Thread: Special Assembly Leupold Snapped Reticle

Following this with keen interest as I picked up a Mark4 3.5-10 M3 with some 'dust' on the reticle (actually paint flecks from the inside of the scope tube).

Depending on how you get on @Hermitage I'll be sending mine direct as well!

Originally Posted by caberslash

Following this with keen interest as I picked up a Mark4 3.5-10 M3 with some 'dust' on the reticle (actually paint flecks from the inside of the scope tube).

Depending on how you get on @Hermitage I'll be sending mine direct as well!

Yeah, I'll keep everyone informed on this thread.

I do have a question for those in the know before I goto the P.O. tomorrow to send an international parcel:

- Are there any import or export duties to be paid, or any import/export permits to fill out for a 2nd hand, sent for repair 'telescope' ? (I'm not writing down 'riflescope').

It's a few years since I sent a scope to them for modifications so my comments may not be relevant nowadays.
I however had no issues in or out with my "telescope".
Again I'm not current with my knowledge and I don't know whether customs will hassle you on return.
Take a good photo of your serial number b4 sending.

Dropped in at the P.O. after work today.
The scope was in its original box covered over in the necessary (these days), brown paper bag The post office lady asked me what it was and I replied a 'telescope sent for a warranty repair in the USA'.
She wanted me to fill out a customs declaration form but I just wanted her to give me a price for air-freight to the US first so I could see how much money I was up for.

The conversation went something like this:
P.O. lady: Ok I will weigh it and give you the postage price but first I have to know the value of the telescope.
Me: NZ$400
P.O. lady: Ok if it's $400 worth it would pay to get tracked airmail so it is safer and it will also be faster as well. Although you could send it untracked however I advise against that, and that way will take about 5 to 6 weeks to arrive in the US.
Me: 5 to 6 bloody weeks!! It's airmail not via ship.
P.O. lady: Yes but because of Covid there are only about 2 planes going to the US a week and so there is a backlog. If you send it tracked however it will only take about 21 days to the US.
Me: Ok ok...give me the price of it tracked

P.O. lady: Right the weight is 640gms and let me just check the computer for a price....
....ok the price will be...the price will be NZ$71.80
Me: 71.80!!! 71 bloody dollars and 80 bloody cents!!
P.O. lady: (looking at me over the top of her glasses)...Yes, prices went up quite a bit just before Christmas and you know...it's the Covid problem.
Me: Well I'm not about to pay nearly $72!
(I then thought hmmm, seems like NZ Asia Trading is not so bad after all)
....how much to Nelson, I asked her?
P.O. lady: Well we can put the telescope into this prepaid bag so it would be $13 tracked courier.
Me: Right let's do it that way.

I quickly scribbled down the address of NZ Asia Trading, 3 Packham Crescent, Stoke, Nelson 7011 onto the outside of the prepaid bag and gave her the $13.
That's it I thought.... let's just let NZ Asia Trading sort it all out.
I thanked her, turned around, and went back into the sunshine of another beautiful Whakatane day.
Job done.

Presumably it will get fixed 'locally' by the NIOH service centre in Aus then?

Originally Posted by caberslash

Presumably it will get fixed 'locally' by the NIOH service centre in Aus then?

Yeah NZ Asia sends 'a number of' repair scopes over to Oz, and then Oz sends 'a number of' repaired scopes back to NZ Asia. This is where they must save on freight - by sending a larger hence cheaper per scope sized package.

I'm up for a probable 6-week turnaround/wait....but I accept that (considering the untracked shipping was going to take that long just to get to USA!).

Hopefully all this will help you out @caberslash for when you have to send in your Leupold

Originally Posted by Hermitage

Hopefully all this will help you out @caberslash for when you have to send in your Leupold

Aye, fingers crossed. I'm in Scotland and picked up the Mark 4 at an OK price, %100 functional just annoying 'dust' on the reticle.

Will have to call Leupy USA and ask before sending, last time I heard they were still touchy regarding ITAR as Mil-Dot scopes are apparently restricted items?

Anyway, it is a real one that was bought in the UK so hopefully no dramas.

