hallelujah
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 07/14/06
Posts: 1660
Loc: Colorado Rocky Mt. High
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If memory serves me correctly, it was September of 2006 when Vixen North America in Chester, N.Y. started advertising wholesale pricing on their east coast web site.
Beginning May 1st 2007 Vixen NA will be posting new pricing for a final blow-out sales campaign.
Vixen not only sells the Giant ARK waterproof binoculars, but, other binoculars, and spotting scopes, and telescopes as well.
For those of us who have had an interest in their products, but felt that we could not afford them, this may be a once in a lifetime opportunity to purchase one of the Vixen giant binoculars, or other optical equipment, at a very reasonable price.
It will be interesting to see what the pricing looks like come May 1st.  
www.vixenamerica.com 
As a person who also does bird watching I appreciate a giant binocular with a reasonable close focusing distance.
The 20x focuses to just under 46' and the 30x focuses down to just under 60'.
My other giant binoculars close focus somewhere around 100'+.
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Pentax 12x50mm PCF WP II FMC/WP/FP
Pentax 16x60mm PCF WP FMC/WP/FP
Pentax 20x60mm PCF WP II FMC/WP/FP
Orion 12x63mm Mini Giant FMC/JAPAN
Orion 15x70mm Little Giant II FMC/JAPAN
Orion 16x80mm Giant FMC/JAPAN
Orion 20x70mm Little Giant II FMC/JAPAN
Orion 30x80mm MEGAView FMC/JAPAN
Barska 30x80mm X-Trail LW FC
Burgess Optical Series II 20x90mm FMC/WP/FP
Handel's Messiah**Hallelujah! For the LORD God Omnipotent Reigneth
Edited by hallelujah (04/24/07 04:31 PM)
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camvan
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 05/02/05
Posts: 2086
Loc: British Columbia
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is there a particular reason they are doing all these clearance sales? changing their entire lineup? going out of business? swapping their product lines over to something else? getting rid of stock that just doesn't seem to sell well in North America? other? 
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Cameron
"Aperture can only be replaced by even more aperture. Dark transparent skies cannot be replaced by anything else." - Stathis Kafalis
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Les
professor emeritus
Reged: 04/22/06
Posts: 666
Loc: Maryland
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Going out of business. They are no longer the distributors for Vixen here.
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Les
Canon 10x42L IS
Oberwerks BT80/45, Helix Hercules mount on Oberwerks Standard Tripod
Swift 8x44ED Ultralite
Questar 50th Anniversary Model, 501 head on Manfrotto 475 tripod
Stellarvue SV90T 90mm Fluorite refractor Bogen 3236/Televue Tele-Pod Head
Questar 7 Astro
Vixen GP-DX on Baader Surveyor Tripod
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camvan
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 05/02/05
Posts: 2086
Loc: British Columbia
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Quote:
Going out of business. They are no longer the distributors for Vixen here.
that doesn't bode well, now, does it... 
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Cameron
"Aperture can only be replaced by even more aperture. Dark transparent skies cannot be replaced by anything else." - Stathis Kafalis
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Les
professor emeritus
Reged: 04/22/06
Posts: 666
Loc: Maryland
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No problem. They have another distributor now, www.vixenoptics.com.
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Les
Canon 10x42L IS
Oberwerks BT80/45, Helix Hercules mount on Oberwerks Standard Tripod
Swift 8x44ED Ultralite
Questar 50th Anniversary Model, 501 head on Manfrotto 475 tripod
Stellarvue SV90T 90mm Fluorite refractor Bogen 3236/Televue Tele-Pod Head
Questar 7 Astro
Vixen GP-DX on Baader Surveyor Tripod
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starramus
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 09/01/04
Posts: 1124
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Before rushing into impulse buying you should be aware of the return policy on this clearance merchandise. Number 1 is no refunds. You buy it and it is yours. They will replace or repair, but nothing more. That is why I shied away from the ARK binos.
Regards and clear skies,
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hallelujah
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 07/14/06
Posts: 1660
Loc: Colorado Rocky Mt. High
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I can only speak for myself.....
I have been interested in the Vixen Giant 30x80mm binoculars since the summer of 2006. I have been regularly watching prices at a number of different internet dealers. I was even tempted to give it a try when the price was lowered last September.
However, reducing them from $600 to $425 was NOT enough of a temptation to get my business.
