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ZEISS DTI thermal imaging cameras. For more discoveries at night, and during the day.

Expirience with Zeiss Service bad. (1 Viewer)

Aquaplas

Well-known member
Austria
This Post is with a Translator written. Pleas sorry for Bad Grammar.




Hello all. I'd like to share my Zeiss service experience here, and encourage a discussion about what your experience is like, and whether it matches mine.
I bought a then brand new Victory SF 8x42 in August 2015 in the then still gray version. After about a month of use, this gray rubber armor has started to turn golden yellow. I called Zeiss and was told that this problem was already known and that I would have to send the binoculars in to have the armor changed, but the employee advised me to wait because he had already heard internally that the armor would change. He said I had no stress, because I had warranty anyway.
So I waited, made a note of the name and date of the phone call and just continued to use the glass.
After about 2 years of use, the reinforcement also began to separate from the tubes in the lower area. The golden yellow discoloration also turned into a horrible black haze. I continued to use the glass, however, because I heard that a Zeiss service can take longer, and the security I thought I had anyway 10 years warranty, and me the nice man on the phone would have advised to wait.
About a year ago, problems with the Focus began. The Focus started to get stuck at times. So this year in early summer I decided to send the glass to Zeiss. It is now 7 years old so that should work.
I was then informed that the armor would be changed, but to a black color (It was just changed from gray to black, because with the gray armor just had more problems).
I would have to pay this myself, however, for which almost 300EUR were charged. The Focus would be exchanged by Zeiss exceptionally on goodwill, because this is not a regular warranty, because the new Smart Focus has changed technically to the predecessor in the gray model.
I was very annoyed that the customer is left hanging in such a case, especially since it was known that problems occurred with the gray armor. Even if Zeiss gives only 2 years warranty on the armor (does not fall under the 10-year warranty) I find it weak for such a renowned manufacturer. Swarovski would laugh....

As a result, the glass came back to me after more than 5 weeks duration. The new armor perfect. The new focus perfect.
However, one has in the right tube in the area of the lens inside an approximately 1.5cm long brown hair with.
This is already very annoying, even if it probably visually does not reduce the quality. But with such an expensive binoculars this should not be in any case.
In addition, I noticed today that in the rear area of the lens, where the steel rods on which the focus runs, loads of grease was applied. On one of the rods in the left channel there is so much grease that a grease nipple sticks out. To what extent this is normal I can not judge, but it is certain for me as a layman, if the grease does not remain on the rods, and in the rear area of the tubes, it will over the years possibly lay over the lenses.

Wanted here just times my experience kundtun, and just to your questions.
I am very satisfied with the product Victory SF, but with the service not at all. I know here Swarovski, and the armour glasses that are outside the 10-year warranty already times free of charge new.

Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)
 
Have you mentioned the conversation you had with the CS person who advised you to wait? You should even try to talk to the same person. She might say that you have waited for too long---but your discussion with that CS representative is the proof that the armor of your binos got issues well within the warranty period. You can even mention that you live in Swaro's country but preferred to buy Zeiss....
 
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Yes, I talket to the same person who I talket in 2015. But this person Deny all about our talk. He Claimed he never say that to me… I write down the name and the date of the call in September 2015 but I can not Prove that….
 
This is sad because I have received superb service from Zeiss through East Coast Binoculars.... a Zeiss repair agent.
I had some old FL's re-aligned, and the focusser adjusted, all free of charge.
It left me feeling very confident in Zeiss as a company.
 
This is sad because I have received superb service from Zeiss through East Coast Binoculars.... a Zeiss repair agent.
I had some old FL's re-aligned, and the focusser adjusted, all free of charge.
It left me feeling very confident in Zeiss as a company.
WHEN did you receive superb service from Zeiss? Because their service was excellent in the past. However, this sounds as though things may have changed.

Or it was just a one time hiccup.

Hermann
 
I recently had a pair of 8x42 SF (Black version, purchased about 4,5 years ago) that needed service. While in Brazil on a long birding trip, the focus mechanism began to have occasional sticking points and feel a touch odd, though it continued to work perfectly. Within a week or two of this development, it spontaneously broke completely, leaving one of the tubes unable to focus at all, and the other tube with bizarre focus characteristics. At this point the binocular was not even usable as a monocular. I ended up using the network of friends to find and purchase a used binocular from a local birder in Brazil in order to complete the trip.

