U.S vs Canadian scope prices

bearkilr said:
Really? And here I thought Germany was in the US. Thanks for the update.
Strangely enough Swarovski isn't made in the US yet it's still cheaper there.
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No one ever said everything in the US is cheaper, just the vast majority. But I guess there is no real reason why Canadian Consumers are importing from the US, at retail, at a rate of many billion$ every year. I guess it's not because they are saving money on exactly the same product.
 
alta780 said:
No one ever said everything in the US is cheaper, just the vast majority. But I guess there is no real reason why Canadian Consumers are importing from the US, at retail, at a rate of many billion$ every year. I guess it's not because they are saving money on exactly the same product.
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Most everything in the US is cheaper, not just optics, it's always been like that.
Now that the dollar has been hovering around par for a while, everybody seems to think things should be identical in price. It doesn't work that way, there are many other factors which determine prices between the two countries.
In regard to Leupold, watch their prices drop over the next while. US consumers are beginning to figure out that their beloved Leupold are no longer "Made in the USA" and it will hurt them. Their warranty is nothing special anymore either and their quality has been slipping, IMO. Other brands are offering more for less. I like their old stuff, but haven't bought anything new from them in the last 5 years.
 
bearkilr said:
Most everything in the US is cheaper, not just optics, it's always been like that.
Now that the dollar has been hovering around par for a while, everybody seems to think things should be identical in price. It doesn't work that way, there are many other factors which determine prices between the two countries.
In regard to Leupold, watch their prices drop over the next while. US consumers are beginning to figure out that their beloved Leupold are no longer "Made in the USA" and it will hurt them. Their warranty is nothing special anymore either and their quality has been slipping, IMO. Other brands are offering more for less. I like their old stuff, but haven't bought anything new from them in the last 5 years.
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Leupold rifle scopes are designed, manufactured (metal parts) and assembled in the USA. The only parts not manufactured in the USA are a few screws, some small internal parts and the lenses which come from Japan. This has always been the same and the origin of the lenses has never been hidden or denied. I have been to the plant in Beaverton Oregon and watched them manufacture their products. The only thing outsourced for final production was the exterior finish on the scope bodies which are done at a local coating business. The warranty in Canada is exceptional in that it is done in Canada (Okotoks Ab.) and no item I have sent in has ever taken more than two weeks back in my hands. There have only been a few new scopes that we have found "bad out of the box" and these were replaced or repaired immediately. We handle every major brand of optics available in canada with the exception of Vortex and can say without question no optics line has better out of the box quality and better supported in delivery and warranty than Leupold bar none! You can argue that the prices are higher in Canada but the quality, origin and warranty issues you allude to are unknown to me. Phil.
 
P of PDent said:
Leupold rifle scopes are designed, manufactured (metal parts) and assembled in the USA. The only parts not manufactured in the USA are a few screws, some small internal parts and the lenses which come from Japan. This has always been the same and the origin of the lenses has never been hidden or denied. I have been to the plant in Beaverton Oregon and watched them manufacture their products. The only thing outsourced for final production was the exterior finish on the scope bodies which are done at a local coating business. The warranty in Canada is exceptional in that it is done in Canada (Okotoks Ab.) and no item I have sent in has ever taken more than two weeks back in my hands. There have only been a few new scopes that we have found "bad out of the box" and these were replaced or repaired immediately. We handle every major brand of optics available in canada with the exception of Vortex and can say without question no optics line has better out of the box quality and better supported in delivery and warranty than Leupold bar none! You can argue that the prices are higher in Canada but the quality, origin and warranty issues you allude to are unknown to me. Phil.
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Do you really expect me to believe this statement:
"We handle every major brand of optics available in canada with the exception of Vortex and can say without question no optics line has better out of the box quality....."

The Leupold warranty is as good as it's always been, no doubt, but they're not alone in providing outstanding warranty service, as they once were. However, they still seem to base their prices on this claim, at least here in Canada. Leupold prices in the US have dropped considerably over the past couple of years
If your "Made in the USA" claims are true, why is is that they no longer state this on the scopes? "Designed and assembled" doesn't cut it, that's why. Too many parts are made offshore. They started with their Wind River line years ago and it's bled into pretty much all their optics.
That's my thoughts on it anyhow, and from reading the US optics forums I'm not alone in my thinking or production observations.
 
bearkilr said:
Do you really expect me to believe this statement:
"We handle every major brand of optics available in canada with the exception of Vortex and can say without question no optics line has better out of the box quality....."

The Leupold warranty is as good as it's always been, no doubt, but they're not alone in providing outstanding warranty service, as they once were. However, they still seem to base their prices on this claim, at least here in Canada. Leupold prices in the US have dropped considerably over the past couple of years
If your "Made in the USA" claims are true, why is is that they no longer state this on the scopes? "Designed and assembled" doesn't cut it, that's why. Too many parts are made offshore. They started with their Wind River line years ago and it's bled into pretty much all their optics.
That's my thoughts on it anyhow, and from reading the US optics forums I'm not alone in my thinking or production observations.
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I don't expect you to believe anything I say. I am am stating my opinion based on my personal experience as one of the largest independant optics dealers in Canada. Leupold is accurately describing their manufacturing process no doubt from some claiming not all the parts used originate from
the USA. I have had numerous out of the box problems from many high end (expensive) optics lines such as Zeiss and other less expensive lines like Bushnell. Every optics line has their relative merits and values and that is why I carry most optics lines. I import some lines direct and buy from most optics manufacturers in Canada and have significant hands on experience. At present I have over 350 different scope models on display with significant overstock in storage not to mention the back orders still waiting to receive. We carry over 20 different makes of scopes and Leupold is by far my biggest seller in volume and $ value. Last year I had one (1) Leupold scope returned bad out of the box that was replaced within a week. I only dream of similar problems (or lack there of) with my other lines. Leupold has some binos, spotter and range finders made off shore and clearly identified as such. One model line of the Redfield line (Revenge) made off shore otherwise all other scopes and manufactured in Beaverton. This is my personal experiiece. I personally own and use several different makes and models of scopes on my rifles including Leupolds. I have different requirements and budgets and that is why is i use more than one make of scope...just like I sell. Phil.
 
