Zeiss Brand - Down the Drain

[UncleDim]

Zeiss currently has a pair of my Binos for the last 4 months with no date of estimated finish. Oh and, I’m paying for the repair.
Edit it’s been 5 months. It took 1 month for Zeiss to inspect them.

4 or 5 months is ridiculous, ive been considering a set of Conquest HDX or SFL's. I sold my Swarovski EL's to my nephew last year , a mistake. I think ill get another set of them. They've reduced the price on them quite a bit when the NLPURE were released. Ive always liked open hinge binoculars. With a hinge on both ends it just seems to me to be a much stronger binocular. Ive taken alot of falls sheep hunting over the years ,but I never dropped had any of my binoculars ever get banged around. Im retired now and paying 2 thousand bucks for another set of binoculars is a big purchase for me. I sold the EL'S because after 40 years of only used 10x , the wider FOV and steadier hand hold, a little better light gathering just make the 8x more appealing. The 8x50 SFL was the specific model I was considering. Im new to Rokslide, I can really appreciate everyone's experience ,good or bad. Input is always good. Thanks Jim

 

[Laelkhunter]

Where/in what product is Zeiss using Chinese glass? I assume you are aware Zeiss owns Schott. Schott does have a production plant in China but it is not for product used in scopes, spotters or binos.

I just found this after quick Google search. It's on the Gunzone.com website. I would cut and paste the article, but don't have that ability (IT illiterate).
"Zeiss Terra ED binoculars are manufactured in China. HOWEVER they undergo rigorous quality control processes to ensure they meet Zeiss strictest standards".

It doesn't state where the Terra glass is made so speculation could lead you to believe they are using Zeiss glass made by Schott in Germany??


I heard that the Terra riflescopes were made in China also, but nothing in the article mentioned the riflescopes.

 

[omicron1792]

This groupthink that all PE is bad is ridiculous.

 

[WRO]

I just found this after quick Google search. It's on the Gunzone.com website. I would cut and paste the article, but don't have that ability (IT illiterate).
"Zeiss Terra ED binoculars are manufactured in China. HOWEVER they undergo rigorous quality control processes to ensure they meet Zeiss strictest standards".

It doesn't state where the Terra glass is made so speculation could lead you to believe they are using Zeiss glass made by Schott in Germany??


I heard that the Terra riflescopes were made in China also, but nothing in the article mentioned the riflescopes.

Every pair I’ve looked through were completely unimpressive.

There’s a pile of competition in the low to mid tier markets, using your name to break in with a sub par product is a great way to devalue the whole brand.

 

[Bowfinn]

4 or 5 months is ridiculous, ive been considering a set of Conquest HDX or SFL's. I sold my Swarovski EL's to my nephew last year , a mistake. I think ill get another set of them. They've reduced the price on them quite a bit when the NLPURE were released. Ive always liked open hinge binoculars. With a hinge on both ends it just seems to me to be a much stronger binocular. Ive taken alot of falls sheep hunting over the years ,but I never dropped had any of my binoculars ever get banged around. Im retired now and paying 2 thousand bucks for another set of binoculars is a big purchase for me. I sold the EL'S because after 40 years of only used 10x , the wider FOV and steadier hand hold, a little better light gathering just make the 8x more appealing. The 8x50 SFL was the specific model I was considering. Im new to Rokslide, I can really appreciate everyone's experience ,good or bad. Input is always good. Thanks Jim

Yeah the combination of paying for the repair, and the 5+ month wait is what annoys me. I really don’t mind having to pay for repair, but it better be a fairly quick when it’s in my dime.

On a side note one of the repairs they found is a sloppy focus mechanism, but if my memory is correct it’s felt that was since the day I bought it.

 

[Rich M]

Oh how the mighty are falling.

Sell out to a management company, worry about bottom line more, outsource more, sell lower quality stuff.

 

[gr8fuldoug]

This will improve RD time as well as delivery times for new product:
- There have been no job cuts or spending cuts; none are expected either
- This is a German private equity company that purchased the Zeiss global Hunting and Nature division; German PE works differently than the US PE which is typically slash-and-cut
- Big Zeiss would never sell off a division to watch it be sliced up and driven in to the ground by PE or anyone else
- Zeiss is still selling Zeiss and represent the brand and have engineers and product development come to the new company
- Zeiss is planning on greatly reducing our time to market for new products going forward

 

[4th_point]

Thanks for your input, Doug.