I've never owned a FFP, MIL Reticle , and Side Focus scope and tried an Athlon Argos BTR 6-24 x 50 knowing it was low end but seemed to have a lot of features for the $$. The Parallax Side Focus failed on its 2nd outing. I called the toll free number and explained the problem and it seemed they had a very small percentage of the same failure on some early scopes and advised me to return it. Within a week of them receiving the return, I received a new scope. The day after I received the scope they called me as a follow up. Looks like great warranty service.
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Rifle Scopes Athlon Riflescope Warranty Service
- Thread starter Billl223
- Start date
my friend bought the even lower end Athlon, Talos SFP. i was helping help to zero it. Moment after the first shot, the sight picture was out of focus. I re-focus Parallax Side Focus then fire another round. Sight picture was out of focus again. He return it back to the amazon the same days.
Same Experience as OP, great service! I have several 4-14 Talos BTR’s with APLR2 reticle for my 22s. Had the side focus on one go bad, so I shipped it back and they sent me a new one within a week.
I have had the exact same experience. Had an inner lens crack. Sent it back and had a brand new scope in 2 weeks. Thats counting shipping there and back.
I haven't had an issue with my scopes but a buddy picked up a cronus this week and the new box design is nicer cosmetically, but not as protective. I sent them an email about it and got a nice response back the next day. IMO, That's good customer service.
Maybe I just got lucky, but so far I've not needed Athlon's warranty service on my 4.5-27 Cronus BTR. Scope was one of first ones delivered when first available and presently has about 1400 6.5 Creedmoor rounds on it. The glass is top notch and the turret tracking, repeatability, and return to zero on my sample has been spot on. I've tested turrets to +12.0 mils elevation and +/-4.0 mils windage (any more and I would have run off the edges of the cardboard).
Neither the elevation or windage turrets required any click corrections as no discernible error was measured. For example, at 100m distance, dialing +12 mil elevation, the predicted point of impact should be 120cm high when compared to the zero. Actuals at target over three test runs measured 119.8, 119.2, and 120.5cm.
Neither the elevation or windage turrets required any click corrections as no discernible error was measured. For example, at 100m distance, dialing +12 mil elevation, the predicted point of impact should be 120cm high when compared to the zero. Actuals at target over three test runs measured 119.8, 119.2, and 120.5cm.
I have an Athlon Talos BTR on a 22. I have sent it back twice - once due to the turrets and the second time I dropped my rifle. They replaced it both times.
A lot of features, really good glass for the $ for a low-end scope. My brother-in-law had an Argos BTR he sent back 5 times for the parallax issue. Sold the 6th scope without mounting it.
They do have great customer support/service.
The story "I bought an Athlon due to the features and price. After..... I had this problem.....I sent it back and they took care of me promptly. Great customer service."
There are literally thousands of those statements on the internet. Thousands. I wonder how much $ they get to deduct on their taxes as business expense due to warranty claims.
It's obvious there is something wrong with the internals they use.
This is why when earlier this year despite all the great reports on the Cronus BTR - and Cabela's having the Cronus on sale for $1K - I chose to buy a Bushnell DMR 2 instead of a Cronus. I have more faith in that during a match the Bushnell won't break. It can, but I have confidence in it.
One match with it so far and it performed perfectly out to 1K.
Non-match gun or non-hunting gun Athlon? Sure. Anything else is a pass for me. YMMV.
A lot of features, really good glass for the $ for a low-end scope. My brother-in-law had an Argos BTR he sent back 5 times for the parallax issue. Sold the 6th scope without mounting it.
They do have great customer support/service.
The story "I bought an Athlon due to the features and price. After..... I had this problem.....I sent it back and they took care of me promptly. Great customer service."
There are literally thousands of those statements on the internet. Thousands. I wonder how much $ they get to deduct on their taxes as business expense due to warranty claims.
It's obvious there is something wrong with the internals they use.
This is why when earlier this year despite all the great reports on the Cronus BTR - and Cabela's having the Cronus on sale for $1K - I chose to buy a Bushnell DMR 2 instead of a Cronus. I have more faith in that during a match the Bushnell won't break. It can, but I have confidence in it.
One match with it so far and it performed perfectly out to 1K.
Non-match gun or non-hunting gun Athlon? Sure. Anything else is a pass for me. YMMV.
