I generally like to give all products (both expensive when I can afford it and inexpensive models) a chance and when I am able to, I buy them just to check them out. I also like to look for those low cost bargain like CZ75s, or HS2000s, etc.
Normally, I always go with Leupold for all of my scoping needs. In the past year I decided to give the lower and lowest end ones a try. One was a compact BEC variable with a 40mm objective that also came with rings, caps, and and AR base mount for the carry handle (didn't have and AR at the time, just wanted the scope) I think I paid $50 or $60 for it and had plans to put it on top of a Gibbs Quest Extreme II.
The problems I had with it were low quality finish, the ocular bell and locking ring were locked together TIGHT (i.e., immovable), extremely short eye relief, well below average image quality. [To compare, I consider even Tascos as average image quality.] I did not attempt to loosen the ocular bell/locking ring as I knew I would probably break or severly mar something. To get a full field view of the target, I had to put my eye up to 1.50"-1.75" of the ocular lens. Not a good idea for a bolt .308WIN and as a result I did not have a full view as I had pulled away from the scope a few more inches to prevent this when I shot with the scope.
Overall, it would probably be OK on an extremely cheap .22lr rifle for beginners. For anything else like the AR, save up and get something better. IMO, the scope is not worth the shipping cost to fix any problems that may happen down the line when using the lifetime gaurantee.
All of this is, of course, IMO.
