Leupolds at Bass Pro

It was "minimally" a joint decision. While they don't come and say whether Leupold approached Korth or vice versa, here is another quote from their explanation of the policy:

"This policy has been put in place to support our authorized dealer network and to ensure the legality and authenticity of our products in Canada. Consumers should be confident that the Leupold & Stevens Inc. products purchased have met all United States export requirements and Canadian Import laws.We thank you for your support of Leupold & Stevens Inc. product and will continue to supply the finest products backed by the finest warranty as well as supply the fastest most reliable service through our authorized Canadian import partner, Korth Group Ltd.

Andy York
Vice President Sales, Marketing and Product Development
Leupold & Stevens Inc."

So "Leupold" is the one's reinforcing this warranty policy just as much as Korth.

Their bottom line is, if you want warranty on their products in Canada you better buy them from their authorized dealers.
 
nomad 68 said:
This is my only real gripe with Leupold, the greasy deal they made with Korth. For this to be any way close to fair for the consumer, Canadian prices should differ from US pricing by nothing other than the the exchange rates. If you compare the two, this is far from reality. I am a Leupold owner btw.
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Don't get mad at LEUPOLD or KORTH, get mad at BASS PRO for doing an end run around Canadian importation laws and distribution channels.
 
Most of my Leupold scopes are from other dealers but I do have one I bought at Bass Pro a few years ago and that will be the last one I buy there.....
Hopefully I don's have any problems with it......
 
Their bottom line is, if you want warranty on their products in Canada you better buy them from their authorized dealers.
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That just makes them the same as the other higher end optics. They protect their turf, and their dealers, and their prices. Try to skinny a Nightforce in through the back door and see what it gets you. Its not just optics, if a retailer gets too out of line on prices the phone will ring.
 
Depends who you are comparing.

If you look on the US Bass Pro site - VX2 3-9X40 duplex is $299.99 USD

same scope @ Cabela's Canada is $419.99

With today's "fix" $299.99 USD = $414.82 ($5.17 more in Canada) and in the US they didn't have to pay for an export permit or "cross border" shipping, which even if it's a shorter distance from US factory to Canadian store (compared to a US store) IS more expensive.

And neither one of them has potentially the "best prices" - you have to shop around.

And if we are really honest there is a ton of US "sellers" that will sell at/near cost, especially on-line just to make a sale. On this side of the border most businesses want to "stay in business" so they must charge at least a minimal margin to pay the rent.

Of course you can just stop buying the product. No sales will result in a price drop or a total withdraw of the product - and probably the latter with Leupold. With all their costs being borne in US bucks in the US and having one of the strongest currencies in the world, they don't have much room to move on their prices. The worst margins on scopes are on Leupolds. You have to pay a premium for a US worker to put your scope together and stick it in a box.
 
Dogleg said:
That just makes them the same as the other higher end optics. They protect their turf, and their dealers, and their prices. Try to skinny a Nightforce in through the back door and see what it gets you. Its not just optics, if a retailer gets too out of line on prices the phone will ring.
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"In through the backdoor" ... very apropos.
 
galamb said:
Depends who you are comparing.

If you look on the US Bass Pro site - VX2 3-9X40 duplex is $299.99 USD

same scope @ Cabela's Canada is $419.99

With today's "fix" $299.99 USD = $414.82 ($5.17 more in Canada) and in the US they didn't have to pay for an export permit or "cross border" shipping, which even if it's a shorter distance from US factory to Canadian store (compared to a US store) IS more expensive.

And neither one of them has potentially the "best prices" - you have to shop around.

And if we are really honest there is a ton of US "sellers" that will sell at/near cost, especially on-line just to make a sale. On this side of the border most businesses want to "stay in business" so they must charge at least a minimal margin to pay the rent.

Of course you can just stop buying the product. No sales will result in a price drop or a total withdraw of the product - and probably the latter with Leupold. With all their costs being borne in US bucks in the US and having one of the strongest currencies in the world, they don't have much room to move on their prices. The worst margins on scopes are on Leupolds. You have to pay a premium for a US worker to put your scope together and stick it in a box.
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$419.99 is really not too extreme. When I was scoping my last new rifle, the prices I was seeing were low to mid fives. Just could not justify that for what I was getting. Never considered the big box stores due to the Korth arrangement. Having a rifle built in the new year and will likely treat myself to a Meopta for this one.
 
So if Koth does not get there cut on the scope they are sucking out and will not fix it. Ok will not buy any more Leupolds there are other go manufactures out there.
 