If I may point out that the context of this thread is about warranty service. So it stands to reason people are going to comment the most often on warranty service. Even so there aren't very many comments. Keep in mind that the Argos is a "very inexpensive scope" loaded with great features and it shouldn't be thought to be held to the standards of scopes costing 2-3-4-5 times the cost.
I personally haven't had to send any of my Athlon scopes back for repair/out of 8 -10 of them, I've lost count because I sold some to friends.
Guys, please keep in mind that there are 10's of thousands of the Argos BTR's out there. The failure rate is small and if I were to guess, not any more than some Co's and not much more than others.
Put any company's name into a thread about warranty work and you'll get the usual responses of failures, right??!!
To go along with what steve123 said: The issue with my Argos was actually self induced. I had too low of rings and the objective bell was contacting the top of my rail system on my RPR Gen 2 with the sunshade and scope cap attached, so this was torquing the optic and was most likely what caused the failure. Athlon still replaced it for free and was very pleasant on the phone to boot.
The glass on the three Argo BTRs I had a while back were all very very good for the $$$
I had picked up two and had a very tight/hard mag ring with one, when I contacted CS, they sent me a new scope (had to return the old one).
I'd buy another Athlon even though I currently don't own one right now.
I had picked up two and had a very tight/hard mag ring with one, when I contacted CS, they sent me a new scope (had to return the old one).
I'd buy another Athlon even though I currently don't own one right now.
Needed the warranty for a Helos. The reticle canted and in turn wouldn’t adjust parallax out.
Called them, they were quick to help, got it sent back and received a new one quickly. The new one had a problem right out of the box with the ocular focus being froze up. I called them, they told me to twist it hard because the grease “froze up” inside the scope. I heard all I needed to know, when I was told the grease was froze. I was never so happy to dump a scope in my life. It really turned me off on Athlon.
Called them, they were quick to help, got it sent back and received a new one quickly. The new one had a problem right out of the box with the ocular focus being froze up. I called them, they told me to twist it hard because the grease “froze up” inside the scope. I heard all I needed to know, when I was told the grease was froze. I was never so happy to dump a scope in my life. It really turned me off on Athlon.
I get the argument that its better to make a product that doesn't need customer service, and the very high end optocs typically have that.
However, for those people with a lower budget ceiling, knowing that your stuff will get fixed is a good thing. I have had middle of the road SWFA, Bushnell, Vortex, Leupold, Athlon, Primary Arms, etc. That's what my budget has allowed. Never had an issue with any of them, but you can always find someone that has. I would want to know that if I did have an issue with them, they would get fixed.
However, for those people with a lower budget ceiling, knowing that your stuff will get fixed is a good thing. I have had middle of the road SWFA, Bushnell, Vortex, Leupold, Athlon, Primary Arms, etc. That's what my budget has allowed. Never had an issue with any of them, but you can always find someone that has. I would want to know that if I did have an issue with them, they would get fixed.
Here is my way of thinking regarding warranty claims as a general rule:
less expensive scopes -> more units sold -> (ASSUME 3% NEED WARRANTY) -> more warranty claims -> more people to post about issues
more expensive scopes -> less units sold -> (ASSUME 3% NEED WARRANTY) -> less warranty claims -> less people to posting with issues
I think most will agree the market for a $500 scope is much broader than the market for a $2500 scope with regards to the sheer number of possible unit sales. As an ilustrative example, making some basic assumptions, take the following two scopes:
$500 scope -> 10,000 units sold -> (ASSUME 3% NEED WARRANTY) -> 300 warranty claims -> max of 300 people posting issues
$2500 scope -> 1,000 units sold -> (ASSUME 3% NEED WARRANTY) -> 30 warranty claims -> max of 30 people posting issues
I think it is safe to infer you are more likely to have significantly more people available to bitch about a cheaper scope not performing than you would about a more expensive scope not performing. Typically, we subconsciously associate a higher number of complaints with perceived lower "Quality." As this example shows, the $500 scope had 10x more failures/potential complainants than the $2500 scope, hence it is assumed to be inferior in quality even though it experienced the identical failure rate as the more expensive scope.
