Green Witch

[osbourne one-nil]

I feel compelled to put a good word in for Green Witch, who over the past couple of days have really gone beyond the call of duty.

I've been having a problem getting my head around how I would mount my Televue 85 onto a Porta-II mount, and Lee at Green Witch recommended a certain solution and I ordered the parts. I still couldn't quite get my head round it, so phoned back, spoke to Neil, who said Lee would phone me back....which he did 5 minutes later. During that conversation, Lee was busy on the internet checking dimensions and thread sizes and really going to town on helping me to understand how it would be done and whether it would work or not.

This morning, Lee phoned back again, having just received a Lunt telescope in, which uses a clamshell, to confirm that his suggested method should work fine.

I know we should expect good customer service, but Lee's gone beyond that, and it's much appreciated.

[Jarvo]

I went to see Green Witche's new shop in Birstall, Leeds at the weekend after discovering via their web site the new shop had just opened up round the corner from me.

I'd ordered a new Televue Plossl (11mm) on line not knowing about the new shop at the time.

I called Lee on the Saturday morning and he said there would be no problem with me picking the eyepiece up directly store.

Had a nice chat with Lee about all things astronomical - certainly knows his stuff - and took the opportunity to look at the fantastic range of telescopes from starter scopes all the way up to a 14" Celestron Edge HD on a CGEM mount (anyone got a spare £9000?).

Still got to give the eyepiece a test drive and judging by the clouds outside it might be a while yet but the build quality of all things Televue speaks for itsself so i'm not worried.

Lee's looking at setting up some stargazing events at the nearby Oakwell Hall so looking forward to seeking out like minded astro bods in the Leeds area

Definitely recommend a visit. Even my wfe was impressed:eek:

Steve

[NigelCampbell]

Having done a lot of googling to find some EPs that I wanted to order I finally settled on Green Witch as they had the Vixen NPL's in stock (8mm & 15mm) at a good price. I also ordered an Antares 2x Barlow.

Lee from Green Witch emailed me to let me know that the Antares was out of stock - but he did have a Celestron APO. This was a little beyond my allocated budget so I emailed back asking for other options (I suggested the Celestron Omni).

Lee replied that he had an Omni - but he had just had a look through some stock and had found an Astro Engineering 2x APO Barlow which he was willing to discount to the same price as the Antares as it was a discontinued item.

This was great news and I completed the order.

Lee clearly likes to take care of his customers and also his stock as the 3 EPs arrived in a huge box - filled with bubble wrap. I could have played football with the package without damaging the contents (which is often what the post office does as far as I can tell!)

I had never even heard of Green Witch before I found them online but I would definitely order from them again. I would probably email Lee first and ask for his advice on my potential purchase as he took time and effort to give me a good deal (emailing on a Saturday morning even!).

[Adrian Condon]

Order a book on-line on Friday 11/11/2011 at 11:39 am and it was delivered by the Post Office at 13:59 on Saturday 12/11/2011.

Brilliant service, excellent package and great price.

Well done

Cheers

Adrian

[Marki]

Felt these guys deserve a mention.

Ordered Star Analyser 100 from Lee in the Birstall branch on Friday, disptched from Cambridge branch on Monday, arrived today. Been informed at each stage, with good advice and friendy, helpful and informed service.

Top job and many thanks, Green Witch!

[Viv]

Hi all,

Thought i'd post about these guys.

I ordered a scope cover on Saturday evening & received yesterday (just collected from post office tonight).

But brilliant service, emails received for order & confirmation of sending.

Cover looks great as well, can't wait to try it out.

Telescopes and Binoculars from Green Witch of Cambridge, the Astronomy Specialists

[Albenn]

Bought a pair of Revelation 20x80's from Green Witch but these arrived out of collimation. I spoke to Lee and he sent another pair which were received a couple of days later.

Unfortunately, these were also out of collimation and were returned to Neil in the Southern branch as he wanted to assess them in case they were part of a bad batch.

