Vectronix PLRF15C

[WATERWALKER]

• So I walked into a gun store today & found a used Vectronix PLRF 15C. They're asking $800.00 & it still has the rear plate so I doubt it's stolen. It looks to be in descent shape. I ranged a few things from the doorway & distances seemed accurate. I also shot an azimuth with it. Results were quick. Thoughts?
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  AIAW
  General Fingerbang
  • Join Date: Aug 2001
  • Posts: 2867
  #2
  02-25-2017, 07:01 PM
  That sounds like a hell of a deal, but it's there for a reason at that price... if it's too good to be true then it usually is.
  
  No one would in their right mind would sell it for that price, and you know the store is looking to make their piece on it also.

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  WATERWALKER
  0311 SHELLBACK
  • Join Date: Apr 2014
  • Posts: 190
  #3
  02-25-2017, 07:46 PM
  Exactly. That is why I'm asking for advice. I don't know if there is an underlying issue. Is there a diagnostic check I can run for verification? What is Vectronix service policy? I've heard there CS leaves a little to be desired...

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  DetroitRearView
  Sergeant
  • Join Date: May 2013
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  #4
  02-25-2017, 07:55 PM
  You can run an internal diagnostic check, but $800 screams stolen IMHO.
  
  I would think the shop would tell you where they got it from if they are reputable.
  
  If not, you could get the SN and do the. Investigation yourself.
  
  Many folks do not record their serial numbers, so it may not be traceable as to current owner - but I would call Vectronix, trace it to the retailer, original owner - who did the sell to etc until you come up with the owner prior to the current shop.
  
  I have a PLRF15 that I happily paid $2800 for and the last 15C I saw sell used went for $4K on GB.
  
  http://www.gunbroker.com/item/623931521
  
  http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vectronix-PL...EAAOSw4A5YsIMh
  
  looks like he cross posted, not a good practice IMHO
  Last edited by DetroitRearView; 02-25-2017, 08:19 PM.

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  WATERWALKER
  0311 SHELLBACK
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  #5
  02-25-2017, 08:26 PM
  Awesome. Thank you for the advice, Sir. I'll follow up & see where it leads. I'll let you know!

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[WATERWALKER]

I re-posted this thread in the Equipment Forum so that I may get a few more opinions, etc.

 

[Mr_Happyface]

BUY IT. Or tell me which store so I can take off however many days I'll need to drive there and buy it myself.

 

[WATERWALKER]

I'm going to look into buying it. However, it is very important that I not buy stolen goods. I plan to do a bit of research & ask a few questions.

 

[IanHusaberg]

Its not on You. Its on the Pawn shop. They check out serial numbers on guns with cops. They usually vet customers as part of the process. Are they shady to begin with?

 

[DetroitRearView]

You may want to do a little research on "Theft by Receiving"

 

[Bull Arms]

"Are they shady to begin with?" Classic! If not mistaken, pawn shops are supposed to inventory thier purchased goods on an online data base in an effort to prevent shadiness, and items with serial numbers entered into NCIC will generate a hit which notifies local LE of a possible located stolen item....but like DRV mentioned, that's assuming the victim of theft had the serial number to provide to LE in reporting....or is even aware the item is missing.

 

[IanHusaberg]

Its called a receipt! If you don't knowingly buy stolen goods, its not on you. Last time I checked a Pawn shops are reputable businesses and legal to buy from.

Yo detroit,

Do you belong to the fun police, fun suckers aynonomous? Fed Troll?

 

[WATERWALKER]

I sent an email to Vectronix asking whether this was a unit sold to our military or to a retailer. I've yet to hear back from Vectronix. I called the shop & the sales rep pulled it off the floor for a few days so that I can get an answer. I took a picture of the rear plate & explained my position. He's good w/ everything. I told him as long as everything is legit & the unit passes a diagnostic's check I'll purchase the unit.

The unit doesn't gave a user's manual. Can anyone explain how to perform a diagnostic's check?

