LAST EDITED ON Dec-09-04 AT 02:02PM (MST)[p]Be very careful buying low priced Swarovski stuff. Some retailers sell 2 and 3 year old stuff for new. I purchased a spotter at a screaming price but it had dust and smudges all over it and was missing a lense cap. It looked used but was sold as new. When I got it home I called Swarovski customer service and asked if there was any way to tell when the piece was manufactured. They said the first two numbers in the serial number plus 30 tell you what year it was manufactured. I later found out the person who told me that got in trouble for it. These were made in 02 (eyepiece) and 03 (body).
Long story short, with some convincing the retailer gave me a refund and I went to Outdoorsmans. I purchased the 20-60 Swarovski spotter from them and they gave me the lowest advertised price (in Eastmans HJ) even though thier price had gone up $50, plus they sell so much they had every model in stock including the Swarovski cover which was hard to find elsewhere. I was very happy with Outdoorsmans and they sold me a NEW scope.
"When you're with nature, flowing with the power of the earth, that's when you burst forth as a person." -- Christian Johnson