Buying on Amazon? (1 Viewer)

[Montereyman]

Hello. This is my first post other than my intro, so bear with me if this is in the wrong section. Wasn't sure where to stick this question.

Does anyone have any feedback on buying binoculars from Amazon, especially when the item is not sold/shipped directly from Amazon but from a third party? I just have reservations as it's a lot of money for high-end binoculars. I want to make sure they are legit, and that the manufacturer's warranty still applies. Appreciate any experiences any of you can share. Thanks!

A great deal of fraud on Amazon as with eBay. Check the reviews and note how many people received used or defective merchandise from sellers. I only buy items of very low value that I cannot buy anywhere else. Many legitimate reseller of binoculars with websites and customer reviews or you can buy direct from the manufacturer or in country distributor.

 

[Ikeman83]

1. Swaro USA 100% imports the Habichts, they're just a special order.
2. Buying from 6th Ave is not just getting your warranty done in a different country, it's a different warranty.

The North American one is limited lifetime against mfg defects, everywhere else is 5 years p&l and 5 added years parts against mfg defects.

 

[chill6x6]

I've used Amazon a lot to purchase binoculars....no issues. I really ordered thru Amazon because the shipping was two day. Now it's about the same as everyone else so really not much reason to order from them. FWIW....many if not most Swarovski dealers WILL give you a little better price if you will call.

 

[Trinovid]

A great deal of fraud on Amazon as with eBay. Check the reviews and note how many people received used or defective merchandise from sellers. I only buy items of very low value that I cannot buy anywhere else.

The first part of this is great advice and I've made a lot of purchases there with the additional peace of mind that their excellent return policies ensure.
Most of my binoculars, including several Ultravids and Zeiss. No need to avoid eBay as long as you follow the quoted advice and especially make a multilayered payment so that if one of them won't cover you, one of the others will.

 

[Montereyman]

I bought an expensive lens from someone on eBay and used Pay Pal. The lenses I received had a great deal of fungus on the interior of the lens. The seller refused to take it back and I received no help from ebay or from Paypal with this transaction and so it was a total loss. Lesson learned.

 

[MiddleRiver]

I see so many reasons to support a 'brick-and-mortar-shop' that I have no interest in giving my money to Bezos, or any other mega bizness.

 

[PatR]

I see so many reasons to support a 'brick-and-mortar-shop' that I have no interest in giving my money to Bezos, or any other mega bizness.

I do try to use a bricks and mortar store if I can but it is becoming increasingly difficult to find one that:

1. is less than 50 miles, or two hours drive, away
2. is staffed by knowledgeable assistants who are interested, instead of ones who are having a converstion on their iphone or waiting for a return text.
3. could at least have a try at matching or getting near to a price without a fit of indignation or a 'well. best buy there then' response (understandable but unwelcome).
4. answers email requests or phones back as promised.
5. I could go on, but the general drift is that BandM stores are dying a slow death, a lot of which, is self inflicted.

For those of us that live in the sticks, Amazon and their ilk are often the only viable option. Sadly.

But I do think that the vendors must shoulder much of the blame for the rise in on-line shopping. Amazon have their faults, I have received damaged goods in the past due to inadequate packing, and the couriers at times have been wanting in their handling and timely delivery.

But their Customer Service is, in my experience, both polite and responsive and my recent return of the Nikon IS bino's was completed in 4 days from the pick-up from my front door to the refund in my bank account.

I wish it were different, but there is a level of retail complacency, in this country at least, that is compounded by high parking charges and a generation of workers who would rather be at home on benefits than paying their way in society.

Mr Bezos will continue to prosper at my expense I am afraid.

 

[MiddleRiver]

I do try to use a bricks and mortar store if I can but it is becoming increasingly difficult to find one that:

1. is less than 50 miles, or two hours drive, away
2. is staffed by knowledgeable assistants who are interested, instead of ones who are having a converstion on their iphone or waiting for a return text.
3. could at least have a try at matching or getting near to a price without a fit of indignation or a 'well. best buy there then' response (understandable but unwelcome).
4. answers email requests or phones back as promised.
5. I could go on, but the general drift is that BandM stores are dying a slow death, a lot of which, is self inflicted.

For those of us that live in the sticks, Amazon and their ilk are often the only viable option. Sadly.

But I do think that the vendors must shoulder much of the blame for the rise in on-line shopping. Amazon have their faults, I have received damaged goods in the past due to inadequate packing, and the couriers at times have been wanting in their handling and timely delivery.

But their Customer Service is, in my experience, both polite and responsive and my recent return of the Nikon IS bino's was completed in 4 days from the pick-up from my front door to the refund in my bank account.

I wish it were different, but there is a level of retail complacency, in this country at least, that is compounded by high parking charges and a generation of workers who would rather be at home on benefits than paying their way in society.

Mr Bezos will continue to prosper at my expense I am afraid.

All true... I just try when possible. And brick-and-mortar I use somewhat loosely - e.g. I'll try places like Optics4birding first, or even the big camera vendors, etc. My litmus test is whether I can pick up phone and talk to a sales person. If yes, I give them the benefit of the doubt.

 

[PatR]

All true... I just try when possible. And brick-and-mortar I use somewhat loosely - e.g. I'll try places like Optics4birding first, or even the big camera vendors, etc. My litmus test is whether I can pick up phone and talk to a sales person. If yes, I give them the benefit of the doubt.

I know, it is sad and I have many friends in retail who are pulling their hair out and are on the point of no return.

Not sure what it is like in CONUS but the High Street here in the UK is all but dead. All the once proud and established retailers are gone to be replaced by boarded-up shop fronts, charity shops, Vape stores and a 'Turkish Barber'. Our local town has 15 Turkish Barbers. Many would say that it would be more honest to have a sign outside with Money Laundery on it.

And our enlightened Councils think that the best way to attract shoppers away from on-line or out-of-town shopping centres is to raise car parking charges and increase their business rates.

You couldn't make it up.

 

[Georgebirds]

I buy online, but try my very hardest to do it from small businesses with a local high street shop as well, just not local to me, so they post the stuff to where I live. This seems to me the best most ethical compromise between being too far from most stockists of the things I want (I don't drive, so even going to a nearby town would be a tiring and dangerous trip on my bike!), and the convenience of online shopping.
All my paint and art supplies come via Ebay from the same high street shop on the other side of the country which I've never visited, cds from someone with a music shop but happy to post, models and miniatures from all over the place but every one is a brick-and-mortar store run by an individual or couple - some of them I've met before, at hobby conventions and shows, others just know me as a name and address who occasionally spends money with them. But I'd much rather that money goes to those sorts of people, than Amazon, who I've never spent a single penny with, and never intend to. If I can't find something elsewhere, I'd honestly rather just go without.