Instead, at a later date, I purchased a Barska 30x80 X-Trail for $120, and for the money, it has been alot of fun and alot of smiles. It took three different attempts before I received one that was "acceptable". It, however, was not totally free of defects. I understood when I bought it that it was not going to be smooth sailing with this company.
Vixen as a Japanese seller (importer) of binoculars, spotting scopes, and telescopes is a much more reputable company, and offers much better products, overall, than Barska.
I have posted this notice here, and at another web site, and have never heard of even one case of impulse buying from anyone. (taking into consideration the sale started last September)
If I do decide to purchase one, I am well aware of their no refund/no return policy. This does not concern me.
As far as the reason(s) why you "shied away from" the ARK binos, I'm thinking that if you were really interested in one, you would have purchased it from their west coast distributor, where they have no such policy.
I still think the close-out sale at Vixen North America is worth keeping an eye on.
I don't see this as a case of anyone "rushing into impulse buying".
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Pentax 12x50mm PCF WP II FMC/WP/FP
Pentax 16x60mm PCF WP FMC/WP/FP
Pentax 20x60mm PCF WP II FMC/WP/FP
Orion 12x63mm Mini Giant FMC/JAPAN
Orion 15x70mm Little Giant II FMC/JAPAN
Orion 16x80mm Giant FMC/JAPAN
Orion 20x70mm Little Giant II FMC/JAPAN
Orion 30x80mm MEGAView FMC/JAPAN
Barska 30x80mm X-Trail LW FC
Burgess Optical Series II 20x90mm FMC/WP/FP
Handel's Messiah**Hallelujah! For the LORD God Omnipotent Reigneth
Edited by hallelujah (04/26/07 09:02 PM)
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starramus
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 09/01/04
Posts: 1124
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Quote:
I'm thinking that if you were really interested in one, you would have purchased it from their west coast distributor, where they have no such policy.
True they have no such policy, but also they have no discounted pricing. Full retail price is what i would pay to them. Just what would my incentive be?
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hallelujah
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 07/14/06
Posts: 1660
Loc: Colorado Rocky Mt. High
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An opportunity to test it out and give us your spectacular review.
You would have the option of returning it, if not completely satisfied.
Just imagine the possibilites. Who knows, you might be impressed with it and decide to keep it. 
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Pentax 12x50mm PCF WP II FMC/WP/FP
Pentax 16x60mm PCF WP FMC/WP/FP
Pentax 20x60mm PCF WP II FMC/WP/FP
Orion 12x63mm Mini Giant FMC/JAPAN
Orion 15x70mm Little Giant II FMC/JAPAN
Orion 16x80mm Giant FMC/JAPAN
Orion 20x70mm Little Giant II FMC/JAPAN
Orion 30x80mm MEGAView FMC/JAPAN
Barska 30x80mm X-Trail LW FC
Burgess Optical Series II 20x90mm FMC/WP/FP
Handel's Messiah**Hallelujah! For the LORD God Omnipotent Reigneth
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Mike Rapchak
sage
Reged: 11/17/06
Posts: 450
Loc: Indiana, USA
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Hallelujah,
I have to agree with you here. In my opinion the Vixen ARKs are worth their price. I've owned two pair of the new ARKs (12x80 and 16x80) since last Novemeber, and both of them are excellent instruments, both mechanically and visually. 
Mike Rapchak Jr.
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hallelujah
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 07/14/06
Posts: 1660
Loc: Colorado Rocky Mt. High
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Thanks Mike,
I followed your mini-reviews with great interest and appreciated what you had to say.
Come next Tuesday I will see if there is one out there with my name on it.
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Pentax 12x50mm PCF WP II FMC/WP/FP
Pentax 16x60mm PCF WP FMC/WP/FP
Pentax 20x60mm PCF WP II FMC/WP/FP
Orion 12x63mm Mini Giant FMC/JAPAN
Orion 15x70mm Little Giant II FMC/JAPAN
Orion 16x80mm Giant FMC/JAPAN
Orion 20x70mm Little Giant II FMC/JAPAN
Orion 30x80mm MEGAView FMC/JAPAN
Barska 30x80mm X-Trail LW FC
Burgess Optical Series II 20x90mm FMC/WP/FP
Handel's Messiah**Hallelujah! For the LORD God Omnipotent Reigneth
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starramus
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 09/01/04
Posts: 1124
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Quote:
An opportunity to test it out and give us your spectacular review.
