Oakley M-Frame - Rip Off?
Ken
Everyone I know who uses the M-Frames has the same problems. Do you?
I suspect Oakley uses a cheap grade of plastic. The old Oakley Blades were
indestructible. I had a pair for over 10 years. I sat on them, crashes
several times, and could change the side pieces by snapping them off. I
could not break them. These are the glasses that make Oakley tons of money.
After I lost them, I got the M-frames. Much better design, but it looks
like Oakley got greedy and used a cheaper plastic to make more money.
Oakley claims rough treatment is the cause of breakage, and few users have
this problem. Is Oakley right, or is everyone else having this problem?
Doug Huffman
their $15 service charge. I figured that with today's high performance
plastics, they'd be using the best (especially at their prices). Super glue
didn't work.
I know that they're too expensive, but they're the only glasses I've ever had
that don't let my bushy eyebrows to run sweat onto the lenses. I suspect that
marketing coolness has over taken performance. Oh well...:}(
In article <dpeX1.467$_g.14...@newsread.com!newshog.newsread.com>,
--
Grasping another opportunity to be wrong!
-----------== Posted via Deja News, The Discussion Network ==----------
http://www.dejanews.com/ Search, Read, Discuss, or Start Your Own
Al Raden
frames break about every 6-8 months. They always crack about a third of the
way across the left lens. My glasses are always carried in the bag when not
being worn. They are always stored carefully. Last weekend, they broke while
I was taking them out of the bag.
Too bad really, because they are very nice glasses. I may not send my frames
in for replacement this time - I'm getting tired of the routine.
- al
Aslaan 5
problem, and is why they created the proframe. I have destroyed 2 lenses while
wearing the proframes, and the frames arent damaged at all.
..........................................................................
..........................................................................
.....................................
on my way to 170
G.T.
me the bill for $15 which before they never asked for. i ain't paying the
bill and i'm looking for different glasses.
but the proframes don't have foldeable arms or whatever right? isn't it
kind of hard to store them??? i usually put my m-frames in the old hardcase
which fits perfectly inside my helmet.
Aslaan 5
fragile sports glasses (oxymoron?)
zach
></PRE></HTML>
Clyde Soles
> I have had the same problem with the M frames. Oakley is aware of this
> problem, and is why they created the proframe. I have destroyed 2 lenses
> while wearing the proframes, and the frames arent damaged at all.
I have a cracked Proframe sitting on my desk now waiting to go back.
Everhything else about the Oakleys is great (optics and design really
are better than most other brands) but they don't know shit about
durability.
Joe Jr. Shabadoo
I have not had a problem with my Pro Mframes, or my regular Mframes. I've
had the pros and used them quite a bit all summer, the other pair, I have
been using for 2 years.
I've cracked lenses, though...
Troy A. Courtney
anal
about taking care of things that cost so much.
--
Regards,
Troy A. Courtney
COURTNEY CUSTOM CYCLES
(630) 232-8720
Ken wrote in message ...
G.T.
>
> My Mframes are going on 3 years old now. But then, I'm an old guy that is
> anal
> about taking care of things that cost so much.
>
> --
>
>
I take extremely good care of mine. But after tenderly changing lenses
2 or 3 times a crack will develop on the frame. At least it has on
every one I've had so far.
Chris Neary
>
>Oakley claims rough treatment is the cause of breakage, and few users have
>this problem. Is Oakley right, or is everyone else having this problem?
>
I treated my M-Frames with respect, stored them in an Oakley case, and
*still* had to replace them every few months due to failure at the hinges.
Eventually I got fed up and bought some Smiths (Which I love).
Now I use the M-Frames solely for overcast winter days using a clear lense.
Chris Neary
dia...@aimnet.com
"It doesn't get any easier - you just go faster" - Greg Lemond
Chase Jiannalone
>
> I have three pairs of Oakley M-Frames that crack every three months or so.
> Everyone I know who uses the M-Frames has the same problems. Do you?
