[programmer]

Hi all.. first post after much perusing.

Getting into astronomy, yada yada.. I'll have my standard 'which scope?' thread up soon, but have another question first.

Simply this: is it better to buy locally than to order from interstate? I'm thinking about the convenience of a local place for dropping in with questions, possible issues, etc. as opposed to (maybe) being able to save a few bucks ordering in from elsewhere.

(I'm just 20 min from the Camberwell, Vic, Bintel store. Dropped in yesterday and had a great chat. Got to see some dobs (12"+ truss dobs) in the flesh for the first time and realised how big those buggers are. Have to wait a few weeks for a shipment of Bintel dobs comes in to see < 12" examples, but I digress.)

Anyway, I'm thinking if I narrow my searching to just local stores it might save me time and effort.

On that last thought, what are my other 'local' stores? I'm in Melb SE suburbs. It seems like Astronomy Alive in Bentleigh (appointment only) which is even closer to me, and York Optical in the city are about it. I'm favouring Bintel at the moment.