Astronomia

[TheThing]

Astronomia

Have used this shop on a couple of occasions now and found them very helpful with good knowledge and competative prices. A quick phone call or e-mail to them reagrding stock or suitability is always answered promptly (for my queries, I must thank Matt who has always helped me). They are always very curteous.

The 2nd hand book shelf is always worth a squint - £5 a book and £3 of that goes to charity.

Oh, and they have some lovely scopes to drool over in the showroom (espec. te truss dob! I didn't look any further than the £1,800 price tag though! It was H-U-G-E!!!)

I'll definately be using them in the future and would impress upon other to as well.

[Astro_Baby]

A great shop if your in the area. Always some nice scopes to look at and Matt who runs the shop is very friendly, polite and helpful.

Matt is an astronomer himself so knows a fair bit, anything they dont have they can order quite quickly.

I have bought a few bits from them and on the one occasion things went a bit wrong (manufacaturing fault with the product) Matt had no problems changing it for something else.

Nice range of scopes going from the exotic to the entry level. You might even bump into me as I work just down the road

Stress free astronomy shopping and well worth popping into if your passing through.

[kevthered]

I've just had to have an item replaced under warranty and the service / support I received from Astronomia, Matt in particular, was second to none.

For a good range of products at reasonable prices, excellant P&P, and superb Customer Service, Astronomia are hard to beat.

I'll definately be using them again.

Regards.

Kev.

NB: I have no links to the shop, I'm just a very satisfied customer !

[hubblebubble]

Just picked up a SW 150P for a great price from Astronomia in Dorking. Fantastic service from Matt who sticks to his deals

I will definately be using them in the future.

[RikityDJ]

Just wanted to mention this lot to you lot.

After getting massivley confused on what scope i needed i phoned these guys up, and the guy i spoke to was very down to earth, spoke my language and really helped me.

they also offer an upgrade service, so after a year he will buy back the old scope for the same price on the condition i upgrade to a new one, im very very happy with that!!!!

He price matched the scope i wanted, threw in a free eyepeice, but above all the advice he gave me was priceless.

You all bang on about FLO (perhaps some people on here are on comission? ) i couldnt even get hold of anyone!

Astronomia for the win, especially if u need to talk to someone for a few minutes, that isnt going to completely confuse you and totally put you off the idea.

Rick

[TheThing]

popped in with my bro-in-law yesterday for a look and he walked out with a 127 celestron slt.

Great service and advice again. Deal clincher is the full retail price trade in against a new scope within twelve months.

[smutly]

I would just like to say a big thanks to Matt Lawes from Astronomia.

I emailed Astronomia on mon 17th Jan, on the off chance they may have apolar scope cover for my eq3-2. Matt replied to my email within 15 mins and said he would send one out to me. I asked in a reply email how much i owed them for this and the reply just said that the cover has been sent to me. So i thought ok. Today, wed 19th Jan, i have received the cover and a note saying there is no charge for the cover and just to think of Astronomia when i am thinking of purchasing any more gear.

After this great customer service, which is quite rare nowadays, i shall definitely be trying Astronomia on future purchases.

[Psychobilly]

Over the last few months I have bought two "second hand" scopes from these guys and the service has been superb. Telephone calls from Neil within a few minutes of ordering and e-mails to confirm payment and courier collection and provide tracking info..

Both scopes have arrived the next working day around lunchtime... Well packaged and in superb condition and they come with 12 month warranty from Telescope Outlet...

Really happy with the purchase I have made and the service I have received and the prices are amazing

Peter...

[Mr Spock]

I'd not heard of these guys before but decided to give them a try as there were offering an eyepiece I wanted at half price.

I was at first a little disappointed that the postage was £10, but I was still saving £50 on purchasing from elsewhere so it was still a good deal.

I was also a little sceptical when I received an e-mail an hour after ordering online to say the item was dispatched. This was Friday afternoon. Amazingly at 8:30 Tuesday morning the eyepiece arrived by Royal Mail special delivery. That is fast.

So, overall, a very good experience.

