I've always figured if you get it cheap enough it doesn't really matter. If something does happen- you trip and fall on it, or it falls out of your truck, or ????? you are only out what you paid and you have a small possibility you can return it to Nikon for a credit on something they still make.
I wouldn't try this with Bushnell, though. I had a 4000 Elite B&L scope that was in partnership with Bushnell. I damaged the scope and sent it back to see if it could be repaired. They told me they couldn't repair it, but they offered me 20% off on one of their new line of scopes. What pissed me off was I had to buy it directly from the factory with the 20% based on MSRP. I could easily buy the scope at any number of retailers cheaper without their stupid coupon so I told them to pound sand...
