Korth Group Very poor to deal with
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bearkilr
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Nowhere, ......just past the middle
Yup. Gas is $1/gallon cheaper and booze is $40/gallon cheaper in the US, but nobody #####es about it...
I'd gladly pay Canadian Leupold prices in exchange for US booze and fuel prices.
Yes Dizzy
I am assuming that since Korth has been the exclusive authorized Leupold distributor in Canada for 30 years they are happy with the arrangement.
yes I am aware it is not technically a franchise but an exclusive distribution agreement shares many of the same characteristics.
By "a change of hands" are you concerned that the son taking over from the father is going to have some effect on the business?? when the "founder" was operating out of his home off 22X it was great service and for the most part the majority of people are still happy with the service at a dedicated building in Okotoks with factory trained technicians and staff that know the product and features inside out.
I used to work in the gun/rifle/scope business so when 95% of the people are happy count yourself lucky as the few you can't make happy no matter what you do take up more of your time and effort than the good ones ever will.
With Korth I often only had to pick up the phone and if they had it in Canada it was delivered in Calgary often the same day. I still can expect that kind of service if it is in their power to deliver what I require whether for my personal or store needs.
I am assuming that since Korth has been the exclusive authorized Leupold distributor in Canada for 30 years they are happy with the arrangement.
yes I am aware it is not technically a franchise but an exclusive distribution agreement shares many of the same characteristics.
By "a change of hands" are you concerned that the son taking over from the father is going to have some effect on the business?? when the "founder" was operating out of his home off 22X it was great service and for the most part the majority of people are still happy with the service at a dedicated building in Okotoks with factory trained technicians and staff that know the product and features inside out.
I used to work in the gun/rifle/scope business so when 95% of the people are happy count yourself lucky as the few you can't make happy no matter what you do take up more of your time and effort than the good ones ever will.
With Korth I often only had to pick up the phone and if they had it in Canada it was delivered in Calgary often the same day. I still can expect that kind of service if it is in their power to deliver what I require whether for my personal or store needs.
Korth doesn't support the stuff Bass Pro sells because Bass Pro imports their Leupold scopes directly from the USA and does not use Korth as a distributor. So Korth doesn't make any $$$ on the Bass Pro Leupolds, and they refuse to warranty it. These Bass Pro scopes are imported 100% legally and ITAR compliant, so the ITAR excuse is not relevant. IT appears that the Korth position with regards to warranty is about preserving their monoply and cash flow, and not the ITAR restrictions.
I can assure you
That if I or anyone else has an exclusive distribution deal on any product and someone ignored it and made arrangement to circumvent it I would not be servicing their chit either.
Let BP replace it in Canada at the store level and send it back to the US and discount it in the bargain bin rather than honor a previous arrangement. Seems they do it to all distributoion agreements hence you won't get a warranty on a BP PSE bow for the same reason.
If a Canadian company tried to gain a market foothold in the US by the same tactics we would have a (pick one) lumber, fish, etc etc etc trade war from the US with embargos and reciprical trade sanctions until the existing agreement was honored! One way patriots.
Wil they tell the customers up front about no manufacturers warrrenty in Canada. No
Caveat emptor from a retail business. Proves you get what you pay for!
That if I or anyone else has an exclusive distribution deal on any product and someone ignored it and made arrangement to circumvent it I would not be servicing their chit either.
Let BP replace it in Canada at the store level and send it back to the US and discount it in the bargain bin rather than honor a previous arrangement. Seems they do it to all distributoion agreements hence you won't get a warranty on a BP PSE bow for the same reason.
If a Canadian company tried to gain a market foothold in the US by the same tactics we would have a (pick one) lumber, fish, etc etc etc trade war from the US with embargos and reciprical trade sanctions until the existing agreement was honored! One way patriots.
Wil they tell the customers up front about no manufacturers warrrenty in Canada. No
Caveat emptor from a retail business. Proves you get what you pay for!
bearkilr
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Nowhere, ......just past the middle
The fault in all this lies with Leupold, not Korth. Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm certain Korth gets reimbursed by Leupold for the warranty work done on their scopes. The problem is that no one else other than the Leupold distributor(Korth) is currently allowed to perform warranty work on Leupold scopes, AKA a monopoly on sales and service.
Leupold could easily tell Korth they have to repair, under warranty, every scope legally imported into Canada, or they lose their "official repair center status". However, I'm certain Korth pays Leupold more for a scope than Cabela's or BP, so the profit margin for Leupold is quite a bit higher as well. In other words, prices won't change unless the US changes ITAR regulations and allows unrestricted cross border shipping of scopes, which would allow purchases in the US and shipping to Leupold in the US for repair.