less expensive scopes -> more units sold -> (ASSUME 3% NEED WARRANTY) -> more warranty claims -> more people to post about issues
more expensive scopes -> less units sold -> (ASSUME 3% NEED WARRANTY) -> less warranty claims -> less people to posting with issues
I think most will agree the market for a $500 scope is much broader than the market for a $2500 scope with regards to the sheer number of possible unit sales. As an ilustrative example, making some basic assumptions, take the following two scopes:
$500 scope -> 10,000 units sold -> (ASSUME 3% NEED WARRANTY) -> 300 warranty claims -> max of 300 people posting issues
$2500 scope -> 1,000 units sold -> (ASSUME 3% NEED WARRANTY) -> 30 warranty claims -> max of 30 people posting issues
I think it is safe to infer you are more likely to have significantly more people available to bitch about a cheaper scope not performing than you would about a more expensive scope not performing. Typically, we subconsciously associate a higher number of complaints with perceived lower "Quality." As this example shows, the $500 scope had 10x more failures/potential complainants than the $2500 scope, hence it is assumed to be inferior in quality even though it experienced the identical failure rate as the more expensive scope.
I think if optic companies released the numbers, you would also find a significantly lower percent of their more expensive/high end scopes are returned for warranty. Much of this is also due to the QC which is done. Cheaper optics are more of a random spot check QC which requires less manpower/cost. Higher end scopes are either spot checked more frequently or every single optic part is checked. This adds to the cost per scope significantly and is reflected in price. I'm sure they are also inserting a "premium" for the peace of mind that your optic likely won't fail on you(always going to be exceptions) and you won't need to send it back.
So, if say the high end optic only had a 3% return rate due to better parts and QC, and the lower end had a 5% increase.......you'd have 66% more failures comparatively and the lower end scopes are going to out sell the higher end exponentially.
Basically.........that's the long way of saying you paid ~1k for an optic, what did you expect?
So, if say the high end optic only had a 3% return rate due to better parts and QC, and the lower end had a 5% increase.......you'd have 66% more failures comparatively and the lower end scopes are going to out sell the higher end exponentially.
Basically.........that's the long way of saying you paid ~1k for an optic, what did you expect?
I can see volume having a effect on percentage of returns.
But... it doesn’t take long to do the math on some of these scopes.
Ffp
Side parallax
Etched reticle
Exposed turrets
And often comes with ring, caps and level promos.
All for 380$!
If they have half of that in actual parts, I would be surprised.
And in my experience, I have had far less trouble with 1000$ optics than I have with sub 500$ optics.
But... it doesn’t take long to do the math on some of these scopes.
Ffp
Side parallax
Etched reticle
Exposed turrets
And often comes with ring, caps and level promos.
All for 380$!
If they have half of that in actual parts, I would be surprised.
And in my experience, I have had far less trouble with 1000$ optics than I have with sub 500$ optics.
Still happy with your Athlon? Tried an Ares BTR yesteday really liked everything about it....just keeping my eyes peeled for a deal I can't pass up to try one. Thanks for your thoughts on performance since then...
First of all, really appreciate all the comments and feedbacks here...does not matter, good or bad. This is where we started Athlon and love to hear from you all! every time when I heard about a customer having some issues with a product I feel and share the pain with them. let me share a bit logic behind some choices we made when we designed our products. When we found and launched Athlon Optics, we set our mission statement that is offering good quality and feature-enriched products at affordable price so more people can participate and enjoy the sport. We would not launch any products if those can not meet this criteria. With this in mind, let's pick the most popular Argos BTR scopes as an example...we could have used better mechanical parts and better system while might have to trade some features off, such as FFP, illuminated Christmas tree reticle, level of tracking accuracy, or retail at sub $400 price, and all of which really matter to and can benefit a vast majority of the people in the community. By all means this is not an excuse for having bad products and failure rate should be down to 1% or below.
This is the learning pain we have had, and we are standing behind it to get it right so people can afford and enjoy it and get the most out of it, having a peaceful mind knowing for sure they are covered does not matter what and when ( we have been repairing and replacing products at no cost for customers who dropped and damaged their products through their hunts or other normal usages).
We have thousands of customers who took a leap of faith on Athlon products saved the money from the optics and used them else where. Sometimes it is very hard to improve quality and reduce failure rate by even 1% without incurring any cost increase especially when you do not have any premium built into it from the beginning, however we are trying our best everyday ( 100% QC, improving consistency level on mechanical parts, more training with manufacturer partners, introducing more advanced quality management systems, etc). We will not have 100% perfection on our products in the near future or never will, but we know we have 100% or beyond 100% right attitude standing behind our products and serving the community. This is the commitment from the founder and CEO of Athlon Optics. Enjoy and have fun with the sports we all love everyday!!!
