Called Leupold about having a #4 reticle installed in a 2.5x8 scope and was shocked to find out it would be $200! When the hell did the price go up?

when they stopped offering the #4 as a standard option

I didn’t think it was too long ago that I had them install a #4 in a 6x42 and it was under $75. I am trying to find a gloss scope and want a #4 reticle. Needle in a haystack

My last one was in 2011.70.00

Yes, just went through the same thing last year. I ended up selling the two new Leupolds and buying new ones with the reticle I wanted, it's cheaper.

Holy crap! I went to their custom shop and to get a gloss 2.5x8 scope adds $250 and the #4 reticle adds $70, so it would cost $720 total and 6 to 8 weeks to get!

I think one of the "bean counters" at Leupold took a look at their Custom Shop and some of their most popular choices and what is being special ordered as far as reticles go. Reticles besides the Duplex reticles and then they jacked prices as they saw fit. Getting a B&C or a German #4 is and expensive deal now as many like them for "set & forget" scopes for big game hunting with good reason, they have a proven track record.

I sold my VX5-HD 2-10x42 because Leupold only offered it with a Wide Duplex in regular or illuminated version. That glass was the best I have owned for low light use, but the reticle was not and I have lots of opportunity to view moose in low light as they usually pass through on my property almost daily. If they ever offer a Fire Dot 4 like the VX-R series has I will grab one. For now my 3-9x40 VX-R with the Fire Dot 4 is plenty good enough for any moose, caribou and bear hunting I will do.

That VX-R scope sits on my very accurate custom .338 Mod. 70 "Stainless Classic" with the Bansners stock and using "hold over" will allow hits to 300 yards on moose and caribou and further if I wish to turn the Kenton Industries turrets.

I have a VX3i 3.5-10x40 on my wonderful old Mod. 70 Featherweight 30-06 and plan on biting the bullet and sending it in for a B&C reticle. That rifle will only be spitting out 168 grain Barnes TTSX bullets and after a bit of range time I will learn how to use the B&C Reticle with that load. Their product, their rules, simple as that for me.

I found the hard way they increased their price to change the reticle...had one done then got he bill...ouch

Use to be one of the attractive things about Leupold, now with cheaper looking scopes and increased costs other brands are more attractive.

I would rather be a gentleman … until I need not to be. But Leupold is beginning to suck. I used to go to Premier Reticles for every scope. They don't have the large custom reticle service and I would have to go to Leupold. I just can't make myself go there. The #4 reticle is one of my favorites. Sorry for the vitriol guys. Rusty

Anyone have an idea of how long it takes them to change a reticle start to finish? 10min? 30min? 60min? I just wonder how much $ per hour that guy is bringing to the company at $200 per scope...

On the bright side about ten years ago I ordered a 6x43 FX-3 from the custom shop with a German #1 for $450. To order that scope today would be $470. I got burnt earlier this year buy buying a VX-1 2-7x33 and a VX-2 2-7x33 with reticle I don't like expecting to have the reticles changed, but that would cost me nearly what I paid for the scopes or more.

They, like many, should have been raising prices annually. Never understood not doing so given costs rise each year.

I called them about changing mine to a heavy duplex in my vx3 4.5-14x40 CDS and they said the same thing. That's half the cost of the scope! Maybe just "dent" your current one and see if they will change it free under warranty? Lol

Going through the custom shop and buying the scope from them you can have the reticle changed for $70 additional. Gloss finish is available on a few scopes but it is a $200 fee!

All that and their customer service sucks too. I have a scope that I had to send back 4 times before the issue was fixed. Sad part of the whole thing was them telling me I was my fault. I had to tell them exactly where to look to find the issue. They are digging themselves further into the hole.

Everything they do is a business decision based on what they think will fly with the huddled masses, and benefit the bottom line. If reticle changes for $70 weren't making money for them, it's logical for them to up the price. It's not logical to raise the price way over what the service costs them to provide because that will drive more customers away entirely. Without knowing all the facts, it's pretty hard to figure out what they're up to. What's easy is deciding that it's foolish to buy a scope that's not what you want, planning to send it in to be turned into what you do want. If they don't offer the right reticle, buy something else.

Remington280 has it figured out: Just buy through the Custom Shop and eat the extra cost up front.

I just got off the phone with Leupold CS for a reticle change, and it was $125 for putting a #1 in a VX2 1-4. They stated that had been the standard price for a while now?

Maybe some scope models/reticles are another up-charge? I didn’t press them about it. ....but that’s about as much as I think I was willing to pay. Certainly $200 would have given me pause on that model of scope.