online astronomy stores

hookedonsaturn · #1 06-09-2007, 07:28 PM

Im not sure if this is the right forum for this. Has anyone ever had any dealings with this outfit http://www.spaceandastronomy.com.au/ and if so were there any problems with delivery of products.I am very wary of online shopping and have learnt you can get burnt so am just seeking as muchinfo i can get. thks

mill (Martin) · #2 06-09-2007, 07:38 PM

Looking at their ads they are very confusing.
One example:
CCD Colour Imager

Very easy to use, just put the end of the camera into the telescope instead of your eyepiece. Connects to your computer via a USB cable, don't have to worry about batteries as the camera is powered by the USB port on your computer. Powerful software supplied as standard that allows you to adjust brightness etc.

Then the specs:Sensor : 1/3" CMOS
Video Format : 24-bit Colour
Shutter : Electronic controlled
Resolution : 640 x 480 ( Good Quality )
S/N ratio : Equals to 48db or above
Aperture : 1.25"
Power : Via USB Port 9.5V
Operating Temperature : 0-40 degree Celcius

I dont know if it is an honest mistake or not but i have never bought from them.
Maybe someone else likes to comment on this online company?

nightsky · #3 06-09-2007, 07:49 PM

G'Day,
Here's a link to one shop,very honest and good backup service
https://www.bintelshop.com.au/welcome.htm
Here's another 2 but I have never deal with them myself
http://www.telescope.com.au
http://www.myastroshop.com.au/
What are you looking for ? we have a great Buy and Sell right here on this site

Cheers
Arthur

Terry B · #4 06-09-2007, 10:22 PM

I have no experience with the company in the link but the CCD camera is an old version called a QHY 1.
It has been superceded by the QHY2 take a look at this thread for the newer version.

Glenhuon (Bill) · #5 07-09-2007, 10:27 AM

No experience of the quoted online shop either, but have had very positive dealings with Bintel and Myastro. BTW Bintel have a model runout on the Meade DSI for $149 + post. Have one on order, they are due in at the end of the month.

DJDD · #6 07-09-2007, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Glenhuon

No experience of the quoted online shop either, but have had very positive dealings with Bintel and Myastro. BTW Bintel have a model runout on the Meade DSI for $149 + post. Have one on order, they are due in at the end of the month.

I see that these can be used for autoguiding.
what about the Meade Deep Sky Imager Pro at bintel for $189 (down from $599). I assume these would be suitable for autoguiding, as well?

maybe I should buy one or the other, even though I do not have any gear just to save the money later on.

DJDD

[1ponders] (Paul) · #7 07-09-2007, 12:05 PM

You certainly wouldn't do wrong with the DSI for autoguiding DJDD. Well worth the money atm.

hookedonsaturn · #8 08-09-2007, 07:26 PM

thks for the help guys.should have posted before i bought then i wouldnt have gotten burnt.money taken and no product delivered and one excuse after another why product hasnt been delivered.grrrrrrrrrr

nightsky · #9 08-09-2007, 07:44 PM

G'Day,
What did you purchase from them ? it may well be out of stock,then again I noticed on there web site there is no real shop, unless I missed it.
Cheers
Arthur

hookedonsaturn · #10 08-09-2007, 08:43 PM

a universal digital camera mount. when it never arrived i phoned and the excuse was that it must have got lost in mail and that they were trying to track it . after a week of not being able to get through to their phone or fax i called the post office to see how a parcel mailed here in australia could be tracked if sent by regular post .Australia post informed me that it was virtualy
impossible to track if sent regular post. As far as i am concerned if they do not answer their phone nor does their fax recieve messages and they do not
answer their emails they give the impression of being just a tad sharky

Glenhuon (Bill) · #11 08-09-2007, 11:05 PM

Yep, I've lost a couple of parcels that way. If its not registered, there's no way to track where it went. Had one from USA that never arrived, US$80 worth of Star Trek model kits, sure it went to my old address, but no way to prove it.
Keep pushing them, if it's not been delivered its not yours until it is.

ballaratdragons (Ken) · #12 08-09-2007, 11:12 PM

Lost in the mail

Geez, how many times have I heard that!!!!!!

There must be a room in Australia Post that goes to the 'Dreaded Void' (insert echo here).

When people say 'it got lost in the post' they really often mean "Dang, I forget to post it. I must get around to that one day"

Louwai (Bryan) · #13 11-09-2007, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ballaratdragons

Lost in the mail

Geez, how many times have I heard that!!!!!!