Stay tuned for 2020...we have more exciting products coming up!
This is the learning pain we have had, and we are standing behind it to get it right so people can afford and enjoy it and get the most out of it, having a peaceful mind knowing for sure they are covered does not matter what and when ( we have been repairing and replacing products at no cost for customers who dropped and damaged their products through their hunts or other normal usages).
We have thousands of customers who took a leap of faith on Athlon products saved the money from the optics and used them else where. Sometimes it is very hard to improve quality and reduce failure rate by even 1% without incurring any cost increase especially when you do not have any premium built into it from the beginning, however we are trying our best everyday ( 100% QC, improving consistency level on mechanical parts, more training with manufacturer partners, introducing more advanced quality management systems, etc). We will not have 100% perfection on our products in the near future or never will, but we know we have 100% or beyond 100% right attitude standing behind our products and serving the community. This is the commitment from the founder and CEO of Athlon Optics. Enjoy and have fun with the sports we all love everyday!!!
Stay tuned for 2020...we have more exciting products coming up!
Hey bud, good to see you check in!
Just letting you know that I won my division at our state Field Target air rifle match for the 4th year in a row with my original Argos BTR 6-24x50 on my Mac1 USFT. It's always performed and to this day all of my other Athlon scopes haven't had any issues. Thanks a bunch for good affordable FFP scopes!
BTW I had to send one of my S$B's back, twice in fact, for the same issue.
Love me those .2 mil reticles in the Talos BTR and the Ares BTR. ""Please"" consider them, maybe with a .05 mil center dot instead, in your Midas TAC line, which IMO is the best less expensive scope in it's price range in the entire FFP scope market right now!
Just letting you know that I won my division at our state Field Target air rifle match for the 4th year in a row with my original Argos BTR 6-24x50 on my Mac1 USFT. It's always performed and to this day all of my other Athlon scopes haven't had any issues. Thanks a bunch for good affordable FFP scopes!
BTW I had to send one of my S$B's back, twice in fact, for the same issue.
Love me those .2 mil reticles in the Talos BTR and the Ares BTR. ""Please"" consider them, maybe with a .05 mil center dot instead, in your Midas TAC line, which IMO is the best less expensive scope in it's price range in the entire FFP scope market right now!
We have been in this industry for a very long time and I can fairly state that Athlon pays close attention to what goes on in the forums, listens to suggestions and is absolutely one of the best companies when it comes to quality control of their products which is why their products are becoming more and more popular
Finishing this season with my new Athlon Argos BTR 10-40X56 and it has been flawless. Shooting at ranges from 100 yard testing of hand loads to a 1000 yard outing on steel I'm pretty much stunned with Athlon. Tracking is dead on. And this is my most important parameter. Glass is Good to Very Good. Depending on the magnification and let's be realistic at 40X and beyond it's hard to tell if the glass is "not perfect" or we are seeing mirage artifacts. At 30 to 35 power this scope rivals the Vortex Golden Eagle for 1/3rd the price.
I used to say I was going to run this Athlon until I could afford a Golden Eagle but I'm not sure I'd give my Athlon Argos BTR up now. Very impressed...hope they expand the line into a 15-60X56 and compete directly with Vortex on this scope. I'm a Vortex Whore but this Athlon has really impressed me favorably.
Hopefully I'll never need the Warranty but if I do I know I'm covered.
My 2 cents. Oh, and shop with Doug at Camera Land NY. He's the best.
VooDoo
I used to say I was going to run this Athlon until I could afford a Golden Eagle but I'm not sure I'd give my Athlon Argos BTR up now. Very impressed...hope they expand the line into a 15-60X56 and compete directly with Vortex on this scope. I'm a Vortex Whore but this Athlon has really impressed me favorably.
Hopefully I'll never need the Warranty but if I do I know I'm covered.
My 2 cents. Oh, and shop with Doug at Camera Land NY. He's the best.
VooDoo
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I had a really good warranty experience with my Ares ETR. Total turn around was 1 week including shipping, with email updates every step of the way.
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