About 1 year after I sent my Zeiss binoculars in for repair (mid-Oct 2006), I dropped them on the concrete walk outside my house. They didn't work after that. I mailed them to the repair facility in Chester, VA. This time they fixed them without needing to order any parts and I had them back in a week and a day. Awesome !

Well my 10X40's were waiting for me when I got home late Tuesday (12/6) from a trip to New York to see my Dad. They appear to be working very well and I think Zeiss did a very nice job. They are obviously my old ones because the paint is chipped in some characteristic spots but the armor is all new. I called them and they are sending a "call tag" to have the loaners picked up at my office. All in all I'd say I'm pretty satisfied with the whole procedure except that it took so very long (2 months). That wouldn't have bothered me at all if I had just taken them up on the loaners from the very start.

I just got the loaners in the mail today. They seem nice (Zeiss Victory 8X40B T*P*). There is a scratch on the right eye lens that appears to be the worst problem that I've seen on them yet. I can't wait to try them out in the daylight outdoors. I'd say that the Zeiss company is vindicated at this point. I think I'll be quite happy using these until mine are ready.

I called again today 11/17 because I'm really getting tired of waiting. I talked to the same girl that called the first time and that I talked to this last time. She said this time that it takes 6 weeks for something like this (notice that the longer I wait, the longer the "standard wait time" gets). She said something about shipping from Germany taking a long time which I understand (My parents lived in Germany for over 1 year). I argued with her about this for awhile and decided that it would be more productive to ask about the loaner (since this could take another 6-weeks before I finally get mine back). They are sending me a pair of Zeiss 8X40 Victorys which I am anxious to try. I'll post here again when they arrive.

I just called the repair center again (Nov. 9th). Tomorrow marks 5 weeks. They indicated that the part (the mount) has still not been delivered from Germany and she estimated another 2-weeks wait. She also mentioned that a loaner could be sent to me. I probably should have taken her up on that offer as soon as it was made.

Well I called after 2 weeks had gone by (they said to expect them in about 2 weeks). The woman I talked to this time said that 4-5 weeks is more typical and that the mount that was bent on my binoculars needed to be shipped over from Germany. I'm still counting on them being in great shape when I get them, but in the meantime, birding without them is getting very difficult ! I miss my binoculars :-(

I mailed my binoculars to them (almost 2 weeks ago) and it appears that most of what is really wrong with them is covered by the warrantee (THANK GOODNESS). I'm paying a little over $100 just to get them completely refinished (including eye cups and armor). I should get them back any day now. I'll post again when I get them back to give you my satisfaction report.

J.B.

So I've called Zeiss and with the Warrantee that supposedly comes with all their binoculars ... they are recommending that I mail mine to them. I plan to do this so I'll keep you "posted" in case anybody is reading this.

J.B.