Losmandy outlets in Australia - any recommendations?

[Dennis]

Hello,

I am looking for a Losmandy G-11 Saddle Plate for a Takahashi EM200, so I can use the original Celestron CGE dovetail on my C9.25, rather than the less substantial Vixen style dovetail I am currently using.

Can anyone recommend an Australian supplier of these? Or, will I need to go to someone like OPT in the US, who lists them at US $105, not including postage and packaging which will probably be another US $30 or $40?

Thanks

Dennis

[mick pinner]

hi Dennis, try Advanced Telescope Supplies.

[Vermin]

Seconded.

[Dennis]

Thanks guys - I'll send them an e-mail. Hope I don't get hammered with the low Aussie $ exchange rate at the moment.

Cheers

Dennis

[Striker]

You will probably find it will be cheaper to buy overseas...but good luck.

[Vermin]

I recently did an Oz v US price comparison on a GM8 and a DUP dovetail plate, the prices were not too bad at all.

[[1ponders]]

Another option Dennis is to give Matthew at Telescopes and Astronomy (http://www.telescopes-astronomy.com.au/) a call. If he has the gear he will be reasonably priced.

If you are only after a single item then getting it in Aus may be the go but I found even with transport costs that importing Losmandy gear from OPT is about half to 2/3 the cost of getting it in Aus. Unless it's particularly heavy and large in size.

I bought a dovetail, a set of guiderings and a new "D" saddle. With a mix up in the ordering I ended up with an order coming from Australia and one from OPT :sad: The long and the short of it was the Australian order cost me around $630 and the OPT order cost me around $430 + postage and the opt order was here within 10 days and the other order was around two months. And the "D" saddle I got in Aus was the smaller one for the GM8 while the one that came from OPT was the much longer G11 one.

Didn't take much for me to decide where I was going to get my losmandy gear from from now on. :shrug: I still get stuff here if it is already here and the price difference isn't too much, but if there is a moderate difference - "hello, OPT!"

[[1ponders]]

You're right there Vermin. I had a G11 sent over and I really didn't save anything in the long run. Smaller items though, now that is a different story.

[Vermin]

I didn't Know Matthew stocked Losmandy gear, I've recently placed an order for a guide scope and some rings with him and agree he has excellent prices and does give good service. His website however is truly appalling, I wish he'd get some professional help with this, (don't be put off by it though).

[[1ponders]]

:lol: Yeah I know what you mean.

[JohnG]

Might be a while before Peter Ward at ATS gets back to you, he is/was overseas for the eclipse. I get my Losmandy bits from OPT, usually get them in 5-7 days after ordering.

JohnG

[Dennis]

Thanks again guys, for the helpful advice and for sharing your experiences with purchasing Losmandy products.

Cheers

Dennis

[rogerg]

Agreed - good prices, got my GM-8 from him.

Agreed - shocking website, he needs help with that, but hey, it does the job.

:)

Roger.

[Nuri]

I build websites for a living. Last year while asking for a G11/C9.25 quote from Mathew, I gave him a few friendly hints on how to improve the usability of his site. He was VERY offended! He attacked the strucure of my email signature graphic and offered his services to rebuild my company's website! I obviously didn't even reply back :)

[Vermin]

I had a feeling he might react that way, which was why I didn't mention it when placing my order. However I will try and give him some constructive criticism after my goods arrive.

[casstony]

Now there's an oppourtunity - right before you ask for a price, tell Mathew how much you love what he's done with the site. Seriously though, Mathew is probably a great bloke, but he has nowhere to run from criticism of his site - it is just insane.

Tony

[johnno]

I am sure I have just recently seen somewhere,that Mathew Also has the Vixen Porta Mount,
Someone was looking for a little while back.

Regards.
John

[Dennis]

Well, so far I've sent 2 e-mails to "Telescopes & Astronomy" and 1 to "ATS" with no replies from either party. Granted Peter is overseas from a post above.

If I haven't heard by Wed, (1 week), then OPT gets the business. Shame, as I like to buy in Australia and don't mind paying a small amount extra.

Cheers

Dennis