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Celestron SE alternatives


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Hi all,

I just noticed that FLO seem to have stopped selling the SE range from Celestron - I known it will be available in other stores for quite some time, but does this mean Celestron have stopped making them ? I know they have been around for at least 10 years and by all accounts been very popular so just out of interest I was wondering if they were releasing an alternative? 

Thanks

Mark

Edited by mark81
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The UK distributpr of Celestron is showing out of stock. Being Chinese made I would imagine availability is a problem at the moment.

Following on their website.

  • Item is out of stock.Enter your email address below to be notified when this item is back in stock:
Edited by johninderby
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On 03/04/2020 at 17:00, mark81 said:

I just noticed that FLO seem to have stopped selling the SE range from Celestron

It is no longer possible to buy Celestron SE telescopes from UK specialist astronomy retailers. It is not only FLO, other UK specialist astronomy retailers are affected (they just haven’t updated their websites yet). 

The same will be true for some Celestron SLT series telescopes. They too will be available only from non-specialist retailers. I.e. photo shops and department stores. 

This is Celestron’s decision, not ours. 

On 03/04/2020 at 17:00, mark81 said:

does this mean Celestron have stopped making them ? I know they have been around for at least 10 years and by all accounts been very popular so just out of interest I was wondering if they were releasing an alternative? 

Celestron’s SE series has been around a long time but it is a good design. We like the SE series.

As far as we know Celestron are not planning to discontinue the SE series. 

I want to assure everyone who has purchased a Celestron SE (or SLT) telescope from FLO, we will continue to support you. 

HTH, 

Steve 

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16 hours ago, Lockie said:

Celestron products are made in the same Synta factory as Skywatcher and Vixen, and they seem thin on the ground at the moment. 

It is true Celestron and Sky-Watcher are both Synta brands. I think Synta also manufacture some products for Vixen but Vixen is a separate company. 

Sky-Watcher products are not affected. All Sky-Watcher telescopes and mounts will continue to be available from specialist astronomy retailers 🙂 

Steve 

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17 minutes ago, johninderby said:

Pity the UK distributor has decided to discontinue the SE line. Thought they filled in well between the cheaper and more expensive lines. 

The Celestron SE series will continue to be available in the UK, but not through specialist astronomy retailers 🙁

Steve

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50 minutes ago, FLO said:

The Celestron SE series will continue to be available in the UK, but not through specialist astronomy retailers 🙁

Steve

Ha ha ha, thats crazy.

So... entry level telescopes, the ones that normal people can afford to 'risk' on a new hobby are not going to be available from a proper telescope retailers, a retailer that will offer support.

Have Celestron given any reason for this @FLO. I Would question the business sense of the uk agent, especially at the moment.

DP

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23 hours ago, Dinsdale Piranha said:

So... entry level telescopes, the ones that normal people can afford to 'risk' on a new hobby are not going to be available from a proper telescope retailers, a retailer that will offer support.

Thank-you. I agree, of course. Telescopes and mounts are scientific instruments, not plug-&-play devices. They are best purchased from a specialist astronomy retailer able to provide advice and support. Also, when a telescope is purchased from a specialist astronomy retailer the owner will stay in the hobby longer so is more likely to buy accessories and upgrade. 

23 hours ago, Dinsdale Piranha said:

Have Celestron given any reason for this @FLO

None that I can share. Though I will say UK specialist astronomy retailers were not included or present when the decision was made. 

FLO and Celestron have a long and successful relationship (FLO is Celestron’s largest UK specialist astronomy retailer) so I won't criticise them. There has been no falling out between FLO and Celestron. As far as I know the same is true for their other UK specialist astronomy retailers. 

If Celestron later choose to make the telescopes available again through specialist astronomy retailers then we will happily stock and support them. 

HTH, 

Steve 

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Just what a newcomer needs, buy a scope from a shop that that doesn't know one end from the other, worst case scenario the shop goes bankrupt and leaves them hanging if it goes wrong, they then have to try to deal with Celestron direct presumably, great business model :icon_scratch:

Dave

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2 hours ago, FLO said:

It is true Celestron and Sky-Watcher are both Synta brands. I think Synta also manufacture some products for Vixen but Vixen is a separate company. 

Sky-Watcher products are not affected. All Sky-Watcher telescopes and mounts will continue to be available from specialist astronomy retailers 🙂 

Steve 

I think I am right in saying that the Vixen telescopes that end in 'f' (e.g. A80Mf) are made by Synta in China whereas the ones that don't (e.g. A81M) are made in Japan by Vixen themselves.

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1 hour ago, Peter_D said:

I think I am right in saying that the Vixen telescopes that end in 'f' (e.g. A80Mf) are made by Synta in China whereas the ones that don't (e.g. A81M) are made in Japan by Vixen themselves.

That is my understanding too, though it is difficult to be 100% sure. Some Vixen models were/are manufactured by Synta with final assembly and QC by Vixen in Japan. 

Steve 

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