Is the blaming of Luxottica for every little thing that Oakley does wrong in your eyes really necessary? Get over it. The complaint is just so tired.

As I pointed out in the "Flame Lux" thread, or as it should be named, I just think Oakley is in a bit of a funk with some of the designs. Lux I am sure has influenced some things to a certain degree since it is a corporate conglomeration and they want the most return for their investment. I guess when you stop and think about it, it would be very hard to come out with guns blazing and rock the world....AGAIN....every time something is designed & released. My only real complaint(s) lye in the morphing of dead or dying styles together to get one that usually just doesn't look right. That isn't Lux's fault, that goes back to the "Funk" they are in. I think the next level of product when they break out will be insane. The styles being released aren't for everyone, obviously, but there are a few that I like so far.

The nice part in all of this as I, and many others expressed, is that we have options. I have shifted to the watches and not quite vintage, but more recent pieces. I guess the nice part of not caring for a whole lot of the eyewear coming out is that I get to finally chase the ones that have slipped through my fingers too many times. That, and I like a lot of the new apparel, which has been an issue in the past, but not now. It is really an odd balance, but a nice one I think. I can buy way more apparel for the money I am saving by not purchasing as much eyewear. I guess you can just say 6 of one or a half dozen of the other. Either way, it's still Oakley. Rock On!!

Lux has actually created some benifits for Oakley. ie: distribution channels, more marketing ability and of course the security of falling under such a large umbrella. About the only say I think Lux really has at Oakley is "make sure we are increasing revenue". This is common in alot of companies that own others. With that Oakley is reaching out as it grows. They are trying new ways and doing new things. Does it suck that Oakley is not thier own seperate completely individual entity? maybe. But, it is no fault of Lux, we as people just need someone to blame. Change is normally good, it just takes a while to swallow. I don't hate Oakley, I dont hate Lux....I have grown up with Oakley, and even though there have been changes, they are still Oakley. Its kinda like when a sister or brother gets married, things change, but they are still family. Heck there are still people out there that think Oakley is a sports sunglass company. maybe now with the backing of Lux, that will change.

I HATE LUXOTTICA.

Lux has actually been good to Oakley since the acquisition. They've put a lot more responsibilities on them, but that's to be expected. I guess as long as Oakley (and Ray-ban) continue to outperform the portfolio, they'll continue to do what they do. It's when the growth stalls that Lux will reel in Oakley's leash. If people are complaining about Lux now when Oakley's doing great, I'd hate to hear how bad the complaints will be when times get rough.

So, a fun little story: Last year at this time, I was going through the hiring process to be a manager of a Sunglass Hut. I was doing really well until I met with one of the regional honchos. They shot me down because I was wearing a pair of Sunglass Hut Exclusive Gascans at the time. Their reasoning was that I would not be able to sell any of their other products due to my disposition towards Oakley. What I glean from this was that Sunglass Hut, one of Oakley's biggest product movers, actually has orders to sell much more of other Luxottica merchandise, even though their focus historically has been Oakley-heavy. Screw Lux.

So far LUX has been noting but good to the O. I went through the SGH buyout and let me tell you compared to that, nothing at all has happened to Oakley. As others have stated, the benefits for Oakley have been great, increased distribution more marketing and R&D money ect.

The pay outs for LUX have been great as well, take a look at Q3 LUX earning results and see who brought in the money. Walk into a SGH and watch the try and leverage Oakley to sell other brands.

SGH top three brands historically have always been Ray-Ban, Oakley and Mau Jim. LUX has a, "cant beat them buy them" attitude. The did it with Ray-ban, they tried to squeeze out Oakley shortly after buying out SGH in an effort to tank the brand so they could buy it cheep and it did not work. So now they had to buy at at a price that was all most the same as what they were trading for. Now the word is they want to buy MJ so after X-mass SGH may stop carrying them.

If anything right now Oakley is the one holding the steering wheel. They one of the only many LUX division with an increase in Q3 (9%), the have single handedly revived the REVO brand (I told it was SGH most successful product launches ever) and they are currently working to revive Arnette.

As much as I would love to blame any of Oakley's miss fires on LUX I cant. As I said in another thread, these are growing pains. Since the buy out Oakley is growing at its fastest pace ever: building more space for in house production, taking over failing brands from LUX.

Mistakes are going to happen, its what Oakley learns from those mistakes that will define its future.

