Beware Of Simmons/meade Instruments

Bushpilot · 07-04-2007, 02:48 PM

I bought a Simmons spotting scope 8 months ago. The lens that is just behind the eye piece was laying horizontal when I pull it out of the box about 1 month ago. "No Biggy" I said to myself, "I'll just get Simmons to replace it". Here is where the aggrevation started!

Simmons is owned by the (Parent company Meade Instruments). After trying on 2 different days to "wait out" their "on hold" music on the phone, I got someone to pleasantly tell me that they will repair or replace the spotting scope. They told me to just follow the instructions on their web site for returns/repairs.

Their customer service policy for MANUFACTURERS defect is to ship it back to them ON YOUR OWN DIME! Now remember, it is the product that they sold you with a manufactures defect with "no fault of your own"! To add insult to injury, you have to put a $10 money order in the box so they will ship it back to you!!!!

Spotting scope UPS shipping cost= $17 + $10 to get shipped back, now my spotting scope price has gone up another $27 dollars.

After 10 days of not being able to get someone to even tell me that they had it in the building, (do to their recieving processes even after I told them WHO SIGNED FOR IT!), they said that they would replace the scope. They shipped it out 5 days later.

Ok...good...now I am feeling a little better. When I recieved the spotting scope from UPS, It was not even the same model scope I sent them! They sent me a Meade scope (remember I bought a Simmons in "Real Tree Camo") The meade scope is Grey. The Meade scope model costs $15 less than the original price of the Simmons...and if you add in the $27 I paid for shipping...I'M ready to EXPLODE!

I got a rep on the phone after 27 minutes on hold...immediately asked for a manager...and wouldn't you guess it...no manager around....HOW ABOUT THAT!

The rep on the phone said to send the Meade scope back and they would switch it for the model I originally bought and...because they are SO INTO CUSTOMER SERVICE...NO SHIPPING CHARGE! What a nice bunch of folks!

SIMMONS/MEADE CUSTOMER SERVICE AND RETURN POLICY FOR MANUFACTURER DEFECTS IS THE WORST I'VE EVER SEEN!!!

**BowtechTurkeyHunter** · 07-04-2007, 09:12 PM

Wow thats too bad ... the only part that makes no sense to me is the $10 money order I have never heard of that ... the rest of the stuff I can see and would write the wrong scope being an honest mistake ... sounds like they are dealing with you and are willing to take care of your problem ... just sounds like it might cost you a bit more to get it done ... I hope when its all said and done you get what you wanted in a spotting scope and that is last you a long time ...

Steve

Bushpilot · 07-04-2007, 10:49 PM

The point is....Why should it cost me anything but my time to replace a "Manufactures Defect"!?

**BowtechTurkeyHunter** · 07-04-2007, 11:28 PM

In the hunting industry its that way ... usually I pay the shipping to get it there and they pay the shipping back ... its just the way it is ... try warranty on a Benelli it has to be shipped to Italy granted I ship it to someplace on the East coast but still it still cost me 35 bucks with insurance ... how do you ask a guy who just paid 1500 bucks for a gun to pay shipping ... some things you just gotta deal with ... did you buy this online? ... if you would have bought it from my store I woulda flipped the shipping on it just to make you happy ... sometimes online saves you nothing

Steve

**wtnhunt** · 07-05-2007, 06:36 AM

The point is....Why should it cost me anything but my time to replace a "Manufactures Defect"!?

It should not. For a new scope I would be pretty irritated too. That is one thing I like about cabelas, they eat the shipping both ways if for whatever reason you are not satisfied. Think if I had been in the same situation as you, would have tried to deal with whoever you got it from being it was new.

Simmons warranty on their rifle scopes is the same way. Got the warranty papers on a 44 mag scope I was going to send in, says to include a $7 check or money order for return shipping, but they do have a lifetime warranty and will repair or replace the scope.

Bushpilot · 07-05-2007, 08:15 AM

Originally Posted by BowtechTurkeyHunter

In the hunting industry its that way ... usually I pay the shipping to get it there and they pay the shipping back ... its just the way it is ... try warranty on a Benelli it has to be shipped to Italy granted I ship it to someplace on the East coast but still it still cost me 35 bucks with insurance ... how do you ask a guy who just paid 1500 bucks for a gun to pay shipping ... some things you just gotta deal with ... did you buy this online? ... if you would have bought it from my store I woulda flipped the shipping on it just to make you happy ... sometimes online saves you nothing

Steve

I bought it at Optics Planet. I have no beef with them. I had to send back a Rifle scope one time...They paid shipping because it was within 30 days. This case was 8 months later. I completely understand them telling me to go to the manufacturer. By the way...I had to send back my son's Xbox 360...I bought it in October...they mailed me a box and UPS sticker to send it back with. I forgot my 3rd example...but someone else mailed me an empty box with UPS postage one time for a manufacturers defect replacement.

Bottom line...if you think about it....really...why should anyone have to pay "more" to get a defective product replaced?

**Texan_Til_I_Die** · 07-05-2007, 03:02 PM

I had a similar issue with a brand new laptop. It was defective out of the box and the vendor wanted me to pay for the return shipping. So I boxed it up and sent it to them freight collect.