As you will see this is my first post to the group. It was suggested that I share a recent experience by someone that I have utmost respect for. To say anything negative as a first post might seem to some that I'm using the forum as a place to complain. I can assure you that I believe that there is a wealth of experience here that I can benefit from ... but I would also like to contribute when it's appropriate. I waited until I was calm enough to express myself without every word starting with "F".
This past April 14 and 15 I was fortunate enough to take a precision rifle course from Rob1 and NOMAD at Brownell's range in southern Iowa. I say fortunate because as we were zeroing in our rifles my essentially new scope was found to not work, and someone there took theirs off their rifle for me to use so my weekend wasn't a loss.
Although I purchased the scope in 2009 it's had less than 40 rounds shot under it. Been a safe queen and hauled out in a padded bag/mat 4 times. The point is that it hasn't been abused ... not even used. I appreciate that you only have my word for it. So I encourage anyone to examine the scope for damage.
After the course I realized a number of things. First was that if I wanted to continue to shoot longer distances I needed to modify my rifle, (oh God, what I'd like to do). Obviously I needed to repair or replace my scope. After having used a milrad reticle that weekend, I wanted to move away from the mildots. So I started researching scopes. It was mentioned at the course that I might be able to send the scope back for full credit toward another scope - what seemed to me like a fair and reasonable solution.
Sorry for all the background, but I feel like some explanation is necessary in lieu of what happened this afternoon.
After no response via email both on and off the forum, I called SWFA. I told the first person that answered that I had a SuperSniper scope that was purchased from them by me in 2009 that was not working properly. I knew that they handled the scope directly and that I wanted to talk to someone about upgrading to a better scope rather than getting mine repaired.
Immediately I could tell it was going to be a problem - for me. Remember ... I'm someone that has bought there products before. Now I need some help for a problem. So immediately I'm transferred to a woman that finds the transaction in their files and confirms who I am, which scope and what I paid for it. When I asked about a trade-in she put me on hold and talked to someone else. After returning she said I needed to talk to another guy. When he got on the line I repeated myself <span style="font-style: italic"><span style="text-decoration: underline">again</span></span>, at which point he commented on why was I talking to him. He couldn't make a decision because I was trying to trade in a broken scope ... so he transferred me back to the woman. She was now confused, and asked me to hold again while she spoke to someone else.
When she came back on the line she began giving me a Return Authorization number. GREAT!!! I'm finally getting somewhere. So I asked how much the credit would be for and was told some amount toward a more expensive SuperSniper scope. What? I told her to forget it. I did appreciate her help but that I had no confidence in the product.
Here's the deal: I wanted to trade in a 10x42 SuperSniper for a Vortex Viper PST 6-24x50 FFP EBR-1 MRAD Reticle. This is not the first scope that I've purchased from them.
I'll let you decide if you believe all the hype around the SS scopes. But for me personally, I find it hard to believe that the military would want a product that craps out with a bump or sitting too long in the safe.
My beef is with the fact that when I needed help I got shoved around like a red-headed step-child. I'm sick of having all this advertising about how great this and that is and how it's tested and so durable and blah, blah, blah ... that when my weekend or hunting trip or whatever it is, is ruined and the so-and-so on the other end of the line doesn't give a damn ... I'm mad as hell.
NONE of them expressed any twinge of apology or regret. Just a take your lumps and get over it. Hey ... no problem. Remember buyer beware.
Other people sell Vortex products ... and if I get the impression that they don't care how they treat me ... well the internet is full of companies waiting to take my money.
Sorry for the length of this ... I hope I've helped someone from making a mistake. Take it as my first contribution to the group.
Thanks for listening,
JONES
This past April 14 and 15 I was fortunate enough to take a precision rifle course from Rob1 and NOMAD at Brownell's range in southern Iowa. I say fortunate because as we were zeroing in our rifles my essentially new scope was found to not work, and someone there took theirs off their rifle for me to use so my weekend wasn't a loss.
Although I purchased the scope in 2009 it's had less than 40 rounds shot under it. Been a safe queen and hauled out in a padded bag/mat 4 times. The point is that it hasn't been abused ... not even used. I appreciate that you only have my word for it. So I encourage anyone to examine the scope for damage.
After the course I realized a number of things. First was that if I wanted to continue to shoot longer distances I needed to modify my rifle, (oh God, what I'd like to do). Obviously I needed to repair or replace my scope. After having used a milrad reticle that weekend, I wanted to move away from the mildots. So I started researching scopes. It was mentioned at the course that I might be able to send the scope back for full credit toward another scope - what seemed to me like a fair and reasonable solution.
Sorry for all the background, but I feel like some explanation is necessary in lieu of what happened this afternoon.
After no response via email both on and off the forum, I called SWFA. I told the first person that answered that I had a SuperSniper scope that was purchased from them by me in 2009 that was not working properly. I knew that they handled the scope directly and that I wanted to talk to someone about upgrading to a better scope rather than getting mine repaired.
Immediately I could tell it was going to be a problem - for me. Remember ... I'm someone that has bought there products before. Now I need some help for a problem. So immediately I'm transferred to a woman that finds the transaction in their files and confirms who I am, which scope and what I paid for it. When I asked about a trade-in she put me on hold and talked to someone else. After returning she said I needed to talk to another guy. When he got on the line I repeated myself <span style="font-style: italic"><span style="text-decoration: underline">again</span></span>, at which point he commented on why was I talking to him. He couldn't make a decision because I was trying to trade in a broken scope ... so he transferred me back to the woman. She was now confused, and asked me to hold again while she spoke to someone else.
When she came back on the line she began giving me a Return Authorization number. GREAT!!! I'm finally getting somewhere. So I asked how much the credit would be for and was told some amount toward a more expensive SuperSniper scope. What? I told her to forget it. I did appreciate her help but that I had no confidence in the product.
Here's the deal: I wanted to trade in a 10x42 SuperSniper for a Vortex Viper PST 6-24x50 FFP EBR-1 MRAD Reticle. This is not the first scope that I've purchased from them.
I'll let you decide if you believe all the hype around the SS scopes. But for me personally, I find it hard to believe that the military would want a product that craps out with a bump or sitting too long in the safe.
My beef is with the fact that when I needed help I got shoved around like a red-headed step-child. I'm sick of having all this advertising about how great this and that is and how it's tested and so durable and blah, blah, blah ... that when my weekend or hunting trip or whatever it is, is ruined and the so-and-so on the other end of the line doesn't give a damn ... I'm mad as hell.
NONE of them expressed any twinge of apology or regret. Just a take your lumps and get over it. Hey ... no problem. Remember buyer beware.
Other people sell Vortex products ... and if I get the impression that they don't care how they treat me ... well the internet is full of companies waiting to take my money.
Sorry for the length of this ... I hope I've helped someone from making a mistake. Take it as my first contribution to the group.
Thanks for listening,
JONES
