Hello All,
Are no-fault warranties worth it?
I just replaced my bins after a trusty pair of Swift Audubon 8.5x44’s were stolen, prompting me to ask this question:
No-fault warranties give great comfort, but are not free (witness the recent jump in Leica prices corresponding to the shift to lifetime passport warranty). And they are worth nothing if, as happened to me, your bins are stolen or lost completely.
I’m doing a semi-formal survey as a first-cut answer to this question. I’ve posted this on the four major brand forums (Leica, Nikon, Swarovski, and Zeiss). Please respond to this post, I’ll tally the answers, and post a summary. Please respond only once per event to avoid double counting:
How many times have you (or someone you known)
1) Lost binoculars
2) Had binoculars stolen
3) Damaged binoculars to the point requiring service
4) Damaged binoculars to the point of complete loss of function
Thanks!
Cheers,
Chris C.
Answers to 1 to 4 - Never
I feel if you are asking the question you should also consider.
For how long after you have bought the bins do you think you will subject them to very regular use, before advances in optics lead you to buy a new pair. So relegating the older bins to less frequent use thus limiting the probability of needing to call on that warranty.
Answer for #3 : 1 Zeiss 10x42 FL (another birder)
Have you thought about including spotting scopes, which seem more prone to being damaged when tripods fall over for one reason or another?
Mike