Sun Glasses?

[shmike]

Is anyone here in (or have any experience in) the sun glasses industry?

I have a few questions I need answered for a research project.

PM me if you can help.

Thanks!

[AquaPython]

a research project??
i am curious what your questions are.

[shmike]

Yes, a project involving research.

Questions revolve around (retail) mark-up & profit margins, manufacturer incentives, etc.

[ShanMan14]

I have not empirical data but the margins in that industry have to be in line with jewelry and furniture. HIGH

[Trip]

I say it's higher than jewelry, at least the raw material in jewelry can be high.

[Homeslice]

Which is why you always buy sunglasses on Ebay.

BTW, Revo's and Maui Jim's are the shit.

[AquaPython]

a project involving research, or an attempt to find good sunglasses cheap?
H can get any pair of Ray Bans for near half off for ya.

[shmike]

A project doing research.

Is H a Ray Ban retailer or does she have another hook up?

[Homeslice]

Ray Ban lens quality sucks compared to Revo's or Maui Jims, in my experience.

[goof2]

Which is why you always buy sunglasses on Ebay.

BTW, Revo's and Maui Jim's are the shit.

Will Maui Jim warranty sunglasses bought from Ebay?

I know a couple people who have them and they have both had frames break often. It is a pain, but Maui Jim has fixed them every time. I probably wouldn't buy a pair without that safety net. You may save half the cost buying on Ebay, but what is that really worth if they break in 6 months and Maui Jim won't do anything for you.

For what it is worth I have seen the same problem with Costa Del Mar sunglasses and they have also been good about fixing them.

[Homeslice]

I'm not sure, but several of the big national sunglass vendors have "shops" on Ebay, so I'm guessing the answer is yes to the warranties.

Maui Jim, Costa Del Mar, Revo, Serengeti..........All kind of "old school" in their styling, but their lens quality can't be beat. That's what I look for in sunglasses.

[AquaPython]

Is H a Ray Ban retailer or does she have another hook up?

yes her uncle's store sells them retail.

Ray Ban lens quality sucks compared to Revo's or Maui Jims, in my experience.

sucks? while Maui Jim is supposedly the best quality lens on the market, and my brother will not buy anything BUT them, Ray Ban makes an EXCELLENT lens as well. I am on my third pair, i always get polarized glasses for sun protection and visibility on the road / water.

which leads me to:


I know a couple people who have them and they have both had frames break often. It is a pain, but Maui Jim has fixed them every time.

My brother has had the same thing happen to his. a few times the these lenses (high quality as they may be optically, speaks nothing of their resistance to scratching or breaking) have cracked from the stress of the frame. MJ replaced them twice, but it is an annoying thing to deal with. Plus i think the styling of the MJ's suck, i could not bring myself to drop the money on them to look like a dufus at a jimmy buffet concert.

[Kaneman]

I'd love to know how much my Maui Jim MVs actually cost to make...

[Homeslice]

Ray Ban keeps using that same grayish-green lens, which is very dull & drab in my experience. Doesn't make the colors "pop" like Maui Jim's glass lenses do.

[AquaPython]

Ray Ban keeps using that same grayish-green lens, which is very dull & drab in my experience. Doesn't make the colors "pop" like Maui Jim's glass lenses do.

ray ban uses 3 lenses that i know of.
the dark gray which is very dark
the cactus green - which is awesome and makes color pop
and one other i don't recall...

[goof2]

I'm not sure, but several of the big national sunglass vendors have "shops" on Ebay, so I'm guessing the answer is yes to the warranties.

Maui Jim, Costa Del Mar, Revo, Serengeti..........All kind of "old school" in their styling, but their lens quality can't be beat. That's what I look for in sunglasses.

I checked their website and while it says you need to include a copy of your sales receipt it doesn't say anything about a requirement that the glasses were purchased from an authorized retailer. It looks like buying on Ebay would be OK.

My frame of reference is consumer electronics where most manufacturers require that you have purchased an item from one of their authorized retailers. If you haven't and run in to a problem you are out of luck with them. It has made me cautious about buying other products from Ebay without knowing warranty policies.