Re: USO Problems (Dust / Dirt) - Anyone Else?
I recently received a SN3 that I ordered in January. Actually, I received it for the second time since it had to go back for a fix. I requested left side windage, and special engraving of the EREK knob. I basically wanted the 1/4 moa EREK to have all the numbers aligned top-row over bottom-row (similar to the Mil style). My brother ordered his scope at the same time, with no special requests like mine had. I emailed a drawing showing how the EREK knob should be done. I don't imagine it has likely ever been done that way, and I told my brother jokingly after ordering it there was no way they would get it right, even with my sketch in hand to guide them. He was sure they would. (His scope came perfect with no issues).
When it arrived, sure enough, it was engraved wrong. I chuckled when I saw it, because I just didn't expect it to happen right the first time. But I noticed that they pack the scope in bubble wrap in a inner box, then put that box in an outer box with styro chips as cushion between. Excellent. What's not so excellent is that they don't pad the ends enough, so it allowed to slide back and forth a couple inches. And they don't bubble wrap it 360 degrees. They just put a bottom pad in the box, then lay a "lid" pad over the top and push the sides down around the sides of the scope. During transit, the guerillas at FedEx play ball with them enough that the top pad's sides rides up and allows the scope to flop around and let the windage knob scrape and bang against the sidewall of the inner box. The box wall had scrape marks over a couple inch area with tiny dents where it had been impacting it. My brother's windage knob knocked a moon-shaped hole in the box wall. No apparent damage except scuffed anodizing on the knob. Is that a big deal? Not really, but why challenge a $2500 scope with inadequate packing?
My brother wrote JBW III and he responded, thanking him for the info, etc. So we were curious how mine would come, as it arrived (first time) a while after his. Same thing. No change in how they pack them.
When I found my EREK knob had not been engraved right, I called and arranged to send it back. No offer to send a prepaid shipping label. I paid $50 to have it custom packed and fully ensured. I feel that if I want to ship an item for something I want, then I should pay. If a mfr made a mistake, they ought to pay the return, especially at this pricing. S&W Firearms and others do that. No biggie, I paid to ship it back, slightly irritated.
I never called once between Jan. and April to ask when my scope would be built. After it got back to USO for the fix, I never called for 5 weeks as I hate to be a pest. But finally I figured I had to or who knows how long it might take. I know they're busy. Apparently it slipped through the cracks. I made sure JBW knew about it with a cordial email. He jumped all over it and by the next day or so it was fixed and on it's way back. I specifically asked that it be packed right this time so it would not be banging the windage knob up against the box wall.
Got it back, opened the box. Same old packing that lets it knock around in the box and rubbed the box raw again. Whatever. Slightly irrtated again. I sent a followup note (long, with pics of inside box wall scraping) to JBW, in hopes of having them finally see the need to end pack the scope to prevent movement and fully wrap them to keep the knob from impacting the box for future buyers. No reply. I guess USO just figures if it's not causing damage that has to be repaired, then why bother? Another slight irritation.
Knob re-engraved perfectly this time, and looks great. I did find a large, plainly visible spec of something at about 9 o'clock, just below the left leg of the reticle. I cleaned the lenses twice, and tried the phonebook thumping and it's still there. At low power, it appears not far from the center, and when mag. is raised, it appears to move to the outer edge of the view and get blurry. I'll shoot it a while and see if recoil knocks if off. If not, it is obtrusive enough as to be unacceptable (in any scope, much less one of this cost).
My isssues don't amount to a lot. 5 weeks didn't kill me, but it seemed to me that fixing it after I spent about an hour composing a long letter with photos and a drawing of exaclty how to get it right (the EREK knob), didn't seem to result in much sense of importance to take care of it until I got JBW involved. My little irrtations with this experience aren't a big deal. I love the scope, and would definately consider buying another USO. But maybe sometimes subconscious effects do happen..... I needed a scope for another rifle, and a few days ago I ordered a NightForce. I didn't rule out a USO, just decided to give a NF a try.
Just telling my experience with USO, which was mostly all good.
