OPT Service - Excellent

sadia · #1 14-08-2009, 12:02 PM

Placed my Order on 11th. Items are already on my desk by 14th!
I think this is the fastest shipping experience I ever had when dealing with overseas dealer. They even replied my initial query (emailed query on 10th) before placing the order on 11th.

This is just awesome!

PCH (Paul) · #2 14-08-2009, 12:11 PM

I'm with Sadie,

Opt(corp) have been terrific. Quicker than ordering from the east coast for us in WA generally. And they were happy to split my (last) order into two parcels with separate bills in order that a customs inspection didn't reveal an invoice for well more than a grand. 10 out of 10 for OPT from me

Barrykgerdes · #3 14-08-2009, 12:21 PM

The best service I had from an Overseas country (US) was in the late 1960's. I was working on a new 1KW HF transmitter that blew up the diodes (encapsulated 3 phase bridge) in the power supply due to the filter capacitor failing. I spoke to the Australian Agent who rang the parent company and I had the replacement parts in 24 hrs plus the suggestion to leave the filter capacitor out. The transmitter was back operational in and hour after this.

For those in the know the transmitter was the pilot installation of the AN/URT-23v and the company RF Communications.

Barry

Jules76 (Julian) · #4 14-08-2009, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PCH

Opt(corp) have been terrific. Quicker than ordering from the east coast for us in WA generally. And they were happy to split my (last) order into two parcels with separate bills in order that a customs inspection didn't reveal an invoice for well more than a grand.

And you got away with it? Because I was reading on the Customs site that if you receive multiple packages from the same sender around the same time, that they will combine them to work out customs duty. I assume they do this to catch out people trying to get around the $1000 limit this way.

But if you got away with it that's great.

I just wouldn't go pushing your luck and do it too often.

Great to hear Optcorp provide great service. While I'm yet to purchase anything form them as yet, I always check what they have when researching future purchases.

PCH (Paul) · #5 14-08-2009, 02:37 PM

Hi Julian,

I have to confess, it had occurred to me that that the customs dudes might do something like that. But I convinced myself that surely they must have better things to do than occupy their precious time trying to catch out a solitary tripod/telescope customer. Bit sad if they haven't is all I can say

But hey - thanks for the tip Julian. I'll have to space out my part orders in future by a few days or so

DJDD · #6 14-08-2009, 02:43 PM

Careful, the Black Hats may be watching this forum...

marki · #7 14-08-2009, 09:03 PM

OPT are great, I use them all the time. Always answer emails and keep you informed of what is going on. And yes, US postal companies are much better then ours (e.g. 3 days from CONUS vs 6 working days from Sydney. Don't get me started on overnight express

). In the wild west it just makes better sense to buy OS.

Mark

Jules76 (Julian) · #8 14-08-2009, 10:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PCH

Hi Julian,

I have to confess, it had occurred to me that that the customs dudes might do something like that. But I convinced myself that surely they must have better things to do than occupy their precious time trying to catch out a solitary tripod/telescope customer. Bit sad if they haven't is all I can say

But hey - thanks for the tip Julian. I'll have to space out my part orders in future by a few days or so

You could always have it sent to two seperate addresses.

I'm pretty sure that would be one of the ways they'd match it.

I'll have to keep that in mind myself if I ever do any big overseas orders. One to work, one to home. And if you wanted say both to go to work, keep track of it and after it leaves customs, give the courier a call to change address.

Don Pensack · #9 15-08-2009, 09:08 AM

Just a note that this means OPT has never been caught at it, because declaring a value different than actual is against US law and punishable by a huge fine and possible jail time.
Note: I don't work for the government and I simply don't care what happened, but dealers who ship a lot internationally (my company does) have to be VERY careful on this one.

marki · #10 15-08-2009, 11:53 AM

Don, I don't see how sending two seperate packages at different times could be seen as breaking the law. What if you placed an order and only certain items were available for immeadiate shipping whislt other bits were weeks or months away??? They are all part of the same order, just shipped at different times. It would be the same as imposing a max tax free import total for life of $1000, customs would keep a record and once you went beyond this you would have to pay GST. I think the only problem would occur if the items are deliberately under valued. If the order can be broken into seperate components and the correct value of each item clearly marked I cannot see how this could be a problem.

