How to Spot Fake Ray-bans, especially those sold on ebay..

If this guide was helpful to you, I encourage you to click "yes" at the bottom of the guide.  Thanks!

I believe that this website will help you with on-going or completed transactions. I've informed more than 1000 bidders that they might be buying fake sunglasses since April 15th, 2003.  Most all the sellers are selling their sunglasses for cheap.  Normally under $20 and with a buy it now price of about $25.  How can they offer designer sunglasses for so cheap?  The answer is that they can't.  These are not designer sunglasses and the feedback they receive is from people that don't know any better.  Those that do get drowned in the deluge of positives.  The bottom line is, check negative feedback, not matter how high the person's rating is.  I'd appreciate it if you did not email me and ask me if the pair you purchased or are about to purchase are fake.  If you've compared them and still can't figure it out, use your best judgement.  If you're just lazy and want someone else to do the work for you, look elsewhere.  If you must email me, Ebay has a system in place that will sometimes block ebay email.  If you want a response, do *not* hide your email address from me.  Then I can email you directly rather than using the ebay messaging system.  If your email address is hidden from me or your question is already answered in my guide, I will not reply.  If you think the sunglasses are fake, tell me why you think they are fake so I have something I can address, otherwise, I'll assume you didn't read my guide.

Here's the procedure to report a listing that you suspect is counterfeit:

1. Click on the COMMUNITY button/link.
2. Follow the link to SECURITY & RESOLUTION CENTER.
3. Click on Report a Problem on the right
   
4. Select Report a listing violation
5. Select the subtopic FRAUDULENT LISTINGS (illegal sellers demands, you didn't receive item, etc.)from the drag down box.
   
6. Select You suspect that a listing is fraudulent you didn't bid from the drag down box.
7. Click CONTINUE
8. Select E-MAIL US
9. Fill in the appropriate boxes with the item number(s) in question.

1/22/08:
Note: It's been brought to my attention that on most pairs of Ray-ban sunglasses the screws are anodized or the paint is enamel, not just cheap paint that can be rubbed or scratched off.  Check your sunglasses for this tell-tale sign.

Sometime back in 2007:

Looking over the current listings, the pairs from China look rather suspect, actually any Asian country.  There seems to be some sellers from the UK that have feedback ratings suggesting they are also selling imitation sunglasses.  If there is a model #, you should go to the Ray-ban website and do an advanced search using the model number and compare the picture of the glasses with the ones on the website.  Not only look at the frame design but look at the lenses.  Does Ray-ban offer those sunglasses with those lenses?  If the auction says G-15 but the website says polarized, you're getting fakes.  Auctions that say they won't ship to Italy are suspicious, because Italian customs will probably not allow them.

It's also been brought to my attention that items that have poor grammar or
typos in their owner's manual are fakes.

Sometime back in 2005:

You'll notice that many of the auctions now say "has B&L etched on the lens" and "on the bridge".  This is because they're learning.  Counterfeit sunglasses are looking more genuine.  My page is not to validate the sunglasses you're interested in, it's to educate you to know what are telltale signs.  The fact that someone is selling dozens or more pairs of sunglasses is a dead giveaway.  The price is the second.  Use your heads.  Some people don't care that they're getting fakes cause the price is cheap.

Sometime back in 2004:
The gray sunglasses in the pictures below are real sunglasses.. Ray-ban Sidestreet Sunglasses that retailed for $109. I bought one pair and bought another pair on ebay and they are real. The frames are metal and the lenses are glass. You can even find them on Ray-ban's website under the Sidestreet category. The pair of Aviators I have are also, metal frames and glass lenses.

The black sunglasses were purchased on ebay as well BUT they are fake. How do you know? I have several pictures that depict what are and what are not real Ray-ban sunglasses. Ray-ban has gone to the trouble of putting Ray-ban all over their glasses. If Ray-ban appears only once, it's a good bet, they're fake. You should be aware that you can get the same sunglasses at the drug store (minus "Ray-ban" printed on the lens) for $10. Take a look for the styles and models Ray-ban offers.  Chances are, the style in the auction isn't offered by Ray-ban. I took these pics while I had the fakes on hand, they've since been returned.

