New Telescope Shop for Melbourne

ballaratdragons (Ken) · #1 10-01-2005, 10:10 PM

Hi all,

I've already met some of you in other forums (Yahoo etc).

I am considering opening a 'Discount' Telescope shop in the Western Suburbs of Melbourne and would appreciate some feedback from Melbourne and Western Victorian people.

I am thinking of Deer Park, Sunshine or Taylors Lakes areas.

My other option is to sell online and deliver to Melbourne.

Products will include Celeston GoTo's at about $800 off, Andrews Refractors, Reflectors and Dobs, Skywatcher, Saxon Spotters, accessories, motordrives, Binoculars, Sirius Filters etc, etc.

Your thoughts on opening in the west side of Melbourne are appreciated and your comments wanted.

iceman (Mike) · #2 10-01-2005, 10:19 PM

If you post to other states, sounds like a great idea

to the forum too, hope you enjoy your stay and come back often!

I hope the idea takes off for you, can never have too much competition for astronomy gear in australia - the lack of suppliers really hurts us.

ballaratdragons (Ken) · #3 10-01-2005, 10:40 PM

Thanks Iceman.

If I open a business I would send interstate, but my prices will be exactly the same as Andrews in Sydney, so I would really only be beneficial to Victorians.

This whole website is great. Keep up the good work. I lived on the Central Coast for a while, at Budgewoi.

Sky is better here though. 4 Street lights in our whole town!
I am 2 hours from Melbourne.

Starkler (Geoff) · #4 11-01-2005, 12:28 AM

Ah yes the sky west of ballarat is truley wonderful !

Yes Melbourne can certainly do with a bit more competition as the existing dealers have a limited range and/or are rip off artists

Sounds like you have a deal going with Andrews in Sydney?

Your mission should you choose to accept it is to rid Melbourne of junk scopes and sell every newcomer a GSO dob

iceman (Mike) · #5 11-01-2005, 08:06 AM

Hey Ken..

Thanks for the feedback.. and yeh budgewoi is just up the road, I had some friends at Charmhaven a few years ago.

Sounds like some nice dark skies where you are now.. No such joy at Wyoming i'm afraid.. I usually head out Mangrove Mountain way for my dark skies.

Good luck with the shop!

ballaratdragons (Ken) · #6 11-01-2005, 01:50 PM

Thanks for the encouragement.

I will need a lot of feedback to consider opening.

You are right about Melbourne shops though. (no comment)
A lot of shops make huge profit by insisting asronomy is a specialised field. It is not! It is a hobby and should be priced accordingly so more people can take advantage of it.
No wonder so many people buy Supermarket scopes then give up in frustration.

A lot of shops have closed astronomy off to the average 'Joe'.

Yeeeaaaahhhh!!! Really dark here.

maddrummer1 (Noel) · #7 16-10-2014, 09:27 AM

need more places to buy scopes specially where i live 100 km away from the nearest town
i have neighbours here over the fence but the fence is 6 km away ..no lights within 100 km so always have a great veiw of the sky

DavidU (Dave) · #8 16-10-2014, 11:39 AM

Go for it Ken, I will be your first customer.

RB (Andrew) · #9 16-10-2014, 11:52 AM

BTW, this thread is nine years old.

Octane (Humayun) · #10 16-10-2014, 12:45 PM

Holy thread necro, Batman.

This must be a new record.

H

Renato1 (Renato) · #11 16-10-2014, 01:28 PM

That was an interesting idea.
Renato

astroron (Ron) · #12 16-10-2014, 02:14 PM

Seems no one reads the date on these threads

csb (Craig) · #13 16-10-2014, 05:09 PM

This gave me a good chuckle.

Maddrummer gets a pass but DavidU (>4,000 posts) - Oh my you slipped!

DavidU (Dave) · #14 16-10-2014, 05:38 PM

Yup, I should have read the date LOL

Quote:

Originally Posted by csb

This gave me a good chuckle.

Maddrummer gets a pass but DavidU (>4,000 posts) - Oh my you slipped!

PeterM · #15 16-10-2014, 06:01 PM

Gold!

SkyWatch (Dean) · #16 16-10-2014, 06:16 PM

So, what happened to Ken's original idea? I presume as he only got a few replies way back in 2005 he never went ahead with it...

csb (Craig) · #17 16-10-2014, 06:21 PM

Well, Ballarat, himself, is in self-imposed exile, as per:

Quote:

Originally Posted by ballaratdragons

Fair enough, a Grump? I OFTEN post Grumpiness? I bring the site down do I?

Because I say I don't like the Beatles. Seeing as how I spoil your enjoyment I will go then. Good bye all.

I will get other club members to look after the camp threads.

beren · #18 17-10-2014, 08:39 AM

Csb I thought it was poor form in regards to your post in that thread in which you publicly criticised kens character . I for one miss kens presence here on IIs and I hope you take no pleasure in kens unfortunate decision to leave.

csb (Craig) · #19 17-10-2014, 04:20 PM

Well, he did perform mea culpa. However, Ken was usually very helpful and willing to share advice, even to myself. And was mostly civil n friendly.

AstralTraveller (David) · #20 17-10-2014, 06:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by csb

Well, Ballarat, himself, is in self-imposed exile, as per:

Quote:

Originally Posted by beren

Csb I thought it was poor form in regards to your post in that thread in which you publicly criticised kens character . I for one miss kens presence here on IIs and I hope you take no pleasure in kens unfortunate decision to leave.

Yes, it was an unfortunate decision and I suspect Ken is the one who has suffered most, being cut off from the IIS community. It's sad when someone lets an idiot, or in this case one inappropriate post, ruin their enjoyment. There are other ways: thick skin, ignore button, go for a walk and calm down, even return fire if you must. But don't cut off your nose to spite your face. I've been peeved a couple of times but I've always come back. I hope he is still lurking and will reappear soon! Life's too short for grudges.