I need another VXIII 2.5X8 or 1.75X6 for my .375 H&H and wondered who has the best prices, stocked inventory and customer service.
Any suggestions?

Try Rick Bin.

Leupold controls all internet prices.

The best place to shop for a better price would be your local retail store.

-Spencer

quote:

Originally posted by ScottW:
I need another VXIII 2.5X8 or 1.75X6 for my .375 H&H and wondered who has the best prices, stocked inventory and customer service.
Any suggestions?

Any place that I would feel safe buying it you will pay 399.00 for the 1.75 x 6. I just bought one. Leupold is offering free mounts or other accesories right now on every site I have looked at.

Try this:

http://mjwcustoms.4t.com/custom.html

Jon at the Optic Zone is the best to deal with. If you have questions or God forbid a problem he will be there for you.

Go to http://www.riflescopes.com the outfit is SWFA out of Texas, I have had really good dealings with them, they are very helpful, knowlageable and the prices are reasonable, they carry a full line of Optics and it is generally in stock.

From the web site there is a Contact by e-mail and a phone number, not an toll free one but nun the less one where you can talk with a breathing person, not 20 numbers and a hang up.

Leupold might control all internet scope prices but some vendors offer free shipping, scope covers, and a scope pen. My local retailer doesn't do that. Hence the question, best place to buy a ... scope?!

I would give Jon a try.

www.theopticzone.com

I have yet to buy from him, but many here have and were very happy.

He offers lots of free stuff and free shipping on the gold rings.

Terry

Another vote for Jon.

1st class service.

Leupolds fixed pricing is a real pain.

Good Luck

Reloader

Optic Zone

Yet another vote for Jon at www.theopticzone.com

I don't know what to say, but Thanks. I really appreciate the support.

I dont know how they are to deal with but the scope i want is $100 cheeper on the internet. Price control? How can leupold do that? Been looking at vx-lll 6.5-20x40 fine duplex. Check the prices on ebay and gunbroker for yourself.

highpower223-

Leupold can and does do this. What they do is set a price for a certain model, and if you want to remain a Leupold distributor, you will not sell for less than that. You can include free shipping or goodies such a lens pens as enticement, but you have to sell for no less than the minimum price specified by Leupold.

I thought Rick0311 put a halt to these price controlls

I ordered a LEU56090 for $1,010.00 from D&R sports in Jan 2005.

They took 3 weeks to find one and send it.
They also got me for shipping, so the price was up to $1022.90.

Still, with the hasle, it was $100 cheaper than Bear Basin.

Now D&R wants $1,349.99 for that scope, but they are getting along with Leupold much better.

http://www.dnrsports.com/acatalog/D___R_Catalog_Mark_4_Riflescopes_1737.html

Leupold cannot control the selling price, just the advertised price. No one can LIST lower than the MAP price, but you can sell below it. The only way to get there is to call and haggle. At least that is the way I understand it.

There's not a Leupold out there worth that sort of hassle. Not with the Conquests, the Monarchs, the Kahles, etc. JMO, Dutch.

Optic Zone or Bear Basin. Leupold has a stangle hold on retail prices.

Dutch,

Just have to inform you that Leupold is requiring all retailers to sell for a specific price, not just advertise that price. If you are caught selling below these prices, you have the potential of losing the opportunity to purchase Leupold products from any distributor. It is called the do not sell list that Leupold has. If you are put on this list and a distributor sells to you, than the distributor could lose the line. Most all distributors will not take that chance.

Jon I know that many manufactors do require a retailer to sell at a required price structure,why is this not considered price fixing?

I purchase used Leupolds on ebay because of the warranty but try to limit my bidding as some get carried away with it haven't had to send any in for repairs as all have been in excellent condition.

JWP,

I have no idea!

quote:

Originally posted by Jon Jackoviak:
Dutch,

Just have to inform you that Leupold is requiring all retailers to sell for a specific price, not just advertise that price. If you are caught selling below these prices, you have the potential of losing the opportunity to purchase Leupold products from any distributor. It is called the do not sell list that Leupold has. If you are put on this list and a distributor sells to you, than the distributor could lose the line. Most all distributors will not take that chance.

What Jon describes is illegal. That doesn't mean that Leupold has not cleverly covinced Jon (and presumably others) that they will be cut off if they sell below Leupold's Minimum Advertised Price.

One of the largest retailers in this part of the world is Academy Sports and Outdoors. Academy is currently selling a number of Leupold models below MAP. These are models that the Academy sales force has been told are soon to be replaced with upgraded models and thus Academy is moving their stock out prior to the fall season. This closeout sale is not advertised; they simply place a red sale tag on the scopes in the display case. Obviously, Academy isn't afraid of being "cut off" by Leupold.

At other times, Academy has had general sales that are advertised as "All Optics 10% Off". This 10% reduction applies to Leupolds as well as any other brand. Leupold is not specifically advertised in the sale flyer, but the 10% off is good against the regular MAP when you purchase, thus the MAP agreement has not been breeched.

A mail-order house has more difficulty in promoting discounted MAP merchandise than an on-site retailer. About the best that a mail order seller can do is either provide a discount in the form of freebie extras like free shipping or lens covers, etc., or simply list no prices and say "call" for prices of Leupolds. As most sellers will tell you, the "call" doesn't sell merchandise very effectively.

Stonecreek, that is the way I understand it, as well: you can regulated the advertised price, but not the sales price.

Either way, it's my money, and I don't spend it with outfits that work that way. JMO, Dutch.

My local dealer used to always match any advertised price I'd show them. They don't do it anymore. I was told they were given strict instruction by Leupold not to sell under a certain price. Doing so could cost them the line. In some ways this keeps the local guy afloat with Leupold products as the Walmarts of the world can't undercut them. But I still don't like it.

quote:

Originally posted by dempsey:
strict instruction by Leupold not to sell under a certain price. Doing so could cost them the line.

Kind of like Winchester guns in the 1960s.
Kind of like Maranz stereo gear in the 1970s.
Kind of lika a lot of franchises.

Here's a source to check out for all optics http://www.binoculars.com