Yes, it is true we did not correspond about this particular mount, and I'll leave it up to the previous owner to comment on what role you played, if any (I have no idea), in the unsuccessful attempt to get it to work as a new purchase in his observatory in QLD, which ultimately resulted in him giving it up and selling it at a very reasonable price to someone willing to take a risk on what was most likely a defective product to begin with.
Unless the purchaser is local to your business (and over here in WA I might as well be in Austria) I doubt there's much you can realistically add to the support from ASA and there was no intention in my post to cast your business in a poor light.
However, ASA are perfectly willing to sell direct to anybody. I spent considerably more money with them on the OTA that sits on my mount. Adding an extra step in the procurement chain that doesn't add any material value will only increase the cost to the consumer. For a customer in Melbourne who is completely new to high-end astronomical equipment, I'm sure you provide a very valuable service, but to me, I'm afraid, you are unlikely to add any value.
Although it seems fun to bash Peter at the moment, I can't help thinking that someone who can turn out images consistently of the quality he does has a right to express an opinion on anything astrophotographical without his ethics being called into question. I suspect the 'business' he runs is more of a service to Australian amateurs, since he most clearly does not need the money. In all the years I've been in this forum I have never heard a negative word about the service his company provides, which is certainly something very few retailers can boast.
Anyway - very happy with my ASA, but wish I could get results on a par with Peter. Or Mike, or Paul, or Mike and Trish, or any of the people that consistently publish superb images on this site.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Astromelb
Dear IIS team,
3. Thank you for Andrew Lockwood for your comments. To explain - Andrew purchased a used 2nd hand ASA DDM85XL from a private seller in Queensland. This was a private sale and did not include input until supply was completed by either myself as ASA Australian distributor - or the OEM manufacturer, ASA Astrosysteme. The mount was subsequently found by the buyer to have significant needs for spare parts and rectification matters. Although as ASA Australian distributor I am available for assistance, Andrew as purchaser made direct contact with the ASA Service Department regarding these servicing & replacement parts requirements. I found out all about what transpired in detail at a later date. Andrew’s comment of going "direct" to ASA on his servicing & parts requisites is quite understandable. It is noted that he and I did not have dealings regarding this project, so his comment saying "go direct" refers to a service & spare parts application on a 2nd hand used mount. We did not have dealings together, so I have no experience in supporting his project.
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