Bushnell - Marketing or Customer Service?

18 February 2014, 21:32

Mike Werner

Located a very-reasonably-priced used Bone Collector XLT scope and heard they had the RainGuard feature.

Contacted customer service to verify which BONE COLLECTOR XLT models had the Rainguard feature.

Original request from the Bushnell website:

quote:

From: no-reply@bushnell.com [mailto:no-reply@bushnell.com]
Sent: Thursday, February 13, 2014 8:42 AM
To: CustomerSupport
Subject: New Bushnell Contact form submitted

The following inquiry was submitted via the Bushnell website:
First name Mike
Last Name Werner
Phone Number
email Address
Product Name Bushnell XLT Bone Collector rifle scopes
Model Number: all
Model Year all
Comment or Question
Bushnell Customer Service-
Can you verify that EVERY model of the Bushnell XLT 'BONE COLLECTOR' riflescopes have the RAINGUARD feature? If not provided for every model, can you please forward which models do indeed have the RainGuard feature. Fantastic feature, RAINGUARD.....kudos. Online research shows contradictory information.
Thank you-
Mike Werner

18 February 2014, 21:33

Mike Werner

Their reply:

quote:

From: CustomerSupport [mailto:customersupport@bushnell.com]
Sent: Friday, February 14, 2014 3:10 PM
To: Werner, Mike
Subject: FW: New Bushnell Contact form submitted

No model from this line has ever had rain guard. I hope this is of assistance.

Please do not reply to this message.
Bushnell Customer Service
1-800-423-3537

Thank you.

18 February 2014, 21:37

Mike Werner

My somewhat sarcastic reply:

quote:

From: Werner, Mike
Sent: Tuesday, February 18, 2014 11:07 AM
To: 'CustomerSupport'
Subject: XLT BAD INFORMATION??????RE: New Bushnell Contact form submitted

Really?? Are you sure, or are you just throwing this out of your inbox as quickly as possible?

There are sources out there that DO indicate the BONE COLLECTOR XLT’s do have the bonus option of Rainguard.

Would you like to check on your product again?

http://www.gandermountain.com/...i?i=611854&aID=503N1

http://www.webyshops.com/brand...eticle-733960BC.html

http://www.ebay.com/ctg/Bushne...pe-/140923476?_tab=1

Check 3:23 on this advertising Bushnell video where it states the Bone Collector XLT has the rainguard option.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?f...&v=h5YRGZYmSng#t=208

18 February 2014, 21:49

Mike Werner

Can anyone here answer this simple question?
Do the Bone Collector XLT's have the Rainguard feature? DOA600....DOA250....even the Multi-X????

Mostly use Leupolds, but the few 3200 and 4200's I own do have the rainguard feature. I like it.

18 February 2014, 22:36

Mike Werner

Still dead set, no RainGuard:

quote:

From: CustomerSupport [mailto:customersupport@bushnell.com]
Sent: Tuesday, February 18, 2014 12:28 PM
To: Werner, Mike
Subject: RE: XLT BAD INFORMATION??????RE: New Bushnell Contact form submitted

Yes I checked with the engineer who designs our scopes and no trophy rifle scope has ever had rainguard as a feature.

Please do not reply to this message.
Bushnell Customer Service
1-800-423-3537

Thank you.

18 February 2014, 22:42

Mike Werner

Bushnell Bone Collector 3-9x40 Riflescope Product Info

quote:

Bushnell 3-9x40mm Bone Collector Riflescope (733960BC) is all-around big game scope by Bushnell for high-performance centerfire and muzzleloader rifles. Go the distance to lay the smackdown with this Bushnell rifle scope, and signify you're part of the Brotherhood at the same time. With DOA and Multi X reticle choices, this new special edition riflescope will dramatically extend your lethal range with muzzle loader or centerfire rifle. Along with dead-on accuracy and split-second field-judging ability, this scope by Bushnell delivers an awesome 90% light transmission for hair-splitting precision at dawn and dusk. The super-strong one-piece aluminum tube wears the Bone Collectors insignia as a badge of honor after enduring our rigorous recoil testing - 1000 rounds of 375 H&H Magnum. For additional assurance on tough hunts, the Bushnell Bone Collector Rifle Scope features Blackhawk exclusive RainGuard HD technology that'll clear the way through rain, snow, sleet and even condensation from your own breath.

