WO Star71 Price Hike

[StevieO]

Hi,

Am/was in the market for a small refractor for widefield imaging and had settled on the Star71, featured on FLO's website but marked as 'unavailable'. Now appears to be back, but at a massive £160 (20%) increase. I'd love to hear the explanation from WO for that one. Have manufacturing costs gone up so much, or is it a case of the good ol' supply and demand?

StevieO

[Ant]

It could be a combination of things.

I am only guessing here, but it could be manufacturing raw material increases, it could be an introductory price reverting to a normal margin, it could be a difficult scope to manufacture and they have more rejects in QC, it could be supply and demand or it could be old fashioned greed.

It could be a little bit of each. Would be interesting to know though

Ant

[r3i]

The S&N Review of the scope ( http://www.williamoptics.com/telescopes/images/First%20light-William-Optics-Star-71-five-element-APO-refractor.pdf ) indicates that the price of around £799 was an introductory price.

[russ.will]

The TS Imaging Star 71 is the same thing and would currently land at your doorstep for circa £820.

Russell

[Astroscot2]

I understand your frustration, for some reason I was thinking the prices were going to drop, I assumed that since prices were generally falling elsewhere this would be reflected in astro kit?  I understand manufacturing costs do go up as do margins, however I was surprised by16% and was not prepared to pay that.

I shopped around and didnt pay the 16%.  I have my scope and it came with the scope bag too. 

Mark

[russ.will]

I think it may have as much to do with exchange rates as anything else.

Russell

[ronin]

I would be tempted by the TS option of their 81mm that has flattener+reducer built in making it f/4.4.

It was produced by APM and with the present cost of 1300€ means it creeps in for about £930.

TS81