Anyway, Neil reported that there was bit of a double image off axis and suggested that these bins may just not suit me and offered either another pair or a refund. I accepted the refund as I didn't want to get into a situation where I would be trying pair after pair.

I have to admit that these guys were so helpful in trying to get this issue resolved and were quick to reply to my emails. They even gave good general advice on other matters and I never felt that the advice being given was being rushed in order for them to get off the phone to another customer.

Have to give these guys 10/10.

[fatwoul]

Turns out my hands aren't really steady enough to do without, so I ordered an MEF-3 for my new Epsilon 180. Lee at Green Witch was, as always, helpful and friendly from start to finish. I had what I ordered within about ten days of first expressing an interest. Considering the item had to be ordered from Takahashi and then sent to me, I thought that was impressive. Oh, and Lee didn't charge me for the focusser until it was actually with Green Witch. I know that's the way it's supposed to be, but it's dismayed me how many retailers will take your money on day 1.

Best of all was the communication. All my emails were replied to, all my phone calls were either answered or I was called back very quickly.

So once again, I can't praise Green Witch highly enough. Top job all round. Thanks, Lee.

[lex]

Thought they deserved a mention so here's my 1 dealing with them.

Popped into Green Witch at Birstall after work on a friday to buy a telrad and a 17mm baader hyperion, preferred to get it in person so i didn't have to wait for the post. Won't bore you with a review of these items except to say they are both excellent additions

Anyway, got up early saturday when the clouds had cleared and tested my new toys out.

Had a great hr or 2 then went to work.

Got home again and added the hyperion to my EP case, had a good look at it and noticed the lens had what appeared to be an eyelash on it.

Wouldn't blow or wipe off so i held the EP up to the light and to my horror it wasn't an eyelash but a scratch!

I felt pretty deflated and quite sure that i hadn't scratched it, only used it the once after all.

Took the eyepiece back after work tuesday and they ordered a replacement there and then for me. No questions, no begging, no being made to feel it was my fault, great service, the EP arrived through the post 2 days later.

So, a big up for Green Witch!

[Earl]

Lee at Green Witch has helped through the purchase of my new scope, fantastic customer service and communication.

[swag72]

I contacted Lee at Greenwitch about an Atik 460, an Asto Physics 0.67x reducer and a nosepiece adaptor. He matched the price of other Astro retailers for the Atik. He ordered the reducer and adaptor from Baader in Germany and throughout kept me updated, even telling me when it was in the UK awaiting onward despatch from Manchester airport.

I then decided I wanted something from Altair Astro and he arranged that for me, had it sent to him and he forwarded that in my order as well.

I have to say a couple of things:

1) He really does know his stuff

2) If he says he will contact you or email you, he does so and in a timely fashion

3) Nothing is too much bother

4) Order paid for 1430hrs and arrived by 1000hrs the following day

Good service and highly recommended.

[Rossco72]

Yet more excellent service from Lee at Green Witch.

Even posted a small item on his way home to make sure I got it next day.

Great service on Televue items.

Cheers

Stuart

[Luke]

We recently got some Tele Vue eyepieces from Green Witch. We knew some of the items weren't yet available in the UK at the time of ordering and Lee kept us updated on progress and shipped them quickly and very well packaged once they got to the UK. I've found Green Witch's customer service to be excellent over the years. They have gone beyond the call of duty at times, such as Lee meeting us down the road on his journey to/from work at Green Witch to pick up a faulty item and drop off the replacement, to save us the journey or messing about with postage on a large item.

[Nephalem]

HI,

Just thought I would give a review of Green Witch Telescopes in Birstall.

As a total beginner I was after some advice about what kit to get for imaging. After researching on here I found Green Witch Telescopes and decided to visit them.

I spoke to Lee in the Birstall shop and found to be exteremly knowledgeable and friendly. After discussing the merits of the types of telescope it was decided a refractor would be best option to suit my needs.

