Binocular repair

[Millwall Paul]

Hi,

 

I have a pair of Opticron binoculars 7x50 that are my spare pair but they need to be cleaned internally and nitrogen purged. I don't suppose any of you more knowledgeable people could recomend where I could get them done? I always prefer to use recomendations than just somewhere out of the yellow pages.

 

Cheers

 

Paul

[TonyH]

Hi,

 

I have a pair of Opticron binoculars 7x50 that are my spare pair but they need to be cleaned internally and nitrogen purged. I don't suppose any of you more knowledgeable people could recomend where I could get them done? I always prefer to use recomendations than just somewhere out of the yellow pages.

 

Cheers

 

Paul

Paul, in the past I've dealt with a small specialist company in Watford called Quicktest:

http://www.quicktest.co.uk/c&o.htm

They've been around quite a while and sell an interesting range of binoculars, telescopes and other stuff, incl ex-military, and the boss (think it's pretty much a one man band) knows his stuff about optics. He's always dealt in e.g. Fujinon binoculars which I too think are some of the best value around, really top notch for far less than Zeiss etc...

He offers a repair & servicing facility for binoculars, so worth trying him.

Regards, Tony

[eldon]

Surely Paul the obvious place is here;

 

http://www.opticron.co.uk/Pages/repairs.htm

 

Especially if you are in the uk.

 

I have just bought a pair of their 8 x 42 's and they seem a good product. Apparently waterproof to 3 metres which was the demise of my previous (not opticron) pair.

 

Let us know how you get on but the shop told me the warranty was 10 years parts and labour and a further 20 years parts only. Seems like a good warranty package.

[Millwall Paul]

Cheers for that Eldon,

 

I hadn't even given it a thought about returning them to the manufacturer for a service and clean. I think I was having a brain dead spell at the time. I've just spoken to them and they said to return them to them for repair for free which is always a bonus, I don't know how I've managed to get the inside of the lenses dirty, especially as they are waterproof nitrogen purged. Oh well off to the post office to post them off.

 

Cheers for the very usefull advice.

[eldon]

I am not sure if you are responsible for the return postage both ways but thats not a significant issue is it.

Glad to hear they responded so positively.

[Guest Scotland Rifles]

http://www.opticalrepairs.com/

 

i have just had 2 tasco titans done by Tony at the above link,

 

i cant recommend him to highly, top job done on both my scopes,

 

one had a loose eyebell and both where nitrogen purged for not a lot of cash including the postage,

 

he is on holiday until next week but drop him a e-mail.

 

he is not the fastest chap on the planet but his work is second to none,

 

bob.

[Millwall Paul]

Thanks once again Eldon, I spoke to Opticron yestreday and they are fixing / servicing my binoculars for free as they are waterproof to three meters and there was moisture on the inside. I don't even have to pay for the return postage. Bonus or what. They think it will be a three week turn around. All in all so far they have been a very good company to deal with and very polite / courtious over the phone.

 

Paul

[eldon]

Excellent and inspires confidence Paul especially with me just buying into that brand.

Apparently alot of birdwatchers rate them.

 

Your post prompted me to look into the warranty on my previous pair, Optimic. It turned out although I had forgotten that they also have a 10 year policy so lets see. My son whilst out deerstalking fell in a puddle in some rough grass with the binoculars in his hand. They were only in the water for less than 30 seconds and it was only about a foot deep but the damage was done. The side with the diopter adjustment had quite a bit of water in and despite drying on the radiator etc I could not get it shifted. I contacted Scott Country in castle douglas and they said no problem send them back with the receipt and we will sort them out.

OH NO, where will the receipt be from 3 years ago? A search round and hey presto.

 

They are now in the system so lets see what happens next.

[Millwall Paul]

Got my binoculars back from Opticron. Wow what service. I posted them last tuesday and recieved them back yesterday. Now thats what I call customer service. They have been fixed and serviced and are as good as new again. All it cost me was approximately £8.00 for my postage to them. Their customer service was fantastic, the lady on the phone was polite and curtious and extremely helpful. And like I said they look just like they were when they first came out of the shop.

Brilliant.

[eldon]

Well, that is fantastic service Paul.

 

I posted my old ones back, never thought to check, it was 1015g so the next category for postage, should have put less tape on the box

 

Emailed scott country today and got a response within 10 minutes to say the item had been returned to the supplier already so, so far so good. Can't see it being as quick as the service you got with dealing with middle men as opposed to the horses mouth but lets see.

 

Maybe companies are waking up to the fact that consumers want service as well as good prices. I always felt the Americans got a better deal that way on anything compared to good old treasure island.