Leupold,,,, very disapointed

[alta780]

I have been talking to a few gun smiths, about building a light weight 300wsm. One of the builders is in the US. He includes a break in, and a load development to get me started, but want's the scope to be used with the gun. I was set on buying one of Leupolds new VX6 2x12 scopes, untill I contacted them. If I infact buy the scope for the gun in the US, (which I would need to do if I choose that builder) they will not warranty it. I wonder just how much more risk they have from use north of the 49th Parallel, rather than south. I think this is simply a way to reduce warranty costs, or maybe a way to make sure thay can make more profit per unit selling to Canada. One way or another, I think this is a huge cop-out from what I thought is one of the most trusted scope manufacurers. I also talked to a guy at one of the local shops, who knows about the new scopes, and he told me not to hold my breath waiting for it to show up here. They will feed the US only first according to him. I might be wrong, but it doesn't seem like Leupold cares
much about the vast support they have enjoyed from Canada.

Sorry about my rant, I'm just a little ticked.

 

[blargon]

Buy your scope up here and do your own load development. All part of the fun of getting a new rifle...

 

[Beater]

why would you have a rifle built south of the 49th when there are so many good builders up hear? personal taste i guess, but way more hassle with importing it, and all that. just my 2 cents worth

 

[Spyderfire1]

Leupold

Buy your scope up here and do your own load development. All part of the fun of getting a new rifle...

Agreed, He also may develop a load that may not be readily avalible for you with the components that you can find localy.

If possible its nice to buy local to support local. As well as if there are any problems with, Gun, Scope or anything else you have easy access to getting it solved. Sending a firearm back to the US for warrenty work and getting it back may not be worth the headache.

 

[alta780]

I have talked to a few builders up here. A couple of the components that I want, I haven't found up here "yet". Beleive me I will build up here if I end up getting exactly what I want. I try to support local, every chance I get. I will pay extra for, and buy products built in Canada/North America vs china etc.
Most people don't even read the labels. I have been on this for a while, and if
I didn't care where I was buying, I would have had it built in the US already.

The point is that Leupold is looking for a warranty escape route. This type of practice is disturbing to me, and I think should be to others. It is no different than the quad and other manufacturers who threaten to close down dealers for selling to Canadians, then turn around and charge Canadians thousands more for the same product. With a par dollar we should be very aware and wary of no warranty practices like this. There is an underlying reason that they do it, and usualy these things involve money, which we always seem to pay more of.

 

[Grizzlypeg]

It's all about money and providing financial incentives to the Canadian distributor and warranty centre. I don't mind paying a bit more for buying in Canada, but if I bought in the states and the warranty is no good, where did the money go they set aside for warranty? Also, why isn't the price difference more consistent between Canada and US. I can buy a VXII or III for say $150-$200 more here. But if I buy a Mark IV, its $1,200 more, double the price. Why?

 

[blargon]

The point is that Leupold is looking for a warranty escape route. This type of practice is disturbing to me, and I think should be to others.

They aren't looking for a warranty escape route, they are just trying to force Canadians to buy Leupolds through their Canadian distributor and warranty depot, which is the Korth Group...

There is a lengthy thread on this if you do a search for "Korth"...

 

[tigbomg]

leupold just started a new policy that they only warranty scopes bought through Cana dien supplyer to support those dealers.Just bought my first Vortex no more loops for me

 

[Ardent]

What are you having built? I've sunk untolds tens of thousands into customs, so I understand your interests, but with the Kimber .300 WSM 8400 offerings, frankly, light weight rifles just don't get better... even for three times the price. What is lacking in the 8400 Montana if you don't mind me asking? It's lighter than many "lightweight" customs too.

http://www.kimberamerica.com/products/rifles/8400/8400_montana/

 

[Grizzlypeg]

Leupold makes a great product. I hope this isn't a sign of financial problems. If anything, they need to get more competitively priced to keep up with the competition. If they weren't overcharging for the Canadian product, people wouldn't import them.

 

[Jayph]

PM sent on rifle.

 

[Farlsincharge]

It's all about money and providing financial incentives to the Canadian distributor and warranty centre. I don't mind paying a bit more for buying in Canada, but if I bought in the states and the warranty is no good, where did the money go they set aside for warranty? Also, why isn't the price difference more consistent between Canada and US. I can buy a VXII or III for say $150-$200 more here. But if I buy a Mark IV, its $1,200 more, double the price. Why?

