Prob's with Aust. Astro dealers

[Loupy31]

Hi Guys.

I was reading the post on Adelaide and Melbourne dealers, and was wondering If anyone has had any problems with Australian dealers.

Peter:fight:

[Starkler]

I havent had any major issues buying from Australian dealers, although a few minor issues include unresponsiveness/ignoring emails, and a certain nameless Sydney dealer who could give some of their staff a training session on customer service (bordering on rude).

[Loupy31]

I know what you mean, I am currently going through similar problems, I dont like it when a dealer treats me like I have absolutely no knowledge about anything to do with this hobby. They need some serious educating.


Peter

[asimov]

My experiences are much the same as Geoff's. Mainly email ignore's.....kind of crazy really seeing I was looking for a APO 6" objective at the time.

[gbeal]

You guys are lucky. There is precious little in the way of dealers in NZ. I have used Astromart almost exclusively, but also have had good success with a couple of US dealers. Price is almost always better offshore as well. Let me add that lately though there is a local company that has provided good service, but only for the smaller bits. If in doubt use Astromart.

[[1ponders]]

Yep email issues at times as well as slow deliveries from some.

[asimov]

When I was looking for that 6" objective, I ended up getting pretty wild with this company & sent them a nasty email....I got a reply to THAT email! :D their answer was "sorry, too busy to answer" too busy to sell me a 6" apo objective!?? Go figure!

[acropolite]

Geoff Wrote
I don't know if it's the same Sydney dealer but when my LX90 secondary mirror housing rotated during collimation (a problem apparently quite common) I was not even offered an apology, merely challenged as to the need to collimate. The same dealer also ignored emails on initial software problems (which I solved by searching the Meade web site) and left an EP that I had paid for overnight delivery on the despatch bench for several days and only despatched it after I rang to ask what had happened with my overnight delivery.

[Loupy31]

That Sydney dealer, do they have another store elsewhere in Australia ?
peter

[dhumpie]

I have been lucky and have not had any problems so far. I have had very good service from Andrew's (Lee is a very pleasant chap) and Bintel (very quick shipping as well). Sirius Optics (I think the guys name is Ron...have not been there in a while) and Star Optics also have very knowledgeable and friendly staff. Even the guys at York Optical Brisbane are a great bunch although I don't shop there much anymore due to the ridiculous prices. So on the whole I am happy with the services from Aust dealers.

Darren

p/s: although I get most of my astro gear via Astromart these days....

[ballaratdragons]

Peter (Loupy),

The rude store they are talking about doesn't have any other outlets anywhere. Just their rude little selves!

Andrews usually answers my emails within 24 hours, sometimes in 5 minutes if I send it around 9 or 10pm as he does all his email reading and writing at home outside business hours.

Haven't dealt with Melbourne stores as they are way overpriced, and never bought from overseas so I can't comment on that area.

[cahullian]

Only ever used Andrews and Bintel and have had nothing but joy,joy using those. Heard a lot of good things about Astromart also.

Gazz

[stringscope]

I have used Bintel, Andrews and BATSC. I have found all 3 very pleasant and responsive to deal with. I have visited both BATSC and Bintel in person and I have had mail orders from Andrews and Bintel. Both have been excellent.

Cheers,

[rmcpb]

Have dealt with Andrews and Bintel personally and through the mail. Only good feelings to report :)

[Jonathan]

Lee Andrews has been great to deal with through phone calls and email.
Bintel have been ok but have ignored an email from me and then when I rang up for a price the answer was a rude "I've got no idea". I rang back later and the bloke there said he'd call me back in 10 minutes, a day later I got a ridiculous price! Ordering online from them has been ok but one package took 2 weeks but nomally it's been within 4 days. Could be worse I guess.

[ving]

nup no probs here... :)

[elusiver]

only dealt with andrews..

shippings had been fast.. i ordered my telescope and got it down to melbourne about 16hrs later :) eyepieces were next day and they even were honest enough to give me the lower price when i was unaware of the price change and prepared to pay the old price, just got the pleasant surprise when the eyepieces arrived.

el :)

[asimov]

I've dealt with most in Sydney....The best service I ever received was from Raff & the boys at AOE. Trouble is, they only stock basic astronomy gear.

