Hi, A few weeks ago I asked for suggestions on local stores that had binoculars for sale with models to try. Several people asked if I could let the list know what I found.
1. A friend suggested I call _Home Office Sport Supply_ over near Penn Yan. Ivan Martin, the proprietor, has a bunch of models for people to try, at all price points, from Alpin to Zerotech. He doesn't carry Swarovski or Leica but had just about every other brand I've ever heard of, including Zeiss, Kowa, Nikon, Miopta, Celestron, and other birding brands. His prices are excellent, usually significantly below list, and he is happy to have people look outside for as long as they wish at fields, distant barns, and the birds that stop by, trying different models. Finally I settled on the make & model I wanted but Ivan had them only in 8x42 & not in 10x42, which were turned out to be backordered by the distributor. I had a deadline so he suggested they might be on the shelf elsewhere and seemed almost as pleased that I had found what I liked as if he had made the sale himself. Anyway, I highly recommend Ivan at Home Office Sport Supply, it was well worth the drive IMO - not only was I able to try many different binoculars there, if he could have gotten them for me I would have saved quite a bit. Ivan's number is 315-536-8705, he has no website. 2. _Optics4Birding <https://www.optics4birding.com/>_ is a web-based business in California. Pete, who seems to be the person who runs the place, is very patient. I talked with him both before and after I went over to Ivan's. After asking me what I was looking for in a binocular, what binoculars I've used previously, and how I bird, he really helped me narrow down what to think seriously about. Pete had my 10x42s in stock and sold them at the standard price, 2 Day Shipping included - I ordered Friday afternoon and they arrived Monday morning. I had a completely good experience ordering with Pete, if there were a way to try his binoculars it would be perfect. His website looks pretty primitive in layout but it has tons of good information and lots of binocular makes and models. 3. List members kindly passed on several additional suggestions that, for one reason or another, didn't work out for me but might for someone else. * The BIrd House in Pittsford: very nice & helpful person on the phone, sounds like they have a good range of mid-priced and starter binos from Celestron, Nikon, and Vortex. * WIld Birds Unlimited in Horseheads: tried phone number listed on their website twice during normal business hours and got no answer and no message. Since I solved my problem elsewhere didn't try again. * Bass Pro in Auburn: person in the department that handles binoculars said he had never heard of Swarovski binoculars. Maybe he was a fill in? But I didn't persist. Hope this helps someone! Alicia -- (copy & paste any URL below, then modify any text "_DOT_" to a period ".") Cayugabirds-L List Info: NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsWELCOME_DOT_htm NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsRULES_DOT_htm NortheastBirding_DOT_com/CayugabirdsSubscribeConfigurationLeave_DOT_htm ARCHIVES: 1) mail-archive_DOT_com/cayugabirds-l@cornell_DOT_edu/maillist_DOT_html 2) surfbirds_DOT_com/birdingmail/Group/Cayugabirds 3) aba_DOT_org/birding-news/ Please submit your observations to eBird: ebird_DOT_org/content/ebird/ --
