Just returned from a great safari to the Selous Game Reserve with Luke Samaras Safaris and a fun group of guys, some who are AR members. I had a couple of equipment issues that I addressed with an email to the manufacturers when I returned home.

My Swaro CL 10x30's lost one of the eyecups which is not an uncommon occurrence I am sure. It happened toward the end of the hunt so it didn't pose a serious issue, just slightly annoying. One email to Swarovski Optik USA and a new set of eyecups arrived in a week free of charge. Stellar service in my opinion!

I also lost a turret off my Zeiss 2.5x8 Duralyt scope somehow... still haven't figured that one out. Again, a couple of emails to Zeiss and two replacements are in route. Again, excellent service.

We tend to focus on the negative sometime as it regards to dealing with equipment so I wanted to give these sporting companies a solid "thumbs up"! Thanks for solving my issues quickly and efficiently!

I've also dealt with both companies and have had stellar service as well. Loving your pics on social media.

It pays to buy the best!

Good to hear Russell. I sent my Swaro EL range in as soon as we got back just for a thorough cleaning after 2.5 years use and about 6 safaris, and got an email yesterday they are already processing them and it will cost nothing. Like you said, stellar service.

Great to hear, and entirely consistent with the superb customer service I have experienced with those companies, and also with Schmidt & Bender and Leupold.

Other industries I could name should follow the best practices in the optics business. They would be better off if they did.

Even down in little New Zealand Swarovski users can expect this same top level aftercare. I took a new spotting scope to Idaho in 2015 that somehow absorbeb a little moisture into the eyepiece which showed as small water droplets in the scope view. Informed the dealer when I returned to NZ and they said to send them the scope. They notified Swarovski who had it shipped back to Austria, serviced and rectified the issue and sent it back to the dealer, then me. All up it took about four weeks and I didn't pay a cent. Just excellent all round.

And, almost forgot. My son lost a front lens rubber cap for his set of El Binos. Asked the local dealer if he could buy a replacement but a new pair was promptly sent at no charge.

quote:

Originally posted by drongo:
It pays to buy the best!

That is is true to a certain extent.

We have had more problems with Zeiss binoculars than with any other make.

Especially their small ones.

The focus control keeps coming off.

In fact, I have stopped buying the for this very reason.

I buy Leica, and have had no problems at all.

quote:

Originally posted by bwanamrm:
Just returned from a great safari to the Selous Game Reserve with Luke Samaras Safaris and a fun group of guys, some who are AR members. I had a couple of equipment issues that I addressed with an email to the manufacturers when I returned home.

My Swaro CL 10x30's lost one of the eyecups which is not an uncommon occurrence I am sure. It happened toward the end of the hunt so it didn't pose a serious issue, just slightly annoying. One email to Swarovski Optik USA and a new set of eyecups arrived in a week free of charge. Stellar service in my opinion!

I also lost a turret off my Zeiss 2.5x8 Duralyt scope somehow... still haven't figured that one out. Again, a couple of emails to Zeiss and two replacements are in route. Again, excellent service.

We tend to focus on the negative sometime as it regards to dealing with equipment so I wanted to give these sporting companies a solid "thumbs up"! Thanks for solving my issues quickly and efficiently!

I also lost a Swaro eyecup a few years ago. Contacted them when I got back to buy a new one. 10 days later a new one arrived, free of charge.

Myself and both my trackers only use Swaros for that very reason. They are used hard for 160 days a year and every second year I return them and they come back like new without a charge! As a result, they have my total loyalty.

The only thing that Swaros could improve on is the eyecups that without a doubt will get lost every season! That aside what a great product!

quote:

Originally posted by Buzz Charlton:
Myself and both my trackers only use Swaros for that very reason. They are used hard for 160 days a year and every second year I return them and they come back like new without a charge! As a result, they have my total loyalty.

The only thing that Swaros could improve on is the eyecups that without a doubt will get lost every season! That aside what a great product!