I bought some sunglasses from JDsunglass_dog. These sunglasses although closer fakes than the first fake pair I bought are still fake. The pictures will show you what I'm talking about.

Just as a history lesson for those of you who don't know, Ray-ban was owned by Bausch & Lomb and was sold to Luxottica in 1999.  I believe that Ray-ban will continue using B&L lenses for quite some time.  Since Luxottica's purchase of Ray-Ban, they have changed the BL etching to RB. Although some lenses may not have B&L on them, many do.

My point is to warn you AND future bidders that these sunglasses are fake and the only way to do this is to leave feedback and to inform ebay. If future bidders get suckered into buying these sunglasses, my crusade against these sellers has been in vain. Please take a couple minutes to leave negative feedback and a fraud report. If you check their feedback for negatives, you will see other bidders tried to warn us. 

It's not just that the sunglasses have these markings and placement of them as well.  Pay close attention, Ray-ban doesn't apply their logo without careful attention to where it goes.

Stamped into the plastic earpiece is "W2321 NTAS". W2321 is the model number for Sidestreet Metal Rectangle, apparently that number has changed since these were produced. The number listed on Rayban.com shows W2192.

Ray-ban has their lenses made by Bausch and Lomb. Here you can see the BL symbol that has been etched on the lens it looks like the L is laying on the B. My pair of aviator sunglasses also has this symbol on the left lens. The black pair has nothing. (Note: After the purchase of the Ray-ban line of sunglasses by Luxottica, the BL is now a RB)

You can see these sunglasses I purchased from JDsunglass_dog have the BL much lower than the sidestreet sunglasses and the aviator sunglasses. The BL should be on the lens, right next to the hinge. All the pairs of Ray-bans I had, had a white BL logo because it is etched in the glass. These, you can see, are black because they were printed.

On the right lens, the fake pair shows a much bigger and fatter Ray-ban logo. It's located very close to the frame as not to impede your vision. Again, you can see the BL symbol on near the hinge.

This is a real pair of Ray-ban sunglasses with the genuine Ray-ban sticker on the lens. Ray-ban does not have a tag that says UV400 on it.

"B&L RAY-BAN" stamped into the bridge between the lenses. The black ones: nothing. Another tell-tale sign, the nose pads on Ray-bans are crimped on there, yours are probably held on there by screws as pictured.

A clearer shot of the nose pads.

"B&L RAY-BAN USA" stamped into the bridge between the lenses. I know it's hard to see, if you have real Ray-bans, it'd be there.

Although I had my money refunded, I feel that it's your right as the bidder to also know that your merchandise is also fake. I apologize for the inconvienence. I just want the bidders to be better informed.

I've informed Ray-ban and they have expressed interest in removing the counterfeit items. The consumer affairs rep I first talked to was telling me that I couldn't do anything about it. I don't understand everyone's apathy toward things of this nature. She referred me to another gentleman who took my information and was going to forward my information to the correct department.

Here are the sellers I tracked, many of which have good feedback ratings but have negatives showing the sunglasses were not genuine.  If you click here: Ebay: Community , you can do a search for these sellers and their feedback profiles.

Ladybug0058
Barefootit
alidadel57sz
Mrglassesman
Buysunglassnow
Jdsunglass_dog
Newsunglasses333
Kingdemdog
Fleshgears
Thx4asking
Lightningscooterz
Kooshades
Joericwholesale
Beliveintheunbelievable
001squeeze
Treetopflyerz
Whiterosesom
Lava_nyol

This is just a sample of people who used to sell Ray-bans and have excellent feedback ratings but sold fakes.

If this guide was helpful to you, I encourage you to click "yes" below.  Thanks