I got a reply back from NZ Asia Trading.
They recieved my Leupold scope via courier on Friday. Seemed to be ok that I sent it to them directly rather than via H & F. NZ Asia said they like people to send via H&F so then they can wait and send a number of scopes back to the same H&F store at one time. Becuase I sent it direct to them they will have to send my scope directly back to me.

NZ Asia said they would send my scope to the Queensland Aus repair store to get the reticle replaced. I asked if Oz could fit a WindPlex reticle rather than the Duplex that was in it, but while NZ Asia would ask they think it's not possible due to my scope being an older Vari-X IIc.

NZ Asia also mentioned that the Oz repair store is not as 'lenient' as the USA repair service and that Oz might charge for some extra repairs whereas the USA store will/might not charge for the same extra work. So maybe if you have a scope that was broken by falling on it or something major it would pay you to send it to USA direct.

NZ Asia said I should have my scope back in 6 weeks...

The 71.80 might turn out to have been the better option ha ha

When I sent an older Leupold to their custom shop a few years ago for Mk4 turret fitting it cost me 50 bucks, which I thought was robbery. I also had to pay the return shipping from Leupold.

The beauty of sending it direct was I was able to see in the tracking the acceptance signature at receiving at Leupold.

I was also to talk directly with one of their technicians and discuss and agree what they would do.

The most difficult bit was ringing in my CC details for its return. When connected I was 15th waiting in line on their call list. Got the "your call is important" message over and over.

Originally Posted by zimmer

The 71.80 might turn out to have been the better option ha ha

When I sent an older Leupold to their custom shop a few years ago for Mk4 turret fitting it cost me 50 bucks, which I thought was robbery. I also had to pay the return shipping from Leupold.

The beauty of sending it direct was I was able to see in the tracking the acceptance signature at receiving at Leupold.

I was also to talk directly with one of their technicians and discuss and agree what they would do.

The most difficult bit was ringing in my CC details for its return. When connected I was 15th waiting in line on their call list. Got the "your call is important" message over and over.

Which Mark4 did you have @zimmer ?

I've got a Mk4 3.5-10 with M3 turrets, all good apart from little specs of dust on the reticle as mentioned earlier.

Was worried that they might get funny about ITAR and mil-dot scopes but your experience sounds promising.

Should have spent the extra and sent it to the USA. They probably would have changed the rectivle while at it. Now you get to deal with the tightarse aussies.

Originally Posted by caberslash

Which Mark4 did you have @zimmer ?

I've got a Mk4 3.5-10 with M3 turrets, all good apart from little specs of dust on the reticle as mentioned earlier.

Was worried that they might get funny about ITAR and mil-dot scopes but your experience sounds promising.

@caberslash Maybe my experience has given you false hopes. It was around 8 years and even though it was not too long after the Twin Tower event there didn't seem to be the same issues sending and receiving those types of items that may occur now.

Plus it was an old Vari-XIII 8.5x25 which doesn't quite have the perceived sniper aspect of the Mk4. I had Mk4 turrets fitted to replace the mushy originals. I used it for a while on an F Class rifle.

@Hermitage

What happened? Still waiting?

Not dared to think about sending mine in for a service as it still works fine.

Originally Posted by caberslash

@Hermitage

What happened? Still waiting?

Not dared to think about sending mine in for a service as it still works fine.

@caberslash I gave the result of the Leupold warranty return in this post:

https://www.nzhuntingandshooting.co.nz/f15/how-save-$-leupold-warranty-70021/

Originally Posted by Hermitage

I have this Vari-X IIc 4-12x with custom click target turrets. They were made for Reloaders Supplies in the early 90s and I have used it for precision target .22.

I was out at the range today and the wire reticle just gave up the ghost and broke.

Does anyone know if Leupold fixes the reticles in these Vari-X IIc or would they just send me a 'Freedom' series 4-12x as a replacement? (or something to equal effect/value). I really need a scope with target turrets.

Also what's the best way to get this to Leupold....take it to a store or send it myself via NZ Post?

Attachment 159285

....How good is that Leupold warranty (which you have previously whined about costing so much and resulting in overpriced scopes.....)?

Sound like it's all going to be worth it.....