Buying Bins Online....

[Big Phil]

I'm thinking of buying a a pair of Leica Ultravids via the web ('cause I live in the optics shop desert of Scotland)......can anyone recommend an online vendor?. Any to avoid?. Any tales of triumph or woe when buying online?.

Thanks in advance.

Phil

[Otto McDiesel]

http://www.cleyspy.co.uk/ Great to deal with.

[mook]

Hi Phil,

Ffordes Photographic have a good reputation, they have a load of ex-demo Ultravids in at the mo (see used equipment>binoculars>leica) & they're based in Scotland.....

www.ffordes.com


Also, The Classic Camera (Leica dealer) have a used pair of Ultravid 8x32BR...

www.theclassiccamera.com


I've used both stores in the past, no problems......

Hope this helps.

Cheers,

Mook.

[nick scarle]

I've always found Warehouse Express very reliable - although I've only used them for 'minor' purchases and not life-enhancing bins.

N

[number6]

I'm thinking of buying a a pair of Leica Ultravids via the web ('cause I live in the optics shop desert of Scotland)......can anyone recommend an online vendor?. Any to avoid?. Any tales of triumph or woe when buying online?.

Thanks in advance.

Phil

I have dealt with Cleyspy in person and they have always been great. I would expect them to be just as good online.

:t:

[NoSpringChicken]

I have used Sherwoods for purchases other than binoculars and found them professional with good prices.

http://www.sherwoods-photo.com/leica_binoculars/Leica_binoculars_fs.htm

They answered my emails and I was able to speak to a knowledgeable individual on the phone about my queries.

[matt green]

I have dealt with Cleyspy in person and they have always been great. I would expect them to be just as good online.

:t:

I'd go with these guy's aswell

Most of the staff are birders themselves and will personally check any purchase over before they are dipatched to you.

Matt

[Big Phil]

Thanks all.

[SouthTXBirder]

Be sure to review the return policy of any web dealer you decide to go with.

[griffin]

Just bought a pair of 10 x 42 BR Ultravids from South West Optics and they matched WE's pre Jan 07 price increase BUT did free next day delivery. BTW WE do not have the 10x42's in stock at present.

Linz

[paulwfromtheden]

I'm thinking of buying a a pair of Leica Ultravids via the web ('cause I live in the optics shop desert of Scotland)......can anyone recommend an online vendor?. Any to avoid?. Any tales of triumph or woe when buying online?.

Thanks in advance.

Phil

I bought my 8x42 Ulravids from Jessops who were selling via Ebay. Only £650, and they were great to deal with.

[Helenelizabeth2]

I have used Sherwoods for purchases other than binoculars and found them professional with good prices.

http://www.sherwoods-photo.com/leica_binoculars/Leica_binoculars_fs.htm

They answered my emails and I was able to speak to a knowledgeable individual on the phone about my queries.

I bought my bins from Sherwoods Photos - they were very helpful over the phone and the bins came quickly. They were also offering the best price of all the stores I looked at.

Personally, I had a negative experience with Cleyspy and found them very unhelpful but it may have been an off day.

[griffin]

I bought my 8x42 Ulravids from Jessops who were selling via Ebay. Only £650, and they were great to deal with.

Jee:sus when was that ! ? Best price is £939 now and new RRP is £1290 ( acc. Cley Spy, though they don't charge it) for 10 x 42's anyway. However, Jessops on any High Street will price match Gen. Internet prices so you can try before you buy.

Linz

[matt green]

Personally, I'd be more worried about those morons from royal mail losing my purchase in the post.I'm currently awaiting delivery of a pair of leica trinovids
that should have arrived days ago by next day/recorded delivery.

Been reading up on this a bit on the net and apparently royal mail do not have a great track record when it comes to dealing with lost mail/parcels etc
Have to wait until monday before I make a claim :storm:

Matt

[davem]

Personally, I'd be more worried about those morons from royal mail losing my purchase in the post.I'm currently awaiting delivery of a pair of leica trinovids
that should have arrived days ago by next day/recorded delivery.

Been reading up on this a bit on the net and apparently royal mail do not have a great track record when it comes to dealing with lost mail/parcels etc
Have to wait until monday before I make a claim :storm:

Matt

Don't forget that the place you got them from should have a tracking number for them, and you do occasionally get a postie who tries to deliver and doesn't leave a card...

[Big Phil]

I eventually bought my 8x32 Utravids from Warehouse Express, coz they had them at the 'old' price, the new price is too frightening to contemplate.

Delivered with no problems - but you never really know a vendors worth until you have an issue....

Bloody brilliant bins they are too.....can't wait to get out in the Cairngorms with them tomorrow......

[griffin]

I eventually bought my 8x32 Utravids from Warehouse Express, coz they had them at the 'old' price, the new price is too frightening to contemplate.

Delivered with no problems - but you never really know a vendors worth until you have an issue....

Bloody brilliant bins they are too.....can't wait to get out in the Cairngorms with them tomorrow......

