BirdForum is the net's largest birding community dedicated to wild birds and birding, and is absolutely FREE!

Register for an account to take part in lively discussions in the forum, post your pictures in the gallery and more.

Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="WJC" data-source="post: 3324683" data-attributes="member: 25191">Hi Etudiant:I will go even further than that. Many people believe Japan and China are supplying parts that are assembled here in the States. A FEW American based companies, which are part of Asian organizations, do that. However, for the most part, they are not even assembled here. Think about it; they have ready access to engineers and the components they need, cheaper labor, collimators and other test equipment. Why, then, would they need the expense of having techs on staff, here, as opposed to just sending boxes to a warehouse? Of course, as long as merchants can convince consumers they have the wherewithal to do “this and that” to the product, so much the better for establishing optical credibility. That’s their “tale”; I sit on mine.As far as those nameless shops and cottage industries . . . . Well, when you do just one or two things REPEATEDLY, you can get VERY good at them. During the Second World War—when Americans pulled together, instead of apart—many optical components were made in basements, garages, and back rooms . . . by a limited number of high schoolers and housewives. They were dedicated, and their work was often exquisite. When David Bushnell showed up in Japan in 1947, he would sit in a hotel room and give each potential OEM 15 minutes to show off his wares. Much has changed since then. Likewise, much has remained the same. But now, we’re not invited to see the “man behind the curtain,” as we once could.I am glad Nikon has a “no fault warranty.” For years I only got accurate, friendly, and fast turnaround service. I won’t say all I know about the situation. However, in the early to mid-nineties, the quality of repairs I was getting left a great deal to be desired and the formerly open and friendly service became shrouded in secrecy and “shuck and jive.” I believe the cause of the problem has since gone away. But, being out of the Industry so long, I can’t lay claim to knowing how things are being handled, today. I lay that at feet other that Nikon as a company: my birding glass, marine glass, and astronomy glass are ALL Nikons. I rush on to say that I don’t buy optics to keep up with the Jones’s; I look at DOLLARS in vs QUALITY out.Being interviewed for a magazine article in 1964, Paul McCartney was asked what kind of bass guitar strings he used. After all, the Beatles’ bass player MUST use the very best!His answer:“Long shiny ones.”He was into making music, not sitting up at all hours worrying about which brand was the “best.” Many birders could take a lesson. Buy the way, I was once manager of the AMRO North music store in Raleigh Springs (northeast Memphis) Tennessee. I would often sell SLINGERLAND drum sticks to people who wouldn’t touch the cheaper PRO MARK drumstick. I couldn’t get many to believe the Slingerland product was just a re-branded . . . Pro Mark! But then, some people have more money than . . . .  :cat:Cheers,Bill</blockquote>

Verification