UK/EU dealers that quality control stock? (1 Viewer)

sedgemoor · Apr 20, 2019

Are there dealers who are known to quality control (QC) the stock they receive?

I'm ready to buy the Zeiss Victory Pocket 8x25 and online prices varied from £540-£630 last week (this week: less variation).

As I'm buying mail order I don't mind paying a higher price if someone's checked their binoculars over and I'm less likely to get a dud, but if not I'll pick the cheapest seller.

PYRTLE · Apr 20, 2019

I really doubt that any do. It's the fact of dirtying or smudging the surfaces plus how many are trained, have the time or the equipment to do so. Certainly the internet only outlets wouldn't q/a any bino or scope.....they just deal in processing orders, payments, despatch and returns. Try to get to a retailer so you can check out the unit you're going to go home with.

Canip · Apr 20, 2019

sedgemoor said:
Are there dealers who are known to quality control (QC) the stock they receive?

I'm ready to buy the Zeiss Victory Pocket 8x25 and online prices varied from £540-£630 last week (this week: less variation).

As I'm buying mail order I don't mind paying a higher price if someone's checked their binoculars over and I'm less likely to get a dud, but if not I'll pick the cheapest seller.

In the EU, I have had a good experience with the following, among others:

Germany:
- astroshop.de (same outlet under optik-pro.de)
- intercon-spacetec.de
- das-fernglashaus.de
- juelich-bonn.com

Italy:
- rpoptix.com

I regularly ask the shops, either as part of the order process or via separate email, to check items before dispatch, including verifying that collimation is perfect, etc., and that has worked very well so far (with some of the shops, there will even be a small accompanying note „checked“ in the package)

In the UK, I have purchased several binos from

- firstlightoptics.com

which you can also instruct to check their instruments, but they do not show Zeiss binoculars in their range of products.

Canip

jring · Apr 21, 2019

Hi,

juelich and intercon-spacetec are recommended from personal experience.

Joachim

richard866945 · Apr 22, 2019

checking before selling

PYRTLE said:
I really doubt that any do. It's the fact of dirtying or smudging the surfaces plus how many are trained, have the time or the equipment to do so. Certainly the internet only outlets wouldn't q/a any bino or scope.....they just deal in processing orders, payments, despatch and returns. Try to get to a retailer so you can check out the unit you're going to go home with.

OK, so checking the alignment is not really possible for a retailer but checking everything else is.
Smooth focus action; correct twist up eyecup movement; no rattles; and yes, a single image.
I check every item before it is passed over the counter or sent through the post. It is not that unusual to find a faulty product and one notable occasion a whole box full of new binoculars had to be returned.
Camera / binocular retailers can and do handle their products without leaving finger prints but also have the correct cleaning cloths to remove any customer marks after a demonstration.
I will always recommend looking through an optical item before buying it although I appreciate the internet can very competitive pricing.

sedgemoor · Apr 22, 2019

PYRTLE said:
Try to get to a retailer so you can check out the unit you're going to go home with.

richard866945 said:
I will always recommend looking through an optical item before buying it although I appreciate the internet can very competitive pricing.

I agree with you both.

In this case it's not about price. No retailer within 60+ miles stocks the Victory Pocket, and though all will specially order in a single pair I feel that if they get sent a single pair I might as well order online and get the extra protections of the Consumer Contracts Regulations (2014).

I found a single pair in stock in central London and got to handle them, however could only look inside the shop, and the windows were tinted such that looking through them wasn't useful. And in a fit of pique after the salesperson disagreed that it would be useful to look through them, left them there |>|

PYRTLE · Apr 22, 2019

Well, it's a real pity that you couldn't properly try them out in London but I have heard that a lot of retailers in larger towns or cities will not allow you to take them outside the shop.
Good luck with your endeavours.

pete_gamby · Apr 26, 2019

Maybe a bit short notice but LCE is running an event at Titchfield Haven and they say a Zeiss rep will be on hand so may have the item:

https://www.lcegroup.co.uk/Events/Open/titchfield-haven-binocular--telescope-show-2019_140.html

Alternatively, In Focus will always be happy to check an item before despatch:

https://www.at-infocus.co.uk/in-focus-shops/

They have an event at Blashford Lakes on May 7th.

HTH

Pete

Elkhornsun · Apr 28, 2019

I buy from dealers that make returns as painless as possible (with no questions asked) so if upon inspection there is a problem it goes back to them and all I am out is the cost to ship it back.

UK/EU dealers that quality control stock? (1 Viewer)

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