I have a pair of Swaro SLC 8x30. Bought them some 14-15 years ago, and they've been trampling the African bush ever since.

Needless to say, 15 years took their toll: lost/torn covers, AR coating dulled, eye adjustment wheel broken, some strange "fluffy" stuff visible against the inner wall when holding the binoculars backwards, and life scars on the body.

I took them to a Swarovski dealer in Switzerland (not even the one from whom I bought them), and asked him to send them to Swarovski Austria for service.

When the SLC came back, I opened the box, and thought that there was a mistake. I had there a brand spanking new SLC, with the new pop-out oculars (mine had the folding rubber ones).

Shiny new, lenses looking like new with a spotless AR coating, look as I could, I could not find the slightest indication that the binoculars had ever been used before.

Except for the serial number: this was my original serial number.

The attached bill was in German, detailing the works done, but the total amount was in International English: 0.00.

Yep. Zero charge.

Now, I'm still wondering if they did not just put my old serial number on new binoculars...

The bottom line is, I was impressed with Swarovski's quality before, but now they've got themselves a dedicated customer! Guess where my next scope will come from...

Swarovski has been great to repair two of my bino's, one of my 4x scopes and three other friends including a Zim PH's bino's , all due to internal mold and or moisture in them.
Great serves but not happy with so many problems.

yup - best in the business

Same thing with me. Had a pair about 20 years old. Sent them in for a tune-up and received a newer pair back in only a couple of weeks.

Hope this is what happens for me. I sent them my 8x30s that I purchased in 1994 that recently fogged up and they've had them for a couple of weeks.

Cheers,
Andy