Buying from the states?

[Dwood180]

Has anyone purchased a telescope from USA and had it shipped here? And if so what website did you use? I have heard it works out cheaper compared to buying from here.

[Kunama]

Darren, it depends on what you are buying. With the AUD/USD rate at the moment you really have to do your homework.
My experience is only with Takahashi scopes but the Aussie Dealer works out a lot cheaper than US imports.

I have just today bought 4 eyepieces from an Australian dealer, had I bought them from USA I would have paid $564 more !!!

Remember that purchases over $1000 AU will attract GST at 10% and that is worked on the total amount of the item + freight costs.

[Waxing_Gibbous]

My experiences have been pretty much the same.
Unless its a bit of gear that's simply unavailable here, the current exchange rates, postage and GST will really sock you.
One other thing: have the company you order "it" from check the item before sending.
I wound up paying over $600 in return postage for a warranty repair!

[rogerg]

Many people such as myself have purchased from http://www.optcorp.com/ Highly recommend them.

And yes do your homework on where it's best to buy - AU or US.

[Dwood180]

I'm wanting to buy a Meade LX90 12" I was going to purchase it from Sirius optics but as they close down at the end of the month I don't think I'll have the money in time.

[athua]

I purchased my scope (Celestron C8-XLT) and mount (AVX goto EQ Mount) from the US back in July last year from Hands On Optics when the exchange rate was much more favourable and including shipping, it cost me in total just over $2000 which was a saving of almost $1000 based on the prices in Australia at that time. I was lucky too as Hands On Optics listed their items on eBay and they had the scope and mount listed as separate items. By ordering the items individually, they were under $1000 AUD each which meant that they did not incur the Australian Customs duties (GST).

With the savings I got, I was willing to risk having no local warranty should something go wrong. (Thankfully everything arrived safely and in full working order).

However, with the current exchange rates, you won't save all that much from purchasing from the US and it may be a safer path to purchase it locally for local warranty support.

[Profiler]

When making the decision of whether to buy from o'seas there are things to watch in terms of your homework

A - When calculating exchange rate make sure you are using the 'buy rate' and not the market rate (the one which is commonly listed towards the end of the daily news)

B - In addition to potential fees like GST there are often currency conversion fees calculated on the amount when using credit cards etc to make your purchase

C - Check the shipping method as some may seem cheaper but they often come at a cost such as no coverage for potential damage from transport

[Dwood180]

I have emailed bintel to see if they are able to supply a 12" and what the cost will be including postage. I have found the 12" available with adelaide optical centre, not sure if they are good or not as I have never heard of them.

[csb]

Adelaide Optical have been in the city for years, maybe before the internet. I have been in the store and they have Meade SCTs on display. I think they mainly sell cameras. I have never bought anything from them just browsed.

Their price on the 12“ Meade Lightbridge has been $1200 from 6 months. I keep thinking about it.

[Exfso]

I bought an SN10 from them quite a few years ago. Their main income is definitely cameras, so if there are any issues with a telescope, you would have to refer it back to the manufacturer I would reckon. My SN10 had some issues and I found that when I took the front corrector plate off that the securing screws were actually screwed into a rusted tube that had been patched up. I fronted them about it and they got quite irate, but it sure looked as though I got a 2nd hand scope even though it was sold to me as new. Optically it was fine though. Having said all that, they are still in business, so they must be doing something right.

[Shiraz]

Very good mob to deal with. When the Skywatcher distributor messed me around with warranty service on my EQ8 (basically they didn't provide any), Adelaide Optical went to bat on my behalf and got me a new one. They really went out of their way to help.

[Paul Haese]

Do your numbers on importing from overseas. Don't forget your freight will be huge for that size scope. Also GST to consider. Bintel and even Ron at Adelaide Optical should provide you with a competitive price. Bintel will give you good service.

[LewisM]

Have bought a fair bit from the States, second hand and new. The exchange rate lately almost makes it not worthwhile, even second hand.

I can thoroughly recommend Steve Massey here in Australia (myastroshop.com.au) - he has beaten ANY price I have ever asked for, including matching or bettering that from Andrew's but WITH a genuine manufacturer warranty. He has offered me a BRAND new high-end Vixen refractor recently at a sensational price, cheaper than ANYWHERE I can find globally.

Bintel is fine. Never "grabbed me" to keep on buying there (I can get nearly everything I want from Steve or Tak from Claude), but their prices are reasonable.

[Kunama]

+1

I just bought a full set of Vixen LVWs :D from Steve, at Myastroshop, on Thursday morning, they were in the post just after lunchtime. :thumbsup:
Had I bought them from the USofA they would have cost me $564 more !!!!

[torana68]

How? I buy stuff from the US every other week , at the moment there is a cylinder head for a Chev on its way, postage US$80, the head is large and heavy. Some over there couldn't be bothered getting a cheap service for you or are couging on the freight, if you find freight outrageous say so or shop at another business.

[Kunama]

The eyepieces in the US are listed at the same price in USD (269) as they cost me,
except here in AUD (271) so there is the difference in exchange rate, then freight, and GST ............ = $564

Car parts are a whole new ball game, the US market is far better for car bits due to the sheer volume of stuff made there.

[torana68]

same price huh, seems funny considering the size of the market there. Car stuff is up to half the cost of here (not including Chinese made) I only buy second hand telescope stuff from OS, be cautious of postage rip off!

[LewisM]

Optcorp is an expensive outlet, but nowhere near as bad as Adorama. Optcorp orices are no cheaper than hete obce you do exchange and postage.

Teleskop Express gets my dollars as well. For example, they sold me the very large and heavy Berlebach Planet tripod for $895 Aus including express post. Same tripod here from local dealwr is around $1400.

[gregbradley]

One way you cop it from overseas purchases is the shipping. US dealers usually only either use FedEx or UPS and both are quite expensive.

Where you can save with Opt is their shipping rates are usually very low compared to others. It can be hundreds.

Greg.

[Kunama]

In spite of all the above, if the price is right, I have had very good dealings with Optcorp and BHPhotovideo (before the AUD became AU.72)

Also Art at TNR was very helpful sourcing a part for me.

[Dwood180]

Just had a look at myastroshop and doesn't look like they sell meade telescopes :(