Upon getting home, I sent the binoculars to Zeiss Switzerland who forwarded them to Germany. The response that was forwarded back to me from Germany by the Swiss office was that my armor would be replaced under "good will" but that the binoculars had been dropped, which is not covered under warranty, so I would be charged many hundreds of Euros for the repair. I've never dropped those (or any) binoculars, they always travel in their provided case in carry on luggage, and I generally care for things quite well. I responded to Zeiss Switzerland stating that I'd not dropped the binoculars and that I was somewhere between surprised and upset at the response from Zeiss Germany. After a few weeks delay, the response from Germany was again forwarded back to me that "upon further investigation the binoculars would be repaired free of charge." Eventually they did arrive back to me in perfect working order and at no charge. I guess I'm satisfied enough, but not really pleased. The service experience - while ultimately positive - was not one that inspires confidence. I also don't find that them announcing that armor replacement being done "under good will" while attempting to charge for valid guarantee period repairs really constitutes any noteworthy level of good will.

It's not enough for me to not remain happy with Zeiss products or to not recommend them, but the quality gap in service in comparison with Swarovski does hang a little asterisk at the end of every purchase...
 
WHEN did you receive superb service from Zeiss? Because their service was excellent in the past. However, this sounds as though things may have changed.

Or it was just a one time hiccup.

Hermann
I've also received excellent service from Zeiss in the UK within the last year.
 
This Post is with a Translator written. Pleas sorry for Bad Grammar.




Hello all. I'd like to share my Zeiss service experience here, and encourage a discussion about what your experience is like, and whether it matches mine.
I bought a then brand new Victory SF 8x42 in August 2015 in the then still gray version. After about a month of use, this gray rubber armor has started to turn golden yellow. I called Zeiss and was told that this problem was already known and that I would have to send the binoculars in to have the armor changed, but the employee advised me to wait because he had already heard internally that the armor would change. He said I had no stress, because I had warranty anyway.
So I waited, made a note of the name and date of the phone call and just continued to use the glass.
After about 2 years of use, the reinforcement also began to separate from the tubes in the lower area. The golden yellow discoloration also turned into a horrible black haze. I continued to use the glass, however, because I heard that a Zeiss service can take longer, and the security I thought I had anyway 10 years warranty, and me the nice man on the phone would have advised to wait.
About a year ago, problems with the Focus began. The Focus started to get stuck at times. So this year in early summer I decided to send the glass to Zeiss. It is now 7 years old so that should work.
I was then informed that the armor would be changed, but to a black color (It was just changed from gray to black, because with the gray armor just had more problems).
I would have to pay this myself, however, for which almost 300EUR were charged. The Focus would be exchanged by Zeiss exceptionally on goodwill, because this is not a regular warranty, because the new Smart Focus has changed technically to the predecessor in the gray model.
I was very annoyed that the customer is left hanging in such a case, especially since it was known that problems occurred with the gray armor. Even if Zeiss gives only 2 years warranty on the armor (does not fall under the 10-year warranty) I find it weak for such a renowned manufacturer. Swarovski would laugh....

As a result, the glass came back to me after more than 5 weeks duration. The new armor perfect. The new focus perfect.
However, one has in the right tube in the area of the lens inside an approximately 1.5cm long brown hair with.
This is already very annoying, even if it probably visually does not reduce the quality. But with such an expensive binoculars this should not be in any case.
In addition, I noticed today that in the rear area of the lens, where the steel rods on which the focus runs, loads of grease was applied. On one of the rods in the left channel there is so much grease that a grease nipple sticks out. To what extent this is normal I can not judge, but it is certain for me as a layman, if the grease does not remain on the rods, and in the rear area of the tubes, it will over the years possibly lay over the lenses.

Wanted here just times my experience kundtun, and just to your questions.
I am very satisfied with the product Victory SF, but with the service not at all. I know here Swarovski, and the armour glasses that are outside the 10-year warranty already times free of charge new.

Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)
Zeiss Germany took approx 10 weeks to quote me a price of £225 to replace the armour on a 7x45, I refused, they returned my bino missing it’s rainguard, they did of course send out a replacement.
This was in 2014.
 
