Would you pay to test a scope before purchase?

[Tikka595II]

I have a question I have been wondering about are there any companies that rent out precision rifle scopes? I have found rentals for spotters, binos and thermal/ night vision and even a few firearms for “hunting”, but nothing in the precision rifle scope realm.

So am I alone in my interest of wanting to test out a scope before putting the money down for something like a ZCO ,March, Nightforce, or TT, or are there others like me?

 

[TheHorta]

Make question a poll.

 

[brianf]

i would think so, but as we know most people are jerks

like, letting a friend take your car to the store and find out he was doing donuts in the parking lot etc

if the paperwork/contract was worded properly i would think the idea has legs

the down payment/credit card on file will be the sticking point

 

[b6graham]

it's been brought up before. a few times.

for what you can buy and sell scopes for in the PX it's just as easy to do that

imagine the inventory and shipping costs to send scopes around the country all the time

or just go to a match/set up a meet with someone

 

[W54/XM-388]

I have a question I have been wondering about are there any companies that rent out rifle scopes? I have found rentals for spotters, binos and thermal/ night vision and even a few firearms for “hunting”, but nothing in the precision rifle scope realm.

So am I alone in my interest of wanting to test out a scope before putting the money down for something like a ZCO ,March, Nightforce, or TT, or are there others like me?

Your best bet for that would simply be to buy one at the best deal you can find, and then if you don't like it, sell it for a bit less.
Chances are any company offering to "test" those high end scopes will probably be quite a few hundred dollars worth of rental fees.

You can read all the reviews carefully before hand.

Also post around, see if there are some matches in your area, if so, go to the match and shoot it with what you have and then ask anyone there who has one of those scopes if they will let you look through it and see how it seems to your eyes.

 

[b6graham]

from a quick search on renting binos/spotters youre in the ~7-10% of new cost for a week rental

that sounds a lot like what used scopes sell for in the PX...maybe even less than that

reselling a used scope wouldn't see much loss other than shipping

 

[W54/XM-388]

the down payment/credit card on file will be the sticking point

Given endless suggestions to go full on lack of morals when you are the "recipient" or "purchaser" that always seem to be given by folks on SH when discussing transaction issues, I'm going to suggest that won't work as well as someone would hope.

Folks will be keeping the scopes, breaking the scopes, etc and lying through their teeth to the credit card companies to rip the rental company off.

They are going to have to charge quite a bit extra of a premium to cover those losses as well as have an aggressive collection agency signed up to work with them.

 

[redneckbmxer24]

Most people would be too cheap to pay the fee that would be required to make it profitable and to have the 250-500K+ worth of inventory on hand to make it feasible. Combine that with the assholes that will find a way to fuck you over and steal a scope, I just don’t think it would be worth it.

 

[spife7980]

There’s been a few companies that have tried it. They don’t hang around very long.

 

[b6graham]

a better idea would be probably be a thread where people post scope/reticle requests and location and figure out whos close to them

or people post what they have and where they are and others looking can ask for a meet up

 

[W54/XM-388]

from a quick search on renting binos/spotters youre in the ~7-10% of new cost for a week rental

that sounds a lot like what used scopes sell for in the PX...maybe even less than that

reselling a used scope wouldn't see much loss other than shipping

Yep, so renting something like a ZCO or TT that might cost you $400 for the month of rental + shipping, you might as well just buy it at the best deal possible (possibly used in excellent condition) and then use it and then flip it for a couple hundred less or so.

 

[Skeptic1]

I would pay full price with a 60 day money back guarantee. Like mattress companies offer

 

[pineoak]

Not worth it as the vendor IMO

Arguments with customers about condition it left your care vs when they received it vs how it was returned, etc.

Asshats can't seem to mount scopes without ring marks, wiping glass lens with harsh cloths, etc.

 

[Gohring65]

Plenty of feed back here and elsewhere for me not to spend the money.
Most companies will let you return them if it’s not mounted. I can usually test eye box good enough when it’s not mounted and field of view, eye relief is on the spec sheet.
I personally don’t get to excited with turrets. Some feel better than others but as long as they work, I’ll roll with it.

 

[Long Range 338]

Pay to go to a PRS or NRL match and touch as many as you can get your hands on. Training opportunity at the same time.

 

[W54/XM-388]

I would pay full price with a 60 day money back guarantee. Like mattress companies offer

Would you pay full price for a scope someone else used and then sent back?

I'd bet good money that you would of course indignantly say no.

So you use the scope for 60 days then want your money back, what is the seller supposed to do with it?
Oh that's right you want them to take a loss on it.

Now you understand why nobody takes back used scopes for a refund.
For Example EuroOptic will let you return your scope if it's completely unused and never mounted and comes back with everything exactly as brand new.
You mount it in rings, it's yours, or it's a steep restocking fee to cover the discount they will have to offer someone else for a used / demo scope.

Sure that's the mattress store's sales pitch.
You'll find they work to discourage you from doing so.
Not to mention they operate at 200% or more profit margins.
The market is much broader. They can absorb the losses of a few folks that want to return the mattress.

 

[Chickentoast]

There’s been a few companies that have tried it. They don’t hang around very long.

I'm having deja vu. Could swear we discussed this a while back and you had the skinny. Seems like a good idea until you think through the details and realize it doesn't work.

 

[stanley_white]

For reticle purposes, I would like to see a Viewmaster like I had when I was a kid. One reel could have multiple reticles at multiple powers against multiple backgrounds to help a user choose.

-Stan

 

[Tikka595II]

Thank you for the replies so far

There’s been a few companies that have tried it. They don’t hang around very long.

I was unaware that there had been others that tried this I would like to hear more about them if you don't mind sharing.

 

[spife7980]

I dont remember specifics, but its not the first time the bad idea has come up

 

[Skeptic1]

Would you pay full price for a scope someone else used and then sent back?

I'd bet good money that you would of course indignantly say no.

So you use the scope for 60 days then want your money back, what is the seller supposed to do with it?
Oh that's right you want them to take a loss on it.

Now you understand why nobody takes back used scopes for a refund.
For Example EuroOptic will let you return your scope if it's completely unused and never mounted and comes back with everything exactly as brand new.
You mount it in rings, it's yours, or it's a steep restocking fee to cover the discount they will have to offer someone else for a used / demo scope.

Sure that's the mattress store's sales pitch.
You'll find they work to discourage you from doing so.
Not to mention they operate at 200% or more profit margins.
The market is much broader. They can absorb the losses of a few folks that want to return the mattress.

No, you're correct and I agree with you actually. But that wasn't the question now was it?

 

[Skeptic1]

Jesus....... I give up. White flag

 

[MOUNTIC]

If folks are in CO and want to come look through and fondle some scopes, shoot me a note.

 

[RKBArmory]

RKB Armory is pretty close to what the O.P. wanted. We only buy and sell used optics. We give a 30 day guarantee / refund for items returned in the same condition.

If you buy a lightly-used, or well-used, scope, you can mount it and use it. We'll still give you a full refund because the item is already used, and can likely be returned in the same condition.

On the other hand, if you buy a scope that is, "Like new in box," then it better still look that way if you want a full refund. Therefore, you can't use it and expect a full refund.

We had one customer wanted to return something that he bought, "Like new in box." However, he was honest and admitted that he had nicked the finish. We agreed that he could still return it, but he would only get the price for a , "Lightly used," version of that optic. We both were happy.