Part of the problem is that Leupold has a higher cost US based labor pool but most of the new competitors that have "great values" on their scopes manufacture in Asia. Many of us lament the decline in US manufacturing but then turn around and buy a cheaper China made scope.
We can't have it both ways.
If they made a scope or were able to repair one so that it's mechanically sound and precise, nobody would whine about the price. It's not about where it's made, it's a problem with what they're making. Even worse, is the excuses they're making for VX series product. The VX series while optically superior to the Vari-X scopes, isn't anywhere nearly as mechanically sound. It's a rifle scope, it's gotta reliably steer the bullet 1st.
If indeed they phase out working on Vari-X series scopes, that will be a very sad day.
