william
professor emeritus
Reged: 12/20/04
Posts: 556
Loc: Lexington , South Carolina
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I had bought a pair of Oberwerk 15x70 binoculars from Big Binoculars .COM. I could not get them to focus clearly, I don't know if they are out of collimation or not. I have looked at a roof line and it looked straight, and I don't have a double image. Using the center focus the image would almost but not get sharp. I called Big Binoculars to see if I could send them back to have them checked. I ask for someone in customer service, I got Kevin, he was very pleasent to deal with. He sent me a new pair out, and paid to send the old pair back. I was expecting to at least have to pay the shipping. I think that is great customer service, when some businesses once they have your money could care less. I am looking to buy some 20x80s, I know who will get my money.
William
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KennyJ
The British Flash
Reged: 04/27/03
Posts: 20139
Loc: Lancashire UK
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That is very reassuring to hear William .
Just another very good report about this company .
I hope you enjoy the ones which work properly :-)
Kenny
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Milton Wilcox R.I.P
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Glassthrower
Vendor - Galactic Stone & Ironworks
Reged: 04/07/05
Posts: 17931
Loc: Oort Cloud 9
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If I had a dollar for every time I have heard something good about Oberwerk's customer service, I could buy a pair of Fujinons..... 
MikeG
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Michael Gilmer - Member of the Meteoritical Society & Collector of Falling Stars.
☄ ⒼⒶⓁⒶⒸⓉⒾⒸ ⓈⓉⓄⓃⒺ ☞ www.galactic-stone.com
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KennyJ
The British Flash
Reged: 04/27/03
Posts: 20139
Loc: Lancashire UK
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Precisely Mike ,
And Ditto !
Isn't that NICE though ?
And you know something , in spite of the obvious inconvenience of it , I have a hunch that it needn't necessarily take THAT much more effort to equate to the difference between the kind of service Kevin provides at BB.com and that which many other retailers do .
Good luck to the guy .
He has ALWAYS been VERY courteous , helpful and co - operative with ME -- and I've never even bought a lens cap from the guy .
Kenny
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Milton Wilcox R.I.P
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Glassthrower
Vendor - Galactic Stone & Ironworks
Reged: 04/07/05
Posts: 17931
Loc: Oort Cloud 9
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I just hope that Oberwerk does not outgrow it's humble roots and great customer service. Many companies fall victim to high-volume success and their customer service inevitably suffers due to sheer numbers of issues.
With Oberwerk distributing such high-quality product, and with their outstanding record of customer service, it is assured that Oberwerk is going to grow. Time will tell.
MikeG
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Michael Gilmer - Member of the Meteoritical Society & Collector of Falling Stars.
☄ ⒼⒶⓁⒶⒸⓉⒾⒸ ⓈⓉⓄⓃⒺ ☞ www.galactic-stone.com
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later
professor emeritus
Reged: 01/16/05
Posts: 617
Loc: Posen, Michigan
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You were fortunate to deal with Kevin at Oberwerk. Customer service is one of his best assets.
(He also owns the company!)
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EdZ
Professor EdZ
Reged: 02/15/02
Posts: 18806
Loc: Cumberland, R I , USA42N71.4W
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Quote:
Oberwerk is going to grow. Time will tell.
Mike I think you might be a few years late with that comment.
edz
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Teach a kid something today. The feeling you'll get is one of life's greatest rewards.
member#21
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DJB
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 02/23/05
Posts: 1742
Loc: Lisle NY
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I agree. Kevin IS a one-of-a-kind. Far too few of them in this binocular business. I have spoken with him once, and that was a very cordial and honest conversation!
Regards,
Dave.
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Glassthrower
Vendor - Galactic Stone & Ironworks
Reged: 04/07/05
Posts: 17931
Loc: Oort Cloud 9
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Quote:
Mike I think you might be a few years late with that comment.
This is true! Given that, there is still plenty of room for Oberwerk to grow as a brand, especially if Kevin continues to personally handle the customer service issues. The giants like Celestron better keep looking over their shoulder.
MikeG
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Michael Gilmer - Member of the Meteoritical Society & Collector of Falling Stars.