[dobbie]

hi just used the Astronomia telescope outlet page to order a vixen mini porta mount

placed my order yesterday at 3.41pm it came this morning at 9.50am this the fastest delivery i have every had .. well done telescope outlet...

[Carl83]

I recently did a part exchange for a newer better scope and used Astronomia in Dorking.

They offered much more in trade in value than any other retailer in the area so I was pleased straight away! When I started dealing with them, I was glad I found them.

Astronomia have an excellent support system built into their website. If you're a customer and they have you on their system, your email address allows you to log in and start an enquiry. You're then issued a ticket number and it informs you who is dealing with your enquiry and what's happening. Very speedy replies. I found all enquiries answered within 1 hour and I felt all my enquiries were answered fully.

I found the staff very friendly, very knowledgable and very helpful.

The shop is nice and modern and they have plenty of scopes on display.

I would recommend Astronomia to anyone and I will using them from now on.

[neil phillips]

Just wanted to say thanks to Neil From Telescope outlet. I had ordered a second hand 12" 300p When it arrived there was a problem with some damage to the tube. Quite a bad bang on top of the focuser had crushed it in somewhat. I asked if they could get another Tube only. Or some kind of repair. There suggestion was if i was happy, to refund a large part of the sum, and i could try to get it fixed myself. Another Astronomer from SGL ( Russel ) kindly helped me out here.

And the scope is now collimating well. But i wanted to assure anyone dealing with telescope outlet, that the support was first class. You will not be dissapointed with your dealings with them. And you will not be left high and dry if any problems occur. They also said if i wanted to trade it back to them at later stage. they would put all of the money i did pay. Onto whatever i wanted, Ive only dealt with one or two other dealers that have your best interest at heart to such a level , and we all know who they are. Astronomia and telescope outlet. Can be strongly recommended

[emadmoussa]

I recently ordered an Altair Astro Starwave 102ED and a dielectric diagonal from Astronomia. Originally these items are sold by Altair Astro, but considering my uncertainty about direct dealing with AA and pleasant past experiences with Astronomia, I went ahead I used the latter.

I do appreciate the personal friendly customer service of Astronomia. I always sort out any pending issues straight away just over the phone.

Having received my order from AA, Astronomia called me to ask about the best time to deliver my item. All went well and smoothly. Unfortunately, it seems that during transportation, the telescope focuser was banged and there was some minor damage. I phoned Astronomia and explained the issue, they immediately circulated  the issue around and sent me a replacement for the damaged parts. 

Quite happy with the service. 

[fwm891]

I purchased an Altair Astro 115 EDT-APO plus Planostar 1.0x field flattener and some other bits from Astronomia.

I was dealt with by Tom Imrie. Tom gave me all the info he possibly could on this telescope. We exchanged a number of emails to make sure everything was right before proceeding with the sale. Everything went really well, there was a minor delay on one of the accessories but I was kept fully informed as to its progress.

Thumbs up from me

[terry67]

well...purchased  ed 100 pro as it was in the clearance section knowing there were a couple of items missing,,,,on the same day of paid for  for tube rings as i needed them for scope and was told would take a few days to arrive,,,,thats fine i said and took the scope home very happy....1 week past and hadnt heard anything so phoned to shop to get an answer hmmm yes they was ordered but there seems to be some sort of delay they wont be instock until next week,,ok i said but it would have been nice for a phone call,,,,,week later phoned the shop are my tube rings there,,,,hmmm no let me look into it for you and ill call you back..ok,,no call back so phoned the next day and they said they would have to chase them down,,ok i said and another week has gone by ad i yet again had to phone them and still no tube rings and they have no idea when they are coming,,they did say that i could purchase some much more expensive ones that they had instock ....bit cheeky i thought,they promised they would call me back today with an answer but youve guessed it no phone call and it is now the bank holiday,so here i am running into the fourth week and still cant use my new scope and still waiting for a phone call..

