NEED YOUR HELP. PENTAX WARRANTY QUESTION

[BRICKBURN]

Does the "Worry Free" Warranty apply to my original purchase?

I am going to share my tale of my entire interaction with PENTAX - Ricoh Imaging including all of the history. This will be in segments.

The first image below is the wording of the specified warranty under which I was enticed to make the purchase of the PENTAX product. Other brands like Swarovski provide a lifetime warranty. Leupold provides a lifetime warranty and it was apparent to me this company was trying to compete in the sport optics category at the time. The competitors replaced or repaired the item you sent them without any questions. Many here have experienced that kind of excellent warranty service with those companies.



Product purchased from an authorized dealer in the USA.
Date of my original purchase: May 16, 2011



Warranty wording from February 2011 just prior to my purchase. I copied it into a word file for my records. I will also provide an independent web archive copy that states exactly this wording.

The lastest Sport Optic Warranty regarding PENTAX Sport Optics from their authorized repair company website.

 

[BRICKBURN]

I changed this thread to a POLL to make feedback easier.
Thanks

 

[CBeck]

Technically, yes, it is covered under the original worry free warranty, but practically no…

“Replacement parts have since been discontinued and are no longer available.
Therefore, repair service on Rifle Scopes is no longer available and the manufacturer's warranty is deemed over per the terms and conditions of the manufacturer's warranty.”


This becomes less about “is it under warranty?” and more about:

Can they legally discontinue service on a product that was sold with a lifetime-style warranty?

That depends on:

• Whether the warranty promised lifetime service explicitly
• Whether it reserved the right to discontinue service

….is there fine print somewhere? Hmmm….

 

[BRICKBURN]

@CBeck I agree. How can you unilaterally decide to change the terms of an agreement you entered into.
I think the fine print was in the initial document and repeated on their original website and is repeated on the designated warranty repair companies website about the "worry free" warranty.

They originally offered the option of repair or replacing the product. Hence the inducement to buy the product with a great warranty that rivaled the competitions.


I'll update with the actual photo copied letter I received when they sent my property back to me.

 

[Trophyhunter01]

I say yes. The document states repair or replacement not an option too replace but one or the other. Pentax should replace with a current equal model. Burris has done this for me several times with no issue.

 

[Flbt]

Well they did not replace my Pentax scopes in 2010 .
But I really did not expect them to. Even though it said at fault. So I called
They said no and how did I know it was there scopes and not someone else.
I had 3 rifles in a rifle box vs safe. It was bacilly just a medal box/ gun cabinet.
But the only scopes in it was Pentax.
Surprisingly the glass made it through the fire
The tubes did not and neither did the wood stocks

 

[Rez Exelon]

Nikon is the other brand that did this getting out of the optics game, but from what I understand they'll at least replace with a different "related" optic like bino's or something rather than just telling you to pound sand. I don't think I have any Pentax in my lineup but I do have many many Nikons even if I don't wish to test that. Honestly, I've never looked into what Nikon's warranty originally covered anyways.

 

[CBeck]

Nikon is the other brand that did this getting out of the optics game, but from what I understand they'll at least replace with a different "related" optic like bino's or something rather than just telling you to pound sand. I don't think I have any Pentax in my lineup but I do have many many Nikons even if I don't wish to test that. Honestly, I've never looked into what Nikon's warranty originally covered anyways.

This is my opinion….if you’re out of the scope game why damage your reputation for something like this….make it right!

Offer a credit….

I’ve got several costa Del Mar sunglasses in a similar position. Bought when they offered lifetime warranty. Bought by a larger optical group, warranty and models change. I understand that. Last pair I sent back they said, we don’t have parts to fix these anymore. Offered me a 50% coupon. Should have been a free pair, still shi**y but at least it wasn’t pound sand!

I get sunglasses break regularly, but back to Pentax…how many scopes are actually being returned that it would hurt the bottom line to make it right….I’d bet not that many