How Long Should Premium Sunglasses Last?

lurkernomore on 07/12/2023 - 23:16
Last edited 08/12/2023 - 10:18 by 1 other user

Opinions please.

I bought a pair of premium sunglasses in December 2021. They were fitted with prescription lenses. I paid ~$800. I looked after them. In fact, that the optometrist said, 'Wow, these are in good condition!', when I took them back, in July this year, to get the arms tightened.

One month later, in August (so after 20 months of ownership) I noticed a crack in one lens, where the lens joins onto the bridge.
I take them back. The shop sends them to the manufacturer. The manufacturer is offering to replace everything, new frames & new lenses, for $350.

I want them to replace just the broken lens for nothing. Sunglasses should last more than 20 months, IMHO.

Do I accept their offer, or push my case?

Poll Options expired

  • 11
    Accept their offer
  • 32
    Push my case
Fashion & Apparel Sunglasses

Comments

  • Hybroid on 07/12/2023 - 23:19

    What defines a "premium" pair of sunglasses? Brand? Cost? Material?

    A crack in a lens after 20 months does not suggest a manufacturing issue to me. Possibly caused by the optometrist's tweaking a month earlier, or might be user damage for any number of reasons from vibration to temperature changes.

    Either case, it's not the manufacturer's issue. It's you vs optometrist really.

    • lurkernomore on 07/12/2023 - 23:26

      What defines a "premium" pair of sunglasses? Brand? Cost? Material?
      Brand, mostly. The point is they were not $50 sunglasses from the chemist.
      Thanks for your input, I appreciate it👍

      • Hybroid on 07/12/2023 - 23:42
        +4

        That's not really relevant though. Especially if it's a Luxottica "brand" that costs them <$5 to make and they sell it to you for $300 or so. It's not an indicator of quality whatsoever, just labels.

        • lurkernomore on 08/12/2023 - 11:32

          They're not Luxoticca.

          It's a premium brand that, as far as I'm aware, only makes sunglasses.

      • Richardc on 07/12/2023 - 23:43
        +1

        Brand for the frame means almost nothing in glasses, the lens playing the major part.

    • Stewardo on 08/12/2023 - 09:28

      I always thought the lenses in prescription glasses were made and installed by the optical dispenser not the frame manufacturer.

  • AustriaBargain on 07/12/2023 - 23:30
    +1

    Has your prescription changed since then, might you want new lenses anyway?

  • Mechz on 07/12/2023 - 23:47
    +1

    What sort of crack is in the lense? Are they made of actual glass? Or polycarbonate?

    I've not had a crack or breakage of any kind since wearing glasses for over 3 decades. Even in school when playing basketball etc and a stray ball gets you in the face, it's always the frames that suffered.

    • lurkernomore on 08/12/2023 - 11:34

      The lenses are polycarbonate.

      I've never had a crack or breakage before either. Hence my question.

  • try2bhelpful on 07/12/2023 - 23:52

    I’ve had a few premium sunglasses where lenses have cracked but it is usually due to my dropping them. Have you tried Googling for lens replacements for your model. Dependent on the brand you might be able to get replacements.

    • Mechz on 08/12/2023 - 13:55

      They're prescription.

      • try2bhelpful on 08/12/2023 - 14:21

        Sorry missed that hit. The problem is they are likely to say you dropped them.

        • GnarlyKnuckles on 08/12/2023 - 14:41

          Clearly somebody (i.e. a person; not some mystical force of nature) broke these glasses, and clearly it was not the manufacturer. Why should the manufacturer repair them for free?

          • try2bhelpful on 09/12/2023 - 11:44

            @GnarlyKnuckles: There could be a flaw in the glass that has caused the issue. As I said the problem is they are likely to say that the break was because the glasses were dropped.

            • lurkernomore on 09/12/2023 - 12:44

              @try2bhelpful: They were never dropped, misused or otherwise maltreated. Just the usual forces of regular use.

  • jv on 08/12/2023 - 00:03

    6 months

    • GnarlyKnuckles on 08/12/2023 - 04:13

      This is one of your more cryptic posts, jv.

