I don't think I've ever posted here as I'm no sniper and not particularly good at hiding either...just ask the whitetails on my lease, they all seem to know exactly where I am every time I step foot on the place.
I come here for information because you guys know what you're doing. I often search through forums and make gear decisions based on what I read here and a couple of other places so thank you all, your experience and knowledge and willingness to share is helpful for more people than you may realize, it matters.
Last year I bought a Kowa 880 spotting scope, might have been from a member here or maybe Rockslide, I'm not sure but it definitely was from a forum that I visit fairly regularly and almost never post. My thought was that I don't want to be glassing at a distance wondering if I'd spent a few more dollars that I could see whatever I'm looking at. It's a FANTASTIC piece of equipment, one of the most expensive pieces of my ever growing gear collection.
About a month ago while sighting in my black powder rifle I had the scope set on a tripod, I was using my crappy backup tripod because I had the wrong plate on the scope. It was windy that day and while adjusting my scope I heard a noise...kind of sounded like a Christmas light bulb breaking. To my horror, there was my $3000 scope laying on the concrete, small shards of glass right beside it. I immediately called Kowa, they aren't answering phones so I emailed them...I NEED this scope for scouting/hunting in my area and I need it right now. I received a response that it would be 6-8 weeks to get it back to me and I was FURIOUS. There are other reasons that I was furious with their response that I won't get into, over that weekend I found a deal on a Vortex, was going to buy whatever their best model is even knowing it wasn't in the same league...I didn't care because I was going to sell the damn Kowa as soon as it was fixed. I won't deal with a company who won't treat me as if they cared.
The following Monday , right before I ordered the Vortex Paul Kardos from Kowa America called me and this is why I'm here now. Paul sent me mailing instructions and overnighted a loaner to me, no deposit, no nonsense...he just shipped it and I was immediately back in business. This blew my mind...he said that it was a demo or something but I'm nearly certian that it was a brand new scope.
People bitch and moan when they are mistreated, I'm a firm believer in calling out people when they do the right thing and Paul not only did the right thing- he went FAR over and beyond, surpassed any reasonable expectations one might have for an out-of-warranty shattered scope. They charged me about $150 for the repair and I got it back over the weekend, I just shipped their "loaner" back.
I just want to return the favor in the only way I know how- to tell the story and hope that it goes far and wide...Kowa was absolutely spectacular in taking care of me and Paul turned this situation from awful to amazing.
Service drives sales- I'm not sure that there is a word for what they did but it was spectacular, above and beyond and going forward it's Kowa first for me.
Thanks for reading, I hope that this helps others when making buying decisions.
I come here for information because you guys know what you're doing. I often search through forums and make gear decisions based on what I read here and a couple of other places so thank you all, your experience and knowledge and willingness to share is helpful for more people than you may realize, it matters.
Last year I bought a Kowa 880 spotting scope, might have been from a member here or maybe Rockslide, I'm not sure but it definitely was from a forum that I visit fairly regularly and almost never post. My thought was that I don't want to be glassing at a distance wondering if I'd spent a few more dollars that I could see whatever I'm looking at. It's a FANTASTIC piece of equipment, one of the most expensive pieces of my ever growing gear collection.
About a month ago while sighting in my black powder rifle I had the scope set on a tripod, I was using my crappy backup tripod because I had the wrong plate on the scope. It was windy that day and while adjusting my scope I heard a noise...kind of sounded like a Christmas light bulb breaking. To my horror, there was my $3000 scope laying on the concrete, small shards of glass right beside it. I immediately called Kowa, they aren't answering phones so I emailed them...I NEED this scope for scouting/hunting in my area and I need it right now. I received a response that it would be 6-8 weeks to get it back to me and I was FURIOUS. There are other reasons that I was furious with their response that I won't get into, over that weekend I found a deal on a Vortex, was going to buy whatever their best model is even knowing it wasn't in the same league...I didn't care because I was going to sell the damn Kowa as soon as it was fixed. I won't deal with a company who won't treat me as if they cared.
The following Monday , right before I ordered the Vortex Paul Kardos from Kowa America called me and this is why I'm here now. Paul sent me mailing instructions and overnighted a loaner to me, no deposit, no nonsense...he just shipped it and I was immediately back in business. This blew my mind...he said that it was a demo or something but I'm nearly certian that it was a brand new scope.
People bitch and moan when they are mistreated, I'm a firm believer in calling out people when they do the right thing and Paul not only did the right thing- he went FAR over and beyond, surpassed any reasonable expectations one might have for an out-of-warranty shattered scope. They charged me about $150 for the repair and I got it back over the weekend, I just shipped their "loaner" back.
I just want to return the favor in the only way I know how- to tell the story and hope that it goes far and wide...Kowa was absolutely spectacular in taking care of me and Paul turned this situation from awful to amazing.
Service drives sales- I'm not sure that there is a word for what they did but it was spectacular, above and beyond and going forward it's Kowa first for me.
Thanks for reading, I hope that this helps others when making buying decisions.