>
> I suspect Oakley uses a cheap grade of plastic. The old Oakley Blades were
> indestructible. I had a pair for over 10 years. I sat on them, crashes
> several times, and could change the side pieces by snapping them off. I
> could not break them. These are the glasses that make Oakley tons of money.
> After I lost them, I got the M-frames. Much better design, but it looks
> like Oakley got greedy and used a cheaper plastic to make more money.
>
> this problem. Is Oakley right, or is everyone else having this problem?
suprised to hear they cracked. Always above the right eye in the frame,
which eventually cracks the lens as well.
I believe that there are issues with having to do with the necessary
stiffness vs. toughness in the plastic formula for the frames/lenses.
Oakley would be remiss in a marketing policy of planned breakage as they
are losing customers because of this(me and others I know).
Rick Steele
"Blades", the trigger (ear) piece frame hinges broke constantly. I had two
lens pieces (lens frame) break as well. I have only had one M-Frame break
at the hinge after several years and many hours of use.. The replacement I
bought is holding up OK, but does look to be made more cheaply than my
original. BTW.. for a short time I had the one piece Pro frame, but it
broke..
I like M-Frames, but not really happy with Oakley..
Rick
alex...@mhs.pbrc.edu
> Oakley claims rough treatment is the cause of breakage, and few users have
> this problem. Is Oakley right, or is everyone else having this problem?
Oakleys break constantly.
I've returned at least 6 pairs.
All models break.
M-frames, trench coats, eye jackets.
They all break.
Mark Donohoe
: "Ken" <john...@microsoft.com> wrote:
: >
: >Oakley claims rough treatment is the cause of breakage, and few users have
: >this problem. Is Oakley right, or is everyone else having this problem?
: I treated my M-Frames with respect, stored them in an Oakley case, and
: *still* had to replace them every few months due to failure at the hinges.
They are full of it. I have replaced my M's once (cost 15). The oakley
person on the phone admited that the plastic reacts with sunscreen and
weakens. I said, hey they are sun glasses! You guys didn't think about
folks wearing sunscreen?! This pair now has two cracks again...I'm not
impressed. As far as their 'pro' frames... the smog must be getting to
those guys. They don't fold? Bogus...I'll go back to Bolle next pair or
smith....
--
Mark Donohoe (ma...@cup.hp.com)
G.T.
>person on the phone admited that the plastic reacts with sunscreen and
>weakens. I said, hey they are sun glasses! You guys didn't think about
>folks wearing sunscreen?! This pair now has two cracks again...I'm not
>impressed. As far as their 'pro' frames... the smog must be getting to
>those guys. They don't fold? Bogus...I'll go back to Bolle next pair or
>smith....
They're still full of shit because mine cracked after 3 months and I wasn't
wearing any sunscreen. It was during the winter, i had dark lenses, i put
on clear everything was ok, i put the dark back on a month later and they
cracked. i think it is just from changing lenses.
LOH3
mail store to return to Oakley. Both( I use one with yellow lens and one
with dark lens to avoid cracking from lens swapping) were cracked for
the third time. I could'nt read the address a friend wrote down for me, and
the guy behind the counter at the Mail Center blurts out the correct address
from memory!! Turns out there is a big Oakley seller a few doors down in
the shopping center and he says there are people returning broken glasses
just about every day!
Leonard Hargrove
Chris Neary
>They are full of it. I have replaced my M's once (cost 15). The oakley
>person on the phone admited that the plastic reacts with sunscreen and
>weakens.
Ya, they are full of it since I don't wear sunscreen.
Leonard Caplan
both the "M" and Pro M's, and have not broken a frame yet. The M's are
quit fragile, but last if they are not abused. If the lenses are
changes correctly and properly they will not break.
My main point though is the complaints about the charge of $15 for
replacement of out of Warranty frames. What other manufacturer will
continually replace broken frames for such a nominal charge for glassses
broken most probably as a result of abuse. If you figure that shipping
would cost $5......you are getting a new frame for $10.