After about 3 weeks of shops visits, phone calls and emails i decided on my final list. On the day of handing over my card Lee had all my kit ready and waiting when I visited the shop.....they also gave a healthy discount on all the kit I ordered!

The telescope was going to take 2 months due to a manufacturer delay! Lee has kindly lent me a telescope of the same family but the model up from the one I ordered and he lent me some eyepeices.

This has allowed to get started and not wait 2 months....I was so pleased about this!

I can totally recommend Green Witch Telescopes, from the decision making process through to purchase and after sales Green Witch have always been available to answer any concerns or questions I had.

They have also gone above and beyond the levels of customer service I would have normally expected.

Cheers,

Paul.

[bomberbaz]

I took my good lady out for lunch yesterday, well she knew i was heading to Birstall as i had told her.

Got there and Lee had, has promised a 12" Skywatcher Flextube which he was happy to let me look at and have a mini play with. The Mrs bought into it and the fact it folds down inbetween sessions and so Lee and I talked Turkey.

After going through costs, extras and options, (and getting a reasonable discount) I walked away with a new EP, Cheshire and a promise the 300p would be with me within 48 hours.

Very helpful chap, as with all astronomy type retailers I have dealt with he was very knowledgeable and wanted to be right by you.

10/10

[ronb]

Wanting to ask if they still had any 19mm Axioms in stock I tried yesterday afternoon to phone Green Witch on both numbers and gave up after about 3/4 hour. Lines engaged every time. So at 3.13 I emailed the question to Lee. He replied at 3.36 saying they had one left. I read the email at 3.40, placed an order and emailed him again at 3.48 to tell him. Lee replied at 3.50 to tell me the Axiom had been packed and shipped.

Arrived first class post by 11am this morning.

Pity there was no one here to receive it. I will now have to colect it tomorrow from the delivery office.

[Mav359]

Due to my secondary mirror rotating in the corrector plate  i phoned Neil at The Green Witch having got no where with the widescreen centre with the same inquiry, he was friendly & available  on the phone, more then willing to help and was able to offer a repair in house. He has let me deliver the scope to him directly with a far quicker turn around & has called me back when he said he would, i cannot praise him enough, Thank you Neil.

I also recently purchased a hyperstar off The Green Witch which came from Lee who was just as fantastic to deal with and tolerated my constant "is it here yet" questions. He has also helped me ouut with Telrad issues i have had iin the past.

Both Neil & Lee are a joy to deal with and truly understand the meaning of customer service

Thank you guys

[Mav359]

I posted here last week about the excellent service i have had from Neil & Lee in the past. Last week i dropped my OTA to Neil who was repairing the secondary mirror holder for me.

I picked it up today, WOW, apart from the repar to the SMH he has cleaned the corrector plate for me, it looks new. I am a very very happy bunny.

Top Top man

Thank you Neil much appciated

:grin: :grin: :grin:

[osbourne one-nil]

I've always liked Green Witch and have used them since I got back into astronomy around 1997. Lee in the Leeds showroom has recently been very helpful with advice on buying a new mount (I went for a ZEQ25) and in sorting out shipping. I first enquired on Monday morning, ordered Tuesday and yesterday afternoon everything came. 

Now, I sometimes think people are perhaps bit ott in praising firms because they send stuff out quickly. What I particularly appreciate about Lee's help is that little extra he goes - ie. I dented my Televue 85's tube last night and he's contacted Televue direct to see if the tube can be replaced without any prompting from me. There's nothing in it for him, but it's very helpful and much appreciated. I also like how he does return your call if you leave a message - most people don't where I'm concerned. 

I think he's a refractor lover - you can tell!

[Cjg]

Just like to say a huge thank you to Neil at Green Witch for stepping at 2 days notice to support Yuri's Day at Seething with Norwich Astro Society.

We had arranged with a local supplier last year (and confirmed this month) that they would attend and support, the local company pulled out yesterday at 2pm.

