Zeiss Conquest scopes made in Asia

[jwcrabb]

Just had a Zeiss dealer tell me that the Zeiss Conquest line of scopes are no longer made in Germany, but are made somewhere in Asia and are not the same quality. Any truth to that?

 

[MudRunner2005]

All of my Conquests say "Made in USA" on them....

 

[Sully2]

That dealer doesnt know his *** from a hole in the ground!

 

[jwcrabb]

I talked to the Zeiss people today and they said that was false. The new Conquest HD scopes are made in Germany. This was supposed to be a reputable dealer that has sold scopes for many years.

 

[MudRunner2005]

The old Conquests were made here in the USA. I have heard the new HD's are made in Germany, but no idea for sure.

Sometimes even the most reputable dealer can be a moron when it comes down to details. That's why I always do my own fact-checks.

 

[SidecarFlip]

Ah yes, the old fallacy. It says 'Assembled in USA', not MADE IN USA. Big difference my friend. BIG DIFFERENCE

Assembled in USA translated means assembled from parts sourced from anywhere which also means Asia or any Pacific Rim Country or here, but probably from the least expensive source and thats not HERE. To look a bit further into it, per chance, the entire scope might have originated in some oriental sweat shop, shipped in parts and assembled in any location listed in the next paragraph....

Additionally, 'Assembled in USA' can mean anywhere in the USA including holdings such as Puerto Rico, Guam, Virgin Islands, US Samoa or the Philippines. Vortex is assembled in the Philippines BTW.

It sure don't say 'Made in Prescott, Arizona". To cite a Made in USA example (Ruger) or Made in Yonkers, New York (Kimber).....

People assume that if it states assembled in USA, it's a domestic product and thats a fairy tale.

MADE IN AND ASSEMBLED IN ARE TWO ENTIRELY DIFFERENT ANIMALS

Due dillegence is always better in most cases.

 

[MudRunner2005]

Well, I was told by an actual Zeiss rep they are made here. However, he could have been mistaken. I would figure a Zeiss rep would know basic info like that. I'll try to dig a little deeper tomorrow.

 

[SidecarFlip]

Again, Made in and Assembled in are 2 entirely different things. In today's market, they are used interchangeably, however, they have 2 distinctly different meanings.

Your scope states on the ocular and the box 'Assembled in USA'. Thats not made and never will be and if the rep tells you it is made here, have him prove it with source content and location. Bet he can't. because it's not.

 

[lloydsmale]

they could get there scopes without covers on the elevation and windage ajustments and just put those on and claim assembled in the USA. But i guess who cares. The only made in the usa scopes left are leupold and burris and theres even questions now if they truely are. I dont know of a US company that makes scope lenses so at least those are probably sorced from overseas. Ive allways been one that preached buy US made products but even buying a chev or ford anymore is no guarantee of that. Even harley davidson isnt totaly made up of parts that were made in the good old USA. Id guess about the only thing you can buy anymore that is totaly made in america is a box of corn flakes

 

[Elkwonder]

they could get there scopes without covers on the elevation and windage ajustments and just put those on and claim assembled in the USA. But i guess who cares. The only made in the usa scopes left are leupold and burris and theres even questions now if they truely are. I dont know of a US company that makes scope lenses so at least those are probably sorced from overseas. Ive allways been one that preached buy US made products but even buying a chev or ford anymore is no guarantee of that. Even harley davidson isnt totaly made up of parts that were made in the good old USA. Id guess about the only thing you can buy anymore that is totaly made in america is a box of corn flakes

I actually heard this morning that corn flakes are being imported now, guess where from?? LOL

 

[SidecarFlip]

they could get there scopes without covers on the elevation and windage ajustments and just put those on and claim assembled in the USA. But i guess who cares. The only made in the usa scopes left are leupold and burris and theres even questions now if they truely are. I dont know of a US company that makes scope lenses so at least those are probably sorced from overseas. Ive allways been one that preached buy US made products but even buying a chev or ford anymore is no guarantee of that. Even harley davidson isnt totaly made up of parts that were made in the good old USA. Id guess about the only thing you can buy anymore that is totaly made in america is a box of corn flakes

There are still quite a few 'Made in America' from domestically sourced materials.... www.madeinusa.com

I think thats it, website, that is.

Harley Davidson isn't even close (to domestically sourced parts and assemblies). Most of the bike is offshored parts. Castings are made in India, wheels, China, forks Japan, electrics Japan and Taiwan. It's assembled here but certainly not made here in the true sense of the word and I find their advertising to be very misleading. Even the sheetmetal (tanks, fenders and tins are offshored).

Leupold and Stevens is extremely cagy about intrinsic component sourcing. I imagine that most internals are offshored. They aren't saying and never have but I know it's not B&L because you and I can't afford domestic glass and there are lens manufacturers here, B&L for one and another in California but certainly not for consumer optics. We all know that glass from LOE Japan is excellent. I'll take LOE anytime.

I will give the automakers credit in one respect and that is, auto manufacturers list the percentage of foreign content versus domestic, something I believe should apply to ALL products for the consumer.

I just checked my last Nikon that I got for my muzzleloader. Phillipenes. In essence, thats domestic, but not really.

The reason optic manufacturers (for the most part) offer lifetime replacement/repair is they don't repair anything (Leupold and Stevens is an exception that I know of) but lets say most. They get your defective scope back and replace it with another, new scope and if it's a discontinued model, replace it with a comparable one because that defective scope went to the landfill...in the garbage. The markup is extreme so throaway's are an accepted fact of doing business.

I'd be willing to bet hard cash that the markup on optics is in the area of 45% plus, maybe more on desired optics, like Night Force. Manufacturers and reps constantly watch competitiors pricing and price their offerings accordingly. It matters not what the item cost to produce or import, it's what the market will bear (in pricing) thats the governing factor. Good example is Leupold's LE buying discount which is typically 30% off retail to LE's. They are still making money, just a bigger pile on the non discounted consumer.

There is one thing thats still made here, everyday and thats BABIES.

 

[MudRunner2005]

I just emailed Zeiss Customer Service.... I will wait to further comment after getting their response. I asked them for specifics as to where the parts were manufactured and what state specifically the scopes were assembled in.

 

[MudRunner2005]

they could get there scopes without covers on the elevation and windage ajustments and just put those on and claim assembled in the USA. But i guess who cares. The only made in the usa scopes left are leupold and burris and theres even questions now if they truely are. I dont know of a US company that makes scope lenses so at least those are probably sorced from overseas. Ive allways been one that preached buy US made products but even buying a chev or ford anymore is no guarantee of that. Even harley davidson isnt totaly made up of parts that were made in the good old USA. Id guess about the only thing you can buy anymore that is totaly made in america is a box of corn flakes

SOME Leupold scopes are still made here. Some of the cheaper inexpensive models are manufactured in China, Thailand, or somewhere like that.

 

[SidecarFlip]

SOME Leupold scopes are still made here. Some of the cheaper inexpensive models are manufactured in China, Thailand, or somewhere like that.

Is that substantiative fact or your opinion formed by what you heard somewhere.? If fact, please provide a link. If personal opinion not based on facts, please state that.

Sort o0f comparable to 'Made in America' versus 'Assembled in America'........