Subject: [Tweeters] RFI : Scope recomendations
Date: Mar 11 19:16:34 2006
From: black - black at nwfirst.com


Hi,

I agree with the experience with KOWA - my scope has been all over the
planet and has had some dreadful turns of fate - to the point that the
45-degree eyepiece was broken off in China at one point - when I sent
it in, KOWA was wonderful and fixed it - again for free. I had been
busy calling them trying to find out how much the part would be - they
said not to worry about it.

I would have to say, that is in marked contrast to my recent experience
with CANON. My Canon Image Stabilized IS 12x35 binoculars to be
specific. The tragically cheap door to the battery compartment where
the metal piece that joins the batteries together is riveted to the
door - flew off recently. Canon is requiring more than the binoculars
cost new to fix this. I really enjoyed the binoculars - especially for
things like pelagic trips. But this is too much - Canon really isn't
even trying. Really, it was nearly $100 more than the price available
from many internet sites for a new pair. I love the technology, hate
the support policy.

Curt Black


On Sat, Mar 11, 2006 at 12:22am Birders2 at aol.com wrote:
> Hi,
> =20
> I like my Kowa TSN 824 scope, which I have had since 2000, over all
the=
> =20
> others that I have tried in the field. BUT I LIKE KOWA's warranty
support=
> as=20
> the best feature. Several weeks ago, while on a failed chase for
the=20
> Brown-chested Martin in Arizona, I managed to bounce my scope off a
rock,=
> denting the=20
> body, and totally doing in the focusing mechanism and causing some
chips o=
> f=20
> something to appear between the lens. I though my wallet was going
to tak=
> e=20
> the same beating that my scope had taken.
> =20
> Even when I called Kowa support for instruction on how to return it
for=20=
> =20
> repair, they indicated that after they looked at it, they would
contact me =
> with=20=20
> an estimate. I shipped it off UPS, with the dread of what it was
going to=
> =20=20
> cost.=20
> =20
> The day after Kowa received it, I received a phone call from Kowa
support=
> =20=20
> with the news. The news was I would have it back within a week. No
menti=
> on of=20
> the cost, so I asked, How much? The answer, EVEN though it was
totally my=
> =20
> doing: "It's covered by warranty,"=20
> =20
> A week later I had the scope back, no charge, except for my shipping
it to=
> =20=20
> Kowa. They did not even ask for shipping charges back to me. I am
still =
> in=20
> shock!=20=20=20
> =20
> So Kowa has my loyalty.
> =20
> Great birding and find that next lifer,
>
> John (One of Birders2)
> John + Irma =3D 2, we are birders, too.
>
> John C. LeVine Birders2 at aol.com Los Angeles, CA=20=20
>
> -*-*-*-*-*--*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
> "Whatever the reason for this particular bird's presence,=20
> I am delighted to have =E2=80=A6(it)=E2=80=A6sharing our bit of
earth."
> -*-*-*-*-*--*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
> >From David Kline's "Scratching the Woodchuck - Nature on an Amish
Farm"
> -*-*-*-*-*--*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
>