Counterfeit Leupold Scopes
- Thread starter guntech
- Start date
One week ago I noticed a post in the equipment exchange offering a FAKE Leupold scope for sale. The person posting was not misrepresenting the product as genuine.
I contacted forum moderators immediately, confident, apart from issues of legality, that the post would be removed as a symbolic action to reinforce the standard that this is unacceptable. The post has not been removed in evident contradiction of the forum rules, partially pasted here...
DISALLOWED ITEMS IN EQUIPMENT EXCHANGE
Any imitation or "knock-offs" with infringement of copyrighted wordings or markings in any forms are disallowed. Imitations, commonly known as knock-offs, cannot be advertised with reference to the wordings, trade names or model names of the real items they are imitating.#
Actions speak louder than words and, while it may seem trivial, companies that invest many millions of dollars in creating a brand and producing well engineered, high quality products should receive more than token statements when considering established standards, as is the case regarding forum rules.
Taking an ethical position in writing is one thing. Demonstrating commitment to ethical standards and proving support for such established brands carried by a large majority of the retail businesses that financially support your own business-forum should not have to be questioned. But it is.
As a member of this forum for about thirteen years, I am disappointed that this specific issue has not been dealt with.
I contacted forum moderators immediately, confident, apart from issues of legality, that the post would be removed as a symbolic action to reinforce the standard that this is unacceptable. The post has not been removed in evident contradiction of the forum rules, partially pasted here...
DISALLOWED ITEMS IN EQUIPMENT EXCHANGE
Any imitation or "knock-offs" with infringement of copyrighted wordings or markings in any forms are disallowed. Imitations, commonly known as knock-offs, cannot be advertised with reference to the wordings, trade names or model names of the real items they are imitating.#
Actions speak louder than words and, while it may seem trivial, companies that invest many millions of dollars in creating a brand and producing well engineered, high quality products should receive more than token statements when considering established standards, as is the case regarding forum rules.
Taking an ethical position in writing is one thing. Demonstrating commitment to ethical standards and proving support for such established brands carried by a large majority of the retail businesses that financially support your own business-forum should not have to be questioned. But it is.
As a member of this forum for about thirteen years, I am disappointed that this specific issue has not been dealt with.
Thank you for reporting it, I was pissed when I saw that ad, knock-offs are the reason why I am weary buying Leupold...
jmichelin84
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Big Land, nL
Removed my post, I did mention it was fake and was not looking to sell, just trade, with the understanding it was a fake, and I got a few offers of stuff worth more, did not take any of them, I will not post it there again, no malicious intent behind it
Hi, i realize that and stated clearly in my opening that you had not misrepresented it as genuine. My point was not specifically directed at you.
Thank you for removing it.
alexrichads
New member
- Location
- Ottawa, Ontario
I had bought a fake VX3I 4.5-14x50 for testing cost me like 80$ , survived on a .22LR .223 bolt gun and survived the semiauto fire of a SKS. tbh I was hoping it wouldn't as i was still in the buyer protection of Wish. additionally the glass in it was very very clear, like far better that vortex crossfire 2 (3-9x40) or the buckmasters 2. as heretical as it sounds id say its somewhere comparable to the nikon prostaff p5 2-5-10x40 that i had a while back.
as clear and as well as it worked i only shot approximately 200 rounds through it (excluding .22LR) now the real thing to keep in mind is regardless how clear mine was 80$ for a scope means the glass is going to be the bottom of the barrel or some few decent ones so i wouldn't bank on how clear mine was when deciding weather you want one lol. Now the turrests on this this are very audible and feel positive however feels like the internals as all plastic. lastly these are not purged with any sort of gasses. the ocular unscrews right out and you can poke the reticle, then again what were you expecting for 80$ haha. now proof or it didnt happen! so heres the review i did
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xa4elM7vuN8
as clear and as well as it worked i only shot approximately 200 rounds through it (excluding .22LR) now the real thing to keep in mind is regardless how clear mine was 80$ for a scope means the glass is going to be the bottom of the barrel or some few decent ones so i wouldn't bank on how clear mine was when deciding weather you want one lol. Now the turrests on this this are very audible and feel positive however feels like the internals as all plastic. lastly these are not purged with any sort of gasses. the ocular unscrews right out and you can poke the reticle, then again what were you expecting for 80$ haha. now proof or it didnt happen! so heres the review i did
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xa4elM7vuN8
A buddy of mine bought one of the Leupold 1.5-5x20 scopes directly from China.