☄ ⒼⒶⓁⒶⒸⓉⒾⒸ ⓈⓉⓄⓃⒺ ☞ www.galactic-stone.com
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Anonymous
Unregistered
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Quote:
I just hope that Oberwerk does not outgrow it's humble roots and great customer service. Many companies fall victim to high-volume success and their customer service inevitably suffers due to sheer numbers of issues.
That's a classic business story and a sad one at that. I too hope that Oberwerk never moves into that business regime. I have a feeling it won't.
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Mark9473
Postmaster
Reged: 07/21/05
Posts: 6459
Loc: 51°N 4°E
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The one thing Oberwerk desperately needs is a European branch preferably within 10 km from my home 
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Mark
Leica 8x20; Nikon 7x35; Vixen 8x42; Orion 15x63; Docter 15x60
WO Megrez II 80 FD / APM 107mm f/6.5 / Mewlon 210 on DM-6 + Berlebach Planet
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KennyJ
The British Flash
Reged: 04/27/03
Posts: 20139
Loc: Lancashire UK
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< The one thing Oberwerk desperately needs is a European branch preferably within 10 km from my home >
Mark ,
I know that Strathspey have " opened up shop " in Scotland but tend to stick to more basic specs than Oberwerk , but about 3 years ago , for a very bried period , a company DID set up a web site in England ( called Twentyman Products if I recall correctly ) which offered GIANT and smaller waterproof binoculars in a range of sizes ( presumably from China ) available " from the shelf " as basic , Bk7 prism , fully coated models or CUSTOMISED to ORDER with coatings and prisms of the customer's choice ( but at a considerable premium )
I contacted the company via e - mail as soon as I became aware of it's existence , and that is how I found about the " customised options " .
However , the company rep. who answered my e - mail refused to answer a few more questions I'd asked , including the country of origin and possible collimation guarantees .
Strangely , the company seemed to disappear as suddenly as it had appeared .
But it MIGHT be worth contacting STRATHSPEY binoculars to ask if any similar kind of customisation could be arranged .
Kenny
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Milton Wilcox R.I.P
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Mark9473
Postmaster
Reged: 07/21/05
Posts: 6459
Loc: 51°N 4°E
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thanks for the suggestion, Kenny.
The Strathsprey 25x100 does look nice, doesn't it? I notice it already has BAK-4 prisms and their highest level of broadband coatings. Do you know if this is still below Oberwerk standards?
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Mark
Leica 8x20; Nikon 7x35; Vixen 8x42; Orion 15x63; Docter 15x60
WO Megrez II 80 FD / APM 107mm f/6.5 / Mewlon 210 on DM-6 + Berlebach Planet
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Glassthrower
Vendor - Galactic Stone & Ironworks
Reged: 04/07/05
Posts: 17931
Loc: Oort Cloud 9
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I have never heard of this manufacturer, Strathsprey. Are they a European/British mutation of a stateside brand such as Oberwerk or Celestron? I've noticed that some "foreign" giant binos (like the Telescope Service models) are near-identical in appearance to the aforementioned stateside brands. Has anyone reviewed these Strathsprey giant binos?
MikeG
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Michael Gilmer - Member of the Meteoritical Society & Collector of Falling Stars.
☄ ⒼⒶⓁⒶⒸⓉⒾⒸ ⓈⓉⓄⓃⒺ ☞ www.galactic-stone.com
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KennyJ
The British Flash
Reged: 04/27/03
Posts: 20139
Loc: Lancashire UK
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First of all to Mark ,
I'm sorry , but I have no idea really just how these would measure up against the Oberwerks .
It doesn't help when I've never even SEEN an Oberwerk in the flesh , as it were .
I trust EdZ implicitly , yet I HAVE read from Oberwerk owners and users who are less praising in THEIR opinions of the specimens THEY have used .
Could be variations in quality , even with the Obies ?
To Mike ,
A distinguished amateur astronomer and well known , multi - published astro author here in the UK , by name of Stephen Tonkin , was actually quite an active member on this forum during 2004 ,albeit for a relatively SHORT period .
I'm not sure why Stephen suddenly stopped posting here , but he WAS busy working on a new book at the time , that I DO know .
The relevance being that just before he " left us " Stephen ordered a couple of 10 x 50s from Strathspey and reported that he was VERY pleased with them .
