Should I do something?

[Earl]

There is a lot of badge engineering with astro gear and until you buy in the "branded" bracket i think it is very common place for a generic filter to be sold under a few flags.

Sometime its just the sticker on the box that is the only difference.

I had a nice 80ED which I sold a few weeks back and I found at least 4 different branded ones all identical while searching to clarify its spec.

Obviously this is not always the case, so it does pay to check.

[nicnac]

i would'nt stand for it myself, i would want what i saw and what i intended to buy, you buy a branded Tshirt, you dont expect a plain one.

[spaceboy]

Take a look at section (7) The Consumer Protection (Distance Selling) Regulations 2000

[iwatkins]

I never stand for this kind of thing and always kick up a stink and get what I paid for.

Too many people just taking it = someone making a profit from those not willing to stand up for their rights.

It sucks and you do not have to take it.

Cheers

Ian (the Complainer)

p.s. not just astro retailers, even had John Lewis trying it on a couple of weeks ago.

[starstalker]

if it was me whenever i used the items i would be always worrying that they might not be as good as the ones i thought i was paying for originally, i'd deffo ask for a refund and name and shame.

[UTMonkey]

I would like to think I could show the same restraint ad the OP but I know I would fail miserably.

If its going to stay in your collection and does what it says on the tin that's ok I suppose, but in the long term you haven't been well served as the residual value of a second hand unbranded item must be less than a branded one.

The cynic in me suspects that some astro firms are making the best of things whilst the astro "mania" still exists, and are making some questionable business decisions.

Mark

[vulcan]

If you subsequently try to sell the unbranded item, you will not get as much for it - it is less valuable.