2nd Hand Telescope Pricing Advice / Recommendation Please
My Grandpa passed recently and I was given a number of his things including a hard-case telescope box with an Explore Scientific 80mm f/6 ED Apo OTA Part No: TED0806-01 telescope. I have no idea how old it is, but I know he had it for years. Maybe the 0806 in the part number refers to 2006 or 2008? It has a few scratches on the tube of the telescope, is scuffed a bit and it certainly looks well used. The glass at the front looks clear, without scratches. The eye-piece also looks well used, a bit dusty with some tiny scratches. I looked through it a few years ago at Jupiter and Saturn.
I had a look online and the first website I came across was this website but when I researched further, I could not find an Australian re-seller or RRP for the TED0806-01 anywhere, except descriptions of it being a Triplet APO Refractor Telescope and some brand new US pricing.
I don't really have a use for it as I don't have the concrete block, pole and swivel that it sat on and I'm really not that interested so I would like to sell it, but I have no idea of it's 2nd hand value. Can someone please help me with an indication of it's value before I put it on Facebook Marketplace as it looks like I can't sell it on the Classifieds section of this website because I just signed up to make this enquiry.
Hi Jeanette
Something is only worth what someone is willing to pay.
You often see it on classifieds on this forum.
"I paid $1000 so I offer it to you at $900", followed by a lengthy explanation of why they are selling it (seriously???)
They are often still there for a long time before discounting or removing the add from sale. Another factor is what the scope comes with. For example Bintel sells an ED 80 (doublet I think) for about $1250 but it comes with diagonal and finderscope. Items which can add $300-$400 to the cost if bought separately. So your final price maybe effected by this. I would try say $800- and if it doesn't sell drop $50- per week if it doesn't sell. Post us some pictures if you can. Big negatives include fungus (small wirey strands) and other marks such as scatches on the lens and tube. Does the focuser move smoothly?
Too many variables to list here
Prices on FB are generally a lot lower than normal market rates (why not wait a month and sell it here?)
Good luck with your sale
Last edited by Max Vondel; 16-06-2020 at 12:31 PM.
Also consider that the eyepieces may also be of value. It depends on their brand, age and condition. If a photo can be shown of the equipment, a better assessment of its value may be given.
My Grandpa passed recently and I was given a number of his things including a hard-case telescope box with an Explore Scientific 80mm f/6 ED Apo OTA Part No: TED0806-01 telescope. I have no idea how old it is, but I know he had it for years. Maybe the 0806 in the part number refers to 2006 or 2008? It has a few scratches on the tube of the telescope, is scuffed a bit and it certainly looks well used. The glass at the front looks clear, without scratches. The eye-piece also looks well used, a bit dusty with some tiny scratches. I looked through it a few years ago at Jupiter and Saturn.
I had a look online and the first website I came across was this website but when I researched further, I could not find an Australian re-seller or RRP for the TED0806-01 anywhere, except descriptions of it being a Triplet APO Refractor Telescope and some brand new US pricing.
I don't really have a use for it as I don't have the concrete block, pole and swivel that it sat on and I'm really not that interested so I would like to sell it, but I have no idea of it's 2nd hand value. Can someone please help me with an indication of it's value before I put it on Facebook Marketplace as it looks like I can't sell it on the Classifieds section of this website because I just signed up to make this enquiry.
Thank you!
Janette
Janette,
Can you publish a picture with everything you are trying to sell.
Sorry to hear of your loss , I hope you hold some dear memories of him .
Some pics would help to see what you have ... Did it come with a mount that sat on the concrete pier ?
There is one sold a couple of years back hear in the archives .
If its a bit old and some scuff and scratches around 50% of new price sounds fair. Keep in mind US prices you would allow for the exchange rate difference (currently divide the US price by .66) and also you have to add shipping and GST on the lot to get what it would cost here.Typically that adds up to not quite but almost twice as much as the US price. For example US$695 becomes Aussie $1,450 or so.
If there are marks on the lenses though it may not be worth much at all.
Best to take some photos of the lenses and the marks and post them here so we can evaluate its condition.
Thanks very much Peter, Bob, Paul, Graham and Greg. I hope this reply works. Please see the attached photos. There are some things missing (empty slots) from the hard case that the telescope is in. I have several other boxes to go through so maybe I will find what is missing, but I'm not even sure what to look for to be honest.
Bob, I've since learnt that what I thought was the eye-piece isn't that at all. It's a 45degree angle viewer (Peter mentioned the word diagonal, maybe that's it?) which after I wiped the outside came up nicely. No scratches on the outside and on the inside the glass or mirror looks excellent. No scratches. Basically looks nearly brand new. The glass at the front of the telescope is flawless.
Peter (Max), the tube doesn't really have scratches on it per-se. It just looks a bit worn I guess. There is a silver knob that controls another tube that goes in and out. Is that the focuser? It is very smooth, although opposite the silver knob there is just a some silver metal with a flat part at the end. Maybe another knob is missing? I'll look for that.
Graham, I don't remember anything on top of the concrete block except a swivel that the telescope was connected to. I don't really remember what that looked like, but no, I've only got what is in the hard case and the boxes that I have still to go through. I will look through these tonight and report back.
Thanks again for all your advice and help!
Last edited by JanetteCurtis; 16-06-2020 at 06:12 PM.
Reason: Problems uploading files
Janette, the bits missing from the case look to br 2 eyepieces and a finder scope. The latter is the long empty space. It would look like a little telescope, probably be white, but won't have any knobs on it. It mounts onto the big scope and is used to find the object you are looking for in the sky.
The other two round holes look like they would hold either eyepieces, of round containers holding eyepieces.
The odd flat bit on the focuser may relate to a battery, or powered, focuser.
It's nice little set up and I wish you all the best in selling it.
My condolences and sympathy on the loss of your grandfather.
Thanks Ray and Trevor for your additions and thanks very much to this community for your collective help!
An update. I have looked through the remaining boxes and there is nothing else that fits the description, so I am guessing as there are eyepieces and a finder scope missing, it would reduce the price by as much as $300 from a possible $800 starting price as has been suggested, so $500. I think I will put it up at $550 on Marketplace to allow some wiggle room to get to the $500 point.
Thanks again for all your help and kind words!
If I can't sell this on Marketplace, you might see this come up in about 1 months time on the Classifieds section.
