Just FYI that Zeiss does not cover their warranty. I have a pair of Zeiss Classic 10x40 binoculars I've had for 15 years. The left side fogged up this season on a rainy hunting trip.

I sent them off to Zeiss and they told me I had two options......

1. Fix them which would cost $1300
2. Send me the updated model for $750

I bought that pair of binos for $799 and they said they had a lifetime warranty. I think they should have covered the cost and repair of a foggy reticle. IMO, that was on them, and should not have happened. I told them to send them back to me, and that I would not purchase any more of their products if that is how they honor their warranty.

I have a pair of Nikon monarchs that are over 20 years old. The eyepieces were broke, it stopped focusing, and the outside shell was broken in several places. I sent them back, and Nikon fixed them and refurbished them free of charge.

I like the Zeiss Conquest scopes and loved my Classic binoculars, but will no longer buy their products.

Thanks for the info. I won't buy their products now. A friend had a very old Leopold fig up. They sent him back a new one. Another friend slipped and his rifle bounced a good way down the mountain busting his scope. He sint it in and told them what happened and asked how much it would cost to fix. A week later he opens his mail box and had a new one in it with a note than you for choosing Leopold.

I had a Burris not track and sent it in. 4 days later I had a new one in my hand. With company like these I see no need to buy anything else.

Good to know

I had a USA made gloss Burris full field with a broken reticle. Sent it in, said couldn’t be fixed and sent me a full field 2. The horizontal adjustment is locked up, can’t move it either way. I threw it back in the box. Need to find it back and send in, will sell the replacement as soon as I get it as they are no longer made in the USA and have no further use.

Leupold has been a solid set and forget scope for most of my uses. The adjustments leave a lot to be desired in the models I have used.

Ty

I'll buy whatever the heck please.

Too bad about your experience, but that don't make me your disciple.

What reason was given for not honoring the warranty?

I have had good luck with Zeiss and Leupold both. Just beware, there are counterfeits of both floating around out there. About 2 weeks ago I saw a whizbang, high end Zeiss with IR and a bunch of other jazz.......and it was 100% fake. When someone is selling a $1200 scope for $400 NIB, that is your first clue.

Good grief. I bet you have no friends if that is how you responded to that post.

Friends are over-rated.

Donner, they told me that on initial inspection they could not see any mold growing within the reticle, but they would not know for sure until they got into it, and that I had to approve the work and payment before they would. They also said that if there was mold in it that immediate action must be taken as it would contaminate their other equipment. I know it sounds bogus, but that is what they said.

I called and talked to customer relations and gave them my service order and told them that I thought they should honor the warranty. They told me that they offered me a good deal on the replacement. $300 dollar off regular price.

Must be cause you don't have any good ones. I wouldn't trade my good ones for anything.

Not if you have true friends. Those are priceless and often better than family. They are few and far between. I don't call people friend lightly. I have tons of acquaintances and just a few friends. The kind you can call at 3 in the morning and they will be there no matter what.

This topic is almost exactly what experience I had dealing with the clothing brand First Lite.

Burn me once....

I would be annoyed as well, they talk about a lifetime warranty but their actual policy from the site reads-

Conditions not covered under this warranty:
• Accidental damage.
• Normal wear and tear.

What is "normal wear and tear"? Seems ambiguous, I would expect a top shelf product to withstand normal use for a very long period.

Agree. They were good glass no doubt. My favorite pair of binos; worked well in low light conditions. I use them, but take care of them. The reticle fogging up was on them in my opinion even if they were 15 years old.

When I get them back, I'm just gonna leave them on the dash of my truck all summer. See if that clears up that reticle.

In the meantime, I have to get a new pair. I can't afford Leica or Swarovski, but thinking hard about the new Nikon Monarchs HG. At least I know they stand by their products.

Ya'll also have me interested in Leupold. I have many of their scopes, but none of their binos.

If you google "Binocular repair" there seems to be some options. It doesn't seem as though it should be that much to replace a seal and refill the gas unless they're actually really damaged.

Luckily, I can't afford them anyway.

I have several of their scopes from $300 to,$1200. Like tham all. Never had their binoculars but would think they would be fine. I wouldn't buy another of their range finders . Paid 400 for an rx 1000 when that first came out. Was in my opinion a 500 yard rang finder not a 1000 yard . Got a sign 2000 yard frot under 250 a few years ago and it picked up everything I need it to. Yes TEC got better in the years between buying them but for the money the sign is the best I found . Next jumping up a lot in price is leica (sp)

Sorry to hear this I have zeiss and had a problem a couple years ago. I called sent them in and no problem had a new pair in 1.5 weeks, great customer service. Leapold is great to.

Frank, what was the issue on your Zeiss binos? They sent you a brand new pair?

