*THE HULL TRUTH is the world's largest FREE network for the discussion of Boating & Fishing. Whether you're researching a new boat, or are a seasoned Captain, you'll find The Hull Truth Boating & Fishing Message Forum contains a wealth of information from Boaters and Sportfishermen around the world.
Welcome to the updated THT!
If you are having trouble signing in, please email feedback@thehulltruth.com with your username and we will help you. We thank you for your patience as we help you access the new site!
Random Quote: Rainbow to windward, foul fall the day; Rainbow to leeward, rain runs away!
The threads from the other day on the polarized sunglasses got me thinking that I should at least try to deal with Oakley to get some of the several pairs I have laying around, either repaired or replaced. I just called Oakley customer disservice and explained that I needed a new earpiece for a pair of their polarized FIVES and that the lenses in a pair of the Straight Jackets needed to be replaced. The CSR had me look on the glasses to see if the "O" on the earpiece of the Straight Jackets was raised and painted (It was) and whether the word "FIVES" was stamped on the nose piece of the FIVES (it was not). After I described them, he told me that they basically change the styles every year and that the best he could do for me was to give me a $30 credit on the FIVES. I was completely out of luck on getting anything for the Straight Jackets. He tried to explain that I needed to think of their sunglasses as clothing and that they try to change their styles every year, and that if I had bought a pair of jeans, worn them for a year and tried to return them, I'd get the same response I was getting from them.
I'm now out $285 for glasses that lasted one season. I actually have four other pairs somewhere that I'm sure are also nothing more than really expensive pieces of junk.
Never returned any to Costa but Smith glasses carry a lifetime warranty. Sent back a pair I had for 5 years that they don't make anymore and they sent a simialr style at no charge.
Get yourself a pair of Costa Wave 580's in glass. I clean 'em with anything handy and have yet to scratch them. ~$300, but you can see fish that others can't.....
I've had good luck with Costa, as well as oakley. My beef with oakley is the ease at which they scratch. If you even look at them wrong they get messed up. My glass coasta's don't have this problem at all, nor did my glass lense Killer Loop (same folks as rayban).
I own two pair of Action Optics, two pair of Natives, one pair of Ocean Waves, one of Costa Del Mar and one of Maui Jims. I've never had to return any of those for scratched lenses. The Oakleys seem to really just suck.
I think the secret here may be glass lenses instead of poly carbonate (or whatever) All of my stuff is glass and I don't have any problems. I can't find a poly lens that doesn't distort to some degree, even the Ray Bans...... Stick with glass and either have them on your face or in the case and you'll be happier.......
I've owned several pairs of Ocean Waves over the last fifteen years. They have twice replaced them for free (broken hinge and broken frame) after years of use and twice replaced them cheap when I broke a lens dropping them and once for a resonable cost when I replaced prescription lens with standard after lasik surgery. Great offshore glasses.
I've been wearing the same pair of Maui's for 6 years. I just picked up apair of Costas and I still like the Maui's better. My favorite pair of glasses were nylon framed Ray Bans that had blue mirror lenses. They discontinued the model, and was at aloss for a while until I bought the Maui's.
I have a pair of Oakley half jacket polarized lenses and they are not even close to my Maui Jims. I wouldn't buy another Oakley polarized pair for the price they charge - I use them as beater sunglasses when doing stuff like mowing the lawn. I was hoping for something better than they could deliver, I guess.
I've heard nothing but great stuff about Costa's, too.
__________________ Sea Hunt 232 w/Yamie F225. Proud to be an American!
Thats a shame. Ive been wearing Oakley's for many years (polarized and not), and have dealt with them on a few occasions with no problems. As far as Im concerned, their customer service is top notch.
I have Costas and my dad does too, but prior to my dad wearing my Costas he was an Oakley guy. He had his Oakleys fixed/replaced twice. Once for $19 and the other time for free. Customer service was pretty good for him I guess, but he switched to the Costas after I left mine in his truck one day.
-Ryan
__________________ Ryan
23' Fish Nautique
Suffolk, VA (home)
Blacksburg, VA (school...too far from saltwater)
I've been wearing Oceanwaves for 15 years and really wouldn't think about anything else other than Maui Jims. OW has bee flawless in customer service until now. They have had my pair for 3 weeks now and told me twice they have been sent and I still don't have them, better yet, they said they sent me a frame in tortoise shell when I sent them black. I can see me wearing foofoo tortoise shell. Other than that, great glass!!
I am an eye doc and we sell both Maui and Costa both with and without prescription. Both have great customer service and offer excellent products. We no longer carry Oakley products as their customer service is the pits!!! As someone stated - the reason the Oakleys scratch so easily is that they are all polycarbonate lenses. Maui and Costa use glass lenses in most all of their premium products. Both do use polycarbonate in their wrap style glasses and they will scratch like the Oakleys. Costa does also offer plastic lenses. These will fall between a glass and poly lens. As for me the best glasses hands down are Costa Del Mar's 580's - problem is they only come in non-prescription. Best prescription product is Maui as they make their own lenses and use the same lens for both the prescription and non-prescription. Problem is the price - Rx Maui's run from $300 to $700! Alos maui is a fair trade product and we are not allowed to discount or Maui close our account.
Oakley Polarized Sun Glasses-Stay Away! 
