For budget-conscious shoppers, the lure of scoring premium brand name sunglasses at dramatically discounted prices seems too good to pass up. According to the people at Olympic Eyewear, though, the proliferation of counterfeit eyewear has made navigating discount sunglasses a risky proposition rife with potential pitfalls.
Scrutinize Pricing Against Retail Value
One of the clearest red flags when looking for potential counterfeit discount sunglasses is prices that defy all logic compared to the brand’s established retail pricing for that same style. If a purported “Oakley” or “Ray-Ban” is listed at less than $25-30, it’s an immediate indicator of an obvious fake.
Conduct pricing research to determine reasonable discount thresholds for sunglasses you’re considering. Legitimate overstock resellers and outlets will offer discounts around 30-50% off retail pricing depending on product demand and age. Anything beyond 60-70% off should invite extreme skepticism over authenticity.
Nevertheless, don’t let extremely high prices fool you into complacency, either. While luxury designer labels like Prada and Gucci often charge premium pricing, counterfeits frequently get marked up exorbitantly too in an attempt to cultivate false legitimacy perceptions.
Study Genuine Product Specifications
Before shopping for any discount sunglasses deal claiming brand name credentials, first study up on the genuine product’s technical specifications, materials, construction and included authentication measures. This research creates a checklist for quickly identifying potential counterfeits.
Look up frame dimensions, lens curvature and coatings like polarization, UV blockers and anti-reflective treatments used on the authentic models. Inspect logo emblems, pattern details and packaging design elements a fake will likely overlook or incorrectly reproduce.
Many premium sunglasses makers incorporate discreet physical authentication features into their lenses and frames as well. Ray-Ban uses tiny logos embedded into left and right lenses, while Oakley has registered microbrew stamp patterns. Familiarize yourself with these unique markers.
Inspect for Quality Deficiencies
If any part of your discount sunglasses purchases raises suspicion from your authentication research findings, diligently scrutinize every aspect of its physical construction before wearing them or risking eye damage. Real designer sunglasses reflect extreme attention to detail.
Inspect logos and text embossing, seeking clarity without crooked, blurred, misspelled, or misaligned markings. Examine metals and plastics used in the sunglasses frame construction, looking for uneven paint coverage, rough mold patterns or flaws indicating sloppy craftsmanship.
Check the precision and symmetry of lens tints, curvatures, and coatings. Uneven polarization effects, waviness, distortion around edges and off-color tints all indicate fake optics that will impair your vision and UV protection rather than enhance them.
Pay attention to overall sunglasses frame weight distribution too. Real high-end shades optimize ergonomics through careful material density balancing. If an allegedly premium frame feels unusually heavy while wearing it, that points to dense, inferior plastics and metals likely used as fillers rather than design choices.
The Importance of Authorized Retailers
While counterfeits run rampant across anonymous online discount sunglasses vendors and sketchy pop-up street retailers, purchasing from an authorized dealer provides your ultimate assurance of getting legitimate brand name inventory.
Research which third-party sellers each sunglasses brand formally sanctions and certifies to sell its merchandise. Many brands provide public databases or certification directories confirming approved retailers’ authenticity.
Even for legitimate overstock discounters, look for indicators of authorized distribution relationships via branded website sections, marketing materials and point-of-sale promotions. Verified sourcing establishes an all-important supply chain trail back to approved manufacturing facilities.
Conclusion
No set of guidelines can yield 100% certainty when navigating discount sunglasses sources for counterfeits. But committing to extensive authentication due diligence ultimately protects your eyes’ health and vision fidelity from irreparable harm cheap knockoffs can inflict. Recognize the signs of fakes, and you’ll consistently avoid them while still scoring incredible eyewear deals.
