I am not certain what specifically your are referring to by the "Farnbacher debacle", but if you mean taking a huge sum of their US distributor's and many other's money and failing to deliver that's certainly a part. But, just as significantly, it refers to a company that unquestionably suffered a both fiscal meltdown as well as an internal and contractual collapse with regard to the principles and John Oakley's contractual relationship as well as their principle backer(s). The result was a highly distasteful and almost viral hunt by injured customers for MONTHS, while company heads shuffled blame and pointed figures and left ALL out to dry with phone and email communication cut off. The bottom line is their customers, both independent and vendors, suffered great expense, inconvenience and serious aggravation.
I have no idea whether Jon Oakley ultimately won his brand identity back or whether Martin Crouchs still running the show. I still maintain that the lack of integrity demonstrated will forever tarnish my opinion of them.
And most of the products can be purchased directly, save for the proprietary contract they have w/ Reverie for the Carbon.

 

Where the bloody hell are they based???, can't find a location for oakley design anywhere

 

Oakley was/is UK-based. Given their appalling history, I find it troubling that the web site is so arrogantly obtuse. No pictures, no prices, no details, no hint of who is in charge...nothing. I see no reason to support an offshore company with very felonious recent past. But that's just me.

 

BTW--Oakley's web site shows no street address--just a phone number. Some *****.

 

I was under the impression that they located in and around Silverstone but I could be mistaken. But yeah, it's weird when they don't even hint at where they are located.

 

http://www.companiesintheuk.co.uk/ltd/oakleydesigneu

 

Your a saint, Cheers