I had a very good experience with Zeiss Service!! When I had problems with my SF 10x42, I spoke directly with the Zeiss service in Germany without intermediaries!
My SF 10x42 was a bit off collimation, so I sent them to Zeiss. The binoculars was back home in less than a month. Very happy with Zeiss service! I also received a certificate with the signature of the engineer who took care of my repair: Thanks to Mr. N. Kaparulin! :) Well done Zeiss!

The binoculars now impress me even more than initially. Extremely comfortable for the eyes and handling! The SF 10x42 had anyway the highest resolution I have encountered in any binoculars (I carefully tested at least 70 binoculars). Also, the color tones and the dynamics of the grays are rich, with delicates details and gradients even in the shaded areas due to the excellent 93% light transmission (in the middle of the visible spectrum). Best binoculars for me in this class!

Look at these wonderful huge eyepieces like two deep black lakes!!!!
View attachment 1459880
 
After some Mails with Zeiss i returned the Glass Today to Zeiss. They will borrow me for the Repair Time a Glass, and Insured me they will to solve the problem for my best Contentment. Will see. I will Report here with my Expirience.
 
I recently had a pair of 8x42 SF (Black version, purchased about 4,5 years ago) that needed service. While in Brazil on a long birding trip, the focus mechanism began to have occasional sticking points and feel a touch odd, though it continued to work perfectly. Within a week or two of this development, it spontaneously broke completely, leaving one of the tubes unable to focus at all, and the other tube with bizarre focus characteristics. At this point the binocular was not even usable as a monocular. I ended up using the network of friends to find and purchase a used binocular from a local birder in Brazil in order to complete the trip.
Interesting ... I was blighted by this very same issue (catastrophic failure of focus mechanism) whilst in Nepal back in the 80s. The binocular concerned was a fairly new 10x40 Dialyt. Luckily, the retailer replaced the instrument without question on my return to the UK, but it left me without a fully functioning binocular for the rest of my trip. Zeiss fell off my radar somewhat after this incident.

RB
 
First time I tried my SF I felt that the rubber design could , would potentially have issues. I’ve read more things about this one issue with the SF (and lousy eyecups) than just about any other binocular issues, ok maybe the focusers on SLC’s. Maybe this is why Zeiss only gives a two year warranty on the armor, one year in the states.
 
Hello all.
Now that I have received my binoculars SF 8x42 from Zeiss back again I would like to report.
The service has now taken only 1.5 weeks, and since Zeiss promised me from the outset that it will go very quickly I have also waived the loan glass.
The glass was sent by UPS 1 day, and already one day after the arrival of the glass Zeiss has contacted me and told me that this service will go very quickly. 3 days after the phone call, I received an email that they would like to speak to me by phone, as there was no fault with the glass. When the technician called me, I described the dirt on the focus lenses and the hair in the left channel, as well as the white particles on the objective lenses. He said that a slight contamination like I described was normal. I told him that I would not tolerate this with a top product of the Zeiss brand, especially since my glass was perfectly clean inside before the service. Regarding the grease that runs down the inside along the tubes, he could not make a concrete statement, because he said a certain amount of grease is normal here, you give too little pure would be the focus too solid. I remain so that he will clean the glass again, or he told me to improve here.
After this conversation, I had some concerns about whether everything would work, because the statement that a certain amount of contamination is normal made me think.
I was also promised that the glass this week on Friday, at the latest on Monday next week will be sent back to me. I was even more surprised when today the UPS already stood in front of the door, and brought me my glass.
So, now I was excited. Unpacking: Since I sent the glass in the original packaging without any accessories, I was even more pleased that they have given carrying strap lens and eyepiece protection new to it, because I already got this at the last service.
Even before the inspection, I got my flashlight, of course, and wanted to see how it now looks inside. Sparkling clean!!! No hair, no lint, just nothing! A dream! However, I noticed that at the tubes in the rear part still some grease runs down. But this should be normal I now strongly assume. The 5mm large grease nipples that were on one of the focus rods are now no longer there. Furthermore, although a new rubber armor was put on during the last service, a completely new one was used. Also the eyecups that were previously replaced and slightly warped were replaced on a new one.
But now we come to the very important point for me. The adjustment. The adjustment was already very good during the first service. Now it is even better!
All in all, I am very happy and satisfied with what Zeiss has done here! Would like to mention this here also praiseworthy and can also emotionally now remain the fan that I have always been of this brand.
I would also like to thank here for the good tips in the forum, especially Hermann and Troubador, who advised me to send the glass to Zeiss again. It paid off.

