My Vortex Optics debacle

[Ironbar]

Since mods did not delete this post, I will delete it myself.

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[swoolley]

Where did you buy it from? It seems that this would be a big problem for the original seller, and if they are reputable they may be able to make it right.

 

[hongkong2]

Very recently I sent in my Vortex red dot sight for service because it wasn't turning on. No problem I thought, they have a lifetime warranty. So I contacted them about a warranty claim, and they emailed me a postage paid ticket to send it in which I did. They acknowledged receipt, and I thought all was well.

On 4/10/26, Tony Wilson to Vortex customer service guy emails me back and tells me that their service tech determined that my Vortex red dot that I've had for YEARS is a fake! How the hell does someone go to all the trouble to fake a red dot and put it in expensive Vortex packaging? On top of that, I'm just supposed to accept that their word on the matter is the truth. Sounds to me like Vortex just didn't want to honor their own warranty. The best they'd do is offer me 50% off a new one. You know what Vortex- UP YOURS!

You just lost my business forever. (Not that you care).

Had the same thing happen to me with a Eotech a few years back except they offered me a 30% discount. Lots of fakes being sold with the proper packaging, I guess people buy the real product then package the fake one and sell it.

 

[VinnieBoomBah]

How the hell does someone go to all the trouble to fake a red dot and put it in expensive Vortex packaging?

The amount of effort some people put into scamming can be shocking and sometimes feels like more work than an honest living would take

 

[montram]

Quite often if you see a good product that is selling for a ridiculously low price...it's a fake. For years there have been mid level Leopold scopes that are fakes selling on the Internet. They come in what looks like the factory box with all the normal paperwork. I wonder where you got the optic from?

 

[Ironbar]

Quite often if you see a good product that is selling for a ridiculously low price...it's a fake. For years there have been mid level Leopold scopes that are fakes selling on the Internet. They come in what looks like the factory box with all the normal paperwork. I wonder where you got the optic from?

I bought it on Amazon.

 

[Ironbar]

.

 

[Nosferatu]

I bought it on Amazon.

Yep, almost guaranteed fake.

 

[1775usmc]

I bought it on Amazon.

There it is.

 

[Xmark1]

I am a fan of Vortex. I own, probably 15 Vortex products. Over the years I have made three claims. All three times I received a brand-new replacement in under two weeks. No questions asked. No Problems. And excellent coms & service.

I have heard that some vendors are fooled by being supplied with fakes.

 

[1775usmc]

Many optic/knife/gun companies are like this -

Even in their warranty claim forms they will state that if they determine it to be a fake it will be destroyed and not returned.

 

[asiparks]

C'mon,
Vortex isn't going to lie to you about that to save themselves a few dollars on a claim-
You should be delighted that they offered you a 50% discount when they owe you nothing

Packaging isn't expensive, boxes, inserts, manuals are the cheapest and easiest way to make fake products seem credible.
I've bought a ton of optics off of Amazon, lots of legit businesses, just take a moment to see who the listed seller is.

 

[swoolley]

Most of these things have serial numbers. I know Leupold and EOTech let you register products with them directly. I didn't see that for Vortex. I have an inventory spreadsheet with all my serial numbers and I do the online registration so I can get notified of recalls and such. I also do it with firearms, but I understand why some people may not really want to do that with the actual firearm. I figure if you're using authorized dealer networks it's almost like the manufacturer having the same data since any fishing expedition only has to go one extra level deep. I will order direct from a manufacturer rather than a reseller if I can. But I find the prices are good on EuroOptic or OpticsPlanet, especially around Black Friday, so for optics, I've been using them. Funny thing is that I've seen them cross-list on Amazon but at higher prices to cover the Amazon fees.

The 50% off seems like a good deal, as it's pretty close to cost for them. I don't think it's on the manufacturer to try to fix a fake. They'd have to replace the whole thing anyways. Many of the parts might even be made in the same factories, but they'll be cutting corners on things like electronics, seals, glass, and glass coatings. Technically importing and distributing counterfeit products is highly illegal and it's a major federal felony. So if I were them I wouldn't even want these products in circulation -- I'd want to destroy them. I think that's why they offer 50% off. If you got them back and sold them as counterfeits, as far as I know, that's not even really legal.

For a while I got free stuff on Amazon Vine for review and they sent me a lot of firearm accessories and I have scientific measurement devices, so I was able to see a lot of stuff that was probably only usable on airsoft, and I'd post a lot of pictures of all the crap I saw. None of the major brands need vine reviews so it was mostly Chineese brands. I often was able to show when multiple brands were using the same factory. It was so filled with cheap stuff, I stopped doing it. I had to pay tax for imputed income and a lot of it was worthless, so the tax didn't even cover it. Maybe 20% of it was decent but it cost me more than that in tax.

