We have been considering the purchase of new mid-range binoculars and, after
reading much promotional blurb and user reviews, decided on the Nikon Monarch
8x42 with 8x32 as second choice.
Could anyone with experience of these please give us their opinion. As a
caution to others attempting binocular selection, I append the following:
In Australia, prices vary enormously between stores by as much as 100%. We
could buy from the US, where prices are about half the lowest Australian price
on offer and this option is currently helped by our strong dollar. Cost of
postage/shipping and insurance is little, compared with the price saving, and
no customs duty or GST apply under $1000. There is, however, further confusion
over the Nikon warranty. Companies offering to sell and ship well-priced
binoculars then ask for extended warranty payments, suggesting two or three
years. Next I found an Australian company offering these binoculars at a price
little more than US prices; again with extended warranty information. So I
contacted Nikon about their manufacturer's international warranty and asked why
I should need to take out a retailers' extended warranty.
Nikon informed me that their warranty only applies to approved importers, where
transport, storage and marketing are controlled. There are illegal importers,
they said, often operated via crime syndicates in Hong Kong and these offer
binoculars at much cheaper prices. If you buy from 'grey' retailers who have
obtained binoculars through these channels, then the Nikon warranty is voided.
Grey retailers offer extended warranties to replace the voided Nikon warranty
and the offset the low cost at which they sell.
So, we are back to looking at reputable Australian retailers who publicise the
fact that they are not 'grey' importers. We'll pay more but can rely on our
product and its warranty.
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