I honestly did not know they copied this particular scope, I thought it was just the higher power 'tactical' style ones... Anyhow, the scope my buddy bought is such a good copy, that I became concerned about a couple of my 1.5x20 Leupolds which I bought used. So I called in the serial numbers & had them verified.
Thankfully, all my Leupold 1.5-5x20 scopes are genuine.
If I was to buy another used Leupold, I'd want the serial number to call in before finalizing the deal. Hell, even the ones in sealed packaging are questionable (think gun shows) unless it's from a reputable dealer!
Cheers
Jay
I honestly did not know they copied this particular scope, I thought it was just the higher power 'tactical' style ones... Anyhow, the scope my buddy bought is such a good copy, that I became concerned about a couple of my 1.5x20 Leupolds which I bought used. So I called in the serial numbers & had them verified.
Thankfully, all my Leupold 1.5-5x20 scopes are genuine.
If I was to buy another used Leupold, I'd want the serial number to call in before finalizing the deal. Hell, even the ones in sealed packaging are questionable (think gun shows) unless it's from a reputable dealer!
Cheers
Jay
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The general rule is to ask the seller for the serial number, call the toll free number, and get the serial number verified, I have 3 leupolds that I purchased used, and did that for all three, another one I was considering was verified counterfeit by Leupold so did not buy it and notified the seller who promptly pulled it from the for sale ads. The points is that it is up to the buyer to do due diligence as well, especially when the means are there to verify at no cost.
certainly official factory.
could never be a fake. Could it?????????
I have a question regarding a leupold vx-freedom rimfire (SFP) 3-9x40mm. This scope also has a fixed parallax at 60 yards. I would like to shoot up to 200 yards (target shooting) with a 22lr rifle. Would this be a good scope for 200 yard target shooting? I read that the glass quality on leupold's are great, and that it is better to have a good quality glass scope with lower magnification; as opposed to a high magnification scope with a lower quality glass.
Also, there is a leupold vx-freedom (SFP) CDS duplex 3-9x40mm, which had a 150 yard fixed parallax. Can someone please recommend me, which of the two scopes would be ideal for shooting targets at 200 yards? Thank you.
Also, there is a leupold vx-freedom (SFP) CDS duplex 3-9x40mm, which had a 150 yard fixed parallax. Can someone please recommend me, which of the two scopes would be ideal for shooting targets at 200 yards? Thank you.
I wanted a cheap scope for my 9MM carbine. Ebay had scopes that looked like Leupolds on for I believe $75.US. At this point I knew they were not Leopold's but the price was right so I bought one and eventually bought two more. Well they came in "Leupold" boxes with all the documentation of the real thing. Now for less than $100 I knew they were fake BUT the first scope worked great. The scopes hold zero, the mounts stay put. In short they work. I don't own shares in Leopold and Leopold scopes aren't made in Canada. So for me the damn scope works.
I would have been upset had I paid north of $400 for the real thing and got a knock off but I didn't. I don't doubt for a minute the real thing is better but the fake works for me. Just saying. What I bought is a low end scope that works better than a lot of Weaver and Bushnell scopes I have owned over the years. If you want a low end scope the ones I bought work. The low end Chinese made Bushnell scope don't work any better.
Take Care
Bob
I would have been upset had I paid north of $400 for the real thing and got a knock off but I didn't. I don't doubt for a minute the real thing is better but the fake works for me. Just saying. What I bought is a low end scope that works better than a lot of Weaver and Bushnell scopes I have owned over the years. If you want a low end scope the ones I bought work. The low end Chinese made Bushnell scope don't work any better.
Take Care
Bob
