York optical

[IanL]

Anyone know anything regarding York optical. Their web site is down and phone number seems dead for for the brisbane branch when trying to call today.

Ian

[sheeny]

York Optical have gone into liquidation.

Al.

[IanL]

Oh shame to hear that the guys in the shop provided good service.
Another Astro shop down the tubes.

Ian

[jjjnettie]

I went to drop in to see them on Monday and their store is now a scooter shop. Shame that.

[dannat]

Melb store has been vacant for a little while..still has stickers up but nothing in store

[Esseth]

I picked up a few bargins the last week there brisbane store was open as i just lived around the corner. The guys just told me that they were looking for a new site a bit further out of the city due to high rents...

[jjjnettie]

Well they can set up shop in my garage, rent free, so long as I get to play with all the goodies after hours.

[astroron]

Jeanette, there is only one problem with that, they would have to be just a "Second Hand Shop" as you would be using all the gear:lol::lol::lol:

[Jen]

:lol::lol: nice try JJJ :thumbsup:

[firstlight]

If you are running a business and the lease is expiring or you do not choose to pay the rent in the current location, you do not close the shop and then start looking for a home. This was pointed out to me when I remarked about the rumours they were looking for a new premises.

We are pretty lucky in Brisbane in these days, with two business here and the Gold Coast, Sirius and Star, and a few interstate companies with good service... Bintel to name one.

[Max Vondel]

When was the last time you saw an add for york optical
in AS&T? I can't remember any for a while. The Sydney store was smack bang in the middle of druggies territory near central station. The guy there used to complain about the area himself. I think many businesses are in trouble due to increased online sales. I can't say I was ever inspired by their website. Less choice for the consumer must be a bad thing. There must be a limit to the number of Astronomical Suppliers that can survive in the limited Australian Market. It's a bit sad that York fell of the bench............:question:

[mozzie]

i rang there sydney number a couple of days ago and it was answered buy someone saying they were taking over there premises and there number i think they called them selves u-shop or something like that and were stocking and selling most of there items it seemed a little strange to me.

[mithrandir]

They had moved to Elizabeth St - close to if not part of 255, and the rent probably went up.



u-shop have been running a web shop for astro gear for ages.

[mozzie]

yes id seen them on the web.i was under the impression they had taken over after the conversation id had

[el_draco]

... Plain and simple..., priced themselves into extinction.

I want to see the international anti-competetive "cartel" arrangements go, even if it means local shops go with them. Prices in Australia are insane in many cases and other retailers would do well to take note.

[Visionoz]

Did a DNS search as I remembered some other posts before in IIS regarding relationship of York Optical & U-Shop - based on registration details both the domains are owned and registered by the same corporate identity and according to the ASIC company records the ABN # indicates that it is U-Shop being registered since 2004

So all is not what it may seem - for whatever reasons it apparently looks like a York Optical operating under a different name now! Just MHO
The information below is publicly available and searchable including the ASIC records

Cheers
Bill

Domain Name: yorkoptical.com.au
Last Modified: 06-Sep-2010 23:22:23 UTC
Registrar ID: NetRegistry (http://javascript%3Cb%3E%3C/b%3E:whoisQuery%28%27REGISTRAR%20ID %20NetRegistry%27%29;)
Registrar Name: NetRegistry (http://www.netregistry.com.au/)
Status: ok
Registrant: U-SHOP PTY. LIMITED
Registrant ID: ABN 56109859145
Eligibility Type: Company
Registrant Contac:t IDDOUS1032
Registrant Contact Name: U-Shop Domains
Registrant Contact Email: domains@u-shop.com.au
Tech Contact: IDJOGL1197
Tech Contact Name: Glen Jobson
Tech Contact Email: glen@yorkoptical.com.au
Tech Contact: IDDOUS1032
Tech Contact Name: U-Shop Domains
Tech Contact Email: domains@u-shop.com.au
Name Server: ns1.yorkoptical.net.au (http://javascript%3Cb%3E%3C/b%3E:whoisQuery%28%27HOST%20ns1.yor koptical.net.au%27%29;)
Name Server: IP66.135.55.79
Name Server: ns3.yorkoptical.net.au (http://javascript%3Cb%3E%3C/b%3E:whoisQuery%28%27HOST%20ns3.yor koptical.net.au%27%29;)