Mark

PCH (Paul) · #11 15-08-2009, 01:30 PM

Yep, ditto what Mark said. It's just shipping the items as two 900 buck items with separate invoices, rather than together with a total invoice for $1800. No breaking any laws I would have thought - unless they have some really strange laws over there

Zaps · #12 15-08-2009, 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sadia

Placed my Order on 11th. Items are already on my desk by 14th!
I think this is the fastest shipping experience I ever had when dealing with overseas dealer. They even replied my initial query (emailed query on 10th) before placing the order on 11th.

This is just awesome!

OPT have always been pretty good regards the actual sale. It's when non-Americans need "after sales and service" that they mysteriously forget that you exist, or that there's a world outside the U.S.A.

marki · #13 15-08-2009, 02:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zaps

OPT have always been pretty good regards the actual sale. It's when non-Americans need "after sales and service" that they mysteriously forget that you exist, or that there's a world outside the U.S.A.

Nothing I have ordered from OS ever needed after sales service and every bit has worked as advertised. If it breaks (not that it ever has in the past 5 years) I am prepared to pay to have it fixed so I don't give a rats about warranty either. What I do care about is paying inflated prices for the same item and vendors who do not keep you informed or answer emails. They will lose my business everytime. Whenever I have had a question about an item I have bought from OPT they have always answered straight away.

Mark

Don Pensack · #14 15-08-2009, 03:27 PM

It isn't the amount that's shipped at one time I was referring to, but stating on an accompanying invoice a value below the true value of the product.

MrB (Simon) · #15 15-08-2009, 04:04 PM

Ah, but that's not what OPT are doing.
As Paul has said, they are simply splitting a single $1800 sale into two $900 packages. No fudging of numbers there.

Thanks to the OP for the heads up, never heard of OPTcorp before.

bobson (Bob) · #16 15-08-2009, 04:35 PM

WOW!! I just checked the price for Pentax 7mm XW and its way cheaper than here!! I will use OPT for ordering thats for sure. I never could understand why would 5mm 10 mmand 14mm XW be cheaper than 7mm XW??? Some people tried to expalin but it never made sense to me since everywhere else in the world 5,7, 10 and 14 mm XW's are selling for the same price.

Thanks for leting us know about this company!

bob

marki · #17 15-08-2009, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrB

Thanks to the OP for the heads up, never heard of OPTcorp before.

Simon they are great to deal with. When I ordered my laser collimator I was a day late and the new laws governing laser imports had been implimented. Fired an email across and got them to hold it while I sorted out the paperwork this side which after 6 weeks I ended up not needing to do as the collimator was not on the banned list. Emailed them again, got a response within 6 hours and my order was on the plane that same day. I have bought lots of accessories from them and they have always been good. These folks know how to conduct business and customer service is at the top of their list.

Mark

Bassnut (Fred) · #18 15-08-2009, 06:38 PM

Ive had good dealings with them too, but it pays to ask if what you want is in stock. "2 weeks, tops" gets irritating when it becomes 6 months (and longer).

Brian Watts · #19 15-08-2009, 08:12 PM

I have used OPT several times this year. I usually contact a local supplier first, but mostly find that I get the delivery from California cheaper and quicker than getting stuff up from Sydney.

Recently I emailed an Australian agent about an accessory. Having not received a reply, I ordered from OPT. The item arrived from USA only a day or two after my original email was answered.

By staying under $1000 (and avoiding duty and GST), OPT will always be cheaper than buying locally, even after allowing for freight. And if the item is in stock, delivery will be about 5 days. They even send you an email advising that the order has been dispatched.

Zaps · #20 16-08-2009, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marki

Whenever I have had a question about an item I have bought from OPT they have always answered straight away.

Mark

There are many non-American customers of OPT who can and will say the opposite. OPT are usually excellent from the point of pricing and delivery. But unless you are an American, your chances of receiving any kind of useful service after the sale is often slim. There have been a bunch of threads on CN recently which illustrate that point. Essentially, once OPT have your cash, you no longer exist, unless you are buying more stuff from them. They aren't alone in that attitude. Many other American vendors are no better.