Nikon Return

[Rickhem]

I've got a Nikon Slughunter scope that seems to have problems following it around. It has really nice tactile clicks, and would make for a great woods hunting scope, or for a plinking .22lr that might be shot a little further using those BDC circles. It's the standard 3-9x, with a 40mm objective, and the BDC 200 reticle. I bought it used from another site, and had it on a Knight MK85 muzzleloader for a bit. Didn't seem to be optimal for that, and when it wasn't grouping like I was used to, I swapped it for another scope. Same loads shot tighter, with the new scope, but can't really pin that on the Nikon. I have since had this on at least four different rifles, a .357 Henry, a Howa Mini in 6arc, a .22lr, and a .22mag. Seems like groups are always a little bigger with this scope, and lately it seems to be less clear at 40-50 yards than it used to be, but that's also kind of subjective. At this point, I need to know that the scope is meeting specs to have any confidence in it. These scopes are still available at almost every on-line vendor, so still lots out there, and generally get good reviews.

So I wrote to Nikon and asked if I could send it in for service. They have a little questionnaire that I completed, and I then got the OK to send it back to them. Put it in the mail today, which cost just shy of $20. Since Nikon is not in the riflescope business anymore, not sure how this will go, but I'll keep this updated with whatever they say or do.

 

[Pyscodog]

I have heard that they will continue to repair scopes if they have the parts. When the parts run out that's it. (Don't shoot the messenger.)

 

[kd4avp]

I have heard the same as Pyscodog. I am a huge Nikon camera lens fan. A Nikon rep relayed the same story to me some time back. They will service rifle scopes as long as they have parts available. Once that inventory is depleted for said scope, you will probably be out of luck.

 

[Rickhem]

I checked back on this through the portal that Nikon has to access information on a service request. They make you click through the "I agree" page that has tons and tons of disclaimers to get to your own specific information, but it gets you there. The page for my specific submission now says this:

PRODUCT WILL NOT HOLD ZERO PRODUCT REPLACED SRO VOUCHER PROVIDED $330.95

My question now is what does that mean. Am I getting a replacement scope and they value that replacement at $330.95, or do I just get a voucher for that dollar amount?
And if it is a voucher, where can I use that voucher?

Anyway, I'll continue to update this when I have more information.

 

[shoot4fun]

I checked back on this through the portal that Nikon has to access information on a service request. They make you click through the "I agree" page that has tons and tons of disclaimers to get to your own specific information, but it gets you there. The page for my specific submission now says this:

PRODUCT WILL NOT HOLD ZERO PRODUCT REPLACED SRO VOUCHER PROVIDED $330.95

My question now is what does that mean. Am I getting a replacement scope and they value that replacement at $330.95, or do I just get a voucher for that dollar amount?
And if it is a voucher, where can I use that voucher?

Anyway, I'll continue to update this when I have more information.

Only conjecture on my part but I imagine (as Bushnell has done) you have a Nikon "store credit" to allow you to purchase from their own web store at, hopefully, MAP instead of MSRP pricing.
I have Nikon Buckmaster scopes on a couple prairie dog rifles and my plan for their demise is to deposit them in a place where they will have a proper burial.

 

[Turbulent Turtle]

Like @kd4avp , I'm a huge Nikon fan for DSLR and camera lenses. I agree with @shoot4fun and you probably have a Nikon store voucher for that amount. Go to nikonusa.com and look at sports optics. They have nice binos, look at the Monarch series. Or you can look at anything Nikon has. Like that 25x120 bino for $10,000.

 

[ShtrRdy]

I think Nikon got out of the rifle scope business so you must have gotten credit to buy some other Nikon procuct.

 

[Rickhem]

Well, just as many have suggested, the final resolution was that I received a credit of $330.95 towards a single purchase at the Nikon on-line store. I followed up with them asking if that "single purchase" wording meant that I could only use it for a single item, or if I could purchase multiple items and apply the $330.95 towards the total sum. They said that it was up to me how to use that voucher, but that it needed to be used in a single transaction in their store.
I ended up getting a Prostaff 1000i rangefinder, and Prostaff P7 8x42 binoculars, and had to add $20.00 to cover the shipping and taxes that applied.
So while I did really like that scope, and would have been happy to just get a new or a refurbished scope back, this may actually work out better for me.
Thanks to those that followed along and posted responses.