Re: IOR Thoughts?
Why do my comments arrouse anger among other owners of IOR products here? Have I said or implied that anyone was foolish to buy the product? Guess I was a big fool, since I bought and owned at one time four of these "remarkable instruments.
It is the service, or lack of; and the lack of any testing facility beyond "took the scope outside and looked at some distant buildings", which I find "remarkable"! So, I post my observations and remarks....
"single shot" asks, "did I inform my buyers". Yes, I did. There were no defects on the 10x mp8. The 4-14 illlum mp8 went to a guy aware of the tube creases. It did not affect the scopes operation in any way; but I did sell the scope at a $400 discount. The 2-12x went on Ebay and I had a letter from IOR stating it was in "perfect condition". The scope had a return provision. The scope netted me about $725 after expenses.
Scott Berish actually said he would allow, or would consider allowing me a trade in of about $650, but I would have to send the scope in for him to evaluate it. That for the 2-12x 32mm which was Brand New, no marks, complete in box etc and certified by IOR to be perfect condition... Living in Alaska, I tend to want a firm commitment on a business deal before accepting to send a $1300 scope 5,000 miles away to Florida.
GB reports some further details of interest. I have never received even a $10 Bushnell cheapie scope with rust on mount screws or anywhere else. If a fastener has a stripped head or its slots/allen head look worn; I'd say it was a "USED" scope. Factory Service Technicians, of all kinds, but especially Optical Instruments, tend to have the proper tools so they don't strip screw heads; or they have spare parts to replace turned over screws to hide their clumsiness. Rust is corrosion. Not what you expect on a $1000 "brand new" anything...
The opticians at Wal-Mart have more tools and training in servicing "optical devices" than the employees at IOR-Valdada. That is my opinion.
I've always suspected, after getting the cheesy code-a-phone recorder/answering machine, that IOR rents the cheapest business park, storage unit "office" it can find. The kind with a roll-up door, and ol' Val said to Scotty, "Roll up the door a minute, would you buddy? I've got to check this asshole's scope out and at least say I looked through this piece of shit before we send it back. Don't suppose we should ship it collect do you?"
If it is "bashing" to report what you experienced with a product, and the lack of concern for the defects reported; I am guilty.
Before I went out of town the other day, I asked my wife if she remembered the expensive scope from two years ago that would about make you sick if you looked through it too long. She remembered.
As I've said, I wish everybody luck with their IOR scopes. When I objected to IOR's stance declining to make the scope work correctly, I just decided I could take the loss and move on. I also decided that I would report what happened to me.
I am amazed that so many are angry and think I am a "bad guy" for reporting the hassles and losses I incurred from buying IOR products.
If you watch Ebay or the hide, or even longrangehunting; you will see that IOR scopes are among the highest discounted used scopes. Other brands bring much higher resale values. Maybe it is the lack of transferable warranty, or just lack of general interest in the brand, (except on this board)? Other scopes bring more for a reason. That is a cold-hard fact.
Ask yourself why Zeiss, Meopta, Hensoldt, Nikon, Leupold, and others don't turn their products over to Joe Blow to distribute as they see fit? A quality company cares about customer service and repairs, and does not allow other firms to rent its name. The quality company incurs extra business expenses to serve the public fully and have control over all aspects of its distribution.
When the "quality company" says to a customer, "We have been having problems with our Six Multiplier scopes"; they won't say in the next breath, "...But you didn't buy that scope to use on low-power, did you buddy? Just crank it up and enjoy!" No. The Quality Company does a recall and fixes the problem. They dismantle the scope and clean the reticle. They adjust the erector lens group so there is no distortion, and they get the parallax and reticle sharpness working properly.
IOR had no interest in taking these steps for me.
IOR had then and probably still doesn't have the facilities to be able to make these common repairs.
Leupold or Burris can do those jobs. Guys send in their hunting scopes to have non-AO scopes parallax adjusted further than 100 yds, have the reticle and turrets checked, have the scope internals cleaned, and smooth out rough handling or other issues.
IOR doesn't care what you want or need. You are their cash-cow, and they milk you for all they can get. But that's only my opinion.
The saying is friends don't let friends drive drunk...
Anyone I knew that was contemplating an IOR purchase will at least get to hear my experience, unless they run away shrieking into the night...
When it all comes down to it, this is just about riflescopes.
Not a BFD.
Just fyi, I traded my nightforce straight up for an old 3-18x valdada scope and I couldn't be happier. just FYI.
