ORIGINAL: keyshunter
hometheatreman,
You seem to take every opportunity to badmouth leupold scopes. I believe that you have had problems with one, but I am sure that given the opportunity, Leupold will do whatever it takes to make it right. You need to get over it, because it makes your opinions on every other topic seem suspect to those who have real experience with leupold. For every dissatisfied leupold customer, there are probably at least 98 who have had trouble free service. A return rate of more than 2% would be death in today's competetive environment.
Let me tell you of my experiences with Leupold scopes (we also have Zeiss and Bushnell on various rifles). Currently, we have 2-VX-I, 4-Vari-x-II, and 2 Vari-X III on various rifles. Not one has given a singleproblem. Since you had a VX-I, let me tell you about one of our VX-I's, a 3x9x40. This scope is on my farm beater gun, a Howa .243, and seldom sees the inside of the house. It lives either in the garage, pickup, oron my ATV. At this time of year, every day for more than 3 months, I run a 2 mile long trapline on my property. The law requires a 24 hour check, so I am out at dawn every day. That rifle with VX-I rides in the open rack on my 4-wheeler, and has for more than 4 years. It sees freezing temps, rain, sleet , snow, mud and plenty of vibration. It has never changed zero, or given any other problem.
Every company has occasional problems, even Zeiss and Swaro. The best companies knock them selves out to provide quality customer service when necessary.
I will say Leupold has let me send it in for repair to try to make it right. Their customer service is great. However, since in a year and a half it's been in twice I'm just not sure that it's not going to need to go back into them in 6 months. I got to thinking maybe I was the only one having these problems then I talked to a buddy. BTW I only know 3 people that have Leupold scopes me being 1 of those 3 and another one was having the exact same issue I was where it was adjusting itself. What are the odds that of the 3 people I know me included that 2 of us are going to have the exact same problem? I know quite a few guys with Simmons scopes which get a horrible rep and I'm not trying to say I think they are great but I know quite a few guys with them and don't know any of them that have ever had a problem with them. If they have had a problem they have never told me about it and they usually like to talk about stuff when they have a problem with it.
That's what but a bad taste in my mouth for Leupold. I thought I was the only one until I found out another one is having the exact same issues. Then the other one that hasn't had any issues hasn't had the scope long enough to see if it has any. He just got it this year.
My scope when it did work lost zero if you bumped it hard and never was as clear as the Burris. That being said I'm sure some of the Leupold scopes are great as I know a lot of people have had good experiences with them but there are also ones that I've talked to besides me that have had bad experiences.
I'm just saying the Burris was $20 cheaper, works better, and is way clearer. Why wouldn't it be the obvious choice?
Leupold's customer service is great but there is no reason I should have to keep sending it in.