Swampman wrote: "A Leupold is nearly always worth most of what you paid for it, maybe more. It's an investment."
I don't necessarily buy optics as an investment. I buy them based on their level of performance they deliver and to get the most bang for my buck, so to speak. And that is why I don't buy Leupold...
Yes, the gold-ringed wonders are good, solid scopes, but they are FAR from the final word in optics. And when it comes to low-light, low-contrast situations, a number of scopes will out-perform that vaunted Leupold lineup.
As to Nikon and refurbs: ANY time a Nikon is returned, no matter the reason, it MUST go back to the factory, even if it was still unopened. They thoroughly check them out and then sell them as refurbs, even though the scope may have never been used before.
I spent more than a quarter-century making a living with optics, so I know I can judge them in unbiased fashion. After all, my livelihood -- and that of my family's -- depended on as much, for without good glass and ultimately good results, there would have been no payoff, so to speak.
For those wanting the best value for their hard-earned dollar, the Nikon BuckMasters series is hard to beat and about as rugged and durable as you will find. (And if you want EXCEPTIONAL performance in terms of edge-to-edge sharpness, the ability to resolve fine detail and repeatability of zero, try and find a pre-'05 4.5-14x40 AO. It's simply a superb piece of equipment.) But for a few dollars more, you can have a current Monarch, which is truly another step up in the optical world.
I have used and abused Nikons for years, and they have always been up to the task (I am not speaking of the ProStaff, as this entry-level lineup does not meet my personal criteria.) And as to their customer service, let me use this as an example: a number of years ago, a 6.5-06 rifle took a fall during a photo shoot, and the Monarch 4-12x40 AO took the brunt of the impact.
I packed it up with a note explaining what had happened -- and that it was entirely my fault. About a week later, I had a package from Nikon -- and all was taken care of at NO CHARGE to me.
For me, when it comes to top quality in the sub-$750 range, Minox, Zeiss Conquest and Nikon Monarch are as good as you will find. The Leupold VX-3 would be in 4th when one considers all critical performance areas and price.
You can certainly spend more than what a Conquest, Monarch or Minox will cost, but you also get to a point of diminishing returns and differences that can only be detected under controlled conditions and not in the field.