Should I keep a pair of Nikon Monarch M7 that was shipped with zero protection? (2 Viewers)

[valfarins]

Hello there - new birder here!

I have just received my new Nikon Monarch M7 8x42 binoculars, and I was ecstatic... until I noticed how they had been shipped.
The smart-ass retailer (which is L.L. Bean, by the way) simply put them in a very thin box lacking any padding (not even paper or bubble wrap). The box was not even the right size, so they must have been bouncing around inside it. Oh, and of course there was not even the shadow of a "fragile" sticker. Since the package has been travelling for a good week, I shudder to think what my binoculars must have gone through.

Now, I am giving you all these details because I am frankly at a loss what to do, and I would like to ask for advice. I need this binoculars urgently for a trip next week (so would prefer not having to return them), but I also want to make sure that I have not wasted $$$ on a pair of binoculars that will turn out to be damaged. For now, there doesn't seem to have been any internal damage, but I don't actually know what such damage would "look like". How would you assess it? Do you think I should outright refuse these binoculars and send them back? Do you think that issues might arise in the future due to the rough treatment they were exposed to?

I would truly appreciate some advice with how to proceed in such a case. It is the first pair of "nice" binoculars I buy and all I know is that they are very delicate instruments. I just want to make sure that I don't underestimate nor overestimate the problem.

Thank you in advance for your help!

Valentina

 

[dries1]

If they work right at present that is good. Use it tomorrow and if everything checks out, (view is without eyestrain, and focus and diopter function as designed), then register them on the Nikon website; you will need to create create an account. If anything should go wrong down the road, then contact Nikon and they will take care of you. Enjoy the glass.

 

[Dennis Mau]

I get a lot of binoculars like that, especially from Amazon.com. Don't worry about it, they are fine. Binoculars are tougher than you think!

 

[Foss]

Inside the box you opened, the binos were inside their original factory box, right? If so the binos should be fine.
(Hopefully, the original factory box didn't suffer too much for lack of padding.)

 

[Maljunulo]

Unless you can find something wrong with them, keep and enjoy them.

Don't be "that customer".

 

[CSG]

I'd contact LL Bean and discuss what happened. Unacceptable to ship optics that way. It surprises me coming from LLB but I haven't bought from them for some years. You're the customer so do be that guy that Maljunulo doesn't want you to be.

 

[Rg548]

I would be pretty annoyed at that to be fair.
However, it should also be fairly obvious if they are damaged in any way.
As mentioned, check focuser, diopter, and check for eye strain.
Chances are they are fine, but they are also warranted, so I wouldn't worry too much.
I would also send a rocket up the retailer.

 

[edwincjones]

A very negative review on Bean's web site seems appropriate re shipping.
They usually see and respond.
If no apparent defects or damage AND you like them-keep them;
but maybe not reorder optics from LL Bean.

edj

 

[valfarins]

Thank you so much for all the replies, everyone!
I took them for a test on Saturday and they seemed fairly fine except for the impression that the images from each eye were slightly off-tune, giving me a feeling of going cross-eyed after a while (sorry for the very non-technical description). I thought it was a matter of getting used to them and possibly adjusting the diopter. So this morning I tried doing that from the comfort of my backyard, and at the same time compare them to a pair of Monarch M5 that I had recently ordered from Amazon to try. Well, from the side-by-side comparison I got the absolute certainty that's something is off with these M7. (Either that, or the M5 are light-years better performing, which seems absurd...?).
While the M5 give me a clear, sharp and headache-free "single image", in the (likely damaged) M7 the image is sort of split (with a sort of half circle appearing in the middle). I felt like the image was never fully focused and I could noticeably feel the "relief" in my eyes whenever I switched back to the M5. Another possibility is that the M5 are just better suited to my inter-pupillary distance or something like that but it seems unlikely given that the two models are supposed to be so similar.

Bottom line: definitely returning these to LL Bean (along with a few well-chosen words about what I think of people who intentionally ruin a fine pair of binoculars). I'm now a little inclined to just keep the M5 rather than re-order the M7 from elsewhere; they work really great. (Would it be a bad choice to keep them - as my only pair of binoculars - considering the smallish FOV?)

 

[Rob from Texas]

Absolutely nothing wrong with leaning on M5's as long as necessary. I say enjoy the scenery with them, and possibly take your sweet time trying other pairs (in person) at a retailer until you find one that actually improves on the views. No rush.

 

[Rg548]

Definately a problem there, they need to go back.
You could go second hand mint from a reputable dealer, because they are unlikely to accept a wonky pair of bins as trade in, so likely you will get a good pair, and end up with an even better bino than the m7.

 

[lmans66]

Enjoy the M5's.... send the others back.

 

[Oldnintheway]

Just a note for future ordering options. I just ordered a pair of Nikon Monarch 7 from B&H. They were $50. cheaper than anywhere else I could find, and I saved another $40. with their Payboo card=no tax. And they will have them here in 2 days free shipping! They always ship properly.

