I don’t know if you’ve ever had a mechanic who is clearly just throwing parts at a problem with your car, but it’s maddening. Well, my suspicious nature was no match for Vortex’ warranty…they really didn’t care what had caused the issues they just fixed them! The repair sheet on my binoculars was a paragraph long with a whole bunch of technical jargon that basically meant “these things have been through hell," and they came back in the same shape they were in when I unboxed them one Christmas morning many years ago. And even though the warranty is “Transferable,” I kept thinking that I had never submitted a warranty registration card, and my rifle scope was an eBay open box special…I was just sure I was going to get dinged somewhere in this process. My binos were all jacked up, and I’m sure it had something to do with the fact that I’ve dropped them in the field at least 20 different times. One thing is certain - from cliff drops to camp destroying brown bears and house fires to hurricanes - The Lifetime - Unconditional - Transferable -No-Fault Vortex VIP Warranty has you covered.” That sounds pretty all-inclusive, but I was still waiting for some sort of catch. Couple that fact with ‘life’ happening, and there's a lot that can impact your prized optical instruments. The exact verbiage Vortex gives about their warranty is as follows: “VIP Warranty: Optics are meant to be used outside - often times in the harshest environments imaginable. In short, I was blown away with their level of customer service, but that wasn’t the only thing that impressed me… Sure enough, my second “your glass is coming home” email arrived a few days later, which was a couple days sooner than she had predicted in the email. Within an hour I had a response from a real live human who had confirmed where my optics stood in the queue and an updated timeline of when I could expect them. I try not to be a high-maintenance customer, but I finally fired off a quick email just asking for an update. The rifle scope got turned around in six days, and I was pumped! But as I entered the 3rd week since I had sent my binos away without an update, I got a little nervous (especially as Spring bear season was fast approaching). My rifle scope (a Viper 6.5-20x50, since you asked) had a small issue I wanted corrected, and my binos (old school Diamondback 10x50s) had been through close to a decade of hard hunting and needed some serious work. I sent Vortex two separate shipments at the same time. That’s a great system on its own, but I even tested their communication a bit further. Of course, they include the tracking number so you can watch your gear make its way back across the country and to your doorstep. Then, once they completed the repair, a second email arrived letting me know my glass was on its way back to me. The day my shipment arrived at Vortex, I had an email from them assuring me “my glass was in good hands.” It included the service order, reassurance that there really is NOTHING they won’t cover, and even provided timeline estimates for my repairs. Vortex seems to know this, and does a great job keeping you up to date throughout the whole process. Optics are obviously one of the higher-dollar items in a hunter’s arsenal, and it can be super nerve-wracking to ship them across the country wondering what’s going to happen. I just wanted to share my experience in hopes that it helps someone else make an informed purchasing decision. But, here I sit just a few weeks later with all my glass back safely, and let me tell you just a couple reasons I’m now a Vortex guy for life…ĭISCLAIMER: I am not endorsed by or affiliated with Vortex in any way, and they have no idea I’m even posting this. I boxed up my rifle scope and binoculars, shipped them off to Vortex headquarters, and immediately felt naked (it’s a weird feeling to suddenly have two of your primary hunting tools out of your possession). So, while I was a couple months away from my next hunting adventure, I decided to put that Vortex warranty to the test. Well, as the winter hunts came to a close here in AZ, I had two different pieces of Vortex glass that I had been procrastinating getting repaired. But, can it really be that simple? Will they actually cover anything? And will there be a whole bunch of red tape, a list of hidden loopholes, a phone call once they have your glass trying to up-sell you or explain how they can’t fix your problem but won’t be sending you a replacement because of X, Y, or Z? I know, I’m a bit on the suspicious side…I’m working on it! Vortex is one such company! In fact, there’s an entire page on their website dedicated to spelling out just how passionate they are about repairing anything that happens to your optics.
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