Oakley Sunglasses 2 for $15 – Scam?

A quick check of the Internet Sunday Morning showed Oakley Sunglasses ranging from $80 to more than $300 a pair. So the deal at 24th and Frederica (under the big red tent) must be one heck of a deal.

If I read the sign correctly, they are offering Oakley Sunglasses at the fantastic price of (drum roll please) 2 for $15. Makes you wonder how they manage to do it.  Now, perhaps I read the sign incorrectly but there is an even chance that someone if attempting to pull a fast one.

At 2 for $15, I certainly hope nobody actually thinks they are buying genuine Oakley Sunglasses. Maybe they are sold  by someone named Oakley, maybe they are the “Annie Oakley Brand, or maybe, just maybe they have a pair or two of Oakley’s as a higher price than advertised. I am pretty certain they are not Oakley Dealers.

I always thought it was illeagle to misrepresent products or service but these folks are selling in broad daylight on Owensboro’s busiest street. Surely the authorities would investigate if something was not legal right?

Coach Purses, Nike shoes, Ralph Loren clothing  and many other high end items are copied as knockoffs, reproduced cheaply and sold at flea markets. This is a problem for the many local merchants who sell genuine products at real prices.  For these copies to be sold as “Real”  is simply not fair to the real store owners.

It has gotten so out of hand the rip-off artists don’t even hide the fact they are selling these illegal items. They also don’t bother to change the name. I remember the old Rolex rip-offs being sold in major cities by street vendors. They at least had “Folex” written on them.

We hear and read about police raids all the time where the cheap imitation products are impounded with the sellers arrested. I certainly hope this is not what is ultimately going to happen at 24th and Frederica. But if these are in fact not real Oakley Sunglasses that is exactly what should happen. The sooner the better.

I am not sure the authorities will ever be able to prevent all counterfeiting. Until then do let’s just remember the old saying “BUYER BEWARE”. If you have a doubt about a product you can always phone the authorities and ask them to check it out before you buy.