Buying Used Optics

How do you know that you are getting a good scope and not something that someone has dropped and does not work correctly anymore?

Other than meeting to complete the sale at a gun range where you can place it on a rifle and shoot some groups and test tracking and return to center - you can’t

This is why I only buy used optics which are backed by a transferable no questions asked warranty

Even then you’d be best served calling the manufacturer and having them lookup the serial number and tell them your buying it used and verify your warranty is valid without additional hoops

I wouldn’t buy a second hand scope that didn’t have an excellent warranty or from someone I trusted to make it right if something was wrong with it. There are no guarantees when buying used.

Depends on how you're buying it. From a forum like this, you're likely to deal with a reputable seller. From Ebay, you have protection as a buyer. From a store that sell second hand merchandise, you likely have protection. But, if it’s something like Facebook Marketplace, Texas Gun Trader, or Craigslist, you probably need to do your due diligence. Anything that’s dinged, scratched badly, rattles, fogged, etc., I would stay away from regardless of what the seller tells you.

I agree here. I sell quite a few guns and scopes on three different Forums. Never had a problem. But If its an expensive scope, the factory warranty is transferable to you.

I've bought and sold several high end optics over the years on several of the forum's that I'm a member of. Never had an issue yet. I just bought another S&B PM II last week from a guy in Alabama for a great deal.
I've never had any warranty issues on high end used scopes either. I had an old Swarovski Habicht PH 4-16x50 that I bought used years ago. I mounted it on 4-5 different rifles over the years, and it quit holding zero. Called Swarovski, told them the problem and that I wasn't the original buyer. They sent me a return tag, and not only fixed the scope, they replaced everything that was worn on the scope as well - for Free!

Thank you all for your responses. It is very helpful.

As stated, no guarantees when buying used "anything". Price should reflect risk versus reward. Example...$1,000 scope new should probably be $500 pre-owned.

when dealing thru the mail long distance sooner or later your gonna get burned not reakky any bodys fault lost package guy gyps you its gonna happen ive bought thousand of dollars worth of stuff various ways 99 times out of a hundred its all good but that 1 is gonn get ya sooner or later think about it this way all the money you saved in time and effort gas will probably make up for the ocasional loss

I have been a Leupold guy for a very long time. Their no questions asked warranty is the best. You buy a bad scope - the cost is only to send it to them with an explanation. I dropped a rifle and 30 feet in rocky terrain and bent my scope like a banana and sent it back to ask for a quote to fix. I got a new one in less time than a reply would take. I understand that Burris has same type warranty but have not tested it.

Burris does, indeed, have a lifetime, no questions asked warranty. I recently had problems with one of mine that is over 20 years old, called Burris, they told me to ship it to them. They fixed it, gave me a good explanation on what the problems were, and sent it back, free of charge. If you shop used optics, go with one of the companies that has the life time warranty that goes with the scope, not the owner, and you can't go wrong.

Bushnell, Night Force and of course Vortex all do this.

I never have worried about buying a used scope. If I bought it broken, the manufacturer will make it right.

Its a pretty big risk for any used purchase, gun, scope, bicycle, truck...There could be something wrong with it you cant see or didnt notice at first...