Quote:
Originally Posted by Astromelb
Thank you for your comments.
1.
2. Mr Andrew Lockwood - thank you for your clarification. Let’s make sure we get your project details correct.
Your observatory is located in regional northern WA. It runs a large ASA Newtonian astrograph, you purchased this astrograph before Astronomy Alive was engaged as Australian distributor for ASA Astrosysteme. You purchased this telescope direct from ASA as at that time they sold direct into Australia.
You then subsequently purchased this used mount 2nd hand from a private seller in Queensland.
This mount has a nominated 100Kg capacity - the gear that was placed on it was not 100Kg, it was in excess of this mass.
Although I know the full story on this project - commercial confidence between myself and my original buyer is in place, so I will not comment further.
If the original owner discussed issues with you this is between the two of you.
After you had purchased and received the goods and found issues, ASA contacted me and referred your issues to myself. I decided that since you had not purchased the mount from myself and had been dealing with ASA direct for your ASA Newtonian – then for this special case - I approved them to sell the spares & repair parts direct.
The mount needed significant works, servicing and replacement parts. I respect you purchased (it seems without knowledge of any concerns ?) a unit that needed a works and money spent on it to return it to operational capability. You are aggrieved via same. I would be too. My apologies for this situation, I feel for you. However this matter is a commercial issue between you and the seller. What happens to a product following supply to any customer is the responsibility of the customer, not the manufacturer or their distributor.
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The previous owner was unaware of the extent of the issues with the mount and was quite open and honest about the performance of it. The fact is, this mount had it not been supplied defective could have managed to carry his OTA as this version (XL) is significantly reinforced in the right places. I do know that he did buy it through you, and you were listed as the sole Australian agent for ASA for many years prior to these events. As such it’s more than a little disingenuous of you to suggest that he misrepresented the condition of the mount to me and is somehow responsible for its condition. I hold no ill will in that regard whatsoever, but this highlights the value of recognising to the original poster that if the mount arrives and does not perform as expected, he will largely be on his own when it comes to getting anything fixed, because there is nobody in Australia qualified to service or repair these mounts.
Regards
Andrew.