Pitfalls of buying a used Scope

Edchef

Well-Known Member
Hello from Sunny Shropshire
I have been considering buying another scope for my next rifle (hurry up West Mercia!)
I was wondering what I need to take into consideration when buying a used scope?
Obviously any history, it's age and any documentation available
Any guarantee left?
If buying remotely and from an internet advert ( it's located some distance away) how do I know it's not a fake or some sort of rip off?
Request good photographs?
It's a high quality scope and the asking price is over £1k
Any other suggestions or warnings?
Thanks
Ed
 
Ed

If it's Steve (sussexfallow) or hillside (on here) bite their hands off, as they are both excellent guys to deal with. Anyone else, then I'm not sure. Macleods in Tain have a good selection of s/h kit and are excellent to deal with. I sold a second hand scope (~£1k) last year on-line, but didn't enjoy the experience despite the purchaser being excellent to deal with.

As you suspect it can be a minefield which is why normally I restrict my optic deals to Gregor in Tain. It's hard to put a price on hassle and uncertainty, but at present my time's at a premium and I'm happy to pay a little more for a hassle free transaction.

Regards

JCS
 
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Macleods in Tain have a good selection of s/h kit and are excellent to deal with.

This, I have bought new and used from them, and sold to them, excellent service :thumb:

Neil. :)
 
Ed,

A good way to test whether a scope is sealed properly is to put in in the fridge overnight. Take it out in the morning and look at in in a warm room. If the gas seals have gone it will fog up in the inside. If it's sound it will fog on the outside only.

Cheers,

Bob
 
If it's a private sale, as well as the obvious such as obtaining photos etc, try to get the serial number off the scope prior to buying, you should then be able to find out how old the scope is and if there is any remaining warranty from the manufacturer. From a dealer the same would apply but you should expect some sort of written warranty also.

I would be wary of spending a lot of money from a private seller on auction sites etc as it could turn out to be a bit of a risk... Of course there is always the possibility that you may also get a bargain too!
 
If you are buying a newer S/H scope from names such as S+B, Swaro or Kahles then you can always send them back to the factory for a service to put your mind at rest. More often than not they will do it for free so you are only paying the price of the postage. In my opinion this makes buying a used high end scope far less of a risk than buying one made by one of the lesser manufacturers.
 
If you are buying a newer S/H scope from names such as S+B, Swaro or Kahles then you can always send them back to the factory for a service to put your mind at rest. More often than not they will do it for free so you are only paying the price of the postage. In my opinion this makes buying a used high end scope far less of a risk than buying one made by one of the lesser manufacturers.
+1 for that. I've bought 3 off the evil bay. Got some real bargains. Don't bother with any cheap China Korea stuff. This is what I got with prices inc postage.
6-18 Nikon bush master £137.00
6x 42 S&B Hungarian £200
8x56 Swarovski £300
watch out for a lot of leoupold copy's on the bay.
 
Ed,

I think there may be less risk in buying a used scope from a seller of good repute - and some of the recommendations on SD speak volumes - than if you bought a new scope from a discount house staffed by non-specialist juveniles.

Yes, I know, you get full manufacturer's warranty if buying new, but you also accept depreciation of around 30% the moment you leave the shop.

I've only had 2 totally new scopes in 50 years - a Tasco 40 squid job 35 years ago that still works well on on of my rimfires and a Zeiss that I imported from the US. Both have been exemplary.

Of the 40 or so "used" scopes over the years, I only had one significant issue and that was a broken reticle.

Stay with a reputed dealer and you will be OK.

All best,

Charles

PS did you go ahead with the 6PPC?
 
Just my 2p worth I have bought 7 scopes of sd from various member and all been perfectly as described maybe even a bit better than described. Good bunch of honest guys on hear on the whole (a few sales have went public ally bad on the forum but only a very few compared to the amount of sales) so if you buy anything on here u shouldn't b disappointed. On a whole yeah ask for pictures, if it's boxed with paper and how old, also make sure you get a good description of the lenses as that's the most important bit :)
 
Don't buy it "in rings" without the seller taking them off and confirming the condition of the tube......... I did this once, many years ago on a PM2 in Apels only to find they'd been overtightened and kinked the tube :confused:

Thinking that S&B's customer service was on a par with Swarovski's, somewhat naively I wasn't overly worried and sent it back to the factory for a re-tube.......... very expensive: a) to send it by courier b) for the work to be done and c) to actually pay for it as S&B had no card facility so it was a bank transfer!!

Won't be doing that again..... nor will a S&B ever find itself on a rifle of mine. :evil: Lesson learned.... and it still sits in the box as it came back from the factory.


atb

Fizz
 
Don't buy it "in rings" without the seller taking them off and confirming the condition of the tube......... I did this once, many years ago on a PM2 in Apels only to find they'd been overtightened and kinked the tube :confused:

Thinking that S&B's customer service was on a par with Swarovski's, somewhat naively I wasn't overly worried and sent it back to the factory for a re-tube.......... very expensive: a) to send it by courier b) for the work to be done and c) to actually pay for it as S&B had no card facility so it was a bank transfer!!

Won't be doing that again..... nor will a S&B ever find itself on a rifle of mine. :evil: Lesson learned.... and it still sits in the box as it came back from the factory.


atb

Fizz

I also bought a used PMII with slight ring marks about 8 years ago. I sent it off and it got a free service and came back with a clean bill of health. All I paid was the postage. It has sat on several different SSGs and been completely reliable.
 
Thanks for all the replies chaps - all good, useful stuff
The scope in question wasn't on SD but on a Facebook group - as it turns out it was not what I wanted anyway. I have bought a scope from a member and it has been all I hoped it would be.
I am actually looking for something to mount on a 6br that I will own soon (If West Mercia gets cracking)and hope to do a bit of target shooting up to 600 yards with it.
What about your PM2 "Fizzbangwallop" ?
Once again SD members have come up with good helpful info.
Thanks All
Ed
 
braces of bristol is a good trader top man,gets scopes in now and again, other top lads on here , 49 eric, 223, kirriemuir ,weeman, sinbad, wingy, si, theres a lot more just ask about, forest and hill, as well, atb doug,
 
A bit off topic I'm afraid, but sorry An Du Ru Fox I can't let that one go.
I suppose there will always be someone with a different view, but I had a very unpleasant experience with that Bristol dealer and will not enter his shop again.
He would definitely not be on my list of recommendations.
I now travel 30 miles to Dauntsey Guns near Chippenham for a very friendly first rate service.

Richard
 
A bit off topic I'm afraid, but sorry An Du Ru Fox I can't let that one go.
I suppose there will always be someone with a different view, but I had a very unpleasant experience with that Bristol dealer and will not enter his shop again.
He would definitely not be on my list of recommendations.
I now travel 30 miles to Dauntsey Guns near Chippenham for a very friendly first rate service.

Richard
sorry to hear that richard, but as i say hes been very patient with me over the last few weeks so thats my experience atb doug,
 
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