Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics Why the big hardon for Vortex ?

Go try to find a set of brake rotors that's not made in China;

I don't want to spend $1200 on a razor spotter then 4 years later its blown out for $600 as they phase in a new model.

I don't get the logic behind this, especially considering all optics will lose value in that time frame. 4 years is a long time in the optics world, with new products being rolled out all the time by all of the major manufacturers. Sometimes, the optics/mechanics don't really change much (if at all), its the addition of new reticles, turret options, illumination, etc. Regardless, they all drop their prices with the addition of new models.

Besides, if the product gives you the performance you require at a price point you're willing to pay, what difference does it make if it drops value in 4 years? I guess it makes sense if you plan on changing optics every few years, but even then, its really all moot. I mean, how much do you consider is an acceptable depreciation? With each new model, quality typically goes up...would you rather the product remain stagnant and not improve just for the sake of long term value? I'm not sure I have ever bought a product where I got years of excellent service out of it, and then got upset because it dropped its value in 4 years. That just comes across as silly to me.

That being said, I rarely (if ever) buy anything new...I always buy used items, where the original purchaser takes the hit on most of the depreciation.

vortex does not protect their brand value, The reason is their optics aren't that well made for the most part.

You bring up Swarovski and Nightforce, but for the most part its an apples to oranges comparison. Vortex offers scopes for just about every budget, from sub $100 optics to over $2k. Cheapest Swarovski scope retails somewhere around $700, and I'm not sure Nightforce has a scope under $900. Nighforce & Swarovski appeal to a somewhat select portion of the market, whereas Vortex offers products that run the gamut of potential buyers.

You also mentioned "they aren't that well made for the most part", what do you mean specifically? Are you saying their lower level scopes aren't made that well, or is there some sort of inherent manufacturing flaw across the entire line of optics? As far as the product cost to retail ratio, wouldn't that also apply to other manufacturers as well? Are you suggesting Swarovski and Nighforce follow a different model, or purposely run on lower profit margins? Its almost like you posted that as a sleight to Vortex, except it seems to me like a strong business model.

Regarding your $1700 Nightforce, you're not getting roughly $1400 out of a used one after four years...it ain't happening. Even if it were brand new, still in the box, you'd still be hard pressed to get that amount. I've bought and sold quite a few higher end/tactical scopes, and 20% depreciation is extremely optimistic after 4 years. In fact, I just searched Nightforce scopes on the classifieds here, and didn't find a single one within the first page or so (save one) that was even listed within 20% of new prices. Most were around 25-30%, which is oddly enough, pretty much the same percentage I sold a couple of Viper PST's and an HST for recently. I will say this though, the used market for optics can be extremely fickle and season dependent.

I agree with some of the other posters, there seems to be more than a little bit of snobbery aimed at Vortex. I've owned cheap Chinese scopes, all the way to two US Optics SN3's that were $2400+ each new (and still own one of them). I've also owned Meopta, Nightforce, Zeiss, and a few others, and for me it doesn't matter what the name is as long as it offers the performance I feel I've paid for. Period.

I mentioned earlier that I have one Vortex scope. I've never owned a Nightforce, Ziess, or Swarovski, and from what I've read, I dont think my Vortex is in their league. But, I have had the opportunity to shoot out to 1000 yds. and the optics are good enough to shoot at that distance. I dont hit the target every time, but most of the time. Tracking is the only issue. Dial it up and when you come back down, it's got to be fine tuned, again. It's usually off by 2-4 clicks at 200 yds.

For a set and forget scope, it does a fine job, and doesn't cost an arm and a leg.

Also, as mentioned earlier, they have a very good warranty. What's not to like.

I cannot speak to what they do for other retailers but at Cabela’s, before the Bass Pro purchase, Cabela’s employees could purchase eight Vortex products a year at 60% off of MSRP. Employees received the same deal from Leupold.

Almost all of us work within some kind of budget for our toys; some higher, some lower. For those of us who can't manage the high-end stuff all the time, it's wise to go with something with a good warranty, then hope for the best. Another strategy would be to stop buying new rifles every week and use the cash saved for reliable optics to go on what we have. SWFA has finally started making a lightweight, reliable hunting-style scope at a very reasonable price. Hopefully enough will sell that they may expand that concept into some other magnification ranges.