I just sent the following inquiry to Zeiss USA. I'll let you know what I hear back from them.

"I am a registered hunting guide in Alaska. I own Zeiss binoculars, I recommend them to my hunting clients. I have never had a problem with my Zeiss products. However, I have recently heard that Zeiss is no longer offering free repair on products that were purchased with a lifetime warranty. Is this True? If so, I will no longer be able to recommend Zeiss binoculars and scopes."

Hope you dont have any Leupold binocs, youll have to sell them as well....made overseas

I am not adverse to buying products made overseas, but my first look is always made in the USA. My Swarovski bino’s are made overseas. My Vortex Fury’s im sure are made in China. As are several of my scopes that are made in Japan, Chech Republic and China. But when a product is defective out of the box, I really don’t care where it was made. Burris I’m sure will honor the defective scope but my confidence is not with their current offerings. For the record, I have several Burris scopes and like them a lot, but they are the older made in the USA versions.

I’m not suggesting where you should spend your money, just stating my experience.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00ZP0JW4U/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1

Nobody said too much about Vortex. I like these binocs. Im not overly impressed with the spotting scope I got though.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BIKFJ6Q/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I had the same experience with the rx 1000. Junk as far as I was concerned. Got rid of it and got a Bushnell that I used for years, glass was terrible but the rangefinder worked great. Finally lost it chasing an elk. I wasn't interested in another Leupold, but I guided a guy using their 2800 and it worked great, finally ended up getting one myself. Best rangefinder I have ever used. And one of the only models I've ever used that I can range farther than it is rated.

Same experience on a brand-new Winchester SX3 and a broken disconnector after the first few boxes of shells. Sent it back, was told "improper maintenance of the firearm" and then they said it was my fault it happened. Told me it would be around $700 to fix (a $3 part). I purchase items based on reputation and warranties. My list of companies I won't do business with continues to grow. I've had great luck with Leupold honoring their warranties.

Good to know. The one scope that I had to send back to Leupold, I must say they back up their product. Scope wouldn’t hold zero. I paid shipping there, it was sent back with a data sheet on what they did and and other info on the scope. I shipped it in early fall telling them that I’d like it back within the month, but if not it was OK as I had another muzzle loader I could use. They responded with a guarantee that I’d either have my scope or a new one within 2-3 weeks.
Trex must be a Zeiss guy…lol
I wonder how Swarovski honours their warranty?
You pay good money for glass, they gotta back it up!

20 years ago I had a pair of 7-800 dollar Pentax binos that the one eyepiece broke on, I sent them back and they told me virtually the same thing in that I would have to pay for repair. Bought a pair of leupold 10x50 which I have carried for the last 12 or 14 years.

I have sent my Swarovski binoculars back twice,once for broken eye pieces,and once when i lent them to my son elk hunting,he wiped the lens with a handkerchief and scratch them up. They either buffed the scratches out ,or put new lens in, Both times I only paid shipping.

I had that happen years back when a lens just fell out while hunting antelope I can’t even remember what brand. I even sent them in with the original case and lens covers so they were well taken care of.

They tried that billing me BS. I said just send them back and I’ll be sure to let the major outlets know you don’t cover your products when they fall apart then I reminded them that I still had them in the original case with the covers so they were well taken care of.

To the OP, have you contacted them and tried to go up the chain for a legitimate explanation?

I have a variety, Weaver, Leupold, old red fields, Nikons, Zeiss, Swaro and a few others. All good for what they are. Frankly I am least impressed with my upper end Zeiss but they are holding up fine. Personally I’m not buying any more Zeiss, doesn’t mean others shouldn’t.
I recently found a Weaver Grand Slam of mine won’t hold vertically. First trouble I’ve had with any scope, maybe I’ve just been lucky? Gotta figure out where to send it. For 20 years or so it’s been just fine.

I do know two good guys who had issues with Leupolds in the last maybe 15 years. One in the optics, the other had gotten his so impacted with fine blowing sand over time you couldn’t move the power ring without a pipe wrench.
They both returned them to Leupold and both were returned pristine at no charge to the guys.

For what it’s worth.
Osky

Last Weaver I had repaired went to Onalaska, MN years back that might of changed.

On that note the only folks I know of who work on them are Iron Sights. I’ve had some checked over by them, great folks, but they tell me the different brands they work on and the services offered depend totally on repair parts previously purchased-from those companies. When they are gone they are gone, the Grand Slams they do not do.

Thanks
Osky

I had an issue with the focus ring not turing on my 15 year old Swarovski spotting scope. Sent it in to them for repair, and they sent me back a brand new replacement spotting scope.

Not a Zeiss guy-just an anti "cancel culture" guy.

