Let's face it, the sunglasses industry is a minefield. With a wide array of styles, brands, sizes, and prices to choose from, how do you know when you're getting good value for money? Finding high-quality sunglasses has become a difficult job for buyers. So, let's dive into the details of finding and wearing good-quality sunglasses.
How do buyers fall into the trap of buying cheap sunglasses in the first place? When comparing sunglasses, it's very easy to fall back on price. At first glance, we might believe that a wayfarer is a wayfarer and an aviator is an aviator. But there's so much more that goes into a premium quality pair of sunglasses that isn't always obvious at first glance.
Quality sunglasses are typically expensive for a reason. They offer an originality that a replica or copy can never provide. Still, they're often also manufactured in a completely different way. From designing to resourcing authentic products, manufacturing to selling, a lot of thought processes and hard work goes into making a single piece of good quality sunglasses, hence the heavy price.
Well-made sunglasses that require more time and detail in the manufacturing process lead to higher manufacturing costs for the brand, which lead to a higher price point charged to the customer.
But with sunglasses, it isn't always as simple as high price = high quality. With one business owning over 70% of the sunglasses industry owning the brands you know and wear, this lack of competition allows the pricing of sunglasses to not always reflect higher quality. A brand name that charges a premium price for their sunglasses may be charging a higher price simply because of the brand name.
Spotting Low-Quality Sunglasses
No UV Protection -- Ultraviolet rays are harmful to the eyes. People across the globe do use sunglasses for style purposes only. However, the main reason for using sunglasses while going out is to protect your precious eyes from harmful exposure to sun rays. Cheap sunglasses are cheap since they reduce the manufacturing cost by utilizing poor-quality
lenses. These lenses cannot protect the user's eyes from the sun, and some of them might absorb more rays instead of repelling them, causing more harm and no benefit. Whenever you buy a pair of sunglasses, look for 100% UVA and UVB protection. Also, look into the manufacturer of the lenses.
Cheaper Metal or Plastic -- Quality sunglasses are often made from cheaper metal or plastic to save cost. Brands spend a lot of time finding and sourcing premium quality metal and plastics to produce lightweight and ultra-comfortable sunglasses. This ultimately adds to the price tag. Once again, do your research on the materials used for the sunglasses
you're about to buy. Buying cheaper plastic or metal frames may save you a couple of bucks at first. Still, typically the sunglasses are more likely to break or damage, meaning you'll be back spending money on another pair soon.
The Hinges -- Before buying a new pair of sunglasses, see how agile they are. Sunglasses are a day-to-day accessory that we wear, and often or not, they can quickly get damaged. The hinges on sunglasses are an excellent way to identify whether or not they're going to be durable. Hinges allow for more movement, flexibility, comfort, and durability.
Well, is expensive always better? Precisely, No! Expensive does not necessarily mean you are getting a good deal. Established brands often cash their name and charge unreasonable prices for some sunglasses. You may find very nice sunglasses at a lower cost if you know the difference between good and poor-quality sunglasses.
How do you spot the difference between fake and authentic sunglasses? Those who are accustomed to wearing sunnies often can spot the difference by just looking at the two- the original and the copy. Newbies, though, face difficulty finding the right product, especially online. With more counterfeits entering the market (I even have brands copying ENEMY), some techniques can help you spot cheap
sunglasses.
The Serial Number -- You may also look for the serial number on the box to ensure you have invested in the right product. The serial number allows you to track the details of the glasses and its material on the brand's official website. This may help you contact the customer care of the brand in case you find a fault in your glasses. Low-quality
sunglasses often do not have any serial number attached.
The Quality -- Cheap sunglasses have an inferior quality that instantly turns off the shopper. The hinges are too tight, the glass looks tinted, the color seems off, or it has a shiny surface. On the other hand, expensive sunglasses offer an enormous quality worth the price
tag.
The Price Tag -- This point is the most crucial. If sunglasses are worth $100, you may find it around $75-$80 on sales. However, if a dealer is offering you the same product for $10 to $15, there are high chances of the product being fake. The discounted price has to justify the worth of the designer label and the production cost of a pair of expensive
sunglasses. Be a savvy shopper; always compare the prices with the net worth of the product.
Dealer's Authenticity -- Last but not least, shop from authentic dealers. Always ask the dealers to provide product details, their registration license if applicable, and the original product picture. Shopping from those who offer a money-back guarantee is even
better.
You may find a bargain (quality at a low price) when buying cheaper sunglasses; however, a more prominent brand name does not always mean high-quality sunglasses. Look for lens quality, material, and durability.
Like I mentioned, a brand name that charges a premium price for their sunglasses may be charging a higher price simply because of the brand name. Frustrating right? Well, I started ENEMY to solve this problem. My main goal was to create premium quality sunglasses that upgrade your style and sexiness for under $100. Every pair is a custom design, manufactured from the highest quality materials
to create a superior pair of sunglasses that will last you for years.
Every ENEMY frame is equipped with 100% UVA and UVB protection plus Zeiss Optic lenses, the best and highest quality lens. ENEMY sources all of its acetate from Italy, using Mazzucchelli 1849 acetate, making my sunglasses durable with a premium finish. Spring hinges are added for durability and flexibility. What else could you ask for?
ENEMY only sells directly to you, the consumer. So, you know my sunglasses are 100% badass and authentic.
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