Re: Viper PST 2nd time sending back
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: LRRPF52</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I'll take Vortex's customer service over NF any day, any month, any year. I know several shooters who can't even get a response from NightForce, and they own several NF tubes, one even is sponsored on the US Shooting Team for a certain major rifle maker, and has won against foreign teams on their own turf.
Last time I saw him, he had ditched the NF in favor of Vortex Razor HD. Having purchased an NXS 5-22x56 before, I started wondering what service little old me (suctomer) would get if a sponsored shooter who's entire US team's rifles are topped with NF can't get service.
I waited for my USO for 17 months, and it had a piece of debris in the FOV, in addition to a smudge on the Cerakote finish. I was told to beat the scope on a phonebook until the debris moved. After paying $2700+ for a top-tier rifle optic for competition, and I find it defectve upon opening the package, is it really a good idea to tell the <span style="font-style: italic">suctomer</span> to aggressively beat something with the scope??? (I swung away like Babe Ruth, I must admit.) I was fuming mad, while being encouraged to lash out violently on the scope...good combo!
When I blew out the side focus on an S&B PMII 5-25x56, I got to experience the full shebang that S&B's service is. When it finally was returned half a year later, the side focus was reversed, so that your 100m focus was infinity, and infinity was up close! Nice!
Don't get me wrong, as I appreciate S&B, USO, and NF glass for what they are, but Vortex responds promptly, honors their warranty (which can't be beat), and makes a great product line. As I see it, the service line-up is this:
<span style="font-weight: bold">Vortex:</span> Quick, responsive, their product, they'll fix it, customer needs to be happy.
<span style="font-weight: bold">NightForce:</span> Crickets
<span style="font-weight: bold">S&B:</span> $3200-$3400 scope, critical component breaks, long wait for repair, repair is done like a Chinese new scope, which is beyond shameful for a German company.
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I've got to say, I feel sorry for your luck! I have two Vortex PSTs (2.5-10x an 4-16x FFP), two NFs (8-32x BR and 12-42x NXS), and one S&B (5-25x). I've also had "issues" (most were embarassing rookie mistakes like zero-stop settings
) with all three manufacturers. EVERY time I have contacted Vortex (through email), NF (email), and S&B (PMed Jerry R here) I was contacted within 24hrs. EVERY time they either gave me correct instruction on how to fix my "problems" or how to send the scope back to them.
The only scope I had to send back was my Vortex 4-16x50 FFP due to the reticle rotating when I rotated the magnification ring. Sure it was frustrating but shit happens and I had it back in a week which was just fine with me.
All three manufacturers and their customer service departments are great in my opinion. While things may go wrong and bad components may get used accidentally, all three companies stood by their products and were committed to making it right. I couldn't ask for more.
Again, I am sorry for your experiences and if you're ever in the Augusta, GA area, hit me up and I'll buy you a beer!