  • ozbs25 on 08/12/2023 - 00:21
    +2

    I don't think I've ever had my lenses crack or break in maybe 30 years and that includes one pair that I accidently left on top of my car and drove off. The glasses were in their case but they were run over by a car! I bent them back into shape and continued to wear them. The case on the other hand…

  • GnarlyKnuckles on 08/12/2023 - 04:06
    +1

    Are you suggesting that the lens just 'spontaneously' cracked? Kinda' like 'spontaneous combustion'? Or an act of god? Pull the other one lurks-n-more. Some physical force has cracked that lens amigo, whether you are aware of it or not. The lenses in glasses do not just spontaneously crack. It's an age-old truth.

    • lurkernomore on 08/12/2023 - 11:42

      Are you suggesting that the lens just 'spontaneously' cracked? Kinda' like 'spontaneous combustion'? Or an act of god?

      Of course they didn't spontaneously crack. I didn't suggest that they did. My question is really about whether such a product should last more than 20 months, given the forces applied from normal use.

      Some physical force has cracked that lens amigo, whether you are aware of it or not.

      I don't think we'll ever be amigos.

      • GnarlyKnuckles on 08/12/2023 - 14:40
        +2

        So you or someone else—but definitely not the manufacturer—cracked your glasses, yet you think the manufacturer should repair them for free. Do I have that correct?

  • BillyStm on 08/12/2023 - 06:06
    +1

    How well should the user look after/take care of said sunglasses? I'd imagine if you had a new premium pair you purcahsed and sat on the shelf for 50 years they would still last so it ultimately comes down to both manufacture quality and general use/care of the item so it will differ from person to person

  • geekcohen on 08/12/2023 - 06:08

    Should've gone to Specsavers.. I have had issues with some sunglasses in the past, mainly with my frame and it was replaced no questions asked.

  • MS Paint on 08/12/2023 - 06:15
    +3

    As hyboid said above, there is no such thing as "premium sunglasses". All frames literally costs less than $5 to manufacture. If they have a brand name or logo on the side eg Hugo Boss, then that is what you are paying for. I suspect your lenses are not a simple prescription therefore adding to the cost.

    12 months would be a reasonable warranty in my opinion.

    Was it a private optometrist or specsavers OP?

    Also, was it the optometrist that adjusted the glasses or just some upselling, sweet talking sales assistant?

    • ozbs25 on 08/12/2023 - 08:43

      I have a feeling they were just sweet talking. "Wow, these are in good condition". I mean they're sunglasses. What do people do with sunglasses other than put them on their face? Unless you're super rough with them or sit on them, not much really happens with glasses.

    • lurkernomore on 08/12/2023 - 11:53

      This was not a brand name like Hugo Boss or Prada or Tiffany or whatever. It's a manufacturer whose sole product is sunglasses.

      My prescription is quite mild. -.5 / -.75

      They were purchased from a private optometrist. The same optometrist adjusted the glasses. No sweet-talking sales assistants were involved.

  • Nugs on 08/12/2023 - 08:33
    +1

    How long should ANY sunglasses last?
    Normally until you lose, drop, scratch or sit on them
    .

  • Protractor on 08/12/2023 - 09:40
    +2

    Pay up.
    Or for entertainment value you could keep pushing, pointlessly, and then pay up

  • Benoffie on 08/12/2023 - 11:49

    I wear the same Ray Ban sunnies all the time and have prescription lens. The only reason why i recently replaced the frames was because i accidentally stepped on them 😬
    Lens popped into new frames same day, 12 months later, doing fine still.
    I mean, the lens are scratched etc but theyre sunnies. If i push it, i might get 10+ years out of these babies (1 lens, 2 frames)

  • Tily on 09/12/2023 - 10:11

    So what brand is this “premium” brand that you are referring to, whose sole product is sunglasses. Breaking of lenses are usually considered wear and tear. I think it’s very generous of them to allow some credits for something you have had for two years.

    I have prescription glasses and sunglasses from Oakley, Ray Bans and other brands. I’m pretty rough with them and have never had issues with any of them. My most recent incident was walking into a concrete wall with my Burberry glasses, expecting the glasses/lenses to break but they were fine. A bit scratched up and needed some adjustments at OPSM, but they are still going strong!

    • lurkernomore on 09/12/2023 - 11:37

      The brand is Maui Jim.

      Breaking of lenses are usually considered wear and tear.
      I have to disagree with you there. I have never had a lens break.

      I'll add that I've had sunglasses from Ray Ban etc, paid much less and they've all lasted 3+ years. So naturally, I'm disappointed that having paid more than double what I've ever paid before, they've lasted barely 20 months. But I wanted to know what others thought, hence my question here.

      I appreciate your input, thank you👍

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