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OpticsPlanet has been one of the most talked about online retailers in the shooting and hunting community for years. With over two decades in business, this Illinois-based company sells everything from rifle scopes and binoculars to tactical gear and outdoor equipment. But despite their longevity, they’ve earned a notorious reputation for poor customer service and shipping delays that has many wondering: is OpticsPlanet actually legitimate or just a well-disguised nightmare?
After analyzing 869 Trustpilot reviews, 180 Better Business Bureau complaints, and countless forum discussions, I can tell you that OpticsPlanet is indeed a legitimate company that’s been in business since 2000. However, they suffer from severe operational issues that make shopping there a risky gamble for customers who need reliable service and timely delivery.
As someone who researches and reviews photography gear reviews and related equipment, I understand the importance of finding trustworthy retailers. Whether you’re a professional shooter needing specific gear or a hobbyist looking for a good deal, this review will give you the complete picture of what to expect from OpticsPlanet in 2025. I’ll cover their legitimacy, customer service problems, shipping nightmares, and ultimately help you decide if they’re worth the risk or if you should shop elsewhere.
OpticsPlanet was founded in 2000 by CEO Mark Levitin and is headquartered in Northbrook, Illinois. The company operates as an e-commerce distributor specializing in shooting, hunting, military, and outdoor equipment. As part of the Ecentria Group Inc, OpticsPlanet has grown to become one of the largest online retailers in the tactical gear space.
What many customers don’t realize is that OpticsPlanet primarily operates as a drop shipper rather than maintaining a massive inventory. This means when you place an order, they often pass it directly to manufacturers or distributors who then ship the products to you. While this business model allows them to offer an extensive catalog of over 800,000 products, it’s also the root cause of many of their fulfillment problems.
The company is technically an authorized dealer for major brands like Vortex, Leupold, and Aimpoint, which means they do sell authentic products. However, this authorization status doesn’t guarantee good service – it just means they’re recognized by manufacturers as legitimate sellers. This is an important distinction when evaluating whether OpticsPlanet is worth your business.
For those interested in understanding more about optics equipment, check out our comprehensive binoculars guide which covers proper usage and selection criteria.
Let me be crystal clear: OpticsPlanet is absolutely a legitimate company. They’ve been in business for 24 years, have physical headquarters in Illinois, maintain proper business registrations, and are authorized dealers for major optics brands. However, being legitimate doesn’t equal being reliable or customer-friendly.
The legitimacy question comes up frequently because their business practices often feel sketchy, even if they’re technically legal. Common issues include:
– Showing items as in stock when they’re actually backordered
– Providing unrealistic shipping estimates
– Poor communication about order status
– Difficulty processing refunds
Despite these problems, customers who persist do eventually receive their orders (in most cases). The company processes millions in sales annually and maintains partnerships with major manufacturers. They’re not going out of business or scamming people – they’re just operating a high-volume, low-margin business that prioritizes sales volume over customer experience.
The Better Business Bureau gives them a C+ rating and has recorded 180 complaints over the past three years. While this sounds bad, it’s important to note that the BBB doesn’t verify reviews, and many legitimate companies have similar or worse ratings. What’s more telling is that most complaints follow the same patterns: shipping delays, poor communication, and refund difficulties.
If you need customer service support from OpticsPlanet, prepare for frustration. With an average rating of 1.5 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot, their customer service department is consistently ranked as one of the worst in the online retail space.
The most common complaints about customer service include:
What makes this particularly frustrating is that when you have a problem with a $1,000 optic or need it for an upcoming hunt or competition, waiting weeks for resolution isn’t acceptable. The company simply doesn’t prioritize customer support the way specialized retailers like EuroOptic or smaller shops do.
Interestingly, a small percentage of customers (about 7%) do report positive experiences with customer service. These typically involve simple inquiries or issues with standard parts orders. Complex problems, urgent shipping needs, or refund requests seem to be where their system breaks down completely.
Shipping is where OpticsPlanet’s business model truly fails customers. The company consistently advertises fast shipping times that they simply cannot deliver on. What’s marketed as “1-2 business day processing” often turns into weeks or months of waiting.
The shipping issues typically follow this pattern:
Some of the worst cases reported on forums include:
– A customer waiting 9 months for an Aimpoint PRO that was supposed to be in stock
– Orders taking 2-6 months longer than originally quoted
– International customers experiencing delays of 6+ months
– Items showing as shipped but tracking numbers never updating
The root cause appears to be their inventory system showing items as available when they’re actually not. This is a common problem with drop shippers who don’t maintain real-time inventory synchronization with their suppliers.
When your order finally arrives, there’s still a chance it might be wrong. A significant number of customers report receiving incorrect items – sometimes completely unrelated products like snow cone syrup instead of gun parts or hunting gear.
Product quality is generally good when you receive the correct item. Since OpticsPlanet is an authorized dealer for major brands, they sell authentic, genuine products. The issues aren’t with counterfeit goods – they’re with fulfillment accuracy.
Common accuracy problems include:
These issues are particularly frustrating because returning wrong items often means going through the same slow customer service process that caused problems in the first place. Many customers report needing to file credit card chargebacks to get resolution, as the company’s refund process is notoriously slow and difficult.
Given OpticsPlanet’s consistent service issues, you’re probably wondering about alternatives. Here are three better options to consider:
For those researching optics equipment, our binoculars vs monoculars comparison can help you understand which option might be best for your needs.
Yes, OpticsPlanet is a legitimate company founded in 2000 and headquartered in Northbrook, Illinois. They are an authorized dealer for major brands and process millions in sales annually. However, they have severe operational issues with shipping and customer service.
Yes, OpticsPlanet is an authorized dealer for major optics brands including Vortex, Leupold, Aimpoint, and others. This means they sell authentic, genuine products, though being authorized doesn’t guarantee good service.
OpticsPlanet ships from their distribution center in Northbrook, Illinois. However, as a drop shipper, many items are shipped directly from manufacturers or distributors, which contributes to shipping delays.
OpticsPlanet was founded in 2000, making them one of the longer-running online retailers in the tactical gear and optics space with 24 years in business as of 2025.
OpticsPlanet operates primarily as an e-commerce business without traditional retail stores. They have corporate headquarters in Northbrook, Illinois, but do not operate physical retail locations open to the public.
The most common complaints are shipping delays (items taking weeks or months), poor customer service (long wait times, unhelpful staff), order accuracy issues (wrong items shipped), and difficulty getting refunds processed in a timely manner.
After thoroughly researching OpticsPlanet’s business practices and customer experiences, my recommendation is simple: avoid them unless you have no other choice and are willing to accept significant risk.
The only scenarios where ordering from OpticsPlanet might make sense:
For everyone else – especially professionals, hunters with seasons approaching, or anyone who values their time and peace of mind – the additional cost of shopping with more reliable retailers is well worth avoiding the frustration that comes with ordering from OpticsPlanet.
Remember: a deal isn’t really a deal if the item never arrives, arrives wrong, or causes you weeks of stress trying to resolve issues. Sometimes the cheapest option ends up being the most expensive in the long run.