There must be a room in Australia Post that goes to the 'Dreaded Void' (insert echo here).

When people say 'it got lost in the post' they really often mean "Dang, I forget to post it. I must get around to that one day"

Not wanting to stick up for this "shop" Ken, but you'd be surprised at how much stuff AU Post loses.
For my own business I've actually dumped AU Post all together as I was getting far too many items arriving damaged & at least 3 / mth "lost" in the mail. I was having a hell of a time with customers. They only want to pay for the cheap postage, but when it doesn't turn up they expect me to replace it.
I've now changed to Allied Express Couriers for domestic & TOLL Priority for international. It's only slightly more expensive (in some cases cheaper) & both the customer & I can track it on the web.
NOTHING has been lost or damaged in the 2 yrs since I changed.

Rattler (John) · #14 13-09-2007, 11:52 AM

Had a look at the site...nothing clearly stated about guarantee of delivery...BUT...the Postal Act says that an item is deemed delievered after three working days. This is for legal purposes and has failed the test. So what next??

Well, under the Sale of Goods Act (NSW and called other names in other states), you are protected for NOT having recieved the goodies. You are also protected under the Federal Act called "Trade Practices Act". Therefore, if you have paid via credit card, ring your credit card provider and ask them to hold payment as the item has not arrived. Under their Act, they have to hold that payment from your vendor even if they have cleared it! You are safe. Your vendor can then sit and rot until the Sun goes fat and you do not lose.

But act sooner rather than later. Good luck!

Have fun,

Louwai (Bryan) · #15 17-09-2007, 02:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rattler

Had a look at the site...nothing clearly stated about guarantee of delivery...BUT...the Postal Act says that an item is deemed delievered after three working days. This is for legal purposes and has failed the test. So what next??

Well, under the Sale of Goods Act (NSW and called other names in other states), you are protected for NOT having recieved the goodies. You are also protected under the Federal Act called "Trade Practices Act". Therefore, if you have paid via credit card, ring your credit card provider and ask them to hold payment as the item has not arrived. Under their Act, they have to hold that payment from your vendor even if they have cleared it! You are safe. Your vendor can then sit and rot until the Sun goes fat and you do not lose.

But act sooner rather than later. Good luck!

Have fun,

What about the situation where the vendor has done the right thing & posted the item via std post because the customer did not want to pay for postage insurance etc to save money. If it is genuinly lost in the post, why should the vendor be out of pocket. He has fulfilled the obligation.
Or where the customer takes advantage of the TPA even though they actually DID receive the item.

These are just 2 of the reasons why I only use couriers now.
If anyone tries the above after they have received it I just need to produce the signed Con-note from the courier company.
And if they don't receive it, I know it's ligitimate AND I can track exactly where the item is & find out why it was not delivered and rectify the problem.

Alchemy (Clive) · #16 17-09-2007, 04:02 PM

Clearly as the purchaser one should insist that it is sent registered mail. I bought from steve at astro shop recently(note... very happy with his service),he said hes had no problems with aupost but i insisted he send it insured and registered, which he did. package arrived in good order and quickly(when its registered you can track where it gets lost ). AND i knew if some theiving mongrel decided to lift it as they do i was covered..................... Ive lost all sorts of things in the mail due to the complete and utter incompetence of the mail dept..........

Louwai (Bryan) · #17 18-09-2007, 09:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alchemy

Clearly as the purchaser one should insist that it is sent registered mail. I bought from steve at astro shop recently(note... very happy with his service),he said hes had no problems with aupost but i insisted he send it insured and registered, which he did. package arrived in good order and quickly(when its registered you can track where it gets lost ). AND i knew if some theiving mongrel decided to lift it as they do i was covered..................... Ive lost all sorts of things in the mail due to the complete and utter incompetence of the mail dept..........

Yep I agree. I've dealt with Steve & have received excelent service.

I also agree with the registered post. I always tried to push it when using AU Post, many of my customers refuse it because they want to save money.
Which is why I changed to couriers.
Don't give them a choice & everyone turns out happy.

rogerg (Roger) · #18 18-09-2007, 10:23 AM

I've had registered post packages go missing for up to a month (poster tubes) mostly. They have always turned up eventually, so far, but often when they turn up late they also turn up damaged.

I prefer sending registered post but ultimately it's up to what the customer wants to pay for, if given all the options.