I would have gladly called vortex as neil said to rectify this issue. When you look to buy discount you have to realize that there is a reason it can be discounted. Warranty is very often only done by contacting the manufacturer in discounted products.
As agitated as the op seems to be in this thread I can only assume how the initial conversation with CL.
Although i have never bought from CL, due to the very favorable reviews of CL seen on this thread, I will make a purchase from CL on my first opportunity. One bad review doesn't mean much.


"We are building a dictatorship of relativism which recoqnizes nothing as definitive and whose ultimate goal consists solely of ones own self ego and desires."Cardinal Rathzinger