PS - The rep explained that they record serial numbers for NCIC purposes & the inventoried items sit in the back room for 3 weeks before hitting the floor.

 

[DetroitRearView]

Its called a receipt! If you don't knowingly buy stolen goods, its not on you. Last time I checked a Pawn shops are reputable businesses and legal to buy from.

Yo detroit,

Do you belong to the fun police, fun suckers aynonomous? Fed Troll?

All I said, was check into Theft by receiving. I am not going to detail my 3 decade career for you.

Most States have a clause in Theft by receiving stolen goods a "price too good to be true" principle that establishes prima facie evidence of presumed knowledge by the buyer, regardless of source of purchase.

Would you think it is a good idea if some dude in South Chicago pulled up in a new 2016 Z06 'Vette and offered it to you for $5K and you handed him the cash for the keys? Obvious culpability there. This is not quite the same, however by virtue of the fact that the OP is asking for advice he knows this may be a bad deal.

This is a forum, he asked for advice. You gave some, others have, as did I...We don't need to get personal, the OP is asking for help.

By the way, Insults are not productive in any conversation.

If the OP buys this unit, and down the road it is found to be stolen, the best case scenario is that he will be out the money he put out, at least until it is fully adjudicated.

The way I look at it, having dealt with pawn shops for years, it is either stolen or the person who pawned it was going through a difficult time in life. They could easily get 2k by just throwing it on ebay. What if it were a grieving widow that had no idea of the value and nobody to help her sell her late husbands toys?

The Pawn shop dealer certainly is bright enough to google values, so if he is selling for $850 he most likely gave the poor woman $400 for the PLRF.
If it were something similar I would try to find out who sold it for such a ridiculously low price, help her get it back and give her fair market value for the unit.

If i bought that unit I would always wonder about it's history and and who got hurt in the deal. I just cannot do that.

Just my opinion. You are welcome to yours.

For function test:

 

[IanHusaberg]

Hey Detroit,

I didn't mean to hurt your feelings or insult you.

I think we can all move on. I'd Imagine the OP is a BIG BOY and can make his own decisions? I'm guess it boils down to me being jealous of the price of A $5,500 range finder for $800.

Sorry if I offended anyone, was not my intent. Just trying to have a little fun stirring the pot.

IanHusaberg out

 

[MSTN]

The importance of not buying stolen goods has been sufficiently emphasized. That is a given in life. I'd like to share another issue I've encountered buying a used LRF.


I bought a used PLRF-10C from a long-time friend that I know and trust 110%. It was well packed when shipped. When I got it, it would range perfectly - until the range got past 600 yards. Past that - nothing.

The damage must have somehow occurred in transit. Vectronix diagnosed the problem as an alignment issue. The repair cost was $2150. My compadre took care of the repair, BTW.

My point in mentioning this is that before anyone purchases a used LRF, it needs to be checked out at extended ranges, preferably off a good tripod.

 

[DetroitRearView]

Hey Detroit,

I didn't mean to hurt your feelings or insult you.

I think we can all move on. I'd Imagine the OP is a BIG BOY and can make his own decisions? I'm guess it boils down to me being jealous of the price of A $5,500 range finder for $800.

Sorry if I offended anyone, was not my intent. Just trying to have a little fun stirring the pot.

IanHusaberg out

No problem, man. Insulting comments do not hurt my feelings. OP asked for advice. Done.

 

[WATERWALKER]

Thank you all for your help thus far. DetroitRearView, I'd like to especially thank you for the function check!

I sent an email to Vectronix (or should I say SAFRAN) on Sunday asking if this unit was originally sold to the military or to a retailer. No response yet. I tired of waiting for a response and I called Vectronix & I spoke w/ a very nice lady who said she'd deliver my message to a supervisor (John) after he finished his meeting. Well, John called back like five mikes later & I was busy with the kids. I'll return the call tomorrow & let y'all know what I find out.

