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Worst Optics Warranty Ever

riverwolf1

Silver $$ Contributor
A month ago I sent a Weaver XR-46 back for warranty repair due to oil spots on the lens!
Today I call to find out status and the customer service rep, says won’t repair and they sent out a Forge 5-27x50, without calling or emailing me! WTF am I supposed to do with a scope that would never be used in short range BR! Then I asked why they didn't send me a refund, and the comment from this clown was the either repair or replace and refunds are not one of their policy’s. Since Bushnell took over weaver, This company has become a shit show! When weaver initially had problems with the XR-46 they bought every one of them back! Never ever will I buy another Bushnell or Weaver anything.
 
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I had a similar experience with Bushnell. I will never buy another product owned by Bushnell as a result. There are many more optics manufacturers out there who do care about customer service and satisfaction.
 
Clearly a 5x-27x scope is not 36 Power. The replacement might be of equal value but it is not the same tool remotely. So I can clearly see why the OP is upset. That said it beats a sharp stick to the eye. While Vista Outdoors might be to blame for all of this it does not excuse Bushnells lack of decorum in how it handles customer service. A happy customer might tell a few close friends or family but a pissed off customer will tell hundreds if not thousands of people for as long as they live! They have an Elite Tactical that is 4.5x30 it is marketed at a far greater price point but they should have sent him that or offered it since it is the closest in power to what he sent in. If they had given him a choice of optics it would have gone better since humans like the perception of choice and having some say!
 
I'll not even look their way. I think that is what they want from the way they are acting.
On the way toward bankruptcy ....
 
Is this the same VISTA OUTDOORS that bought Savage then got rid of the Indian Head logo...replaced it with a stupid looking who knows what it's supposed to be...and just sold Savage? Will not buy Bushnell or Weaver ever if that is the case.
 
Is this the same VISTA OUTDOORS that bought Savage then got rid of the Indian Head logo...replaced it with a stupid looking who knows what it's supposed to be...and just sold Savage? Will not buy Bushnell or Weaver ever if that is the case.

yes that would be the same vista outdoors!
 
A few years ago I returned a Bushnell 2x7 Firefly scope that broke. They just shipped a regular 2x7 scope to me without asking. I called and said WTH? Oh. We don’t make the firefly in the 2x7 any longer! So I asked why didn’t you send me one in 3x9 then. Ecause I wanted the firefly, oh no, that cost more and the regular 2x7 was all they would do! Real nice.
 
Is this the same VISTA OUTDOORS that bought Savage then got rid of the Indian Head logo...replaced it with a stupid looking who knows what it's supposed to be...and just sold Savage? Will not buy Bushnell or Weaver ever if that is the case.
Here's a few more of there subsidiaries to add to your list of not to buy products:
  • Alliant Powder
  • CCI
  • Federal
  • RCBS
  • Speer
  • Hoppies 9
  • Champion
  • Butler Creek
  • Simmons
  • Tasco
  • Millett
  • Bushnell
  • Weaver
  • Primo's
  • Outer's
  • Gunslick
  • Blazer
  • Blackhawk
  • Eagle
Several more, but will stop there.... (tired of typing... lol)
 
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I should be so fortunate to get a Forge 5-27X50 when one of my 19 year old Weaver 6-20X40 quits working. I view this as basically a fair exchange.

Fair to who, I sent them a Benchrest scope, and I am getting back a flipping tactical scope and they didn’t even ask me if that’s ok! How would you like it if you took something in for warranty work and they wouldn’t fix it so they just picked out something for you without asking and you have to accept it because it is of equal value?
WTF is wrong with people today to think that it’s ok for a corporation that makes a bad product that the consumer should be satisfied that he received fair treatment for something he didn’t purchase just because the item they replaced my purchase was of equal value! How about you send in a Savage target Rifle and they send you back a shotgun of equal value, and you would never buy that particular shotgun!
 
I would probably carefully read my warranty looking for the words "replacement of equal value" and "consumer accepts exchange of item of equal value". Then if I did not see these words I would file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission, your state's Attorney General's Office of Consumer Protection, and the Better Business Bureau. Should that fail and if possible, an action in small claims court might occur. This might be impractical should you need to travel a great distance as claims in small claims court be limited to cost of the scope. Bushnell would regard any small claims stuff as a nuisance and would pay up rather than waste wages for some employee to sit waiting in a courtroom. Hopefully, have the original receipts have been retained. Bushnell might produce a Weaver warranty stating "replacement of equal value". There is a distinct possibility that any or all of this stuff might be regarded as frivolous seeing that Bushnell acted in good faith and produced a fair exchange of equal value. A deciding factor might be Natchez's ad for a Weaver XR-48 @ $570-$650 vs. Midway's ad for a Bushnell 4.5-27X50 Forge for $850. This might not be entirely correct but would make for a good argument.

