Thread: Vortex "Grey market product" warranty

Hi team,

I'm trying to decide on what to get for my first rangefinder.

Based on features and price alone, i would want a Sig Sauer BDX (1600 or 1800)
Having a rangefinder that spits out what to dial just as accurate as any ballistics chart or app just seems like a bloody good idea!

But...
As far as i understand..
If i buy a Vortex rangefinder, i will effectively be paying a one off fee to have a rangefinder for life, yes?
With their forever "VIP warranty", the only way i would be spending money on a rangefinder down the road is if i want to upgrade to a better product or if i lost it.
Only downside being their very basic set of features at the same price of a feature rich Sig Sauer.

There is a concerning piece of information about the warranty on their website:

"Products that are not imported into your country by the Vortex Authorized Distributor, including items brought in to a country without having paid the necessary taxes and duties, are considered “Grey Market Products” and are not covered by this warranty."

While they simultaneously claim:

"UNLIMITED LIFETIME WARRANTY
FULLY TRANSFERABLE
NO RECEIPT NEEDED"

So you don't need a receipt, but you need to somehow be sure that your product has been imported into the country by an authorized distributor...
The only authorized dealer for the AUS/NZ market on the Vortex list is: Extra Vision Australia (never heard of them before just now)
I'm guessing that Extra Vision Australia would be the importer for the many NZ stores that stock them, and not the only place you can buy them "authorized".

I want to hear your experience with making a Vortex warranty claim.

Did you deal with Vortex directly or the store where you bought the product?
Was the the source of your product ever questioned (authorized or grey market product)?
How did your product break and how was the warranty claim handled?