it's a year, of course they should have sold them by now. You do understand how businesses operate don't you? It makes zero sense to sit on an older gen anything for any period of time, much less a longer duration of more than 6mos as the value deteriorates faster over time. Hell, every year we see better products so current gen loses value over a year. I honestly can't believe your response here, wtf are we in middle school business class here? c'mon, have to believe you are smarter than this. No company, regardless of size sits on older products, in an ever evolving mktplace, much less for a year to the tune of having enough for warranty replacements. Ask yourself, what would you pay for a gen 1 model vs gen 2 12mos out not withstanding other options?
typically a company will dramatically reduce the price of current line prior to releasing a new model. Sitting on inventory is beyond poor business practices and I'm being nice there. Young, small, inexperienced, naive, doesn't matter, it's bad business. Now a small company needs to move product for cashflow and that is basic. Metcalf's law applies hell, in the Arken thread I counted 11 people new to the company products that ordered off that thread alone. As for your last comment on general lack of knowledge, buddy I forgot more than you ever read or think you know on business management. Aside from helping my father run his business with 6 locations and 9 franchises, I also was an adjunct professor at a top 30 business school teaching finance in the mba program after I left my wall street gig. lol your retort demonstrates stupidity and ignorance on business practices and having worked in warranty and customer for 20yrs, I'm left wonder if you were the operator on the end of the phone that is clueless. Take a seat and let the adults talk here.
As for customer service, nothing moves a small company products, not withstanding a game-changing or innovative product, more than price and cs (there is that metcalfs law again). Offering a gen 1 model 12 mos after the gen 2 reached market and has been sold and sold at deep discounts of late is $hitty. All they did there was 'unload' a product they couldn't sell and took the taxable approach to inventory loss. OP should have said I want a newer gen or what can they do on price differential and yes, any company that offers a lifetime warranty should do so regardless of original owner or not as warranty allocations are already embedded in the pricing for future costs.
retarded comes to mind, naive, ignorance, too but retarded to think this is ok or to provide excuses for product that is already bought and has most assuredly been written down by the company accountant.
carry on, this is becoming too arfcom like with the stupidity citing a background in cs. I'll gracefully move on, my point is well know and glad the OP is happy. I like the company, emailed back and forth on some questions when ordering and added to my already placed order that they held until I figured out what mount. Nice scope, seems to punch above it's waistline and loaded with options. Glass is good, not great but at the price, provided it holds up, it's a good buy so I'm happy thus far.
good luck!