Am I the only one who is concerned about the mention of the OP wanting to use a refractor to look at the sun but no mention of a suitable filter???
I certainly hope OzStarGazer has a suitable Mylar (Baader) film or something similar in mind that is safe to use on the sun before they burn a hole right through the back of their head!
Also, on the original topic, the question was never answered as to how much cheaper the non-authorised dealer scope was?
I would steer clear of any scope that was cheap, simply because 1) It is probably crap, 2) the others suggested are much better than the 70mm powerseeker and 3) it is probably crap.....
Also, if you are thinking of walking with it, then what is wrong with a decent set of binoculars? Light, convenient and a tripod for them would easily fit in a backpack without all the hassle of a tube and the extra weight?
IMO you get what you pay for, a decent Skywatcher 80mm or the excellent Vixen that Trevor mentioned would easily fit in a padded camera backpack and would no doubt last longer and get used more than a cheap as chips scope.
Just my opinions,
Cheers
Chris