 

[Roadbike]

Thank you so much for all the replies, everyone!
I took them for a test on Saturday and they seemed fairly fine except for the impression that the images from each eye were slightly off-tune, giving me a feeling of going cross-eyed after a while (sorry for the very non-technical description). I thought it was a matter of getting used to them and possibly adjusting the diopter. So this morning I tried doing that from the comfort of my backyard, and at the same time compare them to a pair of Monarch M5 that I had recently ordered from Amazon to try. Well, from the side-by-side comparison I got the absolute certainty that's something is off with these M7. (Either that, or M5 are light-years better performing, which seems absurd...?).
While the M5 give me a clear, sharp and headache-free "single image", in the (likely damaged) M7 the image is sort of split (with a sort of half circle appearing in the middle). I felt like the image was never fully focused and I could noticeably feel the "relief" in my eyes whenever I switched back to the M5. Another possibility is that the M5 are just better suited to my inter-pupillary distance or something like that but it seems unlikely given that the two models are supposed to be so similar.

Bottom line: definitely returning these to LL Bean (along with a few well-chosen words about what I think of people who intentionally ruin a fine pair of binoculars). I'm now a little inclined to just keep the M5 rather than re-order the M7 from elsewhere; they work really great. (Would it be a bad choice to keep them - as my only pair of binoculars - considering the smallish FOV?)

I've dealt with LL Bean and many other sellers of binoculars and other things. While there has been an occasional problem in shipping and defective merchandise I've never came across a situation of someone intentionally ruining or damaging merchandise. That's pretty serious if true.

 

[Paultricounty]

Hello there - new birder here!

I have just received my new Nikon Monarch M7 8x42 binoculars, and I was ecstatic... until I noticed how they had been shipped.
The smart-ass retailer (which is L.L. Bean, by the way) simply put them in a very thin box lacking any padding (not even paper or bubble wrap). The box was not even the right size, so they must have been bouncing around inside it. Oh, and of course there was not even the shadow of a "fragile" sticker. Since the package has been travelling for a good week, I shudder to think what my binoculars must have gone through.

Now, I am giving you all these details because I am frankly at a loss what to do, and I would like to ask for advice. I need this binoculars urgently for a trip next week (so would prefer not having to return them), but I also want to make sure that I have not wasted $$$ on a pair of binoculars that will turn out to be damaged. For now, there doesn't seem to have been any internal damage, but I don't actually know what such damage would "look like". How would you assess it? Do you think I should outright refuse these binoculars and send them back? Do you think that issues might arise in the future due to the rough treatment they were exposed to?

I would truly appreciate some advice with how to proceed in such a case. It is the first pair of "nice" binoculars I buy and all I know is that they are very delicate instruments. I just want to make sure that I don't underestimate nor overestimate the problem.

Thank you in advance for your help!

Valentina

Your getting some good advice here. If they look like they were packed nice and secure in they’re box and not able to bounce around, then most likely they were not damaged. Of course examining them will tell a lot. But if your worried about it, then it’s your choice of course. Me, I’d be that guy, and return them as soon as I seen them loose in the box. I’d still take them out, play with them, try them, see if I like them. Then I would put them back in box you get a free return shipping label then off they go. Then I would request the retailer make sure that the next pair are shipped and packed adequately.

good luck.

 

[Bphunter53]

Thank you so much for all the replies, everyone!
I took them for a test on Saturday and they seemed fairly fine except for the impression that the images from each eye were slightly off-tune, giving me a feeling of going cross-eyed after a while (sorry for the very non-technical description). I thought it was a matter of getting used to them and possibly adjusting the diopter. So this morning I tried doing that from the comfort of my backyard, and at the same time compare them to a pair of Monarch M5 that I had recently ordered from Amazon to try. Well, from the side-by-side comparison I got the absolute certainty that's something is off with these M7. (Either that, or the M5 are light-years better performing, which seems absurd...?).
While the M5 give me a clear, sharp and headache-free "single image", in the (likely damaged) M7 the image is sort of split (with a sort of half circle appearing in the middle). I felt like the image was never fully focused and I could noticeably feel the "relief" in my eyes whenever I switched back to the M5. Another possibility is that the M5 are just better suited to my inter-pupillary distance or something like that but it seems unlikely given that the two models are supposed to be so similar.

Bottom line: definitely returning these to LL Bean (along with a few well-chosen words about what I think of people who intentionally ruin a fine pair of binoculars). I'm now a little inclined to just keep the M5 rather than re-order the M7 from elsewhere; they work really great. (Would it be a bad choice to keep them - as my only pair of binoculars - considering the smallish FOV?)

Nikon took a step back with the m7 imo. I Prefer both the monarch 5 and 7 over the m7. If you want to stick with nikon i would go with the monarch 7 for its larger field of view than the 5. If you want a true upgrade go to optics planet and buy the Alpen Teton ED HD For $499 I have the 8x42 and they have out performed numerous more expensive pairs including my Zeiss Victory T FL. The Nikon monarch 7 has a good image if the suns not out. The glare control is awful on the Nikons.

 

[dries1]

Somehow I think I will keep my FL in 8 and 10X42, no need to buy another glass even if it has AK prisms.

 

[avidopticguy]

I have received so much stuff with dented corners of the retail packing including the corresponding shipping box corner. First few times I had the same reaction. Then I learned to live with it as a part of online retail. Cameras, lenses, audio receivers, Binos, speakers, glassware, .... the list goes on. I have not yet have any of them fail.

Binos in a retail box with no protection, don't sweat it. Almost all mine were sipped with zero to negligible protection.