Bushnell warranty

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roadcarver

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Two thumbs way up for Bushnell warranty service. I was at the range last week and I noticed that the side focus knob lost tension as I was focusing on the target.

The parallax knob just kept on turning.

I called Bushnell earlier this week and I was told that I can drop it off as I was local, a 20 min drive to Vaughan, On.

I dropped by the service counter, handed the scope to the service rep, and he simply said he will replace the scope. I waited for about 5 min and I have a new scope in hand, still in the box sealed.
 
I bought a new Bushnell Elite 3200 that would not hold centre no matter what. Bushnell sent me a brand new one that included the "fast focus" feature. Good to go ever since. I was impressed.

Now my favorite story in the vein of Bushnell warrantys:
I had a Bushnell game camera. I had it mounted on a tree behind the cabin. I went to check on it one morning and a bear had strolled up and bit clean through the lens. Bushnell replaced the camera under warranty, no questions asked. I guess Bushnell products are warranteed against bear bites. Who'da thunk it!!

Anyway, I'm sold!!!:d
 
They didn't ask me for an invoice or when I bought it. I think it recently changed to lifetime warranry for AR and rifle scopes.

I wonder if anyone will chime in on this experience.

st1264 said:
I've heard the Warranty had changed... if you have a Bushnell product from a couple years back, you are still covered?
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st1264 said:
I've heard the Warranty had changed... if you have a Bushnell product from a couple years back, you are still covered?
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Bushnell warranty is great. My grandpas(deceased) old ScopeChief IV 3x9x40 crapped out on me while on a hunt. I followed the return instructions with a note of what was wrong. They sent me a brand new Elite 3x9x40 as a replacement. I've been a fanboy ever since.
 
roadcarver said:
They didn't ask me for an invoice or when I bought it. I think it recently changed to lifetime warranry for AR and rifle scopes.

I wonder if anyone will chime in on this experience.
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I have an "AR Optics" Reflex sight. Works well, no issues so far. It's nothing high end, a $150 reflex red dot for AR style rifles. Think I paid $140 with a $30 rebate...
First%20Strike10001_zpsc8n6xdol.jpg
 
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Thats a terrible warranty and they certainly dont stand behind their products if they cant even be repaired. Its just like Vortex. Your scope is broken? Here, just have a new one because we dont trust that the scope can even be repaired because we built them to be cheap throw aways.
Mr.Crumbz said:
Cant beat that! Always good to hear that a company stands behind their product and wont hassle or interrogate you for their warranty process.
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Their reasoning is that since it is broken, and a fairly new scope, we don't want you to be without a scope, here is a new one. These are mechanical things that can get broken. They'll fix it and sell it as a refurb item most likely.

Recce21 said:
Thats a terrible warranty and they certainly dont stand behind their products if they cant even be repaired. Its just like Vortex. Your scope is broken? Here, just have a new one because we dont trust that the scope can even be repaired because we built them to be cheap throw aways.
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I've had at least 10 scopes and 4 cameras replaced by them over the past 35 years or so...only thing they couldn't repair was my custom compact bino's I got from Barotto Sports in cowtown....prolly 35+ yrs ago. They did offer me a new pair of Elites for 125.00 off the reg price tho !!
Always been Great service for me, that's why I still buy them.

I got a couple of new 4500's on sale last year...sent in the Bushnell promo refund request....4 wks later I got a check for 180.00 from them. Don't see a whole lot of that stuff any more....not enuff of it anyways !
 
My brother has had a pre-64 Winchester model 70 'Featherweight" bolt in 308 Win with a Bushnell Trophy 3-9x40 scope on it for years.
He hunts hard in all kinds of weather and doesn't baby his equipment.
That Trophy is very tough and a lot of scope for the money so I can imagine that the higher grade Bushnell scopes (Legend, Elite) are even tougher and more impressive.
The best warranty is the one you don't have to use.
 
Recce21 said:
Thats a terrible warranty and they certainly dont stand behind their products if they cant even be repaired. Its just like Vortex. Your scope is broken? Here, just have a new one because we dont trust that the scope can even be repaired because we built them to be cheap throw aways.
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That sounds harsh... what it sounds like to me is that there is probably a huge markup and it's cheaper for them to hand you a brand new one than open it up and repair glass/internal parts.

I've read that $2000 Leupold's use imported glass, so I don't really see the issue. All this stuff comes from the same place. My high index eyeglasses are $300+ here and I can get the same quality out of a pair of $40 glasses from Zenni (China) mail order. It literally is the same pair of glasses.
 
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I had $1000 dollars to spend on new binoculars and ended up with the Bushnell Ultra Legend HD and it wasn't because they were cheaper.

