Astronomy shops

[heathenwoods]

Hey guys,

I'm trying to find a list of physical, visitable astronomy shops but can't find any except this one; is it representative? Being in Derbyshire it looks like my closest is Rother Valley Optics which seems to have a pretty good rep but is still a trek (there's also David Lukehurst but I shan't be visiting until I sell a kidney or child!)

[Revs]

Yup, RVO are your best bet from where you are. Larger astronomy shops are few and far between. I've hear good things about RVO, though I've never been.

[damnut]

Hi Heathenwoods,

RVO is a great store and the folk there especially Ian are very helpful. Don't rush to buy, come along to the next observing sess in Belper and see what might suit you. If you have made your mind up check the buy & sell here. If you fancy new RVO is a good option as you can play before buying!

Good Luck

[Nova]

Yep, have used RVO for several online purchases. If ever im passing that way ill be popping in for sure. Great service!!

[heathenwoods]

Thanks folks, very helpful.

Hi Heathenwoods,

Don't rush to buy, come along to the next observing sess in Belper and see what might suit you.

Good Luck

I'd really appreciate that - is there somewhere I can find a list of sessions? Sorry if it's just me missing an obvious link somewhere!

[damnut]

Hi Heathenwoods. Pmd as off topic.

Cheers

[JamesM]

Great idea and a very kind suggestion Damian - try before you buy!

James

[heathenwoods]

Yep, I'll be keeping a closer eye on the EMS page now

[damnut]

Hi Folks,

Easiest link to EMS is :-

East Midlands Stargazers' - Stargazers Lounge

This will take you directly to our home page.

CHeers

[Jiggy 67]

You could also try Opticstar in Sale, Manchester, not far from you, here's a link Celestron X-Cel LX Eyepieces. I've been there and they are very helpfull

[Astro Imp]

As has already been said RVO are great to deal with, funnily enough I was up there earlier to-day investing in a RACI.

If you want something in particular it pays to contact them first to make sure the item is in stock, saves a wasted journey.

Good luck.

[brantuk]

You could try Sherwoods in Warwickshire

[smt1988]

any body no where the nearest Astronomy shop is by me i come from dudley west midlands ?

[heathenwoods]

I'd guess the Warwickshire one? (Tho' my knowledge of the west midlands is ropey at best!)

Thanks all, RVO sounds great and I have a sister in Manchester so hopefully the children will want to see their cousins soon

[Jiggy 67]

When I went to Opticstar I had a lot of money to spend on eyepeices, I only had a 130p at the time and I was a bit naive. They wouldn't let me spend loads of money and advised the best ep's for my scope... they could have just ripped me off but didn't...can't argue with that!!

[deebster]

I'm curious, it is more or less since the internet has been around that there have been so few bricks & mortar astronomy shops?

The only similar-ish thing I can compare it with is specialist hi-fi shops - there used to be half a dozen or so in or around Birmingham, but most of those have gone leaving perhaps just 2, which are the same company anyway.

I digress, but is it the internet responsible do you think?

[ronin]

If thinking of visiting Sherwoods contact them first.

Like many these days they do not have an open shop for you to visit and look round.

The Internet means they can describe their stock with pictures without having to have a large area with just 6 or scope set up. Saves a lot in rental. All that is required is a warehouse like building to store the goods.

There are a few shops around London and Scope and Skies at Ely, Green Witch have opened a shop south of Leeds, Rother Valley is still a shop and I have the impression that Opticstar is. After that I suspect many are in effect Internet only.

[heathenwoods]

In reply to deebster: Feel free to digress, it's something that surprised me and I think you've probably got a point. I watched with sadness as independent record and books shops disappeared and only the chains remained but then I guess there was never an 'astronomy chain store'.

On the other hand, perhaps astronomy is a relatively small scale pursuit and there isn't the markert to sustain more than a few shops (and, the outlay for stock would probably be quite hefty in the first place and represent a huge risk)?

Thanks for all the replies (and especially the direct tips/experience). When I can free some time up I'll have to get myself along to RVO. Cheers.

[deebster]

Ah, record shops <sniffs>. Some things the internet can't replace. The smell, the racks, the two finger high-speed leafing motion. Sorry, came over quite nostalgic there.

I see the point about holding stock through for astronomy shops. If you're a family business it's not ideal to shell out thousands for high end kit that might not sell for months, so I guess the way these shops sound like they operate is the only sensible way.

Good luck to them, long may they remain