Optics are expensive to do right. From the composition to the grind to the coatings to the paint they have to apply to the edges to prevent internal reflections. I can now tell what crap optics look like, but I can see why Vortex doesn't want to exactly say what they are doing to tell the difference since they are on the hook to service them if they can't tell the difference.

Vortex is already a really good price for what you get, so why try to not use an authorized dealer with them?

 

[swoolley]

It's been years, but I'm pretty sure it was on Amazon.

You can at least go back in your order history and report the seller for selling fakes. If they are still around, but probably they aren't.

 

[Medic!]

Very recently I sent in my Vortex red dot sight for service because it wasn't turning on. No problem I thought, they have a lifetime warranty. So I contacted them about a warranty claim, and they emailed me a postage paid ticket to send it in which I did. They acknowledged receipt, and I thought all was well.

On 4/10/26, Tony Wilson to Vortex customer service guy emails me back and tells me that their service tech determined that my Vortex red dot that I've had for YEARS is a fake! How the hell does someone go to all the trouble to fake a red dot and put it in expensive Vortex packaging? On top of that, I'm just supposed to accept that their word on the matter is the truth. Sounds to me like Vortex just didn't want to honor their own warranty. The best they'd do is offer me 50% off a new one. You know what Vortex- UP YOURS!

You just lost my business forever. (Not that you care).

Somebody could have easily returned a fake in the original box and kept the real optic.
The reruns folks saw an optic and resold it not knowing the difference.

In any case you bought a fake.


On what planet is this the fault of Vortex?
And half price on a new optic is not bad considering they had no part in deceiving you.

 

[Koda]

I bought it on Amazon.

There is the problem. I dont buy optics off Amazon. Or similarly expensive items I buy straight from the manufacturer or in some cases whoever the mfg lists as a distributor.
While ago I went to by an expensive item off Amazon, put it in my cart but when I went to check out something tiny caught my eye, the seller was not the company making the product that I selected... it was definitely switched once put in the cart. I dont know why Amazon does this but I cancelled, paid a little more ordering it directly from the mfg's website.
Anyone can open a business selling on Amazon it seems, while I like Amazon thats the one part of it I dont and tend to keep things there to general or household items.

 

[1775usmc]

Somebody could have easily returned a fake in the original box and kept the real optic.
The reruns folks saw an optic and resold it not knowing the difference.

In any case you bought a fake.


On what planet is this the fault of Vortex?
And half price on a new optic is not bad considering they had no part in deceiving you.

The internet is the magical land of complaining and blaming others.

 

[Medic!]

You have to verify before and after getting something from Amazon. [And any other seller].
There are many Youtube videos that can help verify what you have.

Call and register your items if possible. Or call and talk to the Mfg. They have seen a lot of fakes and can help you verify your purchase.
Don't buy without understanding the return policy. And check out the store/seller. [Often it is the origonal Mfg.]

I've bought things from amazon that cost thousands. No problem.

 

[swoolley]

Somebody could have easily returned a fake in the original box and kept the real optic.
The reruns folks saw an optic and resold it not knowing the difference.

The sad part is that "honest" resellers can get caught in this because often Amazon itself is "doing the inspection" and not the original seller. But it should be marked as "Amazon Renewed" in that case. I think some people buy the used stuff and try to pass it off as new, too. That would be a not-yet-reputated seller. In some cases if Amazon isn't handling the warehousing ("ships from" is not Amazon), the seller can be the one doing the inspection, and they may not be qualified either, and they try to sell it as new with a couple pieces of scotch tape.

 

[Sporting Systems]

I've seen fakes from nearly optics brand known on the planet. That's why the companies, and the government work hard to shut them down.

In all fairness...how is this Vortex's problem?
Vortex lost the sale of a legitimate product, made no money.
Vortex paid to have the item shipped back, losing money trying to help you.
Vortex offered a 50% discount to buy an actual Vortex product, losing money to help you.
Vortex had their name used illicitly and their brand damaged.

I get that you're upset that you were fooled. I get that you need to share your experience, to help ease your mind. I also have great respect for Vortex as a company, their brand, their products and their people. I've been to Vortex, used and abused their products for years. Hands down, one of the best companies in the firearms related industry, and committed to fighting for your 2A rights in partnering with the Second Amendment Foundation.

Quite frankly, your post seems petty, ill informed and disrespectful of a quality brand. You want someone else to pay for your mistake.

Tell you what though, come to our shop in Vancouver and I'll give you a Vortex red dot for free, and it will be a real one. Only request, edit the post as warning to others about counterfeits, rather than a hit piece on Vortex.