going to buy a new skyliner 250 goto scope

[mindburner]

hi all

I'm a fresh newbie to the world of serious telescopes. I have a wee ETX 90 which is great but planets and moon then its game over pretty much.

I had a Tasco refractor in my youth with some better than average Ep's. Where I lived, people used to come around to look at the planets etc.

I have been checking the reviews and specs on thisc scope and it looks a good job. I have been checking prices and found a site:

eurocosm.com which has it listed a bit cheaper.

I also found it listed on several other rather random sounding web sites which seem to run from the same company:

www.airbounce.co.uk

www.agiftintime.co.uk

I was wondering if anyome had ordered from these guys before and if they were legitimate

[smulx]

I'd say all of those sites look a bit dodgy to be honest. Why not just order it from FLO?

[John]

I'd say all of those sites look a bit dodgy to be honest. Why not just order it from FLO?

FLO = First Light Optics - link at the top of the page

Highly recommended !

[russ]

Plenty of good retailers around, no reason to use those two non astro related links. Better to talk to someone who knows what they are selling.

[Rossco72]

FLO are usually good at price matching if the other company has it in stock and ready to ship at that price, worth a call for the benefit of buying from a rock solid reputable company which ONLY deals in Astro kit.

[mindburner]

great advice. From more research I think the company are legit ok but they may only be shiipers and have no experience if there is an issue with the scope, so I emailed FLO. As im in N Ireland, I'm after a keen shipping price. Thanks

[Astro_Baby]

I have to say I'd run a mile from either of those two companies.

I bought one of my scopes from a shop that also sells nautical antiques, bric-a-brac, bird tables etc etc It was £10 cheaper from them.

By the end of what turned into a long sorry saga I would happily have paid an extra £100 to a decent dealer who could get me the scope delivered in working order.

Never again - these days I stick with dealers who actually know what they are talking about.

[Space Cowboy]

These scopes often arrive damaged (I recieved 2 with dents) so best go for someone with good customer backup i.e FLO.

[mindburner]

Astro_baby I think that may be the same company. I noticed yet another site they have selling table tennis stuff. I mean they can't possible provide quality service and backup for such a wide range of totally unconnected goods. They probably just treat all their goods as a big boxes. If the stuff inside is broken/not working then tuff.

Yes I really think I will go with the FLO as they have given a decent shipping price to me, plus the quality of service really matters.

Space cowboy, just wondering how you find the dob? still deciding if I should get the 250(10") or the 300 (12")

[Space Cowboy]

I think the 250 is more practical than the 300. The 250 is too heavy to carry around in one piece without risking back strain. Carried in 2 pieces its fine but i would imagine the 300 is quite a handful.