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Binoculars-best place to buy?
- Thread starter timdennis
- Start date
Bronco
Moderator
- Joined
- Feb 25, 2000
- Messages
- 7,601
Tim,
Whenever I'm in the market for binoculars, especially high end ones like Leica, Zeiss and Swarovski, I always make it a point to check out the large New York City camera stores. Pick up any issue of one of the more popular photo magazines and you'll see the back half of the mag crammed full of their ads. Several of these companies have gone on-line recently. B&H Photo is one of the largest and most respected and can now be viewed online at:
http://www01.bhphotovideo.com/default.sph/FrameWork.class?FNC=StartLink__Aindex_html
Rarely do these stores include their entire product line in these ads, so be sure to ask if you're looking for something specific that you don't see listed.
There are also other NYC stores like Cambridge and AAA Camera who often have prices that can best even B&H, but I would interject a word of caution here. Based on my personal experiences I wouldn't completely discount using these two companies, but I would be very conscientious about documenting all aspects of my transactions with them. Keep records of exactly what you've ordered, how much it costs and who processed your order. A case in point with AAA: I ordered an eyepiece for a spotting scope; they sent me and billed my credit card for the eyepiece plus the entire body of the scope; when I attempted to return the scope body they wanted to charge me a hefty "restocking fee". I don't know to this day whether this was a simple mistake on their part or something more nefarious, but either way I was glad I had used my credit card for the transaction.
Whenever shopping mail order or on-line for German/Austrian optics (binos, camera lenses, scopes or whatever) be very specific about ordering items that are manufactured in those respective countries. Some of these high end optics companies have licensing agreements with companies in other outside countries, like Portugal for example. This isn't to say that these foreign licensed products are bad, but when you're paying top dollar for the best glass and the best coatings you want to make sure the collimation and construction is top notch as well.
Finally, a note for our American forumites: Be sure to determine whether or not the item you're purchasing comes with a U.S. warranty. Another way some companies can advertise lower prices is by importing products from overseas that were originally meant for the European or Asian markets. These items are structurally the same as what you would normally purchase here in the U.S. except that the U.S. representatives of Zeiss, Leica etc., won't honor the manufacturer warranties should you happen to purchase a defective item. Good luck.
------------------
Semper Fi
-Bill
[This message has been edited by Bronco (edited 09-05-2000).]
Whenever I'm in the market for binoculars, especially high end ones like Leica, Zeiss and Swarovski, I always make it a point to check out the large New York City camera stores. Pick up any issue of one of the more popular photo magazines and you'll see the back half of the mag crammed full of their ads. Several of these companies have gone on-line recently. B&H Photo is one of the largest and most respected and can now be viewed online at:
http://www01.bhphotovideo.com/default.sph/FrameWork.class?FNC=StartLink__Aindex_html
Rarely do these stores include their entire product line in these ads, so be sure to ask if you're looking for something specific that you don't see listed.
There are also other NYC stores like Cambridge and AAA Camera who often have prices that can best even B&H, but I would interject a word of caution here. Based on my personal experiences I wouldn't completely discount using these two companies, but I would be very conscientious about documenting all aspects of my transactions with them. Keep records of exactly what you've ordered, how much it costs and who processed your order. A case in point with AAA: I ordered an eyepiece for a spotting scope; they sent me and billed my credit card for the eyepiece plus the entire body of the scope; when I attempted to return the scope body they wanted to charge me a hefty "restocking fee". I don't know to this day whether this was a simple mistake on their part or something more nefarious, but either way I was glad I had used my credit card for the transaction.
Whenever shopping mail order or on-line for German/Austrian optics (binos, camera lenses, scopes or whatever) be very specific about ordering items that are manufactured in those respective countries. Some of these high end optics companies have licensing agreements with companies in other outside countries, like Portugal for example. This isn't to say that these foreign licensed products are bad, but when you're paying top dollar for the best glass and the best coatings you want to make sure the collimation and construction is top notch as well.
Finally, a note for our American forumites: Be sure to determine whether or not the item you're purchasing comes with a U.S. warranty. Another way some companies can advertise lower prices is by importing products from overseas that were originally meant for the European or Asian markets. These items are structurally the same as what you would normally purchase here in the U.S. except that the U.S. representatives of Zeiss, Leica etc., won't honor the manufacturer warranties should you happen to purchase a defective item. Good luck.
------------------
Semper Fi
-Bill
[This message has been edited by Bronco (edited 09-05-2000).]