vortex is a sister company of eagle optics. they've (eagle) been in the binocular business for a while. I have a viper 4-12x40 from when they were clearing out a couple of models a few years back. The first one was off, and that's how I learned that vortex has wonderful customer service. They sent me a whole new scope, no questions asked, and when I called a real person picked up after 2 rings. (have you called leupold lately? gah!) Vortex scopes are made all over the place. Unless things have changed, the crossfire line is chinese, the diamondbacks and vipers are made in the Philippines, and the razors are Japanese. (as a side note, my new nikon monarch binoculars are made in china, so don't put too much stock in relating quality to country. It has more to do with the quality the branding company demands and will pay for than the inherent quality of the manufacturing plant)
As far as optics go, I have no complaints. I'm not a glass expert, but it's certainly better glass than my tasco world class, probably better than my burris timberline, and I can't really tell a difference between it and my weaver grand slam. Has more eye relief than any of those scopes as well. Sightron has been around a while too, and I hear good things about s2 and up, especially the big sky models, but I have never looked through one.
Jackel is right about resale though, I leupold will be hold value better than most anything else.
