Zeiss - Try it for 48hours (2 Viewers)

[Silent Observer]

I tried the Conquest HD 10x42 using this service. I had to pay a £450 security deposit. The binoculars arrived next day nicely packaged with instructions to check them thoroughly and report if anything is untoward. They also send a returns bag within the box. There are no charges for a 48 hour trial term. But if you play around in the system, you can get a longer term for free i.e. if you choose trial to begin on Friday and finish on Sunday, the binoculars could arrive on Thursday with collection on Monday for no extra charge...
The binoculars were brand new (this is a new scheme so I kind of expected that). return was effortless and a few days later, I received confirmation that they had received their item back and checked it to be ok. I received my refund a day later. Simple as that. Really nice to have Zeiss do this, I do hope that they get a more units on trial so that availability is not a problem. Really helped me by offering me a product that I can thoroughly check in my own comfort zone. And I am pretty set on getting a pair...

 

[lmans66]

I have been pondering a 'monocular' or some compact bins. I place myself in situations past or present, and ask myself which one I might prefer (ed) Today I was in the car and then walking to the library and each time thought, if given the chance, would I prefer to grab a monocular or compact? Tough call....But I think the compact; just to have 'both eyes' on the subject and for a bit more of an ease to holding steady. Of course I could change my mind tomorrow, so one of the benefits of just 'thinking'

 

[Sc0tty]

I've tried this scheme and it worked exactly as described in post #21. I went for the 10x32SF to be delivered on a Friday and collected on the following Monday. I then got a call to say they could drop them off a day early, so I had them for 3 full days. It was great being able to thoroughly test them in the field and compare to my other bins (Zeiss 8x32FL and Leica 10x42BA). Another bonus is that I've now been sent a discount code to use if I decide to buy a pair, which I probably will

 

[Greybags]

Just picking up on this thread - do any other BF members have any (recent) experience (good or bad) using this facility please?
Many thanks
GB

 

[Pinewood]

Hello,

About seventeen years ago, Leica USA did something similar. If someone was interested in a Leica 8x32BN, a pro forma invoice was written up and the customer was lent a binocular in red armour. When he returned it and liked it, a new binocular was sold to him. If he did not return it, the customer was billed for the binocular.

I got my red 8x32 Leica BN, when they were sold off as demos.

Stay safe,
Arthur Pinewood

 

[Greybags]

Hello,

About seventeen years ago, Leica USA did something similar. If someone was interested in a Leica 8x32BN, a pro forma invoice was written up and the customer was lent a binocular in red armour. When he returned it and liked it, a new binocular was sold to him. If he did not return it, the customer was billed for the binocular.

I got my red 8x32 Leica BN, when they were sold off as demos.

Stay safe,
Arthur Pinewood

Don't know whether Leica offer this service for bins here in the UK; can't find anything yet on the net.
Cheers.
GB

 

[MandoBear]

Just picking up on this thread - do any other BF members have any (recent) experience (good or bad) using this facility please?
Many thanks
GB

I used it in May. Very slick and easy process. Expensive for me, though - I ended up buying a Victory Pocket 8x25. 😁

 

[iPotential]

I'm a big fan of generous return policies, however i wish some of the online shops had a dedicated set of try-before-you-buy samples as there are some online shops i now avoid because most of their stuff is the equivalent of "floor stock" and its no fun knowing that you might not have found faults until later or that the alignment is slightly out from what left the factory.

We haven't fully transitioned from brick-and-mortar to online just yet.

The floor stock could move around prospective buyers and a new product sent out if requested. I would be happy to wait to get a new product, especially when paying $$$. Does anyone know if any of the online stores are doing this?

 

[sidpost]

I'm a big fan of generous return policies, however i wish some of the online shops had a dedicated set of try-before-you-buy samples as there are some online shops i now avoid because most of their stuff is the equivalent of "floor stock" and its no fun knowing that you might not have found faults until later or that the alignment is slightly out from what left the factory.

We haven't fully transitioned from brick-and-mortar to online just yet.

The floor stock could move around prospective buyers and a new product sent out if requested. I would be happy to wait to get a new product, especially when paying $$$. Does anyone know if any of the online stores are doing this?

