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How not to win sales....

rorschach

By rorschach
in The Astro Lounge

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rorschach

rorschach

Posted
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Today I went into London to go to "a shop in central London that sells 'scopes, but the shop title sounds like it should be selling large telly's" (I dont know if I'm allowed to say the shop name!)

My main reason was to look at Barlow's and ask some really dumb "I'm new to this and can you show me" type questions .on entering this shop I was met by a sales person , and asked if they could help me. I stated I have just purchaced a 'scope , A Skywatcher Explorer 150P, and that I was unsure how to move the OTA around within its clamp to improve viewing angle (I believe its called an axis shift ?)...I told you it was a silly newbie question.

As the sales person started to show me on a 'scope that was in front of us the shop owner comes over and says...

"did you buy the item from us?" , "no" says I, "well, Im sorry but we are not really here for advise if you didnt buy it from us" he continues.I told him that he was my local telescope shop and that I was going to be looking for future purchaces, but this man was adimant that unless I had bought form him I could not seek help from his shop!

I actually walked out in disbelief :D

So if anyone can explain what to do when moving to view in the south and west it will be greatly appreciated!

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Psychobilly

Psychobilly

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Not trying to defend them but with the growth of internet sales this is becoming a growing "problem" for specialist dealers. A mate of mine is the manager of the local store for a high end AV chain... he is forever having people coming in to ask questions about kit they have bought online if theres no one in the shop he will give them a few pointers... if the shops busy though they tend to get a similar response to the OP...

Billy...

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Moonshane

Moonshane

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hi there

sounds like a short-sighted sales approach to me!

I presume your telescope is on a equatorial mount (maybe an EQ3-2?)?

the way to do this is to carefully loosen the two thumbscrews which tighten the tube rings - not too much though. the tube can then be turned to an appropriate angle for more comfortable viewing. tighten the thumbscrews again - not too tight though.

one issue with this is than as you turn the tube, it could move slightly up or down (more likely the latter) and affect your balance. one way round this is something like this Andy's Shot Glass - Wilson Rotating Rings - Astronomy & Astrophotography for Non-Gazillionaires

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GazOC

GazOC

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A cheaper trick for rotating rings is to use 3 tube rings with the 2 "normal" rings slackened off to allow the scope to rotate and the third one not attached to the dovetail on tight and resting just on top of the higher of the other two rings.

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rorschach

rorschach

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Thanks for the replies chaps, it is indeed and EQ3-2 mount, I thought that's what I was supposed to do, but I didnt want to end up damaging anything by doing it wrong!

As for the shop , it was indeed the one on Dorset street, We (my crewmate and I ) were the only ones in the shop, and the silly thing is ....I was in the market to buy some lenses!

I actually like having "local" shops that I can go to, but, no longer sadly this one!they have lost me completly as a customer.

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Moonshane

Moonshane

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A cheaper trick is to use 3 tube rings with the 2 "normal" rings slackened off to allow the scope to rotate and the third one not attached to the dovetail on tight and resting just on top of the higher of the other two rings.

I suppose you could use two rings (total of four) with one above each 'dovetail ring' and also maybe rig up a loctite nut and bolt as a semi permanent fixing at the right 'tension'. good thinking Gaz.

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Nick P

Nick P

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.. if the shops busy though they tend to get a similar response to the OP...

Billy...

A great way of ensuring the shop won't be very busy in the future! ALL those people asking questions are potential sales......

I really feel sorry for the attitude displayed to the OP, I must admit I don't use them because they seem overpriced on many items i want, however that to one side, I have never experienced this sort of response whether calling shops personally or over the phone, and if I had been treated the same way even if they were the cheapest outlet, would not entertain giving them my hard earned!

And in answer to the query just loosen the locking bolts on the rings, grab the scope at each end and gently maneuver the scope to a more comfortable viewing angle.

Good luck

Nick

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Sp@ce_d

Sp@ce_d

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Interesting.. I made some sales enquiries to this particular place around 18 months or so ago. Their lack of response probably saved me from making some costly mistakes at that time!

First impressions are really important in any business, it's hard to shake off 1 bad report over 10 good ones. You see so much of this these days with businesses just wanting to take yer cash, shift the box and shut the door behind you.

A good business will develop a relationship & understanding with the customer. Even if it's just advice, there's a much better chance they'll remember and be coming back because they want to give you their business, you understand them and they trust you.

Unfortunately there are some short sighted, quick buck orientated business models out there that rely on heavy advertising/internet presence but no real customer support. I'm not sure that works for the majority of us.

/rant

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carpman

carpman

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I nearly went in there the other week toget some info i'm glad i didnt if thats the sort of attitude u get , that is my local astro shop but i will continue to use shop where i got my scope in the first place even though its not exactly local ( Dorking )

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rorschach

rorschach

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not really, from what I have seen , most of the custom are from UCL round the corner.

and would have been me, it's local(ish) ...not now though!

any suggestions for other shops in North West London?

or do I have to wait until I go on holiday to beautiful Croyde in the spring! :D

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rorschach

rorschach

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<slaps GazOC round back of head>

oi...back off supermod hypergiant type person! ;P

Croyde bay.. 'tis a place of beauty and great surf, dark skies ...and this year my son and I's 'scopes of an evening!...bliss!

the shop was the widescreen center Neil, the shop sales person was trying to be helpful...unfortunatly the owner was less so.

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