Methinks this thread has gone sideways.
I have NEVER impugned the Gold Ring . . . ever. It was the good things I was hearing about it that caused me to call the Leupold Rep up to see me. I didn't care about point of origin. I was just interested in the binocular. That's when I heard about the “assembly” of the two pocket models.
In addition, I have respect for Leupold as a company. A company that snatches any part of the process back from Asia, to place it on American soil, has my wholehearted support.
Being a little too human, I just get close to the edge when someone with no real experience starts acting like there are bino manufacturers all over the States. The following is a PARAPHRASE from a letter I received:
“You think you know it all. What about Meade, Celestron, Bushnell, Tasco, etc.? Are you saying they're not American companies?”
My answer was that they are ALL American companies. American companies that IMPORT the binoculars that carry their names.
As mentioned earlier, David Bushnell was just guy with a B.A. In Foreign Commerce from USC. The letter writer mentioned Bushnell and Tasco. We might as well throw in the third member of the triumvirate—Jason. All three of which are now serving Americans from their strategically located WAREHOUSE in Overland Park, Kansas.
Even worse is the notion that each of these companies have a repair staff at the ready to serve them. They don't; that's why the no-fault warranties became so popular. When a “repair” comes in requiring more than a tweak here and there, most companies just replaced it. I could share some scary stories about some pretty famous “repair” departments. But, there would be those who would assume I was lying, while the companies in question cranked up their lawyers to sue me. So, I just do the best I can to help my neighbors, who really want to know, and leave the Pollyannas to their own beliefs. 'Next thing you know, I'll be telling folks there's no Santa!
Please, though, don't take my cut-to-the-chase verbiage to mean I being pushy or in some way vindictive. I'm just trying to give my neighbors some things to think about that frequently go against urban legends and popular notions. :flyaway:
“This ship CAN'T sink! Bruce Ismay, Titanic, 2003
“I assure you, sir, it can; and it will!” Thomas Andrews, same