If any of you turned off Oakley users who are going to other glasses has
some lenses to sell, please contact me.
Just my $.02
Len
--
***PLEASE NOTE: Please respond to: lenc...@worldnet.att.net
If you wish to auto respond to a message, please remove [XXXX} from the
address line....added to avoid "spam".
Len Caplan '72 Masi Gran Criterium _~@ __@
Marion Robbins '78 Masi Gran Criterium _,\=\=\-\_
'56 Bob Jackson (*)/===/'(*)
Syosset, NY '70 Raleigh "Twenty" Folder
516 682-8140 '91 Burley Duet Tandem <double TROUBLE>
'80 Schwinn Deluxe Twin 5 Tandem
***********Riding on Long Island's beautiful North Shore**************
Mark Rosenberg
M-frame frames. I have mixed feelings about their durability. On the
one hand, I had a pretty good crash where the temples detached from
the lens holder that had they been more securely attached would have
broken the frame. Picked up the pieces, reassembled, and they were as
good as they were before. That crash was not responsible for the frame
breaking. I change out lenses a lot and am very unhappy to hear that
many of you link this to frame failure.
The other thing that bothers me is how soft the plastic lenses are.
I don't have any of the expensive coated (Kryptonite?) lenses, but
their standard lenses seem to scratch whenever you look at them. This
is my only experience with plastic lenses, so that just may be the
nature of the beast.
Ken (john...@microsoft.com) wrote:
: I have three pairs of Oakley M-Frames that crack every three months or so.
: Everyone I know who uses the M-Frames has the same problems. Do you?
: I suspect Oakley uses a cheap grade of plastic. The old Oakley Blades were
: indestructible. I had a pair for over 10 years. I sat on them, crashes
: several times, and could change the side pieces by snapping them off. I
: could not break them. These are the glasses that make Oakley tons of money.
: After I lost them, I got the M-frames. Much better design, but it looks
: like Oakley got greedy and used a cheaper plastic to make more money.
: Oakley claims rough treatment is the cause of breakage, and few users have
G.T.
that's f'in pathetic.
G.T.
>both the "M" and Pro M's, and have not broken a frame yet. The M's are
>quit fragile, but last if they are not abused. If the lenses are
>changes correctly and properly they will not break.
>
I'm sorry but I change the lenses as correctly as possible. If this is the
case then why do so many people have problems with cracks, huh???
>My main point though is the complaints about the charge of $15 for
>replacement of out of Warranty frames. What other manufacturer will
>continually replace broken frames for such a nominal charge for glassses
>broken most probably as a result of abuse. If you figure that shipping
>would cost $5......you are getting a new frame for $10.
If they didn't fuckin crack I wouldn't be sending them in and I wouldn't be
being billed $15. I keep mine in a hard case and I'm careful while changing
lenses. Why should they EVER crack?!?!?!? My first frame cracked while it
was in warranty and then ever since then they have tried to charge for every
frame that has cracked since.
Greg
tku...@diabloresearch.com
One point to make: Performance sells their Radials which are about the
same sort of sun glasses as the M-frame Oakleys without quite as much
style for $30 regularly and as low as $15 on sale. This indicates to me
that it is likely that Oakley is paying in the neighborhood of $3 for
their glasses. A $15 charge is probably making them a hefty profit.
Pretty funny isn't it? Their 'handling' charge for the broken sunglasses
is making them more money than the new sales of the product is.
Chris Neary
>I am sort of ammused by all of the bitching about Oakley "M"s. I own
>both the "M" and Pro M's, and have not broken a frame yet.
I've also noticed the black and white split of people who have no problems
with their Oakley's and those who have nothing but trouble.
I'm also convinced the problems are not caused by abuse (in most cases), but
I have no theory to offer about what is causing the problems.
