Tony, don't hold your breath thinking Celestron will treat us with respect. It won't happen. I will still buy Celestron, but will not buy it in Australia and support Celestron Australia, ever. Absolutely not. Celestron Australia are owned and operated, not by an optics company, but by a kitchenware distributor, as far as I am aware. They think they can get away with putting the sorts of margins on Celestron products that they put on their kitchenware products. At least, that is what it seems like. I also recognise that this may not even be the case and that Celestron just charge them more as we are a very rich country. I suspect this may be the case given the wide price differences between Australia and the US.
Celestron Corp advised me that Celestron products are more expensive in Australia due to freight, which the US doesn't have. I found this argument to be a little strange, particularly since everything is now made in China and shipped overseas. I can't see freight to Australia as being any more expensive than to the US. and even if it was a bit more expensive I doubt that it would fully account for the differential.
My real issue with Celestron is their restrictive practice that prevents me from ordering items from my preferred suppliers, even if it is in the US. In a global economy I should be able to get it anywhere and not be told that I HAVE to buy it in Australia.
I hope to challenge Celestron on their international practices and have written to the US Government as there are indications they are in breach of US trade practices and free trade agreements. I just wish I was a lawyer and could understand these trade practices.