Vortex Optics - Customer Service Experience

[270quest]

Just sharing my most recent customer warranty experience thru Vortex. My son has a pair of 10x42 Vortex Viper HD Bino's I bought him a couple years ago. These were the special Cabela's set that had the smaller Field of View that Cabela's sold for $299 around the holidays. They are actually a very good binocular for the price and very comparable to others costing up to $5-600. They were perfect for my son and the usage as he typically gets to hunt 5-6 days a year and that's it. Even being just 16, it seems he picks out a lot of animals with those binos - they have served him well.

Anyway, this past hunt, he left them on the back of the UTV as took off from a glassing spot and the fell and hit a rock and it busted the right eye piece housing.100% his fault. When we got back, I emailed Vortex and gave them the serial number and description of what happened. Within 24 hours, I got a response saying they would overnight us a new pair and send a prepaid label to send back the damaged pair. Well today, we just received a brand new pair of VIPER HD 10x42s - the normal pair, not the Cabela's version with smaller FOV.

Pretty awesome experience with that warranty claim.

Am I a diehard Vortex fan - no, do I use their products - yes (I have Razor 10x42 UHD and these Viper HDs of my son) am I going to go out and switch all my optics to vortex - no, but I have to give credit where credit is due and that is they 100% took care of me and my son on this binocular warranty issue.

 

[Geewhiz]

I have had similar experience with vortex. Very good service.

 

[KenLee]

Like an ugly stripper, ya gotta work harder when peddling inferior merchandise.

 

[Geewhiz]

Like an ugly stripper, ya gotta work harder when peddling inferior merchandise.

I bet my vortex binos have spotted more bull elk than whatever yours are lol

 

[KenLee]

I bet my vortex binos have spotted more bull elk than whatever yours are lol

Never looked for an elk, so you'd be correct. Doesn't mean that 80% of Vortex sales volume isn't junk.

 

[Geewhiz]

Never looked for an elk, so you'd be correct. Doesn't mean that 80% of Vortex sales volume isn't junk.

We all know there are better optics out there,.. but "junk", really?

 

[KenLee]

We all know there are better optics out there,.. but "junk", really?

I've bought 4 Vortex products. All scopes. All failed. Replacements failed. Sold 2nd set of replacements when they came in.
Crossfire, Diamondback, Viper, Razor.
Compared to all other scopes I've used in 51 years, 3 failed. Yeah junk to me.

 

[Macintosh]

Agree that where its a make or break thing I cant have a failure in without seriously impacting a trip, vortex isnt where I turn. At the same time, i have a number of vortex products that Ive been very happy with and they have been great to deal with. Eyes wide open here, and I will continue to buy vortex where it makes sense for me.
Glad to hear the OP had new binos in a hurry!

 

[Hnthrdr]

I found a damn pair of bino chewed up in the woods in a drainage while I was elk hunting. They shipped a new pair no questions asked, same thing when my daughter was playing with a pair and the wife ran over them in the garage. Never dog on that warranty they are the warranty GOAT! Haha that said. They are not the end all be all for optics… but respect given where due

 

[270quest]

I would be hard pressed to want to try their riflescopes other than the Razor LHT line (Only one that seems it would fit my needs/usage - but I am not a fan of the reticle option) but on the binos side, my Razor UHD are top shelf glass and my sons' vipers hd's are a very solid mid range bino. I think that is the extent I will own Vortex products, but it something goes wrong with those products, good to know they will be covered....

 

[Ucsdryder]

Why does someone always have to turn every vortex thread into a dumpster fire? I wish there were more companies that had vortex customer service model.

Oh and my LHT is on year 4. I know they all fail and not one has ever made it to any trailhead while riding on a cushioned back seat without losing zero but mine just keeps on

 

[KenLee]

Why does someone always have to turn every vortex thread into a dumpster fire? I wish there were more companies that had vortex customer service model.

Oh and my LHT is on year 4. I know they all fail and not one has ever made it to any trailhead while riding on a cushioned back seat without losing zero but mine just keeps on View attachment 783870

There were alot of happy Pinto drivers getting that good fuel mileage also

 

[Ucsdryder]

There were alot of happy Pinto drivers getting that good fuel mileage also

Apples to apples.

It’s like saying every ford sucks, from a ford pinto to a ford f350.

Yes vortex makes some low end stuff at a price point that many people are comfortable with. My buddy has some viper binos that he bought on sale for 200 dollars. They’re awesome for the price, and while my ZEISS are better, it’s arguable how much better. They also make some high end stuff that works great.

Again, I don’t see why the need to bash vortex every time someone posts anything positive.

 

[Hnthrdr]

Wait… all fords don’t suck? This is news to me

 

[KenLee]

Apples to apples.

It’s like saying every ford sucks, from a ford pinto to a ford f350.

Yes vortex makes some low end stuff at a price point that many people are comfortable with. My buddy has some viper binos that he bought on sale for 200 dollars. They’re awesome for the price, and while my ZEISS are better, it’s arguable how much better. They also make some high end stuff that works great.

Again, I don’t see why the need to bash vortex every time someone posts anything positive.

You have 8 of 8 fail on you and see how you feel about "need" to warn others. Seems like they are getting what they earned.

 

[kevingm1987]

I've bought 4 Vortex products. All scopes. All failed. Replacements failed. Sold 2nd set of replacements when they came in.
Crossfire, Diamondback, Viper, Razor.
Compared to all other scopes I've used in 51 years, 3 failed. Yeah junk to me.

I think Tommy Boy said it best:
"Ted:
But why do they put a guarantee on the box then?

Tommy:
Because they know all they solda ya was a guaranteed piece of sh*t. That's all it is. Hey, if you want me to take a dump in a box and mark it guaranteed, I will. I got spare time. But for right now, for your sake, for your daughter's sake, ya might wanna think about buying a quality item from me."

Classic movie, everyone should watch it.

 

[Ucsdryder]

You have 8 of 8 fail on you and see how you feel about "need" to warn others. Seems like they are getting what they earned.

Not going to lie. That is impressive! I don’t own a ton of vortex, a rangefinder and 2 scopes, but I haven’t had a failure yet.

What are the 8 items and how did they fail?

 

[Ucsdryder]

Wait… all fords don’t suck? This is news to me

I was waiting for some smart ass to come along! And I don’t necessarily disagree!

 

[KenLee]

Not going to lie. That is impressive! I don’t own a ton of vortex, a rangefinder and 2 scopes, but I haven’t had a failure yet.

What are the 8 items and how did they fail?

Crossfire, Diamondback, Viper, Razor.
It's been 5-8 yrs now, but I remember failure to adjust windage or elevation and failure to hold zero. One or two replacements didn't have enough travel to adjust to zero...on rifles the original scopes did

 

[KenLee]

Apples to apples.

It’s like saying every ford sucks, from a ford pinto to a ford f350.

Yes vortex makes some low end stuff at a price point that many people are comfortable with. My buddy has some viper binos that he bought on sale for 200 dollars. They’re awesome for the price, and while my ZEISS are better, it’s arguable how much better. They also make some high end stuff that works great.

Again, I don’t see why the need to bash vortex every time someone posts anything positive.

Oh I actually said "80% of their sales volume is junk", so not every product line. Some of the higher end may be ok. I'm sure they sell many more lower end scopes than $1400 scopes.