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Refurbished Binos

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Optics GrassHopper
Optics GrassHopper


Joined: June/14/2013
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Demonical Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Refurbished Binos
    Posted: June/16/2013 at 07:59
Since I've been shopping for binoculars, I've seen lots of 'deals' on refurbished binoculars. These ads pretty much all claim to be manufacturer refurbished; Nikon, Bushnell, Vortex etc...

First of all, what's factory refurbished really entail?

Why do these binos require a factory rebuild (if they were decent quality to begin with)?

Third is, would you buy binos, that are used/abused, then immediately send them into the manufacturer, to get them repaired/refurbished?


And the main question: would you be comfortable buying factory refurbished optics?
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Klamath View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Klamath Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: June/16/2013 at 13:12
A lot are probably nothing more than those returned because whoever ordered them found something (real or imagined) and returned them.  They are then repaired as necessary and resold as refurbished.  Easier to sell them as refurbished because they likely can't be sold as new.  
Steve
"Everything that can be counted does not necessarily count; everything that counts cannot necessarily be counted". William Bruce Cameron

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Optics Journeyman
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote FrankD Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July/09/2013 at 06:57
Ditto on Klamath's comments.
 
In addition, many times the sample units used in retail stores and/or the display units used by company reps at trade shows, etc... are sent back to the factory to be brought "back up to snuff". This may entail things like having the central hinge tension tightened or the diopter adjusted, etc...
 
I have purchased several "demo/refurbished" units from a variety of retailers. I have never had a problem with them. Keep in mind though that many times the warranty isn't the same on demo/refurbished as it would be on a new unit.
Frank
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Optics Retard
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote budperm Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: July/09/2013 at 07:51
Quite often 'Refurished' means little more than a distributor returned the product to the manufacturer unsold.  If the item is still in production then the returns aren't and can't be sold as  'closeouts' or '1st quailty new'.  Its a tangled web for sure....  manufacture a certain quanity to get a volume price point and flood the market even if you know you won't sell them all at retail.
"Peace is that brief glorious moment in history when everybody stands around reloading".
--Thomas Jefferson



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