I don't know about Australia but, but it isn't unheard of to "buy" two binoculars, and then return one with prior communication in my part of the world.

With Australia's population largely in a few large cities, I would think you would have some good "try before you buy" stores locally. I did this in Dallas, Texas with some Swarovski NL Pure bins and ended up with Leica Noctivids.

 

[iPotential]

I don't know about Australia but, but it isn't unheard of to "buy" two binoculars, and then return one with prior communication in my part of the world.

With Australia's population largely in a few large cities, I would think you would have some good "try before you buy" stores locally. I did this in Dallas, Texas with some Swarovski NL Pure bins and ended up with Leica Noctivids.

Thanks sidpost. I suspect i might be able to do the same, but am looking for an online store that separates it's online-floor-stock from its new stock. I would want to send both back and have a new set of Leica Noctivids. Rather than having to worry about how many people had handled/miss-handled the Noctivids before they reached me.

 

[sidpost]

That's the way the program in the EU/UK is based on what I have read. You get a demo pair to try and if you like them, you send them back and get a fresh sealed factory pair in return.

In terms of "used", I have purchased from a vendor in the USA that does this sort of buy two, keep the best one, thing. Yes, I get a box that has the seal broken but, what am I going to do when they arrive? The ones I bought smelled and looked brand new. Yes, someone looked through them before me but, big deal! These aren't being abused and if I got them and didn't like what I saw I can always return them. If you are dealing with a reputable source, the risks of getting stuck with an out-of-spec demo pair is highly unlikely.

I have even purchased Leica NV's off this forum! These were "used" in the real sense of the word but, they were gently used! What more would I get for another ~$1500?

You need to do due diligence with your purchase but, a "used" pair of bins are not necessarily any worse (or better) than a similar pair in a sealed box. If I am buying at ~50% off, I can "flip" a pair or two and still be way under the cost of a factory-sealed pair of Alpha bins.

Being in Australia makes some of this impractical for you and, if I was in the EU my used bin purchases would be much easier! The USA isn't too bad though with a lot of birders using premium bins.

 

[iPotential]

Thanks for the update, sidpost - that was really informative.

 

[Bentley03]

Just picking up on this thread - do any other BF members have any (recent) experience (good or bad) using this facility please?
Many thanks
GB

Greybags, I used this service last weekend and was more than impressed.

For sure the binoculars were far from 'mint', they were showing signs of wear on the unarmoured areas (painted metal hinges), but the optics were unmarked and, to my eyes, in perfect condition.

They were picked up from me on the Monday, received by Try ZEISS on the Tuesday, and my £450 security deposit was immediately processed and showing back in my account by Friday.

On completion of the hire I was emailed a personalised promotional cashback voucher valid against the specific model of binoculars I hired, if I went ahead and purchased a pair from one of their official UK stockists (they provide a list of them). The cashback amount on a pair of the 10x42 Victory SF's I hired would be £200, but it does vary model by model, 10x42 Conquest HD's, for example, receive £100 cashback (by all means let me know which model you're considering and I'll let you know how much cashback you would receive).

Happy to provide any further info you might require.

James 🙂

 

[Greybags]

Greybags, I used this service last weekend and was more than impressed.

For sure the binoculars were far from 'mint', they were showing signs of wear on the unarmoured areas (painted metal hinges), but the optics were unmarked and, to my eyes, in perfect condition.

They were picked up from me on the Monday, received by Try ZEISS on the Tuesday, and my £450 security deposit was immediately processed and showing back in my account by Friday.

On completion of the hire I was emailed a personalised promotional cashback voucher valid against the specific model of binoculars I hired, if I went ahead and purchased a pair from one of their official UK stockists (they provide a list of them). The cashback amount on a pair of the 10x42 Victory SF's I hired would be £200, but it does vary model by model, 10x42 Conquest HD's, for example, receive £100 cashback (by all means let me know which model you're considering and I'll let you know how much cashback you would receive).

Happy to provide any further info you might require.

James 🙂

James,

Thanks for the info; much appreciated.

How easy was it to repackage everything for collection please?

The cashback voucher means the price of a pair of 10x42 SF's drops to about £1,850 - only about £50 more than a pair of Noctivids, £500 cheaper than a pair of NL's and £225 more than EL's - makes things interesting! NB this assumes prices already discounted apply.

