrospect. It was an amazing event for fans and collectors, the likes of which we'll probably never have a dream about seeing again.