I would rather have a new item than refurbished. I sent in a new Swarovski Z3 that fogged up and they sent back the scope with a page full of things they had done to repair the problem. Apparently trouble shooting isn't their strong suite as it actually frosted up on the inside when I left it in the freezer for a bit.
 
st1264 said:
I have an "AR Optics" Reflex sight. Works well, no issues so far. It's nothing high end, a $150 reflex red dot for AR style rifles. Think I paid $140 with a $30 rebate...
First%20Strike10001_zpsc8n6xdol.jpg
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IIRC, things like red dot sights, illuminated reticles, laser range finders, bore sighters don't have a lifetime warranty. I think it's only a year or something like that. But I've witnessed quite substantial discounts on replacement of the above items when you take them in and they are out of warranty.


Trophy, 3500 (3200), 4500 (4200), 6500 (6200), elite, tactical, ar, ak are all Lifetime Warranty as I recall. Just don't walk in with a broken scope in one hand and a baseball bat in the other ;)

I had a 3200 that had been on a .50BMG for years with no problems. Switched it to a .223, it worked for 2 weeks before it bit the dust.
Took it into the warranty center. They inspected it, determined a seal had failed and a component had corroded due to moisture (*shrugs* sounds plausible I guess). I got a new 3500 with a feature that I liked more than the one I brought in, no questions asked, in/out in 20 minutes, would have been faster but there were 2 people ahead of me (Serengetti sunglasses/golf laser range finder).
 
Recce21 said:
Thats a terrible warranty and they certainly dont stand behind their products if they cant even be repaired. Its just like Vortex. Your scope is broken? Here, just have a new one because we dont trust that the scope can even be repaired because we built them to be cheap throw aways.
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We have a winner here!!

roadcarver said:
Their reasoning is that since it is broken, and a fairly new scope, we don't want you to be without a scope, here is a new one. These are mechanical things that can get broken. They'll fix it and sell it as a refurb item most likely.
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No that's the excuse they give you for replacing your over priced low quality junk with another one.

st1264 said:
That sounds harsh... what it sounds like to me is that there is probably a huge markup and it's cheaper for them to hand you a brand new one than open it up and repair glass/internal parts.

I've read that $2000 Leupold's use imported glass, so I don't really see the issue. All this stuff comes from the same place. My high index eyeglasses are $300+ here and I can get the same quality out of a pair of $40 glasses from Zenni (China) mail order. It literally is the same pair of glasses.
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Here's another winner right here!! Leupold no longer makes their optics in the USA. They simply ASSEMBLE them in the USA with global components, like Chinese glass.

MK2750 said:
I had $1000 dollars to spend on new binoculars and ended up with the Bushnell Ultra Legend HD and it wasn't because they were cheaper.

I would rather have a new item than refurbished. I sent in a new Swarovski Z3 that fogged up and they sent back the scope with a page full of things they had done to repair the problem. Apparently trouble shooting isn't their strong suite as it actually frosted up on the inside when I left it in the freezer for a bit.
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Paying more does not always mean getting more. Bushnell like Vortex and some others simply price their wares similar to better quality known brands in hopes people will believe the price reflects quality when in reality it does not. Every brand has had a lemon and your Swaro issue should be sent back and repaired properly. If you buy quality stuff then a repaired item is of no concern. The belief that a new item vs a repaired old item is "better" has spawned from low quality junk being offered and the consumer subconsciously knowing that even repaired the item is still worn and untrustworthy.
 
Kidd X said:
Here's another winner right here!! Leupold no longer makes their optics in the USA. They simply ASSEMBLE them in the USA with global components, like Chinese glass.
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All Leupold parts of a scope are made in house at Beaverton, Oregon including the main tubes. The glass and reticles are manufactured in Germany specifically for Leupold and then polished and coated by Leupold. They don't outsource parts
 
Kidd X said:
Paying more does not always mean getting more. Bushnell like Vortex and some others simply price their wares similar to better quality known brands in hopes people will believe the price reflects quality when in reality it does not. Every brand has had a lemon and your Swaro issue should be sent back and repaired properly. If you buy quality stuff then a repaired item is of no concern. The belief that a new item vs a repaired old item is "better" has spawned from low quality junk being offered and the consumer subconsciously knowing that even repaired the item is still worn and untrustworthy.
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Not everyone can afford Nightforce or Swarovski... but I'm willing to bet most of the glass in the entire industry is outsourced (save a few high end companies in Europe) and that Leupold VX-1 and Bushnell Elite 3500 is at pretty well the same level. Probably made for $50 of aluminum and glass and the rest is markup. Vortex being assembled in China as well gives them an even bigger advantage, I would think.

I have some Carl Zeiss 35mm film lenses from the 70's, excellent glass, made in Japan back then. Film lenses are almost worthless in the present.
 
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