A lifetime warrantee has its limitations. You have to understand what you are buying, and your own responsibilities.

In this case it appears Zeiss did offer something albeit not what OP had hoped.

BTW Has anyone ever tried to come up with a cost of glass per shot? or even per view? OMG a peep sight and cheapo binoc's are sure looking good.

Pretty sure a guy can always past on any post he does not agree with. LOL

Minox refused to repair my binocs.

My Vortex range finders button would stick sometimes, I walked in to their lobby, told the receptionist what was wrong, within minutes I had the newest , 1level upgrade in my hands, no charge.

A friend had been a fan of Stiener until he needed some warranty work done. No more.

Bought the Vortex Fury range finding binos, I carelessly left the covers off and the objective looked like it was sandblasting from grinding off the rocks. Sent them to Vortex told them what I did & asked for a repair quote. They sent a brand new pair in the box including the chest rig free of charge. Didn't expect that but Ill recommend them to anyone, you usually don't hear the good on the negatives but Leupold, Exo Mountain Gear, & Yeti are a few others who stand behind their products.

WOW!! You mustnot have any really good ones.

I had a 8.5 X 25 X 50 Leupold. I got it with canted reticle. Sent it back 3 times. The 3 time I had it upgraded to MLR or so crap. Still came back canted. But it had the Newest latest greatest reticle. Sold that junker at a pawn shop cut my losses. Bought 7 or 8 Nightforce scopes since then. NEVER had an issue.

Like anything else there are good ones, and not so good ones. A likely ratio is one of the first kind to nine of the latter

Please let us know what they say Waggler. I for one am very curious. Below is what they sent back to me when they received my binoculars.......


Dear Chancey,

We have completed the inspection on your Dialyt ("ClassiC") 10x40, Serial # 2858167.

Note: Fortunately we don't see fungus growth as far as we can tell without opening. This means that we can still open the optic and replace the needed parts. This is time sensitive as fungus could develop and we will not be able to open it for service. The repairs listed below would have to be approved as a whole.

Note: If fungus is found when opened the repairs will cease to continue. As this could contaminate other optics in our shop.

Inspection Results

· Focus drive and diopter needs reworked

· Eye cups damaged

· Left prism has fog

· Left objective lens has fog

· Left ocular lens has water internal

Necessary Repair(s)

· Rework and lubricate focus drive and diopter

· Replace left prism

· Replace left objective lens

· Replace left ocular lens

· Perform alignment

Necessary Repair(s) Cost is $1,183.22

Goodwill Repair(s)

· Replace both eyecups

· Clean outside of optic

Optional Repair(s)

· Replace right ocular lenses

Optional Repair(s) Cost is $158.95



Total for Necessary Repair is $1,183.22

Total for Necessary Repair with Optional Repair is $1,342.17

Thanks Osky. I did call them after they sent me that quote. I talked to the customer relations people and gave my thoughts that I thought fogged up glass should be covered under warranty. They informed me that they gave me a good deal to buy the updated model for $750 dollars rather than spending the $1300 on repairs. Said they were giving me that set of binos for $300 off. I respectfully declined and asked them to send them back to me. I did not ask for one of their supervisors or try to go up the chain.

It just sucks cause those binos were my workhorse, and Zeiss don't even make that model no more. When you get used to using a tool, it is hard to replace it.

My best friend has a pair of Swaro ELs. He dropped it on a rock and broke one of the lenses. He sent it to them, and they gave him a brand new pair free of charge. Swarovski honors their warranty.

Hoss, I don't know about Leupold as I have never had to send one of my scopes off; they have served me well. But I can say one thing about Nikon. Their customer service is top notch and they honor their warranties. I sent beat up, lens cap broke, scratched glass, non-focusing 20 year old binos to them, and they fixed and refurbished them free of charge.

Find some mold somewhere and soak your binos in it, then send them back in a friends name.

That’s insane. By the response Zeiss sent back to you I am to gather that all these past years the factory repairs went back out contaminated and dangerous number one, and number two the repair workers all these years have been dropping like flies due to fungal diseases?
There are air filtering/exchange systems that handle that for even the biggest factories, I am invested in one such company maybe my people should talk to their people?

Call me crazy but working with sealed optics in which a completely dust/contaminant free environment would be the optimum, a company like zeiss is behind the eight ball?
Silly me.

I’m glad this topic came up. As I said I do have a couple Zeiss, and as I also said I do not think for the valu they are the best out there. I “ need” two more pieces of glass at this time and this thread has taken zeiss off the table for me for good.

Osky

i sent in a Zeiss spotting scope for repair a couple years ago. They charged me zero and even paid for shipping.

I have since switched to Swarovski spotters and binocs. Nightforce and Leupold scopes.

A fine example of an over-rated friend.