Through all the digging I’ve done on this I haven’t heard of anyone else paying more than $175. Not sure what’s different, here is the response.
hank you for giving us the opportunity to repair your binoculars. They have been received and evaluated and the following warranty work will be performed, free of charge. The exterior (focusing knobs, housing, and lenses for example) will be re-greased and cleaned to the best of our ability. All necessary repairs which includes the focusing system and prisms cost $500.
In order to make the necessary repairs, your binoculars will receive many other upgrades. For example, your model is not waterproof – something many people did not know in spite of it clearly being marked as such in our product manuals and catalogs. One of our Austrian trained technicians will build you a new pair of SLC Mark IV’s that will now be waterproof; contain SWAROBRIGHT prisms; each barrel will be housed in a one piece armoring for improved ergonomics and size; have a locking diopter for more consistent focus setting; and more than 40 other brand new parts. Included in the new parts are brand new external lens (with the latest SWAROCLEAN lens coating) and covers, something not normally covered under warranty. They will go through a total of 8 quality control tests along the way. It is considered a rebuild because a handful of internal parts from your binocular are recycled but you can confidently consider them brand new binoculars. For your reference, the last real world retail price of the Mark IV was $1,200.
I don’t know if anyone would buy them for $500 in the classifieds so to me it doesn’t seem worth it with the other glass I would want to get.