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-   -   Same sunglasses are cheaper in India than the USA | Why so? (https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/shifting-gears/280353-same-sunglasses-cheaper-india-than-usa-why-so-2.html)

Maui Jims are available at GKB Opticals in Bangalore. They have an outlet in BLR airport T2 and they had a decent collection.

I have two Maui Jims - a Banyans which is around 11 years old now and i use it primarily when driving, and a Waterways which is 7 years old now. Couldn't agree more that their lenses are amazing.

Also, their support has also been great, had experienced once.

I beg to differ here. The US made soft drinks taste sweeter than Indian ones. The Indian soft drinks are made with cane sugar as opposed to high fructose corn syrup in US. There is distinct taste difference between both of them and corn syrup has been linked to a fatty liver disease.

Within Ray Ban, there are 2 types or quality of sunglasses that are available. The low end ones are manufactured in China and the better quality ones are manufactured in Italy and Japan (titanium frame sunglasses). The entire range of higher quality sunglasses which use high end materials such as titanium frames and glass lens (as opposed to plastic lens) are available in the USA. Certain models may not be available in India. Glass lens are superior in terms of clarity and do not get scratched easily. You could consider purchasing these models in USA.

Also since you are in USA, you may consider other brands such as Randolph Engineering which makes great quality sunglasses and are official suppliers of aviator sunglasses to the US Military. If you are interested you may also check out the true high end sunglasses from brands such as Persol, Oilver Peoples, Salt etc which last for a lifetime.

I feel lucky to get the same ones for around 3,000 :uncontrol in CSD store. Maybe find yourself a fauji friend.

Applies for other items too. For eg: I came across the same make/model watches priced higher in Switzerland than the ones bought in India.

An exception is automobiles which are priced quite high here :)

Well, it's the exact formula and exact taste, the concentrate is even exported from India. (Work for them in manufacturing). But the taste to feel different has many other factors. Glass bottles offer best taste, cans and pet bottles follow. Also, the temperature of the beverage when consumed matters. Most retail stores would not want to chill it to 4 deg which is the most optimal. Also logistics of the product affects quality. In India it is affected by the hot sun, exacerbated by covered containers, distribution facilities etc.

To the OP, brands would not want to sell lower quality product in other countries, it's too much of a risk for brands. But the argument would go out of the window with the recent Nestle baby formula controversy!

I’ve been using Maui Jims for over a decade and I'm very happy with the quality of their lenses (I use their prescription lenses). An independent company not owned by Luxottica which makes excellent polarised sunglasses. In India, you can pick them up from Lawrence and Mayo as well. Last time I checked, the prices in the U.S were cheaper.

India has good stuff!
I own a pair of Maui Jims. Primarily bought for driving and it is very good. But I am not using it nowadays and have given it to my wife.Will enumerate the reasons below.
I also own 4 pairs of prescription glasses.Yes, got a thing for glasses.
1) My first pair was bought from Lenskart. Frameless.No complaints.Used it for almost 1 year.But felt I needed a better pair. So, went for my second one.This one is currently used only as a reserve.
2) Oakley - Very good. Snug fitting.Zeiss lenses are awesome. Only thing, the eyeglasses were sort of small(lens width was less, I think around 50). I am a surgeon and need a wide range of vision. I couldnt use it at work.So, decided to go for a new one.I use the Oakleys at home
3) Emporio Armani - Lens width is 59mm. Zeiss lenses. Went for high end ones. Photochromatic lens, so no need for sunglasses while driving. Using it regularly. Was my companion during COVID times.But felt the frames were a bit too light weight. Wanted the heft of the Oakleys.So , bought the 4th one for my last birthday.
4) Emporio Armani( Part 2) - Rating of 10/10.Simply fabulous. Frames are snug and have the necessary heft.Lens width of 57.Zeiss photochromatic lens, with the second best bells and whistles( the salesman was too embarassed to tell me about the top end one, felt it was just for show). Superb clarity, colours just pop at night. Night driving is not a hassle.Photochromatic lens obviate the need for sunglasses. I went to Kashmir last month and the lens remained blue most of the time on the mountains even when it was cloudy, because of the UV rays. This is my daily use specs.

I keep one pair each in both my cars. One for home use.

All my glasses have been purchased from Lulu Eye Express. The last one from Trivandrum, others from Kochi.Great variety of brands available.

You can buy them at cheaper rates if you are closer to any of the outlet malls outside of Dallas / NewJersey.

Also saw great discounts on Rayban Carrera and Polaroid in Dubai T3 two days ago while I was transiting. Please do checkout.

Best bet, redeem your credit card points and buy them from CliQ luxury :)

I, more or less echo most BHPians sentiment. I was on a lookout for some RayBan prescription sunglasses here in Canada and shockingly after all the additions, it came over INR 30000.

Interestingly, the same model, same spec prescription sunglasses cost me a shade about INR 13000. Needless to say, I got my friend to bring it down with her.

I disagree. Not hard to get at all in India. I have 4 pairs. You can check out their India website.

https://www.mauijim.com/IN/en_GB

And in general, their MSRP prices are 20% - 30% cheaper than the US. And most opticians here will throw in a 15% - 25% discount on top.

It isn't the same formula and taste. It differs across countries based on compliances and local tastes. The formulation in India was changed very early on when introduced here - this includes the level of fizz too. Also, not only is the formulation different, it can (and has) undergo change within a country as well. This is true across brands and not just the cola.

Nice to meet a bottler, some excellent work done in India :thumbs up

You mean to say you got RAYBAN prescription sunglasses including the power lenses for INR 13,000?

Last I checked here in Pune, they quoted 10-12k just for the RayBan branded power lenses plus the cost of the frame.

Echoing what GTO said - most of the well-known (including luxury) brands are readily available in India, and at a competitive rate.

I bought a pair of Ray-Ban Aviators with the black frame and prescription lenses for some ₹8500 (the frame alone was some ₹6000) at Turakhia Opticians in Goregaon, Mumbai some 2-3 years ago. Even my Prada spectacles were bought at the same store for ₹18500 (including the cost of Essilor Transitions Photochromatic Lenses) a few years ago. Some of the local family-owned businesses like Turakhia are able to provide high-touch service for a marginal additional cost over similar products you may see at chains like Titan Eye+ or Vision Express. My family and I have been very happy customers since 1999. :D

Most of the large multi-brand chains carry all the major brands, retail original goods, and also include authenticity certificates with purchases of known brands. And the service experience is usually good.

They put a Crisal Lens (along with all those add ons my mother put) on the RayBan frame. But ideally, it should’ve been the RayBan lenses.

Because another friend paid the big bucks for RayBan Canada and he got it but with a non RayBan lens.

I still have the original lens stored away if in case I get a lasik surgery done later on.