 

[bogeybrown]

I sent an email to Vectronix asking whether this was a unit sold to our military or to a retailer. I've yet to hear back from Vectronix. I called the shop & the sales rep pulled it off the floor for a few days so that I can get an answer. I took a picture of the rear plate & explained my position. He's good w/ everything. I told him as long as everything is legit & the unit passes a diagnostic's check I'll purchase the unit.

The unit doesn't gave a user's manual. Can anyone explain how to perform a diagnostic's check?

PS - The rep explained that they record serial numbers for NCIC purposes & the inventoried items sit in the back room for 3 weeks before hitting the floor.

To do an internal test:

hit the distance key 6 times in rapid succession
"bit" should appear in the screen
you can then use the distance key to scroll through the test

I'm emailing the user manual to another member as soon as he sends me his info, I can shoot you a copy also. It's too big to upload but if I can get it compressed I'll start a thread with the compressed version attached for anyone else who needs it.

A fellow Hider shared it with me many years ago and it's always nice to share these things forward.

 

[WATERWALKER]

Thanks bogeybrown, I appreciate it a ton!

 

[WATERWALKER]

So yesterday,I headed over to the "Pawn Shop" armed w/ a PLRF 15C user's manual (compliments of bogeybrown) & attempted a functions check. It didn't go nearly as well as I'd hoped.

I followed the required steps per the manual - I pressed the distance key 6 X rapidly and all I got was " - - - -."

I also tried to press the distance key once to bring up the red square (which brings up the distance the laser ranges), then press the distance key 6X. No anything except for the red square.

I tried several variations of rapidly pressing the distance key and pressing the distance key once, slight pause and rapidly pressing 3X would bring up " c or E."

The shop owner and I took the unit outside to range objects of varying distance. At first, it accurately read a slew of objects accurately. Then it stopped ranging objects altogether. The shop owner seems to think the batteries are weak ans didn't have a fresh set on hand. I learned from reading the manual that a low battery indicator is "LobA" and I never this code.

I told the shop owner I'd come back during the week & we'd give this another look.

Thoughts?

 

[AIAW]

If it was me I would pretend I never saw it and save myself a great deal of heartache when it turns out that it was there because of a broken trace, bad firmware, etc. There are Terrapin's for sale here, granted for double what that 15C is being (surprisingly) sold for.

There is nothing worse than constantly second-guessing your gear out of initial concerns.

Strange that the self-test wouldn't initiate. A good test would be at very cold temperatures then another at hotter temps. That is a good PCB test if you keep the optics from fogging up. That's really the extent of testing that can be performed unfortunately. The built-in self test should honestly just work unless the fire button was making intermittent bad contact.

 

[WATERWALKER]

I'm going to call Vectronix tomorrow & ask a few questions. I'll attempt to trouble shoot this issue over the phone. I'm not looking to buy this only to sink a bunch of money into it. If it's something simple that's great. If not, I'm passing on it. I'm wondering if the shop owner knows there's a problem. He knew exactly how much this goes for new.

 

[AIAW]

Yeah, that alone is suspicious. It's an amazing deal if it indeed works, no doubt there.

Good luck with Vectronix US (I forget who the company is that services requests for them here) though, they aren't very responsive to civilian requests I have heard. The HQ in Switzerland is quite different from what I have gathered. Emouse has had some good information regarding Vectronix as a company.

 

[LSUbeatUby40]

You may want to do a little research on "Theft by Receiving"

That only applies to receiving property 2nd hand from another private party. That law is translated as to mean the receiving party is knowingly receiving stolen property in order to deprive the rightful owner of ownership. Being that you cannot knowingly and reasonably think that property from a reputable dealer is stolen before you buy means that law cannot apply in public sales. The only people that would be on the hook would be the dealer for selling it.

 

[DetroitRearView]

The OP asked for advice. I gave mine based on years of dealing with pawn shops, case law and seeing this stuff go sideways.

You gave your opinion and we disagree, big deal.

This is a forum, we get to disagree and we certainly do disagree.

Y'all do what you want, just stop quoting me.