Hi Everybody,
Like any newbie, I've been searching retail websites checking out telescope models and prices. The weird thing is I'm finding prices are exactly same everywhere. Telescopes never seem to be on-sale or offered with accessories thrown in to sweeten the deal. Is this what you're finding? If not, where are you seeing the deals?
Thanks!
Telescope Pricing the Same Everywhere?
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seeplain
- Posts: 2
- Joined: Fri Dec 30, 2011 7:08 am
- Real Name: Charlie Plain
- Location: Minneapolis
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wkocken
- Posts: 1299
- Joined: Mon May 17, 2004 8:19 pm
- Real Name: Bill Kocken
- Location: McGregor
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Re: Telescope Pricing the Same Everywhere?
Check out Orion at http://www.telescope.com
They often have specials going on accessories or free shipping.
They often have specials going on accessories or free shipping.
Bill Kocken
16" f4.5 - home built truss design
8"f6 home built dob
102f7 Explore Scientific APO with Ioptron ZEQ25GT mount
4.5 Orion Starblast
60mm Meade ETX
Homemade equatorial platform
w m kocken at gmail dot com
16" f4.5 - home built truss design
8"f6 home built dob
102f7 Explore Scientific APO with Ioptron ZEQ25GT mount
4.5 Orion Starblast
60mm Meade ETX
Homemade equatorial platform
w m kocken at gmail dot com
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Dave Venne
- Posts: 1932
- Joined: Sat Jul 03, 2004 4:33 pm
- Real Name: Dave Venne
Re: Telescope Pricing the Same Everywhere?
Ditto what Bill said. Watch the home pages of vendors. That's where they often list whatever discounts they're offering. For example:
Oceanside Photo
Astronomics
Free shipping is becoming the norm for sizable orders. Manufacturers sometimes throw in freebies as incentives to buy certain telescopes. If you find the incentive items useful, great. If not, you can always sell them.
It depends largely on what you're looking at. From what I've seen, premium telescopes seldom go on sale. If you want to pay less than retail, the best way is to buy a used telescope. You can find a lot of these at the classified ads of Cloudy nights (free) or Astromart(fee) and of course the MAS's Marketplace/Exchange Forum.
Oceanside Photo
Astronomics
Free shipping is becoming the norm for sizable orders. Manufacturers sometimes throw in freebies as incentives to buy certain telescopes. If you find the incentive items useful, great. If not, you can always sell them.
It depends largely on what you're looking at. From what I've seen, premium telescopes seldom go on sale. If you want to pay less than retail, the best way is to buy a used telescope. You can find a lot of these at the classified ads of Cloudy nights (free) or Astromart(fee) and of course the MAS's Marketplace/Exchange Forum.
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Ron Schmit
- Posts: 1299
- Joined: Thu Jun 10, 2004 12:41 pm
Re: Telescope Pricing the Same Everywhere?
Another common practice is to throw in a "buy now and you'll receive this beginner set of 10 eyepieces - a $400 value!!"
It certainly does make an attractive looking offer. Do the math, and you're getting a really good deal on that scope! Caveat emptor, however... Typically, the quality of the eyepiece optics is also "beginner" and you really won't USE 10 eyepieces. It would be better to save your money and find a deal that gives you a straight discount or free shipping. Then, use the money you saved to get one or two GOOD quality eyepieces. Ultimately, that's what you end up using, anyway.
Your typical amateur 4"- 8" scope will come with a middle of the road 25mm eyepiece. Hang on to that one. You'll want to save up to buy a nice 40mm for big, bright, wide views. After some more saving, try to get something around a 10mm for those tight planet views.
It certainly does make an attractive looking offer. Do the math, and you're getting a really good deal on that scope! Caveat emptor, however... Typically, the quality of the eyepiece optics is also "beginner" and you really won't USE 10 eyepieces. It would be better to save your money and find a deal that gives you a straight discount or free shipping. Then, use the money you saved to get one or two GOOD quality eyepieces. Ultimately, that's what you end up using, anyway.
Your typical amateur 4"- 8" scope will come with a middle of the road 25mm eyepiece. Hang on to that one. You'll want to save up to buy a nice 40mm for big, bright, wide views. After some more saving, try to get something around a 10mm for those tight planet views.