You would have the option of returning it, if not completely satisfied.
Just imagine the possibilites. Who knows, you might be impressed with it and decide to keep it.
I already own a Celestron 11X80 manufactured by Vixen in the 90s. It is a mediocre instrument and I don't need another. The old old worn out addage applies. Fool me once shame on you. Fool me twice shame on me.
I have been engaged in personal messaging with a couple of other members who are in agreement with this assessment. They bought ARKs and were dissatisfied.
PM me your e-mail address and I will forward the exchange.
Regards and clear skies,
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hallelujah
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 07/14/06
Posts: 1660
Loc: Colorado Rocky Mt. High
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star,
I have a Burris 10x50 Full Field binocular that was made in Japan over 14 years ago.
By todays standard of technology, and optical coatings, it is also somewhat "less than" magnificent.
As we all know on this forum, technology, in the past five years or so, has given us binocular optics, from a country like China, that have the ability to rival even some of the Fujinon FMT-SX products, which, at one time were considered the cream-of-the-crop. (still are, according to some)
I'm sure Burris technology has come a long way since 14 years ago, and, I'm thinking, so have Celestron and Vixen.
I really don't see the point of living in the past.
I still respect your feelings and your decision making process. I may not agree, but, that's what makes us who we are.
Keep looking up.
p.s. Hopefully the guys who were disappointed sent theirs back and got a full refund.
If memory serves me correctly, you also purchased the Fujinon 16x70FMT-SX and returned it as unsatisfactory.
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Pentax 12x50mm PCF WP II FMC/WP/FP
Pentax 16x60mm PCF WP FMC/WP/FP
Pentax 20x60mm PCF WP II FMC/WP/FP
Orion 12x63mm Mini Giant FMC/JAPAN
Orion 15x70mm Little Giant II FMC/JAPAN
Orion 16x80mm Giant FMC/JAPAN
Orion 20x70mm Little Giant II FMC/JAPAN
Orion 30x80mm MEGAView FMC/JAPAN
Barska 30x80mm X-Trail LW FC
Burgess Optical Series II 20x90mm FMC/WP/FP
Handel's Messiah**Hallelujah! For the LORD God Omnipotent Reigneth
Edited by hallelujah (04/29/07 12:31 AM)
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Swedpat
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 02/18/05
Posts: 1033
Loc: Boden, Sweden, Scandinavia
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hallelujah,
I agree with you about the great performance of chinese optics. The problem is the serious lack of quality control; according to what I understand in some cases every other - every third example is of an incomplete performance, which isn't acceptable. Purchasing optics shall not be a lottery...
Regards, Patric
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*2,3x40 Constellation View Wide-Bino
*Leupold 6x30 Yosemite
*Leupold Katmai 6x32
*Swarovski SLCNew 7x42B
*Bresser (Lidl) 10x50
*Oberwerk 11x70
*No name (Kunming) 15x70
*Scopos ED APO 66
*Meade 5000 26mm Plössl, Vixen LV 10/5mm
Psalm 19:2
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hallelujah
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 07/14/06
Posts: 1660
Loc: Colorado Rocky Mt. High
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Thanks Patric,
Even though I played the lottery when I purchased the Barska 30x80mm X-Trail, my thoughts mainly go out to the products from companies such as Garrett Optical, BigBinoculars/Oberwerk, and the major American and Japanese companies who import 'better' quality optics built to their own specifications.
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Pentax 12x50mm PCF WP II FMC/WP/FP
Pentax 16x60mm PCF WP FMC/WP/FP
Pentax 20x60mm PCF WP II FMC/WP/FP
Orion 12x63mm Mini Giant FMC/JAPAN
Orion 15x70mm Little Giant II FMC/JAPAN
Orion 16x80mm Giant FMC/JAPAN
Orion 20x70mm Little Giant II FMC/JAPAN
Orion 30x80mm MEGAView FMC/JAPAN
Barska 30x80mm X-Trail LW FC
Burgess Optical Series II 20x90mm FMC/WP/FP
Handel's Messiah**Hallelujah! For the LORD God Omnipotent Reigneth
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Mike Rapchak
sage
Reged: 11/17/06
Posts: 450
Loc: Indiana, USA
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Pat,
Amen to that.
