bad advertising by Aldi

[ferozious]

https://www.aldi.com.au/en/special-b...lar-telescope/

In reference to the above link, I think it totally irresponsible for Aldi to promote such crap as a solar telescope.
Just imagine how many kids might get this as a xmas present, hurriedly unpack it, not read the instructions (who DOES these days?), take it outside and point it at the sun, and when they don't see much due the the filter, they remove it and find themselves unable to see ANYTHING after being blinded after viewing the sun sans filter.
Anyone offer any other thoughts on this?
cheers
Steve

[brian nordstrom (As avatar)]

Well picked up Steve but in beginners equipment discussions this has already been discussed today , but yes its very dangerous to peddle solar telescopes without any idea on how dangerous they can be .

Have a look at the other thread , again a good pick up mate and from all the un-blinded amateure's out there .

Brian

Originally Posted by ferozious

https://www.aldi.com.au/en/special-b...lar-telescope/

In reference to the above link, I think it totally irresponsible for Aldi to promote such crap as a solar telescope.
Just imagine how many kids might get this as a xmas present, hurriedly unpack it, not read the instructions (who DOES these days?), take it outside and point it at the sun, and when they don't see much due the the filter, they remove it and find themselves unable to see ANYTHING after being blinded after viewing the sun sans filter.
Anyone offer any other thoughts on this?
cheers
Steve

[Stardrifter_WA]

This is extremely worrying. I have contacted nine news in WA, WA Dept of Commerce (Consumer affairs) and ALDI themselves.

I would strongly suggest that everyone contact your version of consumer affairs and your local media. And send an email to ALDI also, they may just get the message if we all do so.

Don't just ignore this and say someone else will do it. If we all do it, in doing so, we may just prevent a child from being blinded.

Peter

[Stardrifter_WA]

And send them this link.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5xb3b-vRd4

[Rogering (Stuart)]

Im guessing tha it would be a White light filter?

[traveller (Bo)]

I lodged a compliant with the ACCC.
https://www.accc.gov.au/contact-us/c...consumer-issue
Really worried someone think this will be a good Xmas present and a kid or an adult who had a few drinks use it incorrectly or don't inspect the filter for dmange beforehand and zap their eyes out.
I have also contacted Aldi asking them to pull the scope , even suggested them to take the filter out and just sell it as a normal nigh time scope which it is.
Bo

[MortonH]

I suspect someone has made a gazillion of these for next year's solar eclipse in the US but some are being sold in other countries. Agree it's not something that should be sold in a grocery store.

[Merlin66 (Ken)]

My contribution.....
I visited the local ALDI store (Drysdale, Vic) and found the manager (Darcy).
I explained our concerns and said that they should refrain from selling these "Solar Telescopes" until a full safety assessment is done.
I said that I would prefer not to see him on the 6:30 program trying to explain how he'd sold a solar telescope to a child who ended up with eye damage.
The telescope had not arrived in the store (Saturday Sale) so I couldn't inspect......
He thanked me then said "If Head Office tell me to sell them - I'll sell them"
I said I'd be back to inspect the solar telescopes first thing Saturday and if necessary set up a picket line at the store!!!!!

[AussieTrooper (Ben)]

This thing comes with a barlow lens?!?!? At the advertised magnification, even if it was used correctly, all you'd get was an unfocussed blob, not a sunspot formation.

[Stardrifter_WA]

I lodge a complaint with Aldi, via there web portal, about this telescope and its dangers and this is tyhe reply I received:

"Thank you for contacting us with your inquiry in regards to the National Geographic Telescope .

All ALDI products are tested and must meet stringent quality standards prior to being sold in ALDI stores. We aim to produce products to the highest quality standards.

We sincerely appreciate and thank you for taking the time to contact us." (ALDI Customer Service)


Unbelievable, they must not have watched the video as there reply seems to be just a standard reply.

No child or untrained adult should ever look at the Sun!

Cheers Peter

[Merlin66 (Ken)]

Hmm it seems to be this:
http://www.bresser.de/en/Astronomy/S...ar-Filter.html
Fitted with a removable Baader solar screen filter.

[Stardrifter_WA]

Originally Posted by Merlin66

Hmm it seems to be this:
http://www.bresser.de/en/Astronomy/S...ar-Filter.html
Fitted with a removable Baader solar screen filter.

That's interesting, at least I now know that it isn't the eyepice type, which were banned in WA in the 80's.

My concern remains the same, that doesn't look that secure enough. A child moving the telescope around could easily dislodge that filter resulting in it falling off altogether. This would be a serious issue if a child was looking through the eyepiece at the time.

I will always maintain my stance that no child or untrained adult should ever look at the Sun with a telescope.

[N1 (Mirko)]

Originally Posted by Merlin66

Hmm it seems to be this:
http://www.bresser.de/en/Astronomy/S...ar-Filter.html
Fitted with a removable Baader solar screen filter.

Excellent post Ken. Always a good idea to find out what we are actually talking about...

[AstralTraveller (David)]

Originally Posted by Stardrifter_WA

... We aim to produce products to the highest quality standards. ...

Really? Somehow I don't think they have Lunt worried.

Seriously though, if used properly it wouldn't be dangerous - disappointing but not dangerous. The operative work, of course, is 'if'.

If a similar scope were bought through Bintel, Andrews etc no one would be getting concerned. We'd assume that the buyers had thought about their purchase and some knowledgeable sales assistant has given them the appropriate warnings and instructions. The problem is that Aldi attracts (relies on??) impulse buying and they don't have the staff with the necessary knowledge (or time) to properly advise customers. It comes with instructions but, as someone else said, there is no guarantee they will be read, especially by people prone to impulse buying. Even my university-trained sister-in-law didn't immediately see the danger. Once the problem was pointed out she understood (and was duly horrified) but the idea just wasn't on her radar. She also didn't think about the possibility of the filter getting damaged and to check it before each use.

BTW "Net Weight total (incl. accessories) 2 kg" I've got eyepieces that weigh >1kg! At least the disappointed customers won't strain themselves lobbing it into the dumpster.

[xelasnave]

Who can get this on TV ? Who do you know?
Alex

[MortonH]

Get it on social media - will spread faster than TV.

[astroron (Ron)]

Numerous complaints on FB and people putting reports to the ACCC
and consumer affairs.
Plus sharing the add with Warnings NOT to purchase the scope for solar viewing.
Cheers

[Stardrifter_WA]

I made a report to the WA Dept of Commerce and they have replied that the complaint has been forwarded to the Product Safety Section of the Retail, Building and Services Branch for review.

If they receive more complaints they may actually do something about it.

As far as I know it isn't the jurisdiction of the ACCC. Product complaints need to be made to you state 'consumer affairs'.

[N1 (Mirko)]

Is this the only product available from ALDI that is potentially harmful but unlikely to cause harm if used correctly, as per enclosed instructions? If not, what exactly are we complaining about? ACCC, really? This thing might actually work to some extent, and I just haven't been able to produce any mouth froth (been trying all day) at the fact that you can now buy a device that allows you to see the surface of the Sun, from a supermarket.

[Mark_S (Mark)]

I found this review for a similar product to be sold in the ALDI stores in the UK this might be the one that ALDI will also offer here in Australia

https://www.gadgetspeak.com/review/A...pe-870688.html

It does indeed look like the one Merlin66 found http://www.bresser.de/en/Astronomy/S...ar-Filter.html