Where are you buying your scopes? My advice is to find somewhere else.

 

[P of PDent]

It's all about money and providing financial incentives to the Canadian distributor and warranty centre. I don't mind paying a bit more for buying in Canada, but if I bought in the states and the warranty is no good, where did the money go they set aside for warranty? Also, why isn't the price difference more consistent between Canada and US. I can buy a VXII or III for say $150-$200 more here. But if I buy a Mark IV, its $1,200 more, double the price. Why?

Which Mark 4 are you describing? I would like to know if we are $1200 more for the same new exact current model being offered in the USA. There seems something wrong with this comparison and I would like to know why there is such a discrepency. Phil.

 

[Grizzlypeg]

I see Wholesale Sports has dropped the price on the Mark 4 4.5-14x50 M1 with mildot from $2400 to $2129.95 (item 269323).

I see on Optics Planet in the US they sell the Mark 4 4.5-14x50 M1 with mildot for $1074.00, (item LU-RS-M41-4514x50-54660) having dropped the price recently as well by $250.00

That makes a price difference of $1076 originally and $1055 now.

Maybe I'm not comparing the exact models, but they both appear to be 30mm tube, same magnification, non illuminated, M1 turret, mildots.

I remember at one time they were $1200 in the US and $2400 in Canada. Exchange rate must be lowering the Canadian price.

 

[tacfoley]

I have been talking to a few gun smiths, about building a light weight 300wsm. One of the builders is in the US. He includes a break in, and a load development to get me started, but want's the scope to be used with the gun. I was set on buying one of Leupolds new VX6 2x12 scopes, untill I contacted them. If I infact buy the scope for the gun in the US, (which I would need to do if I choose that builder) they will not warranty it. I wonder just how much more risk they have from use north of the 49th Parallel, rather than south. I think this is simply a way to reduce warranty costs, or maybe a way to make sure thay can make more profit per unit selling to Canada. One way or another, I think this is a huge cop-out from what I thought is one of the most trusted scope manufacurers. I also talked to a guy at one of the local shops, who knows about the new scopes, and he told me not to hold my breath waiting for it to show up here. They will feed the US only first according to him. I might be wrong, but it doesn't seem like Leupold cares much about the vast support they have enjoyed from Canada.

Sorry about my rant, I'm just a little ticked.

That's very odd, to say the least. I live mostly in the UK, but spend a deal of lot of time either at home in Ontario or over in Oregon, where Beaverton is the home of Leupold.

I've had a couple of claims on Leupold's warranty over the years - I have seven of their scopes and spotters/binoculars, and have never had the slightest problem with them honouring the claim.

Being able to walk right in to the factory has nothing to do with it - both claims were dealt with from UK to Beaverton and back without any hassle whatsoever.

tac

 

[bearkilr]

What are you having built? I've sunk untolds tens of thousands into customs, so I understand your interests, but with the Kimber .300 WSM 8400 offerings, frankly, light weight rifles just don't get better... even for three times the price. What is lacking in the 8400 Montana if you don't mind me asking? It's lighter than many "lightweight" customs too.

http://www.kimberamerica.com/products/rifles/8400/8400_montana/

Lacking:
-floorplate
-quality stock
-hit and miss with accuracy

 

[Jayph]

Which Mark 4 are you describing? I would like to know if we are $1200 more for the same new exact current model being offered in the USA. There seems something wrong with this comparison and I would like to know why there is such a discrepency. Phil.

I started a thread comparing exact model numbers from the US and Canada. This was way back a year or so. This compared Leupold to other makes. For some reason there are certain scopes in the leupold line that are way more up here. The reason given is the cost to get them accross the boarder ect. I can buy that but no one could explain why Nikon, Bushnell, Vortex, Nightforce and many others sell in Canada for close to what you can buy them in the states . I assume those brands also cost money to bring in. Leupold having one importer bringing in hudge orders should have less mark up than a place bringing in a few hundred Nightforce. But I also admit I know very little about importing and the cost associated.

here is some of my posts. (old pricing remember as this was last spring)

Out of curiosity I priced out alot of scopes between the US and Canada. I used sponsors above as a guide.