Does the Rifleman series say "made in USA" on it anywhere? Just curious as it's been mentioned by large dealers (Liberty Optics being one) in the states that the Rifleman series is 100% Chinese.
 
P of PDent said:
I don't expect you to believe anything I say. I am am stating my opinion based on my personal experience as one of the largest independant optics dealers in Canada. Leupold is accurately describing their manufacturing process no doubt from some claiming not all the parts used originate from
the USA. I have had numerous out of the box problems from many high end (expensive) optics lines such as Zeiss and other less expensive lines like Bushnell. Every optics line has their relative merits and values and that is why I carry most optics lines. I import some lines direct and buy from most optics manufacturers in Canada and have significant hands on experience. At present I have over 350 different scope models on display with significant overstock in storage not to mention the back orders still waiting to receive. We carry over 20 different makes of scopes and Leupold is by far my biggest seller in volume and $ value. Last year I had one (1) Leupold scope returned bad out of the box that was replaced within a week. I only dream of similar problems (or lack there of) with my other lines. Leupold has some binos, spotter and range finders made off shore and clearly identified as such. One model line of the Redfield line (Revenge) made off shore otherwise all other scopes and manufactured in Beaverton. This is my personal experiiece. I personally own and use several different makes and models of scopes on my rifles including Leupolds. I have different requirements and budgets and that is why is i use more than one make of scope...just like I sell. Phil.
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I'm glad things are working out for you with Leupold,Phil.

wheels said:
Does the Rifleman series say "made in USA" on it anywhere? Just curious as it's been mentioned by large dealers (Liberty Optics being one) in the states that the Rifleman series is 100% Chinese.
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None of their scopes have the "Made in the USA" stamp anymore. If you're bored, here's an interesting read;
ww w.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=1123792&page=1
 
Read an email from Leupold on one of the optics forums saying bc the components use in making their optics are source from over sea, the US import/export laws prohibit them from putting the "Made in USA" on their products.
Nothing is 100% made in one country now-a-day.
 
Can-Am whose old parrent company is one of the worst corporate welfare cases in Canada comes to mind as well. They took all your hard earned tax dollars, and opened up a nice big shiny plant in Mexico, taking jobs from Eastern Canadians, then sell back their quads etc, which were financed by you, at a price which is thousands higher than they charge americans.

To make sure you canuks can't get a fair price on a quad Can-Am has imposed a sell to Canadians and lose your franchise policy on US dealers. other companies do the same but these guys P-ss me off because I subsidised them.
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That is the biggest reason that I won't consider Can Am.

Strangely enough Swarovski isn't made in the US yet it's still cheaper there.
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Actually some Swarovski models are assembled in the USA.
 
As are some Zeiss models yet the price difference between countries is not like with Leupold.
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I have owned over a dozen Leupold scopes, and a Leupold spotting scope, but now I don't own any. If they are going to charge those prices, the least that they can do is make their variable scopes with a near constant eye relief.
 
stubblejumper said:
I have owned over a dozen Leupold scopes, and a Leupold spotting scope, but now I don't own any. If they are going to charge those prices, the least that they can do is make their variable scopes with a near constant eye relief.
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I agree and the prices have dropped in the US to match competitors products but here they've pretty much remained the same, evidently as consumers are at this time still willing to pay the high prices. As Phil noted, Korth/Leupold had a record sales year.
Obviously, nothing will change until there is a significant drop in sales. In the end, the consumer sets the prices.
 
I agree and the prices have dropped in the US to match competitors products but here they've pretty much remained the same, evidently as consumers are at this time still willing to pay the high prices. As Phil noted, Korth/Leupold had a record sales year.
Obviously, nothing will change until there is a significant drop in sales. In the end, the consumer sets the prices.
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Yet some consumers are switching to other brands. Talking to a couple of retailers who I do a lot of business with, sales of the Zeiss Conquest is growing rapidly, and by comparison Leupold sales in their stores have fallen off somewhat as a result.
 
With more awareness comes more fairness. It is good do have topics such as this, and to have points of view from both sides. As for me I hate buying in the US, but I'll be damned if I will pay the Manufacturers, and distributors a premium, just because I am Canadian. I hope for less sales for all of these types of companies. It can only bring some fairness down the road to the hard working Canadian retailers, who are the ones who get hurt by the cross border shopping. As for leupold, I never have and never will.
 
Greed is certainly alive and well!!!

The truth as often confessed is we gouge people in Canada because we always have gotten away with it and we can.

It's like the price of gas, you will never change it because not everyone will make the sacrifice to see the changes. People are too self centered ie. I'm not car pooling or taking the bus, I'm important.

People should stop buying new vehicles for a while! Wow, when the automotive industry was hurting they had no problem making and selling a 1/2 ton truck for $30,000 but now they cranks it back to $46+.


if all the Canadian retailers told the south to stick it up your arse until you sell it to me at the same cost prices you do to US retailers.
Problem is we get gouged twice. From the US and then our own retailers!!!

Admit it, because it's the truth!
 
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