Leupold,,,, very disapointed

[P of PDent]

There are lots of current and discontinued Leupold products kicking aroung the USA and considering their dire retail economy right now there is some discounting going on from web based and some brick and mortar stores. Fotunately we are not in that position but if we have product sold to us at discounted wholesale prices then we will pass these prices along. Phil.

 

[Grizzlypeg]

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.

WSS lists part numbers 269323 mildot and 269324 (some other reticle) on their website. Maybe its their own part number? I posted it so that others could verify the item I was referring to, and give me heck if its a different scope.

Thanks for keeping your prices down Phil, and I would certainly check with you first if I need a Leupold scope. I think they make a great product.

 

[alta780]

Thanks for the PM Jayph. I can bring in scopes for as little as $100 delivered to the door, with all the proper paperwork done. Maybe I should start doing this for people, but that is still not the point for me. I am sick and tired of being treated as second class from so many corporations. The first on my "will not buy unlees it's just about free list" was and still is the Can Am people. They have sucked more tax money out of Canada than just about any other company and now build in mexico, and over charge us like crazy. Companies like Leupold, and others need to be sent a signal. I for one will only now by from them, if I can just about steal one, just like can am, and others. If Canadians' don't buy their product they will change their policies, this is something that people would have to tell their friends, and so on and so on.
Real easy,, before you buy a Leupold check out optics planet and others. I am a bit surprised at the response to my ranting, and hope to here many more views.

Here is another thing, the many respected gun dealers in Canada, could simply start selling around Leupold, and others who are similar. It is not at all fair to those dealers and more importantly their customers to have to pay double the US cost. I think they should stand up for their customers, and themselves.

As far as my Gun build I certainly want to build in Canada, if I can get what I want. "Canada" is also where I would like to buy my scope. I can guarantee you this I will not buy a Canadian Leupold Scope, unless their policy, and pricing changes.

 

[alta780]

I think P&D is a great store, with fantastic people, but I would have to say that the discontinued, give a way stuff is a small portion of total sales. Most products are less expensive in the states, and what about those juicy discontinued, discounted items, why don't we see them up here. It is plain and simple, we are second class, and they know they can gouge us, and "Canadian Dealrs" by using various tactics, such as voiding warranties. (Scare Tactics). All due respect to you guys at P&D.

 

[P of PDent]

Thanks for the PM Jayph. I can bring in scopes for as little as $100 delivered to the door, with all the proper paperwork done. Maybe I should start doing this for people, but that is still not the point for me. I am sick and tired of being treated as second class from so many corporations. The first on my "will not buy unlees it's just about free list" was and still is the Can Am people. They have sucked more tax money out of Canada than just about any other company and now build in mexico, and over charge us like crazy. Companies like Leupold, and others need to be sent a signal. I for one will only now by from them, if I can just about steal one, just like can am, and others. If Canadians' don't buy their product they will change their policies, this is something that people would have to tell their friends, and so on and so on.
Real easy,, before you buy a Leupold check out optics planet and others. I am a bit surprised at the response to my ranting, and hope to here many more views.

Here is another thing, the many respected gun dealers in Canada, could simply start selling around Leupold, and others who are similar. It is not at all fair to those dealers and more importantly their customers to have to pay double the US cost. I think they should stand up for their customers, and themselves.

As far as my Gun build I certainly want to build in Canada, if I can get what I want. "Canada" is also where I would like to buy my scope. I can guarantee you this I will not buy a Canadian Leupold Scope, unless their policy, and pricing changes.

At the present time...Leupold is our strongest, best selling optics line. In spite of the higher Canadian pricing customers are still buying these products based not only on price, availability and service (warranty). As with any consumer products the end user will determine the viability of the price vs availability vs service and if this model doesn't work then sales will drop off. If that is the case then I will not inventory these products as much and expand more into other lines (which we already have in place). Korth Group and Leupold themselves are keenly aware of this balance and will react to any significant drop in sales. There are lots of new products from Leupold this year and I feel our biggest problem will be getting in inventory at the correct time. We are one of the largest Canadian independant Leupold dealers in Canada and as such have more to lose in this matter than most people. Phil.

 

[alta780]

I am not suggesting that you sacrifice any business Phil. I wish nothing but the best for you and your people. I have spent a large portion of my life selling large ticket items, mainly built in the US, and have dealt with the US/Canada price differences many times with different manufacturers. My policy was always to steer the customer to what I thought was the best buy for their dollar. Many times this meant steering in directions of less known products. If it is not about money, could you explain to me why they would void the warranty in a situation such as mine, is the Canadian terain really too rough for the US Leupold scopes. (Sorry just a little sarcasism for Leupold)

 

[Satain]

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.

