Leica Warranty Changes Are Coming, Never a better time to buy a Leica Ultravid Binocular or Leica Televid Spotting Scope:

Many of you know that Leica is bringing a new Ultravid HD Binocular to the market and has also announced new Televid Spotting Scopes at some future date -- of course at higher prices. This has created a great opportunity to buy from the remaining stocks of the current binocular and spotting scopes.

I just found out that Leica's warranty is going to change on all new release items & on Certified Pre-Owned Sports Optics. Passport Warranty will still be available on current Ultravids and Televids, however, the new HD series Ultravids and, when they arrive, the new Televids will carry a 10 year parts and labor warranty. There will no longer be a Passport Warranty (except on existing product, current Ultravids and Televids and anything that you already own that has Passport coverage).

The Certified Pre-Owned warranty is also changing. The change is from the current 10 years to a 5 year warranty. Again, if you have a Certified Pre-Owned with a 10 year warranty, it will remain a 10 year warranty. The Certified Pre-Owned Binoculars that we have in stock right now have the 10 year warranty on them and that will remain a 10 year warranty. Any new Certified Pre-Owned that we bring in from Leica will be covered by the 5 year warranty.

This change is seemingly due to a need to offer a uniform Worldwide Warranty consistent with German and EU law and regulation. Expect similar changes here from the other Euro companies as they have already made warranty changes in Europe and the rest of the world.

For those that are on the fence of buying, now's a great time. Before we run out of the 10 year warranty Certified Pre-Owned and the Passport covered Ultravids and Televids.

Call me for more details.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Leica has an excellent product, in fact, I would judge it to be the best among the European manufacturers.

But what is it about MATERIAL or WORKMANSHIP that might be discoved to be defective during the first 5 years that should not be warranted equally against defects for 10, or 15, or 20 years, or even a lifetime? After all, glass and metal don't deteriorate (at least not in terms of human lifespans).

Reducing the warranty period appears to mean that they just don't want to risk standing behind their products as they age, which causes me to question whether they are acknowledging a reduction in current standards?

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Reducing the warranty period appears to mean that they just don't want to risk standing behind their products as they age, which causes me to question whether they are acknowledging a reduction in current standards?

Not at all. I spoke with the folks at Leica and it has to do with "The need to offer a uniform Worldwide Warranty consistent with German and EU law and regulation." As the European laws do not permit lifetime warranties, to the best of my understanding of it.

i dunno but in my experience leicas warranty was worthless. when i had a problem with a pair of binos I call them and described the problem, and their immediate reply was that it wasn't in warranty, without even asking how old etc. the binos were and that it would cost at least 250 to repair. i got lucky and fixed them myself.

Price increase and warranty decrease. Sounds like it will work at well for them starting next year.

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As the European laws do not permit lifetime warranties

Interesting to say the least, will this mean all euro optics companies eliminating lifetime warranties and sevice as it sounds?

Dave

The 20-60x variable power eyepiece on my 77mm Televid APO is junk.

It is actuated by a couple of ball bearings that run in channels cut in the plastic housing and the housing has cracked. Adjusting the damned thing is a PITA.

I need to get it fixed, but I shudder to think of the cost. It's not a good design or material for this purpose. Very disappointing.

Maybe this is why they are shortening their warranty period.

I own several Leica products and have been very happy with them....so far no major repairs needed. Having said that, if they think they can continue to sell $2000 optics and only offer a 5 year warranty...they have some learning to do. Terry Moore needs to tell those guys to pull their head out of their ass! They better hope Zeiss and Swarovski follow or they will have problems here in the US.

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Originally posted by mrlexma:
The 20-60x variable power eyepiece on my 77mm Televid APO is junk.

It is actuated by a couple of ball bearings that run in channels cut in the plastic housing and the housing has cracked. Adjusting the damned thing is a PITA.

I need to get it fixed, but I shudder to think of the cost. It's not a good design or material for this purpose. Very disappointing.

Maybe this is why they are shortening their warranty period.

Did you buy it from a Leica dealer? If so, it is most likely covered under warranty, in which case you should have no concerns. If you purchased it new it had a lifetime warranty and if it was a Certified Pre-Owned it has a 10 year warranty.

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Originally posted by gr8fuldoug:
Did you buy it from a Leica dealer? If so, it is most likely covered under warranty, in which case you should have no concerns. If you purchased it new it had a lifetime warranty and if it was a Certified Pre-Owned it has a 10 year warranty.

Yes, I bought it new from a Leica dealer. I will have to follow up with Leica on this. I sincerely hope I have to eat my words on the warranty!

I only hope they have changed the design and can upgrade me.

Thanks for the information, Doug.

Since you bought it new from a dealer there should be cost other than your expense to ship it to NJ