Author: amdenis
Subject: Warranties compared for scope manufacturers
Posted: June/21/2013 at 10:48
This a great tool you put together, and it could be very useful in helping people make purchase decisions, since warranties are an important factor for many.
With that said, I did my own research as I am about to purchase a scope in the $2-3K range, and I had checked on the websites of the various ones I am looking at (US Optics, Zeiss, Hensoldt, Schmidt and Bender, Vortex, Premier Reticles and Leupold). While many of them have decent warranties, and some may very well go even above and beyond their warranties, I only found one of those that actually have a lifetime warranty on everything, which was Vortex. I assume that they are trying to make a name for themselves and/or allay fears that some like me may have about them being sort of the new, less proven kid on the block. In any event, somebody really should emend the good work you started.
For example:
Leupold: limits electronic like illum reticles to 1 or 2 years, depending on scope, and has scope specific limitations on everything else;
Schmidt & Bender limits to 2 years, and only makes reference to it being for the original buyer;
Burris: has either a limited 1, 3 or 5 year, a limited to original owner "Lifetime" (which is kind of confusing) or a "Forever" transferable warantee, where which of those waranrries ou get depends on the scope or related item;
Zeiss and Hensold have a transferrable, limited warrantee which requires you to register within 60 days of purchase to get a 5 year no fault warantee that covers field damage and such.
Swarovski has limitations on any scope with an illuminated reticle, as the warranty for the whole scope reverts to the European warranty: 5 year labor, 10 years parts and materials:, and the illuminated reticle itself is covered for 2 years.
One of the factors that has me leaning towards the Vortex (specifically the Razor HD 5-20 mil/mil with 10 Mil/rev turrets) is that there are not only no time, parts or any other restictions, but that they include a fully transferrable, no-fault, no questions asked, no registration or proof of purchase required warranty where lifetime means forever (as it should) not just the lifetime of the original buyer. Also, they apply this to all scopes and related products, not just some. Unlike any other I have found, the specifically cover misuse, abuse and other things that can often happen given enough time. This actually worried me a bit at first, since I wondered if they were trying to compensate for an actual or perceived lack of quality or durability. I researched this, and it appears that their scopes are very well received by owners in terms of user satisfaction related to quality and lack of problems. Also, I have read from many owners online who did dumb, abusive, absent-minded or related things to damage or destroy their scopes, who got them replaced typically in less than a week (often 2 days from when Vortex received it). I also read about various accounts of people who lost things like the scope cover, the ARD or other things, who also got a free, fast replacement, which obviously goes above and beyond their warranty, or any other waranty I know of.
Like I said, I believe based on what I have heard and read that many of these other companies will go above and beyond what they explicitly state in their waranties, but I believe that people should be aware of how unique and amazing Vortex's warranty and service has been, since not only should they be rewarded for it, but maybe (just maybe) it will lead some of these other top scope makers do the same.
In any event, maybe like 7 star hotels, you need to add another star category for Vortex and its warranty.
Subject: Warranties compared for scope manufacturers
Posted: June/21/2013 at 10:48
This a great tool you put together, and it could be very useful in helping people make purchase decisions, since warranties are an important factor for many.
With that said, I did my own research as I am about to purchase a scope in the $2-3K range, and I had checked on the websites of the various ones I am looking at (US Optics, Zeiss, Hensoldt, Schmidt and Bender, Vortex, Premier Reticles and Leupold). While many of them have decent warranties, and some may very well go even above and beyond their warranties, I only found one of those that actually have a lifetime warranty on everything, which was Vortex. I assume that they are trying to make a name for themselves and/or allay fears that some like me may have about them being sort of the new, less proven kid on the block. In any event, somebody really should emend the good work you started.
For example:
Leupold: limits electronic like illum reticles to 1 or 2 years, depending on scope, and has scope specific limitations on everything else;
Schmidt & Bender limits to 2 years, and only makes reference to it being for the original buyer;
Burris: has either a limited 1, 3 or 5 year, a limited to original owner "Lifetime" (which is kind of confusing) or a "Forever" transferable warantee, where which of those waranrries ou get depends on the scope or related item;
Zeiss and Hensold have a transferrable, limited warrantee which requires you to register within 60 days of purchase to get a 5 year no fault warantee that covers field damage and such.
Swarovski has limitations on any scope with an illuminated reticle, as the warranty for the whole scope reverts to the European warranty: 5 year labor, 10 years parts and materials:, and the illuminated reticle itself is covered for 2 years.
One of the factors that has me leaning towards the Vortex (specifically the Razor HD 5-20 mil/mil with 10 Mil/rev turrets) is that there are not only no time, parts or any other restictions, but that they include a fully transferrable, no-fault, no questions asked, no registration or proof of purchase required warranty where lifetime means forever (as it should) not just the lifetime of the original buyer. Also, they apply this to all scopes and related products, not just some. Unlike any other I have found, the specifically cover misuse, abuse and other things that can often happen given enough time. This actually worried me a bit at first, since I wondered if they were trying to compensate for an actual or perceived lack of quality or durability. I researched this, and it appears that their scopes are very well received by owners in terms of user satisfaction related to quality and lack of problems. Also, I have read from many owners online who did dumb, abusive, absent-minded or related things to damage or destroy their scopes, who got them replaced typically in less than a week (often 2 days from when Vortex received it). I also read about various accounts of people who lost things like the scope cover, the ARD or other things, who also got a free, fast replacement, which obviously goes above and beyond their warranty, or any other waranty I know of.
Like I said, I believe based on what I have heard and read that many of these other companies will go above and beyond what they explicitly state in their waranties, but I believe that people should be aware of how unique and amazing Vortex's warranty and service has been, since not only should they be rewarded for it, but maybe (just maybe) it will lead some of these other top scope makers do the same.
In any event, maybe like 7 star hotels, you need to add another star category for Vortex and its warranty.