Having spoken to Neil today, he has reshuffled his diary to be able to make the drive to Seething in Norfolk and thus ensured that we will have a retailer on site, to support the Yuri's Day  event. For those who have said that they are attending, do please give Neil a big smile - he's gone out of his way for our society today.

Thanks,

Chris

[Luke]

I ordered a Tele Vue 85 from Green Witch. Lee at Green Witch North was able to give me a good estimate on delivery time, as it was being shipped in from the States, and kept me updated. When the scope arrived, although it was packaged well enough, something heavy must have been placed on the box somewhere during its transit as a screw had been bent on the diagonal inside the soft case that comes with the 85. There was also an impression inside the soft case where the screw had dug in a bit, and some cosmetic damage to the box of the included 20mm Plossl.

Lee said he could replace the screw and Plossl box right away and with the case, I could either have a replacement from Tele Vue (which would take a little while of course to arrive from the USA) or I could have the case from the TV-85 on display at Green Witch, which had been put into storage and was in new condition. I accepted Lee's offer to have Green Witch's case, which arrived promptly along with the replacement screw and Plossl box.

Lee was very prompt in answering my emails before placing the order and also got back to me very quickly when I noticed the problem with the screw, case and box.

[hazegood]

Did my last collection (I am a courier driver) in  Keighley at 3.30pm,  though hmm early finish, get to Greenwitch 30 miles away before 5 get the T ring adapter for my new camera,

Finally got there at 4.55 just before closing, told Lee I didn't think I was going to make it there before he closed and could I please have said adapter,

Lee said you going to really hate me I just sent the last one I have in stock out on a mail order,  if only you had phoned me, I could have sent that next week as customer not expecting it quite yet,  should have new stock in on Tuesday,  I can send you it out and not charge you for the postage, so i mentioned never at home, so being the top bloke he is, said I know where your office is, and I live near there wil phone you when they come in, and drop it off there for you.

Yet another moment of great customer service from Dr. Lee

[russ.will]

I ordered an 8mm Televue Delos from GW a little over a week ago. Their website didn't indicate stock one way or another, but the following morning I got an email from Lee saying the last one had gone, but they were placing a new stock order with TV and it should be in by the end of the week following.

With cloud and the light nights, I was in no rush, so I said I would just wait. Customs did their bit to hold the shipment up exactly long enough to delay delivery past the following weekend, but at every step Lee was extremely informative and patiently answered all of the other questions I asked in the mean time. One such question was about a TAL 100RS and despite my total lack of commitment to buying one, he went as far as to open one up and check for the sort of scratches and paint flakes they are beset with when new, so as to confirm that it was worth selling. That sort of commitment moves something from the hit-and-miss internet purchase arena and into the I'm-definitely-going-to-scrape-the-cash-together area, so hos effort will be rewarded.

All in all, I had about five emails clearly updating me on the order status, even though I didn't really need them! Top bloke, good price and he even threw in a Celestron lens pen as compensation for a delay that I wasn't worried about. very happy me.

Russell

[ronb]

Wednesday afternoon I emailed GW querying the price quoted on their web site for Panoptics as they were advertised at a lower price elsewhere. Email sent by Lee at 9.10 am Thursday saying their web site is due for updating and that they would match the competitor's price.  Placed an order online just after 9.30am yesterday for a couple of Panoptics. Email confirming the order sent by GW at 9.36 am. Email confirming dispatch sent 9.41 am. Email sent yesterday afternoon saying delivery to be expected today. Email sent by courier (Interlink) at 7.55am this morning saying delivery to be expected between 10.27 and 11.27 am. Parcel arrived 10.45 am. Oh yes, and Lee emailed me yesterday to thank me for the order and confirming that it had been dispatched. Brilliant service yet again.

[Fozzie]

Just received my Altair Astro 102 F11 from Green Witch, have to say the process has been a great please, in specific dealing with Lee at the Birstall Branch.

Prompt informative replies to emails and questions, quick delivery of items, and the offer to check over the goods before collection.

Happy to talk, advice was great offers on products and extras were also given..

Very good experience all round.