Tony Raven
dropped, stuffed in pockets etc. I expect when I pay $100 for a pair of
sunglasses they would last a bit longer. Yes I am complaining about the $15
charge because my pair broke after 9 months and then when the replacement
broke after another 9 months they wanted $15 because they were out of
warranty. In my case I wasn't told it was sunscreen. It was because I
strained them by pushing them up onto my forehead instead of taking them off
and putting them in their little bag in their metal box.
Tony Raven
Leonard Caplan wrote in message <3630AF...@worldnet.att.net>...
>
>My main point though is the complaints about the charge of $15 for
>replacement of out of Warranty frames. What other manufacturer will
>continually replace broken frames for such a nominal charge for glassses
>broken most probably as a result of abuse. If you figure that shipping
>would cost $5......you are getting a new frame for $10.
>
G.T.
>dropped, stuffed in pockets etc. I expect when I pay $100 for a pair of
>sunglasses they would last a bit longer. Yes I am complaining about the
$15
>charge because my pair broke after 9 months and then when the replacement
>broke after another 9 months they wanted $15 because they were out of
>warranty. In my case I wasn't told it was sunscreen. It was because I
>strained them by pushing them up onto my forehead instead of taking them
off
>and putting them in their little bag in their metal box.
I don't do that or use sunscreen so that blows those theories. :-)
G.T.
>One point to make: Performance sells their Radials which are about the
>same sort of sun glasses as the M-frame Oakleys without quite as much
>style for $30 regularly and as low as $15 on sale. This indicates to me
>that it is likely that Oakley is paying in the neighborhood of $3 for
>their glasses. A $15 charge is probably making them a hefty profit.
>
>Pretty funny isn't it? Their 'handling' charge for the broken sunglasses
>is making them more money than the new sales of the product is.
Yeah, I have no problem with Oakley's lenses. But their frames can't be
that expensive to manufacture and you're right, they probably are making a
profit with the $15.
Bev
>
> Leonard Caplan <lencap...@worldnet.att.net> wrote:
>
> >I am sort of ammused by all of the bitching about Oakley "M"s. I own
> >both the "M" and Pro M's, and have not broken a frame yet.
>
> I've also noticed the black and white split of people who have no problems
> with their Oakley's and those who have nothing but trouble.
>
> I'm also convinced the problems are not caused by abuse (in most cases), but
> I have no theory to offer about what is causing the problems.
Just bought a pair of Ms at a yard sale for 50 cents. The lens and
browpiece look absolutely unused, but both earpieces have broken out
where they attach to the browpiece. I looked at Oakley's website, but
couldn't find out how much the ears cost. Anybody know how much and
where?
Wonder how the hell that happened without scratching the lens.
--
Cheers,
Bev
"The day Microsoft makes something that doesn't suck is probably
the day they start making vacuum cleaners." --Ernst Jan Plugge
Chris Neary
>
>Just bought a pair of Ms at a yard sale for 50 cents. The lens and
>browpiece look absolutely unused, but both earpieces have broken out
>where they attach to the browpiece. I looked at Oakley's website, but
>couldn't find out how much the ears cost. Anybody know how much and
>where?
Oakley doesn't sell the earpieces separately.
You'll need to send them in for warranty replacement, assuming you didn't
unknowingly by a set of counterfeit glasses. Warranty replacement will cost
$15.
Good luck!
Ken
from my face when the frame broke at the hinge just after crossing the line
at IMH 1998. Oakley should be ashamed for not recalling all and replacing
with something of the quality we paid for.
Ken @Kauai, IMH 94, (2nd in AG), IMH 95 (2nd in AG), IMNZ 97 (1st in AG
+ record) , IMH97 (1st in AG), PowerMan Hawaii 98 (1st in AG + record) ,
Gulf Coast Half IM 98 (1st in AG) , 1998 IMH (3rd in Age Group)
Chris Neary wrote in message <36318515...@news.ncal.verio.com>...
>"Ken" <john...@microsoft.com> wrote:
>>
>>Oakley claims rough treatment is the cause of breakage, and few users have
>>this problem. Is Oakley right, or is everyone else having this problem?