[PeterCPC]

I recently acquired my new scope, Celestron 9.25AVX, from Astronomia and was happy with a trade in agreed with them. I encountered a problem getting my equipment to them in Dorking and they, very kindly, agreed to deliver my new scope and pick up the trade in on a day that they would be attending an event in my area. All good and it saved me a lot of hassle.

I put the new scope together and noticed that there was a small bit of something on the back of the corrector so I sent an e mail explaining this and asking for this to be fed back to Celestron. I also asked if they could supply me with a security screw for the dovetail as it seems not all OTAs are supplied with this.

My original e mail was sent on the 12th April. No reply received so another e mail sent on 16th April to which i had an acknowledgment but no reply. As of today, the 25th April, my e mail has still not received a reply. 

Such a shame as they seem to be going the extra mile to assist me get the new scope and then it's all let down by lack of aftercare. 

How long would it have taken to send me a reply?

Peter

[Moonshine132435]

My experience of Astronomia has been mixed.

I drove to their Dorking branch when I was thinking of getting into astronomy, but given only very basic information and pointed at the Skywatcher 150P as being the right scope for me, though no idea why really.

After doing more research, mainly on this board, I did indeed decide on the 150P, though I was toying with the idea of an upgraded EQ5 mount. On Astronomia's bargain board they had a 150P/EQ3 for a very good price which they'd take in part X. I went down to Dorking to have a look at it and discuss it, but it turns out they'd sold it weeks before and hadn't updated their website which was disappointing. We discussed a few other options and they ended up making me a good proposal for a 150P/EQ5 mount, which was more than I'd intended to spend, but it was something I'd been toying with anyway so I bought it. Initally it was going to be in stock and sent out to me within two weeks. A fortnight later it was another two weeks and in the end I received the scope over 6 weeks later.

Separately I wanted an Altair 10x60mm finderscope. I called Astronomia and they confirmed they actually had one in stock, so I bought it. Two weeks later still nothing so I contacted them. Apparently it was a different Altair 10x60mm they had in scope, and they had arranged to collect mine directly from Altair at the astronomy show. Three days after the astronomy show I contacted them, and they now believe the scope is on a boat from China and can't speculate as to when it will arrive.

To summarise new equipment purchases: I never got much advice from them and they don't seem to be entirely on top of their supply chain, but the prices are either at or below the market.

However, I've also bought two Vixen eyepieces from their bargain bin. I've got to say the prices were very good indeed and, possibly because the EPs were already in stock, they were sent out quickly.

A bit of a mixed bag really.

[ryandsimmons]

Second time I have ordered something from them that wasn't on the shelf in the shop, and second time deliveries just start slipping back.

The first I ordered a t-ring that was supposed to be a week, then 2 weeks then 3 weeks delivery, in the end I gave up and ordered from 365astronomy and got it the next day.

Now I ordered a Focal reducer for delivery "early next week,"  Which turned in to "it will be in the store on friday for pick up" and is now "will be sometime next week."

Last time I will be ordering from them as delays seem regular and generally it is last minute you are informed.

A shame as the staff are very friendly and helpful and when stuff is in stock it is usually cheap and delivered quickly.

[PeterCPC]

I ordered a used scope from them on the 3rd March and was told that I would receive it within 5 working days. It was finally shipped out exactly a week (on the 5th working day) after being ordered using APC-overnight. I phoned the local APC depot early morning the next day (today) to be told that it would be delivered by 16:00. At 16:00 no sign so I contact the local depot again to be told that they never received it so cannot deliver it today.

I contacted Astronomia who were unable to help (or unwilling) to be advised that, if I am not happy, I can refuse to accept it whenever it does arrive. I feel like Customer Care = you are the customer and we don't care.

I have had issues with this firm before not responding to E Mails and not answering their telephone.

I will never shop with them again as I am so fed up with the awful customer service.

Serves me right - I should have gone to FLO.

Peter

[StevieO]

I've been waiting for delivery of equipment from Astronomia.

Today I received a letter from them informing me that they had ceased trading and advising me to contact my credit card company for a refund, which I have done.

Their website now only gives the same information.

Anyone else waiting for purchases to arrive should contact their credit card company asap.

Cheers

StevieO