Nikon 24-85mm VR lens Zoom Ring Stiffness

Anyone having problems with this new Nikon 24-85mm VR regarding the stiffness of the zoom ring? I got a copy from B&H and am sending it back because the zoom is too stiff -way more than any previous lens from Nikon I've purchased. Nikon advised me to exchange the lens for a new one as it should not be uncomfortably tight. Admittedly I tried the lens on a D3100. It's much more uncomfortable on the D3100 than a bigger body like my D7000. Camera heft matters with this lens as it's meant for FX. I liked everything else about the lens. Some say stiffness is a good thing as it retards lens creep and probably will loosen a little over time. That said, I still think my copy was way too stiff while trying to zoom. Any comments would be welcome.