& couldn't have said it better than myself.

 

[P of PDent]

I am not suggesting that you sacrifice any business Phil. I wish nothing but the best for you and your people. I have spent a large portion of my life selling large ticket items, mainly built in the US, and have dealt with the US/Canada price differences many times with different manufacturers. My policy was always to steer the customer to what I thought was the best buy for their dollar. Many times this meant steering in directions of less known products. If it is not about money, could you explain to me why they would void the warranty in a situation such as mine, is the Canadian terain really too rough for the US Leupold scopes. (Sorry just a little sarcasism for Leupold)

I think you may have misinterpreted the warranty info that was given to you. If the item was purchased in the USA the warranty is valid but it must go back to the USA for any repairs or replacement. By buying your optics this way you are unable to take advantage of warranty service in Canada as this is only available for imported optics through the approved Canadian distributor which in this case is Korth Group. Currently there is additional price discounting going on with some retailers in the USA due to unsold products and this is where some of the bigger discrepencies in price comparisons are. We make the same mark up on Leupold as we do with Bushnell, Zeiss, Nikon, Burris ect. Leupold themselves do not like to see their products discounted in the USA and are happy to see the Canadian market as strong as it is. Like any retailer...when someone comes asking for a good selling product that I have in stock (or readily available) then I would be foolish to not sell them that item. This is an ever changing market and there are always changes being made. I have no idea about 2011 prices for a couple more weeks. Time will tell. Phil.

 

[LuckyLuc82]

The warranty restriction only applies to scopes manufactured post nov 2010, why don't you get your builder to purchase your chosen leupold scope that was manufactures prior to November 2010. Problem solved!

 

[bearkilr]

I think you may have misinterpreted the warranty info that was given to you. If the item was purchased in the USA the warranty is valid but it must go back to the USA for any repairs or replacement. By buying your optics this way you are unable to take advantage of warranty service in Canada as this is only available for imported optics through the approved Canadian distributor which in this case is Korth Group. Currently there is additional price discounting going on with some retailers in the USA due to unsold products and this is where some of the bigger discrepencies in price comparisons are. We make the same mark up on Leupold as we do with Bushnell, Zeiss, Nikon, Burris ect. Leupold themselves do not like to see their products discounted in the USA and are happy to see the Canadian market as strong as it is. Like any retailer...when someone comes asking for a good selling product that I have in stock (or readily available) then I would be foolish to not sell them that item. This is an ever changing market and there are always changes being made. I have no idea about 2011 prices for a couple more weeks. Time will tell. Phil.

And that right there is where my problem lies in all this........monopolies.
I have serious trouble believing that this has to do with legalities of importation.
If you had the opportunity to buy Leupold's from someone other than Korth for less, would you not like to take advantage of that?

 

[marcoman]

This whole non-warranty issue was simply a way for Korth to punish Canadian consumers for circumventing their monopoly of the leupold brand in Canada. I don't appreciate their strong arm tactics, forcing us to pay inflated prices for fear of potential warranty inconvienience. I personally own 11 leupold scopes and have never had an issue requiring warranty work. Personally I would rather save a couple hundred bucks per scope by buying out of the U.S than be @$$ raped by Korth and have warranty .

 

[alta780]

It is not just consumers, but the dealers also get it back side. I am tired of Canadians being screwed by every large Company that can. They look at us as nothing but sheep in a pen. We are only to fill their pockets with extra profit. I have seen these copy cat type policies with evrything from cars, to Quads to leupold scopes, and I for one have had enough. I know the game with the big companies, what seems small and trivial to you is worth billions to them. Go price a car or a Quad (can-am the canadian tax payer welfare recipient) in the States. If we don`take some sort of stand with companies which have bad policies, soon all the other companies will follow down the screw Canadians`path. If enough Davids`sling rocks the Goliaths will fall. Sling your rock with your wallet, as I will. Maybe the bid wigs from leupold might take notice next year, while they are sitting around in their $10,000 dollar a night rooms at Shot Show in Vegas.

 

[Cummins4x4]

Ultimately I think Korth/Leupold are shooting them selves in the foot with this policy. I have used Leupold scopes for 30 years and have sung praise of their great warranty service to anybody that asked because I have seen many examples of great service from both companies. The best part was the no questions asked, no receipts required, it just got fixed. For what it is worth I will take a really hard look at the other manufacturers before I buy another Leupold.

