FLO

(Photos show the ZWO ASI 2600MC-PRO model with Colour sensor, we will make new photos when the Mono camera arrives).

The wait for a ZWO camera with a APS sized Mono sensor is over 😀 ZWO ASI 2600MM-PRO USB 3.0 Cooled Mono Camera Features Sony's highly sensitive 26MP IMX571 APS-C sensor, 2-stage TEC cooling and no Amp Glow! Early Bird price available until 28th Feb. (Stock should start arriving at our warehouse early-mid Feb).

New models are in the pipeline but cannot share details at this point 😎 Steve

Although... With shipping costs having increased so much we are expecting retail price increases (legitimate ones, not price-gouging). HTH, Steve

Not us 😇

Unfortunately stock availability has not improved. Most factories in China have reopened and are running at full capacity but there are not enough container slots available on cargo ships. The cost of those that are available have increased significantly. We hear container slots are being cancelled without good reason then resold at much higher prices! In these circumstances it is near impossible for importers to provide reliable ETAs unless a ship has been loaded and is already enroute. Even then its arrival is subject to delay because most shipping companies are avoiding Felixstowe, which is causing congestion at other ports. We try hard to keep our website's dispatch estimates up-to-date but it is not easy, especially for those products sourced through a distributor. Some of our dispatch ETAs are little more than a best guess. FLO has more stock than any other UK astronomy retailer (we are the only one with a warehouse) and we have doubled our staff (now fifteen). Nobody is doing more to make astronomy equipment available and provide information but these are extraordinary times. Thank-you for your patience and understanding. Steve & the FLO team.

No problem 😆 I was speed reading, saw the discussion title and assumed you meant the ZWO camera you currently have on order.

Thank-you 🤗 Steve

Our first delivery of ZWO ASI2600MM-P cameras should arrive at the warehouse late-Feb / early-Mar. The camera will be listed at our website soon at the introductory price (valid until 28th Feb). We don't yet have a landed price but the 'early-bird' $ price + Duty & VAT is equivalent to £2086 (at todays exchange-rate) so our price will be close to that. HTH, Steve

One Sky-Watcher EQ6-R PRO Go-To Astronomy Mount. Customer Return Customer changed their minds and then DHL lost the tripod - now complete with tripod and all good to go. Slight mark on top of tripod from use but mount A-OK. Full manufacturers warranty. £1,229.00 £1,106.00 (saving £123.00)

As requested, the StellaMira 80mm ED f10 telescope is now also available with a silky smooth dual-speed Crayford focuser 🙂 StellaMira 80mm ED f/10 Refractor Telescope with Crayford Focuser

Yes. Of course. We include a commercial invoice so Customs have everything they need from us. French Customs will know you purchased before 1st January and UK VAT has been paid. We do not then expect them to also charge French VAT but if they do we will refund UK VAT. FLO has collected only UK VAT so can refund only UK VAT. French Customs might (we don't know) charge you Duty and/or a handling charge. We cannot refund this so if you are concerned please email ASAP instructing us to cancel your order. Important to understand we have not blocked your delivery. That happened when France closed its border. DHL then returned your order to our warehouse. My colleagues kept it safe until the border reopened and delivery could resume. Also, the border closing affected only DHL's Economy (land & sea) service. Not DHL Express (air). I think we can agree these are extraordinary circumstances. Steve

My colleagues in the warehouse say the DHL drivers have confirmed all DHL Economy packages will be recollected tomorrow 🙂

French grapes are wonderful🍷😊

Yes. France closed their border to UK so couriers in the UK could not enter France. President Macron wanted to prevent the new Covid variant entering France from the UK.

Hi @NAO-France, welcome to SGL 🙂 We mentioned earlier in this discussion when France closed their border with UK, DHL suspended their DHL Economy service and returned large/bulky items to sender. I don't recognise you from your username but am guessing your order is one of those affected? If yes then DHL restarted their Economy service today so your order should restart its journey today or tomorrow. The DHL tracking info we auto-emailed you should show this but if you email us your order number we will be pleased to check. Regarding VAT, if your order was placed before 1st January then you have already paid UK VAT. French Customs will probably respect this but if they do not and they charge you VAT when the package enters your country then we will of course refund UK VAT. (Our website now automatically deducts VAT for non-UK customers). Regarding tariffs or Duty, if you are concerned and wish to cancel your order please email us. HTH, Steve

It has been only one week since the change so it is too soon for us to know if that if that will be necessary. Fortunately, currently, our orders from customers in the EU appear largely unaffected. They continue to place orders. We handle their orders the same way we handle orders from customers in non-EU countries, like Norway, Switzerland, America, Canada, Australia, etc. We will have a better understanding in a month or two 🙂 Steve

DHL Economy service is back 🙂 The service is available again at our website.

A customer mentioned this BBC News article written about him 🙂 Night sky mental health boost for astronomy fan I am sure he is not alone and it is nice to hear good news during these extraordinary times. Steve

I don't know. Perhaps not. Steve

It is too early to say. Maybe... I am sure you are right 🙂 Post-Brexit Advice for our EU Customers Unfortunately there is still some congestion at the UK-France border so it will be another day or two before DHL reintroduce their DHL Economy Service. A lot of lorry drivers missed Christmas at home with their families 😧 We have learned (after testing) lorry drivers have a far lower incidence of coronavirus than regular public. Steve

As a EU resident you no longer pay UK VAT when you order at FLO. Our website automatically deducts VAT (currently 20%) at the Checkout. You might however be subject to import duties and taxes when the package reaches your country. FLO includes a Commercial Invoice with every package so Customs have the correct information. (We already do this for our other non-UK customers in Norway, Switzerland, America, Canada, Australia, etc). HTH 🙂

Bless her. We had probably sold out 🙂 Steve

This year has been a rollercoaster ride! It is difficult to know what to say. On the one hand we want to punch the air (this has been a record year of growth for FLO) but that doesn't feel appropriate knowing how many businesses have closed or are hanging on with their fingernails. And of course the considerable impact on our health and freedoms during this global pandemic. This year has however shown us how dependent we are on each other and key workers. Like supermarket and corner-shop staff, postal workers, delivery drivers, refuse collectors, etc. And of course hospital and care home staff. Many of them low paid and working in difficult conditions. Many of them immigrants. Hopefully after 2020 they are remembered and accorded the value they deserve ongoing. Fortunately there are reasons to feel positive about next year, 2021. Foremost is we have a vaccine! In 6-12 months most of the population will have been vaccinated. We can then look forward to more social interaction, stability and growth. It will be interesting to see what the new 'normal' looks like. Thank-you to everyone who supported FLO through 2020. Thank-you especially for your continued patience and understanding during these extraordinary times. Very best wishes and happy New Year 🙂 Alex, Andy, Annette, Ann, Cody, Dave, Grant, Ian, James, Katie, Lisa, Martin, Matt, Rob & Steve.

Good question. Nobody really knows but at FLO we are predicting demand will settle in 6-12x months when the majority of people are vaccinated. Manufacturers know this huge increase in demand is temporary so are unwilling to invest in new factories. They will continue doing their best with existing manufacturing facilities so whilst stock continues to arrive at our warehouse it will not be enough to fulfil this unusually high demand. The current situation (long customer backorder lists and shipments selling out before they dock) will likely continue at least into Summer. HTH, Steve