There are MANY more of these kind of companies springing up all the time .
Anyone with financial backing COULD give it a try -- importing , promoting , selling and providing after sales service , all via the internet .
My wife Kathy has been involved in the import business for many years now , but only in a capacity as a credit controller .
It is essential that personal and very regular visits are made to China " to keep on top " of things .
It is a VERY cut - throat business these days though -- EVERYBODY seems to be " Turning Chinese "
Perhaps the VAPOURS need to release a new single :-)
Regards , Kenny
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Milton Wilcox R.I.P
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Glassthrower
Vendor - Galactic Stone & Ironworks
Reged: 04/07/05
Posts: 17931
Loc: Oort Cloud 9
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Well, when I win the lottery, I will take a trip to China and sample every binocular made at every factory. Then I will swing through Europe and the Isles doing the same thing - sampling every domestic and imported bino I can find.
I will then bring home my bounty of binos and test them all side by side.
The thread title will be something along the lines of :
Oberwerk vs Celestron vs Vixen vs Parks vs Orion vs Stellarvue vs Zhumell vs Kunming Clone 1 vs Kunming Clone 2 vs Miyauchi vs Fujinon vs .....you get the idea.
MikeG
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Michael Gilmer - Member of the Meteoritical Society & Collector of Falling Stars.
☄ ⒼⒶⓁⒶⒸⓉⒾⒸ ⓈⓉⓄⓃⒺ ☞ www.galactic-stone.com
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BillC
on a new path
Reged: 06/04/04
Posts: 4391
Loc: Lake Stevens, WA, USA
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Quote:
Well, when I win the lottery, I will take a trip to China and sample every binocular made at every factory. Then I will swing through Europe and the Isles doing the same thing - sampling every domestic and imported bino I can find.
I will then bring home my bounty of binos and test them all side by side.
The thread title will be something along the lines of :
Oberwerk vs Celestron vs Vixen vs Parks vs Orion vs Stellarvue vs Zhumell vs Kunming Clone 1 vs Kunming Clone 2 vs Miyauchi vs Fujinon vs .....you get the idea.
MikeG
Since most "domestic" binos are "imported," you may be in for a letdown.
Yep, there are a number of "Brands" in the States. I just wish there were a few truely American binos to go with them.
'Nuff Said.
Cheers,
Bill
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William J. Cook, Chief Opticalman, USNR-Ret.
Ophthalmic Tech, Naval Station, Everett, WA
Optical Mechanic, Puget Sound Naval Shipyard
Founder, Amateur Telescope Making Journal
21-year Mgr., Optics Dept., Captain's Nautical Supplies
Optics Mechanic, Ft. Lewis, WA.
Contributing Editor for Numerous Magazines
It's better to be a "has been" than a "never was." But only barely; the pay is about the same!
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Glassthrower
Vendor - Galactic Stone & Ironworks
Reged: 04/07/05
Posts: 17931
Loc: Oort Cloud 9
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Quote:
Yep, there are a number of "Brands" in the States. I just wish there were a few truely American binos to go with them.
'Nuff Said.
I wholeheartedly agree. We can put a man on the moon, but we can't make a binocular?
MikeG
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Michael Gilmer - Member of the Meteoritical Society & Collector of Falling Stars.
☄ ⒼⒶⓁⒶⒸⓉⒾⒸ ⓈⓉⓄⓃⒺ ☞ www.galactic-stone.com
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DJB
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 02/23/05
Posts: 1742
Loc: Lisle NY
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Hello all,
Well, we used to mfg. binoculars here in the U.S. That is, when we had to, i.e., during WWII, and before too.
I have often wondered just what it would take to duplicate today the likes of the B&L and SARD 7x50 and 6x42, respectively.
In the past week or so, the following were sold on eBay: SARD 6x42 for (all USD) $560; another SARD 6x42 for $815; and a B&L 7x50, the MARK 41, for $5484.82! Whoooo.
More power to the collectors out there who can afford them. But I still wonder what the same manufactures could produce such a binocular for today. The answer is, of course, unfortunately, they can not. They don't "make" binoculars anymore in the U.S.A.
regards,
Dave.
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