>>
>
>I treated my M-Frames with respect, stored them in an Oakley case, and
>*still* had to replace them every few months due to failure at the hinges.
>
>Eventually I got fed up and bought some Smiths (Which I love).
>
>Now I use the M-Frames solely for overcast winter days using a clear lense.
>
>
Craig Schaepe
nuts or has to much money. I have been very happy with my $19 performance
glasses (the frameless ones). Just has functional if not more than the
oklays at a price where if I scratch, lose, or break I'll just go to my
backup pair that I bought. Unfortuantly I don't think they make them
anymore, shame
Craig
Peter Bevan <peter...@videotron.ca> wrote in message
01be0081$61244260$7adb60cf@default...
>
>
>They Suck!
>I've broken mine ten times!
>I called California and they told me it "rarely" happens..yeah right, I
>called the service folks and they told me they get hundreds a week!
>Oakley's are the best glasses I've worn but...$$$$$$$$$$$$$
>pete
Peter Bevan
OROBOYZ
Oakleys seem to beequal to or better than other plastic usergoods... I have a
retail store which is the #1 sales outlet for Oakley in our medium size city
and we have perhaps a half dozen breakages occur each year. Oakleys are
frequently used hard by very active people and seem to do better than other
brands on average.
We do theorize a few things though... The breakage of frames seems highest in
translucent or clear frames.. (No pigment in plastic.. Different formulation to
get effect?)
Some individuals have multiple problems while most others have none.(Width of
head perhaps? Causing eyewear to be stretched wider than molded shape? Just
"rough" people who unintentionally subject eyewear to abuse? Who knows?)
The bottom line is that despite these anecdotal reports here, the vast majority
of users have no problems. The proof is in the numbers. And in our store,
Oakley has been tremendously generous in their replacement policies, even in
some cases where the user was really not entitled a replacement (in our staff's
opinion!)
Dale Brown
cycles de ORO
Alex Rodriguez
says...
>
>IMO (!)
> Oakleys seem to beequal to or better than other plastic usergoods... I have a
>retail store which is the #1 sales outlet for Oakley in our medium size city
>and we have perhaps a half dozen breakages occur each year. Oakleys are
>frequently used hard by very active people and seem to do better than other
>brands on average.
Not srurpising. Except that Oakley prices I would expect better than
average performance.
> Some individuals have multiple problems while most others have none.(Width
of
>head perhaps? Causing eyewear to be stretched wider than molded shape? Just
>"rough" people who unintentionally subject eyewear to abuse? Who knows?)
I would hope that glasses that cost as much as Oakleys come in different
widths. As you mention, not everyone has the same size head.
>The bottom line is that despite these anecdotal reports here, the vast
majority
>of users have no problems. The proof is in the numbers. And in our store,
>Oakley has been tremendously generous in their replacement policies, even in
>some cases where the user was really not entitled a replacement (in our
staff's
>opinion!)
Ath Oakley prices they can well afford to replace lots of frames and still
make quite a profit.
---------------
Alex __O
_-\<,_
(_)/ (_)
Andrew Berry
> I have been very happy with my $19 performance
> glasses (the frameless ones). Just has functional if not more than the
> oklays at a price where if I scratch, lose, or break I'll just go to my
> backup pair that I bought.
Good that you can survive with these. I find that most cheap glasses
have poor quality optics (quite noticeable distortion) and I get
headaches from using them for any long period of time. I'm currently
using Smith Moab II glasses and am very happy with them. They come with
three lenses (clear, amber, dark), are very strong, have minimal
distortion, and stay on my face (I play beach volleyball in them too).
Pity they're butt ugly ...
Ciao,
AndyB
Tom
my M-frames somewhere in the $25 range (2 pair to the box).
