Sky-Watcher Price Increases

[FLO]

Back in January we mentioned Sky-Watcher's importer/distributor would increase prices in response to higher factory and shipping costs. 

Today we have received the new prices and applied them at our website. 

Nobody likes price increases so we want to stress the following 😇

• On 22nd Jan we were advised we could no longer source Sky-Watcher products at pre-increase prices, but details of the increased prices were not available until today. 
• Though we were sailing in the dark (without price information) we continued to accept customer orders. 
• All our existing customer backorders are unaffected. We will fulfil them at pre-increase prices. 
• Some competitors take longer to update their websites so we are monitoring prices and will reduce ours where necessary to ensure we remain competitive.
• We expect prices will settle after a week or two. If you place an order at FLO then, when stock arrives, our price has reduced we will refund the difference in FLO Gift vouchers. 

Thank-you for your patience and understanding during these extraordinary times. 

Steve & the FLO team ☕ 

[johninderby]

Inevitable price increases but thanks for keeping us informed. 👍🏻

I bet the Bresser maks and solid tube dobs will be even more popular now that there isn’t a huge difference in prices compared to the SW. 🤔

Edited February 10, 2021 by johninderby

[AbsolutelyN]

Well I'm glad I bought my 250mm Newtonian last year. £385 to £529 ... that's about 37% increase. Many thanks to FLO for all their efforts keeping prices low.

No comment on leaders who led the country down this path.

[John]

Thanks FLO

Are Bresser products not going to be affected in a similar way in due course then ?

 

[FLO]

Just now, AbsolutelyN said:

No comment on leaders who led the country down this path.

These increases are almost entirely related to the pandemic, not Brexit. Prices in EU countries have also increased, or will soon. 

HTH, 

Steve 

[AbsolutelyN]

Just now, FLO said:

These increases are almost entirely related to the pandemic, not Brexit. Prices in EU countries have also increased, or will soon. 

HTH, 

Steve 

That's good to hear ... does that mean they will go back down again then? 

[johninderby]

Yes think prices will be volitile for a while. 😬

Check this price from a German dealer on the 200p dob.

Edited February 10, 2021 by johninderby

[FLO]

2 minutes ago, John said:

Thanks FLO

Are Bresser products not going to be affected in a similar way in due course then ?

Other brands are similarly affected. I.e. we recently increased our iOptron prices to cover significantly higher shipping costs (we source most products direct from the manufacturer). 

We are expecting more increases. 

Steve 

[Robindonne]

Please guys.  Wear triple masks.  We have to get out of this skywatcher-increased-situation.  

[Miguel1983]

Pfff sad news

Edit.

So once Covid has moved on, prices will drop èh 😏

Edited February 10, 2021 by Miguel1983

[johninderby]

To be fair FLO has been warning us of big price rises for a while. 

Edited February 10, 2021 by johninderby

[FLO]

8 minutes ago, AbsolutelyN said:

That's good to hear ... does that mean they will go back down again then? 

Yes. Though we don't know when. 

Most of the increase is a result of higher shipping costs. When shipping costs reduce then prices should too. (If not then we should ask why!). 

I expect these higher prices will remain until vaccines are readily available and life returns to something resembling normal. 

Steve 

[Miguel1983]

 

1 minute ago, johninderby said:

To be fair FLO has been warning us of big price rises for a while. 

9 minutes ago, FLO said:

These increases are almost entirely related to the pandemic, not Brexit

I think it was clear.

Covid is a temporary problem, but as is mostly the case, there’s only one way prices go 

[FLO]

4 minutes ago, Miguel1983 said:

I think it was clear.

Covid is a temporary problem, but as is mostly the case, there’s only one way prices go 

In the current circumstances we should expect price increases. But, as consumers we should also expect prices to reduce when shipping costs reduce and hold feet to the fire if they don't. 

Steve 

[Miguel1983]

7 minutes ago, FLO said:

In the current circumstances we should expect price increases. But, as consumers we should also expect prices to reduce when shipping costs reduce and hold feet to the fire if they don't. 

Steve 

Let’s hope 🤞

[Beardy30]

Glad to see the bresser Mak 127 OTA is not effected , I agree with John these will now be more popular 

[John]

12 minutes ago, Beardy30 said:

Glad to see the bresser Mak 127 OTA is not effected , I agree with John these will now be more popular 

Not yet, anyway:

 

 

[scitmon]

Absolutely gutted, I was going to order my SW pillar mount with my Christmas Vouchers this week, and its gone up 60 pound

[Neil27]

18 hours ago, FLO said:

Back in January we mentioned Sky-Watcher's importer/distributor would increase prices in response to higher factory and shipping costs. 

Today we have received the new prices and applied them at our website. 

Nobody likes price increases so we want to stress the following 😇

• On 28th Jan we were advised we could no longer source Sky-Watcher products at pre-increase prices, but details of the increased prices were not available until today. 
• Though we were sailing in the dark (without price information) we continued to accept customer orders. 
• All our existing customer backorders are unaffected. We will fulfil them at pre-increase prices. 
• Some competitors take longer to update their websites so we are monitoring prices and will reduce ours where necessary to ensure we remain competitive.
• We expect prices will settle after a week or two. If you place an order at FLO then, when stock arrives, our price has reduced we will refund the difference in FLO Gift vouchers. 

Thank-you for your patience and understanding during these extraordinary times. 

Steve & the FLO team ☕ 

Ouch, well we were forewarned and a 10% increase on a 120 esprit is better than a 20% increase that was mooted. Just glad I managed to snag the last pre Brexit Mesu from Bernard 😊

Quick question are these higher prices likely to be in place for several weeks, months? 

[FLO]

16 minutes ago, Neil27 said:

Quick question are these higher prices likely to be in place for several weeks, months? 

Sky-Watcher's price increases are largely (but not entirely) a result of increased shipping costs so we expect they will remain until shipping costs return to normal. Not sure when that will be, perhaps 6-12x months. 

HTH, 

Steve 

 

[Neil27]

17 minutes ago, FLO said:

Sky-Watcher's price increases are largely (but not entirely) a result of increased shipping costs so we expect they will remain until shipping costs return to normal. Not sure when that will be, perhaps 6-12x months. 

HTH, 

Steve 

 

Thanks Steve for the update.

[Robindonne]

Any idea if Celestron will follow? Dont know where they ship from but im afraid for more news😐

[FLO]

4 minutes ago, Robindonne said:

Any idea if Celestron will follow? Dont know where they ship from but im afraid for more news😐

The Celestron brand is owned by Synta, same as Sky-Watcher, so we think a price increase is likely but so far their importer/distributor hasn't mentioned one. (We source most other brands direct from the manufacturer).  

HTH, 

Steve 

[Beardy30]

This is the second hand market comes in as more attractive proposition perhaps 🤔 

[CraigT82]

5 minutes ago, Beardy30 said:

This is the second hand market comes in as more attractive proposition perhaps 🤔 

Those selling used stuff will tend towards increasing their asking prices to be 2/3 of the "new" price, rather than 2/3 of the new cost at the time they bought the item.