In this sense I remain with best regards from the Salzkammergut.

Peter


Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)
 
So and now I have to take the joy back again. After I have now mounted the strap I had to determine that the holder for the strap on the right side is completely loose and rattles. Furthermore, I have when I shake the glass slightly inside the left tube a rattle. When looking again, I now noticed that the suspensions for the lenses that come after the focus lens is installed crooked. One of these mounting claws is missing almost 4mm of fit. I now assume that this will also be the rattling inside the binoculars. The image is perfect, both tubes are perfectly clean, however the glass now has a mechanical defect that does not affect the image at the moment, but will probably become a problem over time.
Sorry, I have to take back my joy from the previous statement. :-(

LG.

Peter

Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)
 
So and now I have to take the joy back again. After I have now mounted the strap I had to determine that the holder for the strap on the right side is completely loose and rattles. Furthermore, I have when I shake the glass slightly inside the left tube a rattle. When looking again, I now noticed that the suspensions for the lenses that come after the focus lens is installed crooked. One of these mounting claws is missing almost 4mm of fit. I now assume that this will also be the rattling inside the binoculars. The image is perfect, both tubes are perfectly clean, however the glass now has a mechanical defect that does not affect the image at the moment, but will probably become a problem over time.
Sorry, I have to take back my joy from the previous statement. :-(

LG.

Peter

Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)
Wow, I’d be asking for a new pair by now. When comparing my SF’s to my Leica’s (any of them) and my Swarovski‘s I always felt the build and material design is a step down. The optics are better but build (imo) is where the Zeiss took a step backwards. Even though the FL’s are not made of magnesium , many have agreed are built better. Sorry SF fans, I like mine , for the optics and focuser, not the build.
 
Believe me, I am really disappointed now. Originally, I sent the glass because of the gray reinforcement that was defective from the beginning. I had to pay for this myself. Then got the glass with new reinforcement but an interior contamination back, and after resending a clean and well-adjusted glass back, which now has 2 gross defects.
 
Believe me, I am really disappointed now. Originally, I sent the glass because of the gray reinforcement that was defective from the beginning. I had to pay for this myself. Then got the glass with new reinforcement but an interior contamination back, and after resending a clean and well-adjusted glass back, which now has 2 gross defects.
Unacceptable Aquaplas. This is expected from a Chinese Diamondback, not a world glass optic that is one of top three best binoculars produced in the world. For $2000-$3000 I expect close to perfection, certainly no grease and hair in the tubes or spots on the glass or any part of the body not being 100%. Sorry , I feel your pain … Give them a piece of your mind and get something for the aggravation. Good luck.

Paul
 
Believe me, I am really disappointed now. Originally, I sent the glass because of the gray reinforcement that was defective from the beginning. I had to pay for this myself. Then got the glass with new reinforcement but an interior contamination back, and after resending a clean and well-adjusted glass back, which now has 2 gross defects.
This should not happen and I am sure that Zeiss CS can do better. I am also surprised by the amount of grease in your SF binos, as their focus mechanism is supposed to be grease-less. I suggest that you email [email protected] or [email protected] and tell them about your problems.

Peter
 
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Believe me, I am really disappointed now. Originally, I sent the glass because of the gray reinforcement that was defective from the beginning. I had to pay for this myself. Then got the glass with new reinforcement but an interior contamination back, and after resending a clean and well-adjusted glass back, which now has 2 gross defects.
In Feb 2021 sent a pair of SF's to Zeiss. I had scratched one of the eyepiece lenses and although this didn't affect the view it annoyed me and it was covered by the initial five year no fault guarantee. Don't know if it was Covid or Brexit related but it was 7 months before they were returned (seven!) from Germany; the scratch no longer there but in the opposite ocular a load of debris, so bad that it affected normal viewing. However, dealing with my original supplier, who fought my case admirably, Zeiss supplied me with a brand new pair so... good customer service in the end, but disappointing repair service.
 
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