Thanks

GB (aka Graham)

 

[Bentley03]

James,

Thanks for the info; much appreciated.

How easy was it to repackage everything for collection please?

The cashback voucher means the price of a pair of 10x42 SF's drops to about £1,850 - only about £50 more than a pair of Noctivids, £500 cheaper than a pair of NL's and £225 more than EL's - makes things interesting! NB this assumes prices already discounted apply.

Thanks

GB (aka Graham)

Graham, the repackaging was very straightforward. The instrument arrives in a flight case inside a Parcelforce mail bag. Inside the flight case are a Parcelforce mail bag for returning the item in and a couple of cable ties to secure the flight case locking mechanism. When the Parcelforce courier collected the package, he brought with him a preprinted return label with address and barcode etc. and stuck it on the outside of the package. It was as simple as that.

Your assumption regarding relative pricing once the Zeiss cashback is applied is 100% correct. And, I can confirm that the full cashback amount is redeemable even if a discount has already been applied by the stockist (I called Try ZEISS for confirmation of this).

Hope that helps.

 

[sidpost]

This sounds like a really good program for Zeiss. A program like that in the USA would likely see me add a pair or two of Zeiss "alpha's" to my lineup. Heck, even without a discount coupon, I would likely see a pair of HT's sitting on my desk right now!!!

 

[Greybags]

Thanks for all replies. Have taken the plunge and have arranged for a trial. Have arranged to have them over the weekend - being delivered Thursday late afternoon and collected Monday. However, received a call this morning and due to possible driver delivery issues they can't ensure I'll get them Thursday so have arranged for me to get them a day early and at no extra cost! So far a great service. Like MandoBear this could prove to be expensive!

 

[sidpost]

... However, received a call this morning and due to possible driver delivery issues they can't ensure I'll get them Thursday so have arranged for me to get them a day early and at no extra cost!

Sounds almost like a Thanksgiving/Black Friday issue. Over here, a lot of stores and services are closed on Thanksgiving Thursday.
I hope it's due to a good holiday shopping period in the UK!

 

[Bentley03]

Thanks for all replies. Have taken the plunge and have arranged for a trial. Have arranged to have them over the weekend - being delivered Thursday late afternoon and collected Monday. However, received a call this morning and due to possible driver delivery issues they can't ensure I'll get them Thursday so have arranged for me to get them a day early and at no extra cost! So far a great service. Like MandoBear this could prove to be expensive!

Excellent, will be fascinated to know how you get on... and if the Try ZEISS service results in a sale! 🙂

I'm a glasses wearer and wear them when using binoculars, and the reason for my hire was actually to double check that the model of bins I hired were definitely not for me. I loved the wide field of view, and the very immersive view, when I had been testing them outside the shop, but I really struggled with initial positioning. Once found, and settled, the view was simply wonderful, but I found other bins at similar, and various other, price points, which were so much easier (therefore quicker) to use. I tried every setting during the hire period, practiced and practiced, but for the combination of my physical head shape, my glasses, and the Victory SF's, they didn't fit me perfectly, and at this price point I think they need to. I would have happily bought Conquest HD's, which really did fit me, but in the end I've gone with a different manufacturer.

 

[Greybags]

Took delivery of the bins yesterday. They arrived in their grey case in a smallish slightly torn cardboard box (not a hard plastic secured flight case) with minimal foam padding for protection inside a Parcel Force plastic bag. Thankfully no damage to them. Bins look new - no signs of wear & tear at all. Sadly, the straps for the bins and case were omitted. Spoke with 'Try Zeiss' (4Fill) and followed up with an email - very apologetic and willing to post up but declined their offer - will just use an existing strap.

The choice of transport container and lack of padding in the box was more of a concern so will ensure copious amounts of bubble wrap are used for the return journey and the box is wrapped before being placed in the Parcel Force bag. Otherwise a good service so far.

Hope to get out and try them today before poor weather sets in all day tomorrow/Saturday morning.

Bentley03 - I know what you mean about feel, ease of use etc I'm like that with cricket bats though sadly one does not have a facility to field test them before purchase!

GB