I would not be concerned about returning a firearm for warranty or repair work and having it exchanged for another weapon. I believe a willing or forced exchange of a rifle for a shotgun would constitute an firearm transfer and require the usual background check, production of a photo ID such as valid drivers license or passport. UPS or at least my UPS cheerfully accepts firearms to be shipped to a FFL for repair and back to the original owner - no transfer, same item. Your scope is not a firearm.

I feel your pain - possibly you might consider selling or trading the item on this site - it has some value. My 19 year old Weaver 6-20X40 despite its long and faithful service resulting in some emotional attachment has far less value than a Bushnell Forge 5-27X50 and I would exchange it without hesitation.

Your complaint alerted me to the fact that your Weaver scope could suffer damage from "oil spots on the lens". Many of the newer scopes have improved outer lens coatings that protect from abrasion and contamination - apparently your Weaver bench rest scope did not have this feature. My 19 year old Weaver Grand Slam has had all sorts of crud wiped off all surfaces including exterior lenses using common lens wipe (those wipe thingies in tear open pouches). Did the oil damage the outer lens coatings?

Stuff happens.
 
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I would probably carefully read my warranty looking for the words "replacement of equal value" and "consumer accepts exchange of item of equal value". Then if I did not see these words I would file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission, your state's Attorney General's Office of Consumer Protection, and the Better Business Bureau. Should that fail and if possible, an action in small claims court might occur. This might be impractical should you need to travel a great distance as claims in small claims court be limited to cost of the scope. Bushnell would regard any small claims stuff as a nuisance and would pay up rather than waste wages for some employee to sit waiting in a courtroom. Hopefully, have the original receipts have been retained. Bushnell might produce a Weaver warranty stating "replacement of equal value". There is a distinct possibility that any or all of this stuff might be regarded as frivolous seeing that Bushnell acted in good faith and produced a fair exchange of equal value. A deciding factor might be Natchez's ad for a Weaver XR-48 @ $570-$650 vs. Midway's ad for a Bushnell 4.5-27X50 Forge for $850. This might not be entirely correct but would make for a good argument.

I would not be concerned about returning a firearm for warranty or repair work and having it exchanged for another weapon. I believe a willing or forced exchange of a rifle for a shotgun would constitute an firearm transfer and require the usual background check, production of a photo ID such as valid drivers license or passport. UPS or at least my UPS cheerfully accepts firearms to be shipped to a FFL for repair and back to the original owner - no transfer, same item. Your scope is not a firearm.

I feel your pain - possibly you might consider selling or trading the item on this site - it has some value. My 19 year old Weaver 6-20X40 despite its long and faithful service resulting in some emotional attachment has far less value than a Bushnell Forge 5-27X50 and I would exchange it without hesitation.

Your complaint alerted me to the fact that your Weaver scope could suffer damage from "oil spots on the lens". Many of the newer scopes have improved outer lens coatings that protect from abrasion and contamination - apparently your Weaver bench rest scope did not have this feature. My 19 year old Weaver Grand Slam has had all sorts of crud wiped off all surfaces including exterior lenses using common lens wipe (those wipe thingies in tear open pouches). Did the oil damage the outer lens coatings?

Stuff happens.

Ok Let me explain this better. 3-4 years ago Weaver introduced this XR-46 scope, and it was well received and I purchased one. I was also one of the first to identify an internal problem with the scope and wrote about on Benchrest Central. When I notified Weaver they wanted the scope to see if they could get their engineers working on a fix. The oil spots occur on the inside of the lens and I looked through 7 or or more other Weavers XR series and only the XR -46 was having this issue. the 24x&36x were ok.
I reached a point where I asked Weaver to return my scope as It was clear enough in the center that I could shoot it in a match. They said yes sent it back with a note that the engineers were still working on a fix and they would call me when they could fix it. I shot the match and the oil got progressively worse internally.At the match 4 other people complained and I gave them the techs name and number. Bruno shooters supply had already refunded money on 5 scopes. Then the tech rep called me back and said send them the scope and invoice they were going to buy them all back, 2 weeks later I had a check in hand for $816.00!
Fast forward to about 18 months ago they reintroduced the scope and I bought 2 and had absolutely no problems with them, and one was shot for 3 days and over 300 rounds last weekend.
I traded one off that did not have a dot and purchased this one that I won’t get back with a dot.
Yes I could put the new Forge up for sale, but at this point, when it gets here, it’s going straight to Chris Metz the HMFIC with a letter, then I will figure out what to do once he responds.
This would not be an issue if Weaver was still in charge of their product line.They would have put the new mod on it and sent it back.
I also have 5 old Leupold 36x BR scopes and knowing Their track record with shooters I won’t ever buy another optic from anyone but Leupold or Nightforce.
 
