SilentButDeadly Report post Posted May 31, 2007 Last summer I dropped my 15's and bent the bridge and could not focus them either. I sent them to zeiss and got a call from them a month later saying they had to ship them to Germany. I said I need them for my hunts coming up, and they replied they did not know when they would be fixed. They offered to send me a loaner pair of 15's which I accepted. I had to give them my credit card number, I used them through January on all my hunts not thinking of my damged ones. In March 2007 I got a call from them saying that it would be $220 for the fix, which I paid, they also cleaned the binoculars and put new eye cups on them. Not a bad deal for my screw up but not near as good as leica or sworvski would have been. It was also 9 months without my binos, which I thought was rediculous. I asked the Sports Optics Rep repeatedly about a loaner pair - and she never answered me (the questions were over email) - I will call her right now and leave a message - I'll let you guys know what she says. T Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SilentButDeadly Report post Posted June 1, 2007 They look well used, even before the fall to concrete. At $2600 for repairs, or $535 for min repairs, might be time to cut your losses. For 2600, you could get new Swaros and then some. RR They are well used - my father-in-law has killed dozens of elk and dozens of deer, and those 15s were around his neck for alot of those hunts. They are over 20 years old - this is the first time they have been sent back to Germany. I told the Rep the same thing about the cost for the repair - just give them back to me as is and I can go buy a new pair of Swaros for less. The price that I agreed on was just less than 450.00. The Zeiss were still functioning, but I had to screw one eye piece out to -6 from center to get them equalized. T Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SilentButDeadly Report post Posted June 10, 2007 After leaving three phone messages I still haven't heard back from Karen at Zeiss about getting a loaner pair. I'm on my way out into the field for a couple of weeks (without any binos unfortunately), but I will call again when I get back.... My opinion of Zeiss is falling as I write. Tyson Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
azryan Report post Posted June 10, 2007 After leaving three phone messages I still haven't heard back from Karen at Zeiss about getting a loaner pair. I'm on my way out into the field for a couple of weeks (without any binos unfortunately), but I will call again when I get back.... My opinion of Zeiss is falling as I write. Tyson thats very unfortunate to hear.... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TREESTANDMAN Report post Posted June 10, 2007 Tyson, Thank you for sharing your experience with us. If more people would share their stories and write accurate, well thought out letters to the manufacturers, customer service should eventually improve. I know for me, your situation has influenced me to steer clear of Zeiss in the future. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SilentButDeadly Report post Posted August 3, 2007 I got my 15's back on Monday. All said and done it took just shy of 5 months. The representative at Zeiss never acknowledged any of my complaints about the time it was taking or her failure to get me a loaner pair. I went on 2 scouting trips without any good optics - which definitely hindered me. As for the repair - I am happy with the work that was done - the binos look great and they are working better than ever (typical Zeiss quality). What I am unhappy about is that I am not sure how square the USA representative was with me concerning the repair. For 450 dollars I was only supposed to get the parts around the bent ocular replaced, the binos cleaned and focused. The repair receipt I received had several additional repairs listed on it - one of which they obviously did. I am not sure if the price I paid was for ONLY the repair I requested or for the additional repairs I did not agree to. I am not complaining that they did the extra work - I am just wondering if they milked me for more than I could have paid on the repair I asked for. In addition to the ocular repair, they replaced the rubber armor, and there is no way of finding this out - but on the repair receipt it says they REPLACED THE PRISM SYSTEM!!!! If that happened than Zeiss just lost alot of money from me - the original estimate that had the prism system being replaced had the bill at 2500 dollars. I actually think that the service rep here in the US was so inept that she forgot to tell the Germans not to change the prisms and only billed me for the stuff I asked for.... Oh well - I've got my babies back now and I am going to New Mexico in 4 weeks to kill an elk. Peace out! Tyson Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