Domain Name: u-shop.com.au
Last Modified: 22-Jul-2010 02:05:32 UTC
Registrar ID: NetRegistry (http://javascript%3Cb%3E%3C/b%3E:whoisQuery%28%27REGISTRAR%20ID %20NetRegistry%27%29;)
Registrar Name: NetRegistry (http://www.netregistry.com.au/)
Status: ok
Registrant: U-Shop Pty Limited
Registrant ID: ABN 56109859145
Eligibility Type: Company
Registrant Contact ID: JOGL1068
Registrant Contact Name: Domains U-Shop
Registrant Contact Email: domains@u-shop.com.au
Tech Contact: IDUSDO1001
Tech Contact Name: Domains U-Shop
Tech Contact Email: domains@u-shop.com.au
Name Server: ns1.u-shop.net.au (http://javascript%3Cb%3E%3C/b%3E:whoisQuery%28%27HOST%20ns1.u-shop.net.au%27%29;)
Name Server IP: 66.135.46.246
Name Server: ns2.u-shop.net.au (http://javascript%3Cb%3E%3C/b%3E:whoisQuery%28%27HOST%20ns2.u-shop.net.au%27%29;)
Name Server IP: 202.173.176.41

[OICURMT]

http://www.u-shop.com.au

Note the "New" Address...

[tlgerdes]

Their price on DMK41 $1160, other Sydney retailers $799, that is surely a way to go out of business.

[bobson]

They were always so expensive and it looks like they continue to be so.
No offense but I wonder why would anyone buy from them when just a little search on line would save you a lot.

I really dont know how some retailers stay in business with their prices. Sometimes its almost double. No need to mention names, we all know who they are. But looks like unsuspected first time buyers dont know.

bob

[jjjnettie]

Higher prices can't be helped when you have a physical shop front.
The rent and wages have to be covered.

[tlgerdes]

Maybe so, but the cheaper price came from someone who has a shop front as well.

I would look to part of the fact being that their Sydney shop is in a high rent district, not known for shopping, with bad parking.

[GraemeT]

I'm sorry to hear the negatives about York Optical. As a newbie, I bought my scope from them, paid $10 more than the advertised prices by other Sydney retailers at the time, mainly because of the good advice and patient, interested service I received. Of the other retailers, one chose to ignore me for over 20 minutes while they chatted behind the counter screen over a cup of coffee, another was only interested in bagging everyone else in the trade and their products. The only other retailer I have subsequently found on a par with York was Andrews.
I guess that, if you know what you want, price will be the over-riding consideration, but for an inexperienced newcomer, patient explanation and no hard sell will often be worth a few extra dollars.

[PCH]

Some great points there Graeme, and I'd say noone would whine about a $10 price difference. However, the earlier post displayed a substantial difference - hundreds of dollars were involved.

But regarding individual retailers/outlets, I have not-so-great stories about the ones you've placed on pedestals, - and I suppose others could add to this idea. It just shows that everyone, retailer-wise has good and not-so-good days in their work. And also that they can't please everybody all the time. For example, the guys that left you standing (and unhappy because of that), would have really pleased me. I prefer to be allowed plenty of time to look, - and if I have a question, I'm happy to go over and throw rocks at them (or politely ask ;)) to get their attention.

Just my 2c :thumbsup:

[Gallifreyboy]

In Perth we have very little in the way of astro retail, its like it or lump it (he won't price match in my experience) from the 1 small store hence online shopping is a way of life for most of us over here. Nearly 2 years ago with my astronomy renaissance I was going to buy from Andrews but leading up to Xmas their stock was sold out on a couple of items I wanted. They had their prices advertised in ASandT and I used that as a bargaining point with U-shop who did price match for the items I wanted. The guy I spoke to had to check with his boss and I think he thought I was on hold listening to phone music while he spoke with the boss, the thing was I could hear everything he said. It was clear at those prices the margins were tight and he openly discussed bumping up transport costs with the boss, I think by about $40 in the end. I went through with the purchase of over $2k though knowing that it was a good price. I subsequently became aware of York and U-shop having too many similarities to think they were truly in competition with each other. I haven't bought from them since but I would consider it
Lessons I learnt :
shop around if you know what you want and what you want to pay and if they are reputable suppliers see if they will price match
they might try and sting you somewhere else so beware

[Max Vondel]

All the retailers are in trouble with the dollar. I just placed an order with Lunt in the US. Even after paying for UPS I still save $120- over a populist local retailer for the same products (currently out of stock locally)
:thumbsup: