Quote:
Originally Posted by glend
Grey market imports. They used to do the same with Skywatcher gear, buy in bulk from overseas wholesalers (could be ex-display stock from dealers, dealer closing down stock, factory seconds, etc) and bring in containers. Tasco (the Skywatcher import agent) put the lawyers on them and they finally settled, now Andrews gets all its Skywatcher stuff from Tasco.
Andrews does have a direct importer relationship with GSO. I believe the GSO stock goes into a bonded warehouse until one is sold at which time they bring it out. This is a good way to avoid tying up alot of money in stock. GSO probably retains ownershop until the sale by Andrews - but it could be done in other ways too.
Re Celestron gear, i am sure John Cross will be taking an interest, but unless they claim exclusivity through Celestron Australia, and get the lawyers involved, there is not much Celestron can do, other than cutting off his overseas sources. If you buy a grey import they are usually sent to you in boxes with the brand labels cut off, bar codes removed, etc. Nothing that can be used to trace it back. And any warranty has to be through Andrews, you would not get a Celestron warranty.
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What is wrong with Andrews grey importing, he makes no secret of it and, from some accounts, he backs what he sells. The reality is that Celestron products are well made, so warranty issues should be at a minimum anyway. I was just unlucky.
Exclusive agreements may be fair to those that sell Celestron, and I can understand that as being fair. It really is fair if you want the after sales service. However, the other side of that equation is why should I be told that I have to deal with a specific reseller if I want Celestron.
Too bad if I don't like any of the current choices of dealers then. I already have a primary supplier, but he cannot sell me any Celestron. I don't think that is fair, at all. But, I get around these restrictions, it just sucks having to go to the extra trouble. I don't buy anything too complex though due to warranty issues. I rarely have any issues and I have only returned a couple of things over the past five years. I have saved far more than it has cost me.
Celestron won't dictate to me where I have to buy, just as you can't dictate to me what to write on this thread. You have no control over me short of kicking me off this site, and I certainly have no issue with that anyway. I really don't like being told what I can and can't do, and that goes to the heart of Australia being a democracy. At least, it was, the last time I looked. I think we still have a choice.
But, to be fair, if I do bite the bullet and buy another Celestron, there is, at least, one dealer in Australia I would buy it from, as long as the price is right, which it isn't, yet.
Whether we like it or not it is a global marketplace. I buy most of my gear online now, both locally and overseas.
I admire your tenacity in defending Celestron. I have no issue with any current Celestron products, as they are very good, by all accounts, and reasonably affordable. It is my fervent hope that nobody else has the same issue I had, and I doubt any will. As I said, I was just unlucky, but it could have been handled better though. It was a set of unfortunate events that transpired due to relationship breakdowns and changes.
Cheers Pete