Leupold should take the high road and stop selling to Bass Pro USA(and indirectly to Bass Pro Canada)till they get the issue sorted, if they feel their Canadian distributor is being compromised.(as much as I would hate to loose another buying option)
Canadian Bass Pro customers are buying a genuine Leupold product from a major retailer(who is authorized in the US) and should not be on the hook for warranty repairs.
Bass Pro is not a mom and pop G/S trying to fly under the radar.
Seems Leupold knows full well what is going on, and are quite happy letting Korth collect repair fees on broken/faulty Leupold products.(even if they are few)
Not likely they will stop though.
Major $$$ selling to BASS Pro USA.(a small portion of which end up being converted Canadian $)
JMHO
 
Donny Fenn1 said:
Don't get mad at LEUPOLD or KORTH, get mad at BASS PRO for doing an end run around Canadian importation laws and distribution channels.
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No really, no.

I doubt Bass Pro actually illegally sources their scopes.

If they were special ordering hundreds from some Asian chop shop with the Leupold logo that would be one thing, but I'm pretty sure that's not what's going on.

I blame Leupold and Korth, thanks very much.

I have to admit they aren't the only ones running this kind of scam. Happens all too often.

I used to wear California Crazy Wear pants that a buddy of mine in L.A got me on to like fifteen years ago. They were costing like $14.99 USD at the time in California and around $59.99 in Canada, and nobody selling them in the U.S would ship to Canada either. One guess as to why? Only one authorized importer with some manner of exclusive importation scam going...bunch of garbage.

Honestly, I'm not sure how that crap is even legal with our monopoly laws...so now I stay away from any brand I know works this way...Leupold included.
 
I am sure Bass Pro shop buys 5 times the number of scopes that Koth does and gets a better price then Koth on each unit and passes that savings to the customer so how can you say Bass Pro is the problem this is how Walmart works and all the big retail stores .Koth is taking advantage of the laws of import and export of firearm products made buy the U.S to put pressure Leupold to not warranty scopes that to do not go through them.
YES Northman999 you are right.
 
For all those complaining, try taking your Korth-imported Leupold to Bass Pro and ask them to fix it under warranty. They will say no as they did not import or sell it. Same thing. Korth warrantees the product that they sell. They can't really be expected to offer warrantee on items they did not sell.

Regardless, Leupold should probably get their #### together on their non-USA warrantees but I'm sure it is a small enough percentage of their sales that they don't pay it a lot of attention.
 
krausb said:
For all those complaining, try taking your Korth-imported Leupold to Bass Pro and ask them to fix it under warranty. They will say no as they did not import or sell it. Same thing. Korth warrantees the product that they sell. They can't really be expected to offer warrantee on items they did not sell.

Regardless, Leupold should probably get their #### together on their non-USA warrantees but I'm sure it is a small enough percentage of their sales that they don't pay it a lot of attention.
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Take any scope to Bass Pro for repair and report back how the experience was. I'll bet that they tell you to take it up with the manufacturer.
 
krausb said:
For all those complaining, try taking your Korth-imported Leupold to Bass Pro and ask them to fix it under warranty. They will say no as they did not import or sell it. Same thing. Korth warrantees the product that they sell. They can't really be expected to offer warrantee on items they did not sell.

Regardless, Leupold should probably get their #### together on their non-USA warrantees but I'm sure it is a small enough percentage of their sales that they don't pay it a lot of attention.
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You would be surprised at the volume that Korth Group does versus other distributors even in the USA. BassPro does not have near the reputation as Cabellas's with respect to proper business practices (such as paying invoices regularly and on time). BassPro apparently does more volume in the USA then Cabellas and because of this they can dictate to manufactures to a certain extent and thus are allowed to bring their product (in this case Leupold) directly from the USA and bypass Canadian distribution and warranty. Leupold is very happy with Korth Group and at the present time have no reason to replace them or open another distributor. Leupold like other manufacturers of quality products want to keep the retail price of their goods as high as the market will bear and do not want to see discounting on current models. Bushnell fell victim to the discounting game over the last few years and have steadily seen their product and market share go down. Phil.
 
I am sure that bass pro imports their leupold scopes properly, they wouldn't get them into the country without doing so. I am sure bass pro buys them from leupold and leupold knows they send them to Canada and don't have a problem with that. leupold has invested the time and money into a agreement with the korth group and doesn't want to piss them off, so they let the korth group run their monopoly on leupold products and service!
 
Exclusive distribution equates to "monopoly" and really is a form of price fixing. That is just my opinion. I still like leupolds but have not purchased a new one since they entered into the agreement with korth.i have purchased several scopes since( mostly bushnell elites) and don't feel i am missing anything.my feelings are not exclusive to scopes. I was a lifelong gm guy until they closed most dealerships in 2009. I have one dealerwithin 25O km of me and they absolutely suck in every possible way. No more gm for me.
 
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