 

[Cinch]

Ultimately I think Korth/Leupold are shooting them selves in the foot with this policy. I have used Leupold scopes for 30 years and have sung praise of their great warranty service to anybody that asked because I have seen many examples of great service from both companies. The best part was the no questions asked, no receipts required, it just got fixed. For what it is worth I will take a really hard look at the other manufacturers before I buy another Leupold.

Zeiss's warranty/service is every bit as good as Leupold, transferable/no paperwork required.

 

[alta780]

Maybe people could start listing their knowlege of prices and warranty policies of different hunting and shooting related maunfacuters. Then people can compare local vs
US, and decide if buying from the US is a better financial decision. In the long run this would also be better for your local dealer, as a signal would go out to the manufacturers, and companies like Korth. This would then bring prices and policies more in line with the best interests of Canadian consumers.

As long as everyone has the Oh Well attitude, the manufacturers will continue to skin us, with price and policy. In these cases I will go south, as I did with my quad in 07, which also turned out to be a $2700 savings after shipping. The local dealer here was outraged, not at me but at the manufacturer.

 

[bearkilr]

Zeiss's warranty/service is every bit as good as Leupold, transferable/no paperwork required.

Perhaps on the new scopes, but not on older ones. I had a 30+ year old 1.5-6x36 Diavari that fogged up. I had to send it to Germany, they billed me $650 to fix it. New lenses,caps,etc.

Granted, the scope had been through hell over the years, but I'm certain Leupold would have fixed or replaced it for free.

 

[alta780]

Perhaps on the new scopes, but not on older ones. I had a 30+ year old 1.5-6x36 Diavari that fogged up. I had to send it to Germany, they billed me $650 to fix it. New lenses,caps,etc.

Granted, the scope had been through hell over the years, but I'm certain Leupold would have fixed or replaced it for free.

That is just the point. Many people including myself trusted, and bought Leupold based on their "previous" no nonsense approach. They are changing
for the worse as are others, while some are changing for the better. These policies, as stated previously are made to defend, and increase their bottom line, and their monopoly nothing else. They will also use various tactics, to ensure their shelf space, at the dealer's store. In my 30 years of big ticket retail I have seen many variations of manufacturer to dealer strong arming, and don't kid yourselves Korth and Leupold know the game all too well.

 

[P of PDent]

That is just the point. Many people including myself trusted, and bought Leupold based on their "previous" no nonsense approach. They are changing
for the worse as are others, while some are changing for the better. These policies, as stated previously are made to defend, and increase their bottom line, and their monopoly nothing else. They will also use various tactics, to ensure their shelf space, at the dealer's store. In my 30 years of big ticket retail I have seen many variations of manufacturer to dealer strong arming, and don't kid yourselves Korth and Leupold know the game all too well.

Having been in the gun business for about 15 years I can honestly say we have never been subjected to the treatment you are suggesting by any manufacturer, distributor or representative. We choose the products, how much we buy, what we charge and how we display the product. We would be considered a larger single store dealer. I think that some people are overly concerned that they may not have warranty coverage on their Leupold products when in fact ,the vast majority of cases that is not accurate. I would be surprised if 99.99% of Leupolds in Canada didn't have full warranty coverage in Canada. Phil.

 

[HeadDamage]

I just sent in a beat up old vari x iii 3.5-10x40mm AO to Korth. They said it was not repairable so they will be sending a new VX-3 4.5-14x40mm AO to replace it. This is the first time I've had to send a Leupold rifle scope in but it is why I buy them, both new and used.

Here is a photo of the dead scope:

This is what they are sending me:

 

[alta780]

That is great, and leupold should get credit where credit is due. My problem is with changing policies, in order to control sales for increased profits, and to wash their hands from warranty. The #1 reason I was going to buy Leupold was because they have service in Canada. The rifle I was going to have built was going to come from a US builder, who with great credit to him has built a 1000 yd range on his farm, and insists that every gun he builds goes thru his break in, and accuracy testing. This requires the scope be bought in the US. Leupold would not change their policy except for financial reasons, (increased prices, and profit from us Canadian Sheep who don't see any problem with changes that insure that we pay more than, the guy 10 KM south of the border) I do like their product, I don't like the policy changes, all in the name of "extra" profit. If I have to send my scope back to the US should I need any warranty, I will buy from someone else who builds as good, or better at equal or less cost.