Mike Rapchak Jr.
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Mike Rapchak
sage
Reged: 11/17/06
Posts: 450
Loc: Indiana, USA
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That's good news, Hallelujah. If you do get a pair of the new Vixen ARKs I hope you enjoy them!
Mike Rapchak Jr.
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starramus
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 09/01/04
Posts: 1124
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Quote:
p.s. Hopefully the guys who were disappointed sent theirs back and got a full refund.
If memory serves me correctly, you also purchased the Fujinon 16x70FMT-SX and returned it as unsatisfactory.
Yes, of course they received refunds. And what they returned were not of yesteryear's technology, but brand new ARKs. One of the individuals was an old Vixen fan who feels that their older products are far superior to their offerings of late. He is disappointed in the company.
Your memory does serve you correctly in that i returned a pair of the Fujinon 16X70s new version. There have been a number of other posters expressing a certain dissatisfaction with the product as well. I have been in communication with a European member who performed somewhat of a side by side comparison of the new and the old versions who speculated about the possibilty of a glass change in the new version. Apparently from this persons impression there is a yellowish color added in comparison to the cold white light that the old version delivered. I cannot comment on that since I do not have any concrete data, but I will say that I would never dream of returning my 8 year old pair of 7X50 Fujinon FMT-SXs. I have never looked through a pair of the old version and my only eyes on experience was with the new version. I am going to try another pair of the 16X70s with the hope that what I first received was a fluke, but then there have been a number of flukes reported. Makes you wonder doesn't it?
Regards and clear skies,
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hallelujah
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 07/14/06
Posts: 1660
Loc: Colorado Rocky Mt. High
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star,
That's what is so neat about this forum, we have access to BOTH sides of the coin. Some people are deliriously happy with their purchases, and some others experience the misfortune of a flawed product. It sure keeps the doors of communication swinging in BOTH directions.
I am thankful for all the information that I have access to, and I try to balance it with a positive attitude whenever possible, 'unless' I am aware of a something that is repeatedly of poor quality, then the scales will have to tip to one side or the other.
Sometimes I think the manufacturers do things just to see if anyone is paying attention. Hopefully our attention to details, and flaws in production, will keep them on their toes.
Guys like you, who are ever vigilant, probably keep the industry from getting too complacent.
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Pentax 12x50mm PCF WP II FMC/WP/FP
Pentax 16x60mm PCF WP FMC/WP/FP
Pentax 20x60mm PCF WP II FMC/WP/FP
Orion 12x63mm Mini Giant FMC/JAPAN
Orion 15x70mm Little Giant II FMC/JAPAN
Orion 16x80mm Giant FMC/JAPAN
Orion 20x70mm Little Giant II FMC/JAPAN
Orion 30x80mm MEGAView FMC/JAPAN
Barska 30x80mm X-Trail LW FC
Burgess Optical Series II 20x90mm FMC/WP/FP
Handel's Messiah**Hallelujah! For the LORD God Omnipotent Reigneth
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hallelujah
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 07/14/06
Posts: 1660
Loc: Colorado Rocky Mt. High
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Well, it finally happened! Today I ordered the Vixen Giant ARK 30x80mm binocular. Blow-out price was $404.00
Regardless of the outcome, I'm thinking they will be an improvement over the 30x80 X-Trails. (which will be shipped back to the company for warranty work). 
I talked with Scott, from TeleVue, and he promised that they were checking the collimation 'prior' to shipment.
I also asked for extra packaging, which he said they were doing.
Will be shipped on Monday, hopefully will arrive by Friday afternoon.
--------------------
Pentax 12x50mm PCF WP II FMC/WP/FP
Pentax 16x60mm PCF WP FMC/WP/FP
Pentax 20x60mm PCF WP II FMC/WP/FP
Orion 12x63mm Mini Giant FMC/JAPAN
Orion 15x70mm Little Giant II FMC/JAPAN
Orion 16x80mm Giant FMC/JAPAN
Orion 20x70mm Little Giant II FMC/JAPAN
Orion 30x80mm MEGAView FMC/JAPAN
Barska 30x80mm X-Trail LW FC
Burgess Optical Series II 20x90mm FMC/WP/FP
Handel's Messiah**Hallelujah! For the LORD God Omnipotent Reigneth
Edited by hallelujah (05/05/07 02:21 PM)
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