If we don't know any of the FACTS we really have no place to comment. Though we can always express opinions - and thats what they are just opinions.

To the gents in the know and whom work there thanks for the informative input.

It is what it is and it won't be changing so live with it or get out.

Uf we don't know any of the FACTS we really have no place to comment.

Wrong. Everyone is entitled to their opinion. Each individual's input is what makes the threads an important place to post. Not anyone pushing out someone else's opinions and making others afraid to post because their opinions won't be accepted by the majority.

It is what it is and it won't be changing so live with it or get out.

"... get out."??? "Get out" of what? Of the OR? Of Oakley collecting? Of SGH? Of town?

I edited my post while you were replying.! re-read!

Yes get out of collecting if it's to big an issue for you.

I'm glad someone's here to instruct us what to do - especially with our own feelings and collecting habits.

No wonder why so many members no longer post.

I am not telling anyone what to do. My feeling is, I would either accept the way is or if it was something that annoyed me that much and took away my enjoyment then I would get out of it.
I have decided to accept it and endeavour to enjoy most of what Oakley has to offer.

Opinions being opinions are one thing and are just fine in most respects. Listening to blaming Lux for everything you don't currently enjoy about Oakley for the next 4.9 years sounds like a major downer. Having some insight provided from some generous members that have more of an inside track on matters is something I value most in many of these discussions.

I will say this, I officially lay it down that once I get my hands on the clear/chrome Dispatch and post how glorious this new eyewear can be - all will be forgiven and you shall seek out my guidance on how to look so awesome in this new line of eyewear.

C'mon Terror, chill brother. Everyone IS entitled to their opinion...but we all contribute to Lux's bottom line at the end of the day.

it's a fine line that some walk in this whole love it or leave it attitude. While I don't like certain aspects of the buyout, I appreciate others. Even as of tonight, I got a deeper look into the Elite pieces, and I have a new found appreciation for the Time Bomb II. I have a better understanding of C-SIX, but am still not judging it until I have touched it.

To see the detail that has gone into the mechanics and pure functionality of the new Time Bomb leaves one thinking nothing but "AMAZING". This watch is no joke. No Chinese crap there, and built in Switzerland vs. somewhere else after production. That watch is pretty bad a$$, and having seen that every screw is hand filed to make sure they are 100% spot on during construction makes me think twice about previous harsh judgments. While I don't think it should bare the name Time Bomb still, it is a phenomenal timepiece and I may try to figure out how to own one. I feel that when it lands, many will really be intrigued by the beauty and engineering of it.

As for the direction of collecting, again I find myself not jumping on as many shades since there just aren't that many screaming at me to buy them, but the watches are. I like the apparel, watches, and many other things out there they have to offer. I wish some of the international pieces were made available to us here, but one can dream HAHA.

On a closing note, Oakley, while under Lux's ownership, recognized the 50 craziest fans known as the Co-Pilots. For that, I am thankful to them for the opportunity to experience all they offered us. In 30 years, they hadn't ever recognized collectors and fans in that manner, so that is a total 1000% positive. I can't imagine LUX not clearing it or saying okay to that kind of expense, so they can't be that bad.

oh, and Oogie, I hope you have the dome to pull off that Dispatch because I have personally handled that exact colorway and I can't wear it at all. Just doesn't look right on my melon. Fuel Cell will be mine though. That clear/chrome dispatch is a clean looking piece though.

It's impressive how the tide has turned in Lux and Ray-ban's favor. It used to be that anything associated with Lux and RB was hated by Oakley fans. Now, the sentiment has softened quite a bit, even if not completely. It's good to see.

It's called "groupthink".

Well, there're a lot of smart and logical people in the group. There's also one or two that don't have much common sense, but overall the group knows what it's talking about.

There's also one or two that don't have much common sense

We now have judges of common sense? And just how is that? Elaborate for us, Oak.

You're saying you don't know what it takes to judge what common sense is? Shocking.

Exactly what I thought.

Then there's no argument. We both agree you don't know what common sense is.

There's a "cardinal rule" which doesn't always hold true:

He who laughs last laughs best.

Ponder that for a while, Oak.

Is there any saying about laughing the longest? I've been laughing for 2.7 years.

But since you're here, tell me what your common sense says when, in a thread where everyone’s providing great points on whether Luxottica is to blame, there’s one dumb nut who’s most brilliant contribution is “I HATE LUXOTTICA.”