Thought that I would convey to everyone my recent experience with Burris' customer service folks.

A buddy of mine recently bought a Fullfield II 3x9 scope. I was impressed with it for a $200 scope but I didn't like the fact that it was Made in the Philippines. There seemed to be conflicting information out there as to where the Fullfield IIs were made so I called Burris to find out. The customer service person that I spoke with told me that the 3x9s were made in the Philippines but the 2x7s were made in Colorado. It also said on the Midway website that they were made in the US (although it doesn't now). Midway was out of stock so I placed a backorder. When the backorder was released a month later I still had time to cancel the order so I called Burris again to confirm where the scope was made. This time I spoke with a very nasty individual who seemed to be pissed off that I had disturbed him. I was able to get from him that the 2x7s were made in the US.

I went ahead and ordered the scope. Two days later it arrives and the box is marked "Made in Philippines". I called Burris again and the person I spoke with says the 2x7s are made in the US. I said "Are you sure?" and he says yes. I told him that I was looking at the box and it says "Made in Philippines" and he says well then I guess those 2x7s are made in the Philippines too. I ate the $12 shipping charges, sent the scope back and ordered a Leupold. More I guess to make a point than anything else.

It isn't about them making their scopes in Asia. If that's what they want to do fine, I don't have to buy them. Maybe it's a quirk but I like to support businesses that manufacture here in the States. What pisses me off is that their customer service people are not only surly and unfriendly but unhelpful and uninformed as well. I have dealt with Leupold's customer service department quite a bit and my experience has never been anything less than fantastic and it is with Leupold exclusively that I shall spend my optics budget from now on.

quote:

More I guess to make a point than anything else.

And that point would be? What? You only buy made in the USA products exclusively?

If that's the case, why didn't you pester MidwayUSA for the answer?

quote:

Originally posted by onefunzr2:

quote:

More I guess to make a point than anything else.

And that point would be? What? You only buy made in the USA products exclusively?

If that's the case, why didn't you pester MidwayUSA for the answer?

No, the point is not that I buy made in the USA products exclusively but rather that their customer service reps should be able to correctly answer in a polite manner simple questions like "Where are your scopes made?" That's important to lot of people. Hell, if I didn't care where the scope was made it wouldn't have been an issue in the first place. All I wanted to know was where the scope was made before I ordered it and their customer svc reps were unable to give me a correct answer. I don't think that is an unreasonable question. My experience with them is that they have not been helpful to me on the phone. I can only imagine what they would be like to deal with if something went wrong with the scope. I also know from experience how Leupold deals with customer issues and from this I know there will be no surprises or problems if I ever need to return one of their scopes.


Why would I call Midway when Burris made the scope and I had already talked to them twice?

I owned a Burris 3x9 Mini in the past that I bought in the early 90s that was a piece of crap. I thought I would give them another chance. My mistake, I'll stick with Leupold.

adrook wrote: "Maybe it's a quirk but I like to support businesses that manufacture here in the States."

So I must ask: Where do you think Leupold's glass comes from? And if you think all of their binocs are home-grown, think again.

I am sorry to hear you had a problem with Burris customer service. Years ago, I, too, had an unpleasant experience with them, but it seems they have vastly improved in that area over the years.

I still use Burris products but will add that you'll find more Nikons in my safe than anything else. I am less concerned with where they are made than with the actual performance of the product. To me, that's the bottom line.

quote:

So I must ask: Where do you think Leupold's glass comes from? And if you think all of their binocs are home-grown, think again.

I know that Leupold sources lenses from Japan. Still, I consider a scope assembled in Oregon by American labor using Jap lenses to be more of an American made product than one that is being assembled in the Philippines using Jap lenses. Like I said in the original post if Burris wants to make their scopes in Asia more power to 'em and in a free market I don't have to buy them.

I never meant to imply that I think they're a bad scope. I don't think that they are. I do think, however, that their customer service sucks based not only on this experience but also past dealings with them and for that reason along with the fact that the Fullfield IIs are no longer made here I will not be buying any of them.

quote:

Why would I call Midway when Burris made the scope and I had already talked to them twice?

Precisely! You were ordering a product from Midway. They could tell you by looking at a box from inventory if it was USA or Philipines made.

Same as Tasco. They were originally Japan made. Sometime in the recent past China started making them. If I decided I only wanted a Tasco scope make in Japan I would simply ask the seller (Midway) to take a look at his inventory, keep the Chinese stuff and only ship the Jap scope.

FYI, I was surprised when my 2.8x10 Aetec also made in Philipines has lasted hundreds of shots on my 338 caliber rifle that kicks pretty hard with 250 grain bullets. It's going on 8 years now without a single problem. Either I got lucky or your Philipine made scope paranoia is unfounded.

I have no problem where the scopes are manufactured and i do not believe that was your gripe in the first place, but rather the manner in which the customer service people did not have adequate knowledge about the company products to fully answer your question. I too, had a negative experience with a Burris Fullfield scope and the subsequent Burris customer service action there-after. While I generally have no problem with the Burris product, I do have a problem with the company customer service and therefore do not buy from them.

quote:

I have no problem where the scopes are manufactured and i do not believe that was your gripe in the first place, but rather the manner in which the customer service people did not have adequate knowledge about the company products to fully answer your question. I too, had a negative experience with a Burris Fullfield scope and the subsequent Burris customer service action there-after. While I generally have no problem with the Burris product, I do have a problem with the company customer service and therefore do not buy from them.

Thank you. That conveys my sentiments exactly.

Mmmm I've sent two Sig. scopes back for work that I bought used and with problems,,,Always talked to a nice person and recieved excelent service,,,called and bugged one guy for a long time one day about an old Burris Airrifle scope I had,,,he said send it in and I'll check it out for you and send it back...I did ,,he did,, and it now sits on my beeman R1 mag again.

Not doughting you had bad service,,,just I've not...I did have a not so great incounter with Luepold though,,,I bought a Luepold Rifleman scope for my .22 mag rimfire,,,real piece of dung. Left the rifle out in the sun and it started bubling around the turrent. I was like what the???,,,,then the scope foged...Called Luepold,,,they say what did you do to it?,,,I say nothing it just got hot and started leaking something,,,they sould insulted and say to take it back to the dealer and exchange for quicker replacement,,,Walmart was the dealer, no more of that model at wally world. But they would gladly give me the $$$ back..Left with the SSS and bought a Burris FF2. Bplex,,, no problems