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Things just get worse.

Akula

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Akula

Akula

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Things just get worse ! Thats the second telescope order ive had to cancel , from scopes n skies this time. The scope was advertised as available for immediate dispatch , and i even paid a few quid extra for next day delivery !

No one even bothered to contact me to tell me they never had it or it wouldnt be shipped.

Why are these companies advertising products they dont even have ???

Someone said in another post they ordered , from Telescope Planet i think it was , but when their item arrived it had the D. Hinds labels on it.

This leads me to believe that a lot of these companies are just acting as middle-men as such.

Gonna have a look at the FLO site which ive noticed sponser the forum , another huge anti-climax though today. Or if anyone can recommed a good site with speedy delivery i would be grateful.

Stevie

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HSphotography

HSphotography

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This may not help, but I looked around on the web and asked a few people, what would be the best telescope for me, and when I found the one recommended, I compared prices online to get the best deal for that particular telescope.

In the end I actually bought it from Amazon.eu for a fair few quid less than I would from all the other sites I viewed and it arrived within 3-4 days with standard delivery.

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SteveP

SteveP

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Akula

Unfortunately you've had to learn the hard way but as in most sectors some astro equipment dealers are very good whilst others leave a lot to be desired. I'm always amazed that those who provide a dreadful service continue in business. For future reference, the forum has a supplier review section. You'll see the same dealers consistently in one group or the other.

Hope that helps you for future reference

Steve

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Space Bat

Space Bat

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If you order a Celestron product it will have come via David Hinds as he is the UK and some scandinavian countries sole importer/distributer

This does not detract from the poor service you have had...

Why not check out the supplier feedback on this site

To guage where the SGL community place their faith - one quick look at that would have steered you well clear of certain dealers.

I have had excellent service from the following

Star Telescopes

Green Witch

Modern Astronomy

Widescreen center

I haven't used FLO - but that was only due to a part I was after wasn't available from them - and I always check their site for comparison and will use them in the future, as they have an excellent rep.

Chris

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John

John

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This may not help, but I looked around on the web and asked a few people, what would be the best telescope for me, and when I found the one recommended, I compared prices online to get the best deal for that particular telescope.

In the end I actually bought it from Amazon.eu for a fair few quid less than I would from all the other sites I viewed and it arrived within 3-4 days with standard delivery.

What sort of post-sales support do Amazon offer then - eg: advice on scope useage, accessories etc ?

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Akula

Akula

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To be honest i glanced at the first page of posts of the Suppliers review section , and seen two posts regarding Scopes n Skies , which gave the company the thumbs up.

I just dont think its meant to be :eek: theres a conspiracy against me haha.

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geoff_k

geoff_k

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There are plenty of good dealers out there as well as those already mentioned. RVO, GreenWitch and I also believe Harrison Telescopes are pretty good too.

Some companies do make you think twice. There is an adapter I could do with for my Toucam and about the only people that appear to do it are Scopes and Skies. Given the comments you read about them I have yet to take the plunge.

Geoff

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TopHouse

TopHouse

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I also highly recommend Rother Valley Optics, superb service, emails get answered promptly, good level of stock and good prices, most of my stuff has come from there and most of anything else I buy will do. I am VERY funny about retailers and service, if i don't get a reply to an email they won't get my custom! Harsh you might think, but my family have been in retail for MANY years, and in this economic climate, service is king as prices are similar and price matching is common anyway. The supplier that goes the extra mile will always get my custom.

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MartinB

MartinB

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I have given Ian King a Greek national debts worth of custom. He may not be the cheapest but I have never known a retailer in any area of life offer greater added value than Ian. He even sent me his own Lodestar guider to use when I had a problem with mine. There are saints and villains out there

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Kit-Fox

Kit-Fox

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possibly the best way I have heard of how to rate a dealer by your own experience is to call them up and talk to them regarding something small and 'cheap' say like a £30 heater controller or a small 7ah powertank or similar such stuff.

If you get a 'i dont care' or a 'your wasting my time' or a 'we're gonna push this product on you whether you like it or not' attutide then take all of your business elsewhere. As if they cant be bothered with the small and easy stuff why would you think they'll bother with the bigger more important and complex stuff.

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johninderby

johninderby

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There are enough good dealers out there so why bother with the ones that give you third rate service.

I've always had great service without exception every time I've ordered from FLO, Rother Valley Optics, Opticstar, Ian King Imaging and Telescope House. The good dealers get it right every time, unlike some I could mention that might deliver your order the next day or maybe it might be a a couple weeks or they might just forget about your order etc. etc.

John

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Astro_Baby

Astro_Baby

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FLO every time. Steve will always help, give good advice. Others I would reccomend from personal experience are Astronomia in Dorking and Rother Valley Optics.

Having had an experience buying from someone who was just cheap on price I;d never do it again. Service was lousy and if you buy cheap you have no righjt to expect service I suppose.

The problem is people coming into this game assume telescopes are like other commodity merchandise like CD players or microwave ovens - they aren't. They are a specialist bit of kit - rather like specialist cookware or professional cooks knives - you wouldnt buy them from Argos and expect the staff there to know much about it.

My experience has been most astro kit needs a bit of support behind it.

Surpised SnS had a good review because they amount of flak they take from unhappy punters online is quite a bit. I'd not use them because the bad press they have had would put me right off.

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Akula

Akula

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There are enough good dealers out there so why bother with the ones that give you third rate service.

I've always had great service without exception every time I've ordered from FLO, Rother Valley Optics, Opticstar, Ian King Imaging and Telescope House. The good dealers get it right every time, unlike some I could mention that might deliver your order the next day or maybe it might be a a couple weeks or they might just forget about your order etc. etc.

John

Those are the dealers who`s names are cropping up time and again , with nothing but praise , so ive learned my lesson.

Those are the chaps ill look to first.

Thanks a lot everyone who took time to read and post.

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NickH

NickH

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If i want kit...here's the list of dealers I personally would buy from with no hesitation (having used all of them with absolutely exemplary service in all cases)

FLO - Steve and James are superb

Modern Astronomy - Bern say no more!

Ian King - The man himself

Telescope House - Ted and Steve...

Green Witch - not sure who, (going back a while) but he was great!

Also Maggie and Charles at MC2 from what I hear in the Wiltshire fraternity are very good..

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