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Ok Let me explain this better. 3-4 years ago Weaver introduced this XR-46 scope, and it was well received and I purchased one. I was also one of the first to identify an internal problem with the scope and wrote about on Benchrest Central. When I notified Weaver they wanted the scope to see if they could get their engineers working on a fix. The oil spots occur on the inside of the lens and I looked through 7 or or more other Weavers XR series and only the XR -46 was having this issue. the 24x&36x were ok.
I reached a point where I asked Weaver to return my scope as It was clear enough in the center that I could shoot it in a match. They said yes sent it back with a note that the engineers were still working on a fix and they would call me when they could fix it. I shot the match and the oil got progressively worse internally.At the match 4 other people complained and I gave them the techs name and number. Bruno shooters supply had already refunded money on 5 scopes. Then the tech rep called me back and said send them the scope and invoice they were going to buy them all back, 2 weeks later I had a check in hand for $816.00!
Fast forward to about 18 months ago they reintroduced the scope and I bought 2 and had absolutely no problems with them, and one was shot for 3 days and over 300 rounds last weekend.
I traded one off that did not have a dot and purchased this one that I won’t get back with a dot.
Yes I could put the new Forge up for sale, but at this point, when it gets here, it’s going straight to Tom Metz the HMFIC with a letter, then I will figure out what to do once he responds.
This would not be an issue if Weaver was still in charge of their product line.They would have put the new mod on it and sent it back.
I also have 5 old Leupold 36x BR scopes and knowing Their track record with shooters I won’t ever buy another optic from anyone but Leupold or Nightforce.
Sightron 45x45 if I was looking at the scopes you are using and they treat their customers right.


Ray
 
Good to know, I dealt with Weaver techs years back on a illumination issue and the techs were great. Easy to contact and thy took care of issues. Apparently the move did not bode well.
 
Don't send a 36x back to Leupold. They will want to replace it with a 45 LCS. Heard of a couple guys that ran into this.
 
I would probably carefully read my warranty looking for the words "replacement of equal value" and "consumer accepts exchange of item of equal value". Then if I did not see these words I would file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission, your state's Attorney General's Office of Consumer Protection, and the Better Business Bureau. Should that fail and if possible, an action in small claims court might occur. This might be impractical should you need to travel a great distance as claims in small claims court be limited to cost of the scope. Bushnell would regard any small claims stuff as a nuisance and would pay up rather than waste wages for some employee to sit waiting in a courtroom. Hopefully, have the original receipts have been retained. Bushnell might produce a Weaver warranty stating "replacement of equal value". There is a distinct possibility that any or all of this stuff might be regarded as frivolous seeing that Bushnell acted in good faith and produced a fair exchange of equal value. A deciding factor might be Natchez's ad for a Weaver XR-48 @ $570-$650 vs. Midway's ad for a Bushnell 4.5-27X50 Forge for $850. This might not be entirely correct but would make for a good argument.

I would not be concerned about returning a firearm for warranty or repair work and having it exchanged for another weapon. I believe a willing or forced exchange of a rifle for a shotgun would constitute an firearm transfer and require the usual background check, production of a photo ID such as valid drivers license or passport. UPS or at least my UPS cheerfully accepts firearms to be shipped to a FFL for repair and back to the original owner - no transfer, same item. Your scope is not a firearm.

I feel your pain - possibly you might consider selling or trading the item on this site - it has some value. My 19 year old Weaver 6-20X40 despite its long and faithful service resulting in some emotional attachment has far less value than a Bushnell Forge 5-27X50 and I would exchange it without hesitation.

Your complaint alerted me to the fact that your Weaver scope could suffer damage from "oil spots on the lens". Many of the newer scopes have improved outer lens coatings that protect from abrasion and contamination - apparently your Weaver bench rest scope did not have this feature. My 19 year old Weaver Grand Slam has had all sorts of crud wiped off all surfaces including exterior lenses using common lens wipe (those wipe thingies in tear open pouches). Did the oil damage the outer lens coatings?

Stuff happens.
BS...They did him wrong...Period. Move on. Stop looking for loop holes for this company. Guarantee, he won't make the mistake of dealing with them ever again with optics.
 

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