[acropolite (Phil)]

You're missing the point guys, Lee Andrews refuses to ship to Tasmania. He's simply had too much stuff smashed. Bintel I'm not so sure about but my last conversation with them indicated that they have insured freight (but I'd get it in writing first). I have been quoted $120 by Bintel to freight an LX90 to Tas insured but that's a lot smaller than a 10 or 12 inch dob. The $220 I was quoted was for a removalist to pick up the dob and bring it down in one of their trucks. No extra handling between Sydney and here, one truck all the way. Minimal chance of damage. You could of course get fly by night freight services to bring it here most likely in several pieces and not necessarly the pieces you ordered. Ask Tom what freighters did to his kit. I know, I've experienced it first hand; $600 Solar panels shattered and useless, a case of lead acid batteries tipped on their sides letting all the acid out, power supplies with the trannies smashed out. You may think that $100 is worth saving but not when your new toy is bent and broken.