Chris Neary wrote:
> Bev <bas...@ktb.net> wrote:
> >
> >Just bought a pair of Ms at a yard sale for 50 cents. The lens and
> >browpiece look absolutely unused, but both earpieces have broken out
> >where they attach to the browpiece. I looked at Oakley's website, but
> >couldn't find out how much the ears cost. Anybody know how much and
> >where?
>
> Oakley doesn't sell the earpieces separately.
>
> You'll need to send them in for warranty replacement, assuming you didn't
> unknowingly by a set of counterfeit glasses. Warranty replacement will cost
> $15.
>
> Good luck!
>
James Rose
"Just bought a pair of Ms at a yard sale for 50 cents. The lens and
browpiece look absolutely unused, but both earpieces have broken out
where they attach to the browpiece. I looked at Oakley's website, but
couldn't find out how much the ears cost. Anybody know how much and
where? "
To which Chris responded:
"Oakley doesn't sell the earpieces separately."
To which Tom responded:
"I beg to differ....visit the Sunglass Hut, I did and they sold me
earstems for my M-frames somewhere in the $25 range (2 pair to the
box)."
I think Bev meant that the plastic arms were broken off at the
temples. The same thing happened one pair of my m-frames. Oakley
doesn't sell them seperately; their not meant to be replaced. You can,
however, buy the rubber earstems seperately along with the nose peice
for about $9.
James
Orpiment
love to see what the actual cost of a silly molded plastic frame is. I'd
suspect maybe a dollar or two, at the most!
Bow down people, and pay your respects to the gods of marketing.
Joe Jr. Shabadoo
frames, the material in my $120 Gripshift shifters is $1.42, or at least
that was what was told to me by an engineer from SRAM.
I still think THOSE are a bargain...
nd...@sat.net
lencap...@worldnet.att.net wrote:
> I am sort of ammused by all of the bitching about Oakley "M"s. I own
> quit fragile, but last if they are not abused. If the lenses are
> changes correctly and properly they will not break.
>
> replacement of out of Warranty frames. What other manufacturer will
> continually replace broken frames for such a nominal charge for glassses
> broken most probably as a result of abuse. If you figure that shipping
> would cost $5......you are getting a new frame for $10.
>
> If any of you turned off Oakley users who are going to other glasses has
> some lenses to sell, please contact me.
>
> Just my $.02
>
> Len
> --
>
> If you wish to auto respond to a message, please remove [XXXX} from the
> address line....added to avoid "spam".
>
> Len Caplan '72 Masi Gran Criterium _~@ __@
> Marion Robbins '78 Masi Gran Criterium _,\=\=\-\_
> '56 Bob Jackson (*)/===/'(*)
> Syosset, NY '70 Raleigh "Twenty" Folder
> 516 682-8140 '91 Burley Duet Tandem <double TROUBLE>
> '80 Schwinn Deluxe Twin 5 Tandem
> ***********Riding on Long Island's beautiful North Shore**************
>
>
Hi, I was just following this thread and wondering the same thing. As I have
had the same M frames for 4 years+. The I inspected the frame closely. Sure
enough two tiny cracks in the inside of the frame.I'm sure it will crack
through completely no matter how careful I am. Regardless the plastic is
probably too brittle for this type of application. I guess the plastic
fatuiges quickly. Something designed for active sports shouldn't be this
fagile at the price they cost.
David
PS I have some new gold iridium heater lenses $33 shipped.
Joe Surfer
Are you talking material cost?!?!? I used to work as a watered -down
cost accountant for a major appliance manuafactuer. CD Jewel cases you
buy for $1-$2? Seven cents to make.
I once bought a set of custom A-arms (suspension parts) to lift my
truck a couple of inches. We won't say how much. My old buddy who
works in a major aerospace machine shop - he took one look at them and
started to laugh. He said he could have made them on his lunch hour
for me for $5-$10.
I don't know what the margin is on sunglasses, but trust me you'd be
livid. Life is funny sometimes.
And yeah I wear Oakleys too, tho' I prefer Eyejackets.
JV