I priced bushnell, Nikon, Sightron, Burris scopes in the states and then again in Canada, most of the time it was less than $100 more in Canada. Sometimes even within $20. More than reasonable for the effort and smaller market

Now Leupold. 150-300 dollars more in Canada Why is this? Is it cause korth group is the only distributor and they set the prices? Does leupold treat Canada poorly? Some other reason?

****This is not an attack on the korth group as I have not once heard one bad thing. This is also not an attack on sponsors as the prices are the same across the country. I am also not attacking leupold I have one and love it. ******

I just found this wierd and asked around a few local stores and no one could give me an answer.

I didn't realize that it is discussed so much. I understand there is cost. But wouldn't it be the same for all scopes? I don't know how it all works but don't understand how there would be more cost on a leupold than a nikon or other. I am just a simple consumer and it confused me. I know there are costs I just assumed it would be similar across the board not just on leupold.

Guess I'll go search to see what I can learn.

I guess the answer is simple. It is what it is. This is the example of what I found when searching prices. I am sure there are cheaper and more expensive in both Canada and the US but this is what I found.

Bushnell Elite 6500 2.5-16x42 multi X
Canada 716.99
USA 699.99
Difference 17.99

Nikon Monarch 5-20x44 SF
Canada 585.00
USA 499.99
Difference 85.01

Zeiss Conquest 4.5-14x44
Canada 943.00
USA 849.00
Difference 94.00

Nightforce NXS 3.5-15x50
Canada 1760.99
USA 1485.00
Difference 275.99

I can understand the extra cost in the scopes above and gladly pay the price asked for each of these scopes in Canada. The Nightforce price is quite a bit more but I can understand the Demand will be extremely low in Canada compared to the USA for them.

Leupold VX-3 6.5-20x40 LR
Canada 1078.00
USA 759.00
Difference 315.00

Leupold VX-3 1.5-5x20
Canada 645.00
USA 399.99
Difference 245.01

Leupold Mark 4 6.5-20x50mm ERT M1 FFP Mil-dot
Canada 2263.00
USA 1699.99
Difference 563.01

So we are paying more than the difference of a Nightfore. the reasons I got at the gun store and here were; Demand, amount that canada sells compared to US, Fees ect to get it across the boarder, and shipping.

I understand all of that but wouldn't it be the same on all brands? And as far as the amount canada sells compared to the USA I would bet money that we bring in more leupold than Nightforce especially since we only have one importer bringing in all the Leupold. Yet the mark up is higher. I have been able to find and look through all those leupold scopes at any store I walk into but have yet to be able to look through a Nightforce.

Oh well this thread can slip away through the pages now. Like I said it was never an attack on anybody I was just shocked at what I found and it peaked my curiosity. All scopes compared were the same finish, reticle, ect.

 

[wolfen1960]

You will notice the Canadian markup on most American itemns for sale in Canada...and I'm not sure import tarrifs or duties have anything to do with it.
Compare Amazon.ca with .com...large difference. Compare the price on the back of books Canada and US. This has nothing to do with exchange or we would pay the same plus a bit of shipping, and in some cases the shipping to Canada would be less (due to distance) compared to shipping to the US.
I've often wondered what would happen if you tried to pay for a book in US funds in a Canadian store. Would they take the US price (dollar at par) or would they still charge you the Canadian price?

 

[Jayph]

Had up to date comparisons but this thread is not the place for that.

 

[P of PDent]

I see Wholesale Sports has dropped the price on the Mark 4 4.5-14x50 M1 with mildot from $2400 to $2129.95 (item 269323).

I see on Optics Planet in the US they sell the Mark 4 4.5-14x50 M1 with mildot for $1074.00, (item LU-RS-M41-4514x50-54660) having dropped the price recently as well by $250.00

That makes a price difference of $1076 originally and $1055 now.

Maybe I'm not comparing the exact models, but they both appear to be 30mm tube, same magnification, non illuminated, M1 turret, mildots.

I remember at one time they were $1200 in the US and $2400 in Canada. Exchange rate must be lowering the Canadian price.

Cant' find the WSS part number in my price list so I don't think it is correct. The #54660 (Optics Planet) is current and listed on our website for $1442 last year. I don't know what the new price will be. The difference in price (not calculating dollar exchange which was about .95 cents this time last year and even though it appears at par right now we just bought US $ today and still didn't get par exchange) the differnce is $368. Phil.