[johnno]

I have only dealt with Lee Andrews,and found him very good,fast shipping,and good prices,almost allways next day delivery if you order in the morning.
Regards.John

[Librarian64]

Their eyepieces are very cheap. How good are they?

I've dealt with Bintel and Astro-Optical Supplies. Both were good but didn't return calls and one of the guys from Astro-Optical Supplies (not AOE) was quite patronising whereas the guy from Bintel I spoke to was more than helpful.

[asimov]

Patronizing? I never struck that. I have one of their EPs. The GSO 30mm 2" superview, more than happy with it. Also have one of their 6" refractor's.

[dhumpie]

Yup I have dealth with BATSC as well. Also very knowledgeable and friendly. I have personally visited the following stores and have been very pleased with the service {with the exception of York Optical Melbourne...very unfriendly and unhelpful staff there}: the good ones York Optical (Brisbane), Sirius Optics (Underwood), Star Optics (Gold Coast), Bintel (Sydney), York Optical (Sydney), Astro Optical (Melbourne). By post, I have had very good experiences with Andrew's Communication and BATSC.

Darren

[cristian abarca]

Hi guys

I'll have my two cents worth as well. I have ordered stuff through AOE and I foun their service to be pretty good no complaints there. Unfortunately as an ATM they don't have much to offer but their service and email responses were pretty good. I also use a mob in south Australia. They have a pretty large selection of stuff and the staff are very helpful sometimes they do take their time delivering. Twice I had to call them to check where my order was. Both times it took about two weeks (mind you I did pay by cheque so that didn't help). This time I paid by credit card on monday. He called back on tuesday confirming my order so we'll see how long it takes this time. Aprt from the waiting their service is pretty good.

regards cristian

[beren]

In the main my experiances have been generally good , one common problem is slow return emails/calls or follow up notifications of orders that have expired there expectant delivary date . When i purchased my SCT through a local dealer i had serious problems with communication and ever changing stories of delivary dates or status reports and lost orders etc , very bizzare and unprofessional and a lack of willingness to keep me as a customer .

[cristian abarca]

Here I am complaining about slow delivery times and I was proved wrong. Ordered stuff on monday from Adelaide arrived in the post today Thursday. Good to see

Regards cristian

[johnno]

Hi All,
I ordered a pair of 11x56 binoculars from AOE on thursday,paid for them via direct deposit,and they arrived this morning.
I am very happy with AOE,I had never dealt with them before,allways dealing with Lee Andrews,but binoculars can have quality control issues,and AOE promise a complete check on quality and collimation,before shipping.
I sent several emails asking questions re quality of coatings,prisms,etc and all were answered very quickly.
Am I happy with AOE, and the binoculars,You Bet
Regards.John

[asimov]

Yep. I prefer to deal solely with AOE only......They don't always stock what your after though, which forces you to go else where sometimes..

[davidpretorius]

Have only bought from Lee Andrews (forgot to send part of order) but very happy with service. Have made iniquiries at Bintel, very helpful. Have bought from Telescopes and Astronomy in Adelaide and they were very helpful

no complaints

[dugnsuz]

Hi
I've dealt with Bintel,AOE, Andrews and Frontier Optics - All have returned email enquiries promptly.
I've talked to the guy at Sirius in Brisbane - very helpful and friendly too.
The Oz astro scene is great - down to earth and friendly.
I remember dealing with Broadhurst Clarkson and Fuller in London when I lived in the UK - they made me feel like a naughty schoolboy for even daring to ask about stuff!!!!
The dealers I have encountered all seem really committed to selling you the best/correct product at a fair price (some excepted!!!)
Cheers
Doug

[seeker372011]

I have got great advice from Bintel, great prices from Andrews, and excellent service from AOE and BATSC and Astronomy Online for various bits and pieces

wouldnt mind doing business with any of these again.

[Rodstar]

Ive got to add the praise others have sung for Bintel....a great bunch of people who couldn't be any more helpful.