Information every specialist astro retailer should give....

[25585]

Weight for; Eye pieces, OTA, Barlows,  bino viewers and other optical train attachments.

Diameter for/of; an OTA's tube at surface and for tube rings needed. Ditto for finder and guide scopes.

Eye relief; for eye pieces, whether sold separately or integral to a spotting scope, binoculars, finder etc.

Height/length ; maximum and minimum for tripods, monopods. Also focusers.

 

Lots of information is provided, but not across all brands and models. Specialist retailers should know that their customers would need and appreciate the information, and find out from manufacturers or measure themselves if the information is not given to them. 

 

[laowhoo]

EP field stop size, distance/depth, and diameter

Light path travel distance thru star diagonal

[RT65CB-SWL]

I somewhat agree to what you are saying. Though I do think they should say or make a statement that the 'artwork' on the box is not what you are likely to see.

I do feel that the content of the topic should apply to the likes of the high street multi-nationals and the online sellers that use online auction sites and the like, that sell other items that are not astronomy related. A specialist retailer will give you his/her undivided attention. Not... "How much commission can I make from this sale if I add product-x ?"

[MarsG76]

38 minutes ago, Philip R said:

likely

Not likley but definitely won't see what is displayed on the box.

 

[Cosmic Geoff]

It will be interesting to see what the retailers have to say.

I anticipate they will ask if customers want to pay for the time and labour required to compile this information.

[25585]

23 minutes ago, Cosmic Geoff said:

It will be interesting to see what the retailers have to say.

I anticipate they will ask if customers want to pay for the time and labour required to compile this information.

With photo and terrestial, there is merchandise and resources for potential customers to actually try out gear. But astro hardly any by comparison.

Some online stores provide links, which is fine. It would not take much to copy ans paste to a seller's own site though.

[LukeSkywatcher]

When i was looking into buying an 8" scope, i was thinking about this one:

https://www.vixenoptics.com/Vixen-VMC200L-Reflector-Telescope-p/58291.htm

I was also looking at this to mount it on:

https://www.vixenoptics.com/Vixen-Porta-II-Mount-p/5863.htm

The online "specialist" retailer (NOT Vixen Optics, i would like to add) replied, when i emailed them about using both in conjunction with each other simply said:

"We dont know. You could try it".

FAIL.

*Note*

Prices on the links above have changed since i was shopping around. It was a retailer in the UK i emailed.