I'll throw in another for you. I had a customer bring in a Vari-X II in three pieces...horse rolled on it in the scabbard. I returned it to Leupold, and they sent him a new scope a week later...no questions asked....
Even I would have asked questions about that one...
Yep, that's exactly my experience.
The cynic in me asks why it's such a coup that Leupold fixed what was obviously a manufacturing defect. Even more so, it's a manufacturing defect that has plagued Leupold for a while, the "power ring too hard to turn" problem crops up repeatedly with Leupolds. In my mind it shouldn't have left the factory that way, whether or not it had been through another owner is irrelevant. I'm glad they fixed it at no cost, but that's what they SHOULD have done since they sold a defective product to begin with.
That particular manufacturing defect is news to me, though it may be well known by others. ALL of the Leupolds I own are variables and none of them have had any sort of defect - in either materials or manufacturing. I've never experienced a true warranty problem so if the problem with the used scope I bought was a known manufacturing defect it's the first defect I've experienced.
Now, why that's such a coup is this: I've owned lots of very high quality and very costly items of various kinds. Truly outstanding customer service has, in my experience been rare, even when the problem was a clearly identifiable defect in materials or workmanship on a
brand new product. Other than my experience with Leupold I
HAVE NEVER had a manufacturer unquestioningly identify much less fix at no cost to me a problem with a product I bought
used,
period.
Ever.
So, why is Leupold repairing my used scope a coup? First, because most manufacturer warranties are not lifetime (most that are advertised as lifetime are "limited lifetime".) Second, because even most "lifetime" warranties are not transferrable - so as the buyer of a used product I am SOL even if the problem IS a defect in manufacturing. Third, getting warranty service, even when agreed to by a manufacturer, has usually, in my experience, involved repeated communications wherein I first demonstrate that the problem actually IS a warranty issue and not my fault. Then getting the fix done costs me time, money and frustration.
My experiences with Leupold warranty and customer service (limited though they are) have been nothing short of
amazing. In the last instance the Leupold customer service rep
offered the fact that the issue might be a warranty issue - on a scope I had purchased used and knew nothing about its history. If he had been like other companies' "customer service" reps I've dealt with he would have done everything in his power to:
1) deny that there was a problem;
2) deny that if there was a problem it could in any possible way be related to a manufacturing defect;
3) explain rudely to me that as a buyer of a used product I had no warranty and should have no expectation that the manufacturer would assume any responsibility for a product obviously damaged by a previous owner; and
4) offered me a convoluted process for sending the product in for inspection and repair I would pay for,
if the manufacturer even continued to support service of the product, which (again in my experience) many manufacturers do not do if the product is not their most recent iteration.
Everyone get's their opinion and choice. If buying a European scope for two grand makes someone happy then I'm happy for them. If buying a Tasco or Simmons for $100 makes someone happy then I'm happy for them, too.
But in my case it's never been the money. There was a time when Leupolds were a stretch for my budget. They were particularly worth it at the time because of optic quality and reliability. I saved money until I could afford them. I'm very fortunate now and can buy literally anything I want, scopes included. I buy Leupolds primarily because of reliability, size, and optic quality. All of my hunting is in remote wilderness where I can't just drive into town and get a replacement if something breaks, and I want a scope that is of minimum size and weight with the quality of optics that will do the job well.
Leupolds give me those things plus what in my experience is an unparalleled warranty and customer service. I have owned no other product of any kind that had the warranty and customer service of Leupold scopes.
Nothing. Ever. I would buy no other brand of scope used and without inspection as I did the Leupold.
And, they are made in the USA. That's even more important to me today that it has ever been.
Leupold scopes meet and exceed my needs/uses and the warranty and service are, in my experience, unparalleled.
Your mileage may vary. I'm just giving my opinion and experience because I believe any company that stands behind their product like Leupold does deserves to have that recognized. And, I have absolutely NO personal interest in or connection to Leupold.