18 February 2014, 22:47

Mike Werner

quote:

From: CustomerSupport [mailto:customersupport@bushnell.com]
Sent: Tuesday, February 18, 2014 12:36 PM
To: Werner, Mike
Subject: RE: XLT BAD INFORMATION??????RE: New Bushnell Contact form submitted

Yes I went through the links provided and this is being investigated but I can assure you that no trophy rifle scope has ever had rainguard as a feature and apologize for the inconvenience.

Bushnell Customer Service
1-800-423-3537

Thank you.

19 February 2014, 06:31

sambarman338

Mike,
that is an interesting series of emails and I'm not sure what you make of it all - but a few things have occurred to me.

Yes, their PR is a bit clunky and some of their promotional material is either overblown or just inaccurate. However, there does appear to be a human being at the other end (unlike some Teutonic companies I've tried to contact) and that person actually went to the primary source for the answer to your question.

Maybe you could ask them to customise your scope so it matches their advertising claims

19 February 2014, 07:01

Lapidary

I don't know about Bushnell's marketing but my experiences with their customer service leave much to be desired. I've had a couple of issues that required customer support, I got a don't-give-a-damn feeling from them each time. A pair of hunting buddies had similar experiences with them. Bushnell no longer gets our business, it isn't that I think they are a horrible company, It's just there are other optics options with better CS.

19 February 2014, 11:46

SR4759

Call Bushnell directly and ask to speak to their chief or lead design engineer. Be sure to get his name and ask him your question.

You may find they don't have one if they use contractors or designers in Asia.

If they have a decent engineer in the US he will be able to give you the right information.

19 February 2014, 20:01

Lapidary

Oops.

20 February 2014, 00:19

larrys

Mike, I believe the answer to your question lies in the XLT designation. There are two types of Bone Collector scopes. One is based on the Trophy scope and it does NOT have the Rainguard feature as noted by Bushnell. Natchez has them correctly listed.

XLT

However, the Bone Collector 3200 is based on the 3200 series scopes with the DOA reticules and those DO have the Rainguard feature, as shown here.

3200 Bone Collector

So, the rep was correct and their advertising that the XLT does have it is wrong. The 3200 does.

The Bushnell HQ is a mile from my office, so I just went and asked for you. It seems that lots of vendors just pick the one description for all BC scopes.

I hope it helps.

20 February 2014, 00:35

Mike Werner

Thanks for checking, Larry.

And thanks to sambarman, lapidary, and SR4759 for all your input. Was planning to call, and this saved me the effort.

Been tempted a while on those 3200's at Natchez....good price. There was also a 3-9x50 firefly 3200, last time I looked.

The 3200 and 4200 products are discontinued, aren't they? Replaced by the Argon Elites?

Another site incorrectly proclaiming Bushnell B/C XLT with Rainguard:

BUSHNELL 733960BC Trophy 3-9 x 40mm Bone Collection

quote:

■Trophy bone collector 3-9 x 40mm
■Multi-X reticle
■RainGuard(R) HD coating and waterproof
■1-piece aluminum construction
■Multi-coated optics

20 February 2014, 00:54

Mike Werner

Incorrect information all over the net..

BUSHNELL 733960BC TROPHY 3-9 X 40MM BONE COLLECTION RIFLESCOPE

quote:

• Trophy bone collector 3–9 x 40mm • Multi-X reticle • RainGuard HD coating & waterproof • 1-piece aluminum construction • Multicoated optics
MPN: 733960BC UPC: 29757734105