How Important is the Warranty on my Optics Purchase?

Your optics purchase is an investment, so it makes sense to know the manufacturer’s warranty before you lay down your hard-earned money on that binocular or spotting scope. The warranty may be as important as the price!

A typical warranty in the optics industry is a “limited lifetime” warranty which covers materials or workmanship, referred to as manufacturer defect. This would include parts and labor for defects like focus wheel or diopter malfunction, alignment problems, or internal fogging of the lenses (if the binocular is waterproof and fogproof).

Most warranties do not cover repairs that are a result of abuse or accidental damage caused by user error. In these cases, if the manufacturer can fix the problem, it is considered a non-warranty repair and a fee would be charged.

Some warranties cover the original owner only; some are transferable, and cover the binocular no matter who owns it.  No warranty we know of will cover optics that were stolen or lost, so take precautions against theft. We hear stories almost weekly from customers who have had binoculars and scopes stolen, mostly from vehicles.

Specific warranties may apply to specific models in a brand. If you have any questions about a warranty on a binocular or scope, this information can be found on the manufacturer’s website. Or, call us at Eagle Optics and we’ll be happy to help you understand the warranty on the product you’re interested in.

Originally published on January 19, 2011