I doubt either Leupold or Korth are too keen on seeing this change.
not sure
If Korth gets any money for repairing a scope from the US Leupold (like the auto industry) or if that is built into the exclusive distribution as a requriement but you have hit the nail on the head.
Some sales rep at Leupold USA is selling scopes to BP US knowing full well that some of them willl be transhipped across the border and circumvent an exclusive distribution contract with Korth. so yes Leupold USA has created the nightmare.
Many US companies have end use certificate requirements and even government requirements that state the goods wil not be transhipped to any other user or country(mostly terrorists groups is the concern).
Why not in this case??
If Korth gets any money for repairing a scope from the US Leupold (like the auto industry) or if that is built into the exclusive distribution as a requriement but you have hit the nail on the head.
Some sales rep at Leupold USA is selling scopes to BP US knowing full well that some of them willl be transhipped across the border and circumvent an exclusive distribution contract with Korth. so yes Leupold USA has created the nightmare.
Many US companies have end use certificate requirements and even government requirements that state the goods wil not be transhipped to any other user or country(mostly terrorists groups is the concern).
Why not in this case??
bearkilr
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Nowhere, ......just past the middle
Because there's no Leupold Canada, only Leupold's sole Canadian distributor, which is Korth.
As an example, a Canadian can't buy a new vehicle from a US dealer, it has to be previously registered by a US citizen. This is to protect the Canadian dealers. A similar scenario to the Leupold/Korth relationship. For a while, there was also no warranty on vehicles bought in the US, but I believe this has changed. This is the issue with Leupold/Korth that remains unchanged.
If you guy's are paying too much for Leupold scopes, you are buying them at the wrong stores.
My local dealer down here in Maple Creek SK is so close in price to the USA retailers that i can't be bothered to import them myself even though i live against the border and have a mail box in the nearest Montana town.
Some of the more savvy shooters from Saskatoon and Calgary make regular appearances in this shop.
Some of them even post on CGN........a lot.
My local dealer down here in Maple Creek SK is so close in price to the USA retailers that i can't be bothered to import them myself even though i live against the border and have a mail box in the nearest Montana town.
Some of the more savvy shooters from Saskatoon and Calgary make regular appearances in this shop.
Some of them even post on CGN........a lot.
bearkilr
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Nowhere, ......just past the middle
Who said we're paying too much? I know there are other methods. That said, I don't find Leupold a great value anymore, even at US prices. Some of the competition has passed them in quality and price,IMO.
I have finally recieved my custom turret. The quality is up to par with what i expected it should be. The final product is nice, it was just getting there was a little rough. I guess i am just a big communication guy. Even when i sell, i always make sure to answer every question within 12-24 hrs. I do understand that i do not sell in the volume that Korth does, but communication is a top priority to me. It ensures trust between the two or more parties.
MikeTheRock
Regular
- Location
- Calgary, AB
As other people have posted, the warranty issue is 95% a manufacturer issue for creating a situation where people have to ask whether the goods were imported by Korth or by another importer (presumably properly done). There is no way a retail purchaser should have to ask that kind of question, especially if buying product from a store like BP. Why would anyone even think to ask if warranty work has to be done in the US? Lots of people aren't members here and would not be aware of the issue at all.
And using the auto industry's similar practices as justification doesn't hold water. Their practices are just as bad. In fact, BMW and other manufacturers are/have been sued over their attempts to use warranty denial and import certification barriers as a means of engaging in protectionism.
And using the auto industry's similar practices as justification doesn't hold water. Their practices are just as bad. In fact, BMW and other manufacturers are/have been sued over their attempts to use warranty denial and import certification barriers as a means of engaging in protectionism.
A Leupold scope was always a premium product that commanded a premium price. I no longer consider the Leupold product premium and will not pay a premium price for a sub-standard product mainly because of the service, thanks to Korth.
Leupold..................pronounced......lew--pold or lou--pold.
I've had good service over the years with Leupold and recently so has my son and nephew. Both sent their bonoculars back to Korth Agencies this year for normal ware and repair.(both binoculars were eight years old) Well, long story short, they both received brand new 10x40 binoculars..................and that's no guff, and that's great service and warrenty.
I won't buy Leupold as long as Korth is the importer.
Trivia; I think I remember reading the pronounciation of Leupold was originally le-u-pold but was changed to lew-pold in an attempt to to hide the old german name origin ...the name translates to "bold people".
Trivia; I think I remember reading the pronounciation of Leupold was originally le-u-pold but was changed to lew-pold in an attempt to to hide the old german name origin ...the name translates to "bold people".