Hope you enjoy the binnies this w'end - am happy with mine and my "other" bins are Swarovski's ! :D I did consider the 8 x 32's, probably for the same reasons you bought them, but several ringing chums have the 10 x 42's, which I have tried many times and really liked the image. They are also quite compact compared to the EL's though the focus ring is smoother on the Swaros and they are also better balanced, though heavier, IMHO.


Did you ever get round to acquiring a recording setup Phil - should I brace myself for all these sonograms of xbills being submitted for NESBR 2006 ? !

Linz

[Big Phil]

I did consider the 8 x 32's, probably for the same reasons you bought them, but several ringing chums have the 10 x 42's, which I have tried many times and really liked the image.


Aye the 10x42s are awesome. I wanted a smaller and lighter pair tho cause I largely use them on the hill.


Did you ever get round to acquiring a recording setup Phil - should I brace myself for all these sonograms of xbills being submitted for NESBR 2006 ? !

Linz

Funnily enough I am just in the process of acquiring a 2nd hand minidisc recorder and mic...hope to get out in the field with it in the next few weeks. Be prepared for some inanely stupid questions on the sound recording forum shortly!.

[paulwfromtheden]

Jee:sus when was that ! ? Best price is £939 now and new RRP is £1290 ( acc. Cley Spy, though they don't charge it) for 10 x 42's anyway. However, Jessops on any High Street will price match Gen. Internet prices so you can try before you buy.

Linz

About three months ago, I never really convinced myself that someone at Jessops wasn't on the make, but I think it was all cosher as he used a Jessops email address!! Any criminal with half a brain would not be so stupid!!
Anyway, all was fine and they are great binos.

[joannec]

I bought my bins from Sherwoods Photos - they were very helpful over the phone and the bins came quickly. They were also offering the best price of all the stores I looked at.

.


I would echo this. I bought a scope from Sherwoods and the service and price were excellent.

Joanne

[paulwfromtheden]

Jee:sus when was that ! ? Best price is £939 now and new RRP is £1290 ( acc. Cley Spy, though they don't charge it) for 10 x 42's anyway. However, Jessops on any High Street will price match Gen. Internet prices so you can try before you buy.

Linz
Jessops are in danger of going tits up at the moment - and that's from the horses mouth (a director mate of mine who has just got the boot), so just bear this in mind.

[griffin]

Jessops are in danger of going tits up at the moment - and that's from the horses mouth (a director mate of mine who has just got the boot), so just bear this in mind.

Can't see the problem if the item is in stock at the time and you walk out the door with the product. The item will be covered by manufactures Warranty. Ordering an item on back order might be a different matter.

Hope Jessops don't go "tits up" as it is good to have a High Street retailer. I bought my Ultravids from SW Optics which is ( in the voice of Tubs from LOG) "a local shop for local people" ( though I live in Aberdeen !). Fair play they match the prices of the big mail order retailers and know considerably more !

Linz

[Sancho]

I´ve dealt (from the even more optic-store desertified atmosphere of Ireland) with Acecameras and Warehouse Express. Both IMHO were brilliant, couldn´t recommend them highly enough, would love to repay them their help and advice and service by choosing one over the other but can´t make that call!

[griffin]

Aye the 10x42s are awesome. I wanted a smaller and lighter pair tho cause I largely use them on the hill.
Funnily enough I am just in the process of acquiring a 2nd hand minidisc recorder and mic...hope to get out in the field with it in the next few weeks. Be prepared for some inanely stupid questions on the sound recording forum shortly!.


You are definitely doing the right thing going for a MD recorder. If you can try to stretch to the new Sony MZRH1. Its interface and ergonomics are really good for field recording. That said the older HiMd ones work fine as do the the pre Hi-MD - my first one was a MZ-700.

The biggest problem I see people have esp. with loxia is interpreting the sonograms. I have recently heard about a well known bird tour company stating to clients that they are using this technology to ID all loxia seen in the field - I don't know who (of the scientists they are "working with" ) is reading them for them but good luck ! The sonograms can be just as easy to get wrong as visual field ID.

All records of loxia submitted to NESBR will be run past me anyway, but meantime will do my best to keep you right !


Now, if we could just get a few of these English guys doing some too.... ? !


Linz

[Big Phil]

You are definitely doing the right thing going for a MD recorder. If you can try to stretch to the new Sony MZRH1. Its interface and ergonomics are really good for field recording. That said the older HiMd ones work fine as do the the pre Hi-MD - my first one was a MZ-700.

I went for an el cheapo MZ-NH700, which is the most basic Himd recorder with a mike in socket. Can't splash too much cash after lashing out on new bins...will see how I go with this setup....

To get back vaguely on topic, the ultravids were christened in the hills on Saturday and are fantastic. I got ace views of a pair of Crossbills with fledged young...Parrots I felt, unfortunately the recorder hasn't arrived yet. Grrrr, I bet I never get that close to a calling Crossbill again!.