Buzz, Your (ab)use of binos is the best field test anyone can perform. The eyepice-problem is the same on Zeiss. The bloddy thing unscrews itself and breaks off easily. Why cant they have them fixed to one position? Man my english sucks. I need som schooling in the valley with you soon! Stay safe.

quote:

Originally posted by Buzz Charlton:
The only thing that Swaros could improve on is the eyecups that without a doubt will get lost every season! That aside what a great product!

I have the same Problem.

Leica does not have this problem.

In at least my view, the optics of Leica are superior.

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:
Leica does not have this problem.

In at least my view, the optics of Leica are superior.

I agree. I switched from Swarovski to Leica a few years back. Very happy with them.

quote:

Leica does not have this problem.

I have Leica optics too and have had eyecup issues with them as well. I think it is endemic to the "twist out" eye cups that eventually wear out.

quote:

Originally posted by bwanamrm:
Just returned from a great safari to the Selous Game Reserve with Luke Samaras Safaris and a fun group of guys, some who are AR members. I had a couple of equipment issues that I addressed with an email to the manufacturers when I returned home.

My Swaro CL 10x30's lost one of the eyecups which is not an uncommon occurrence I am sure. It happened toward the end of the hunt so it didn't pose a serious issue, just slightly annoying. One email to Swarovski Optik USA and a new set of eyecups arrived in a week free of charge. Stellar service in my opinion!

I also lost a turret off my Zeiss 2.5x8 Duralyt scope somehow... still haven't figured that one out. Again, a couple of emails to Zeiss and two replacements are in route. Again, excellent service.

We tend to focus on the negative sometime as it regards to dealing with equipment so I wanted to give these sporting companies a solid "thumbs up"! Thanks for solving my issues quickly and efficiently!

Joyce bought me Swaro SLC binos in 1992 when we lived in Dillingham. Used them hard and lost an eyecup. Called Swaro around 2010 about it and they requested I send them the binos for a complete refurbish free of charge. When they got the binos they contacted me that they were an older model and no longer had parts to support them. They sent me a brand free of new bino charge.

I'm a life long customer and their biggest cheerleader.

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:
Leica does not have this problem.

In at least my view, the optics of Leica are superior.

I replaced my Swaro spotting scope with a Leica after hunting with Brett. The focussing mechanism is far superior.

Swaro CL binos did have an issue with the eyecups - the design was changed several years ago - I was supplied with the entire eyecup/barrel FOC - it just screwed in - now no problem at all.

My CLs have been used several times a week for the last ten years - no cleaning, no maintenance other than lens wipes and they are not like new but do perform perfectly.

I have a couple of Z6 scopes too - ditto.

Zeiss and swaro have both shown good customer service. However, leica and leupold products have never given me any reason to test their customer service.

Okay guys, I represent the lower end of those on AR and am willing to sacrifice maybe 5 % of clarity and sharpness for a price difference of $1500 to $2000. I spend the rest on gas, licenses and reloading components. I am a birder in Oklahoma and carry my glasses virtually every day of the year regardless of weather on extended walks. For years I used Eagle Optics glasses and with the HD/ED option didn't feel I have sacrificed much. I have borrowed high end Swaros and Leicas and agree that they are nice but quite often I am unable to tell the difference. The field marks on confusing fall warblers are every bit as challenging as discerning which way a bushbuck in dense cover is facing at 200 yards. EO offered wonderful free repair, cleaning and replacement on their products but Eagle Optics was recently bought out by Vortex and I was afraid this good customer service might end. Not too worry, as they continue to honor the warrantees for Eagle Optic products and in the case of a hopelessly smashed pair of binos, they replaced them with an equivalent pair of Vortex. The same goes for Leupold scopes which I have never found lacking in quality or in free customer service.

I had a great experience with Leupold. Bought a pair of binos and after a couple of years I dropped the binos and it loosened the eye adjustment and I had to adjust every time I brought the binos to my eyes. I sent it in to see if Leupold could repair. In about 30 days they sent me a new pair of binos after I had the originals for two years.