ICEINSPACE
Moon Phase
CURRENT MOON
Waxing Crescent 8.1%
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20-01-2005, 10:27 AM
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Sir Post a Lot!
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Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Gosford, NSW, Australia
Posts: 36,799
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I think you're right Gordon
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20-01-2005, 11:54 AM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Mackay, QLD
Posts: 456
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Yeah, Nice fellow Lee is. I'm sure he would let ya even lend a few lenses for review.
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20-01-2005, 01:05 PM
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~Dust bunny breeder~
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Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: The town of campbells
Posts: 12,359
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13-06-2005, 07:48 PM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Mount Crosby Queensland
Posts: 11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by iceman
Congrats Nortilus.. hey I reckon we should start getting commission from Andrews.. how many referrals have we sent his way for the 8" dob now!? 
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 G,day Mike,
I would have bought my scope through Andrews but when I rang them ,they said that they where busy and would ring me back. They never rang back and in the meanwhile I got a good deal in Brisbane (I think)so I went for it.
I didn't buy a Dob as I also wanted to do bird viewing so I got a 150X 1200 reflector . It should arrive tomorrow.
Derek
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19-01-2006, 01:58 PM
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spamologist
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Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: directly above the centre of earth
Posts: 268
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I'm shopping around too - not too far from Brissy where did you find your good deal?
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21-01-2006, 12:54 PM
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42
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Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 46
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The difficult bintel/andrews GSO decision. Most people seem happy dealing with either shop. Personally i was happy to spend the extra hundred dollars on a bintel dob; simply because for that extra money you get good back up, unbiased advice and a lot of knowledge in aftersales service, these people know their stuff, and may match andrews prices on accesories afterwards. Lee from andrews is a nice bloke and good to deal with and buy from, but the knowledge on tech specks and item performance is sometimes lacking. Guess its a matter of priorites. Bintel delivery cost for 10" dob. to hervey bay area- $130.
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21-01-2006, 01:06 PM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Shoalhaven Heads, NSW
Posts: 2,620
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Starkler
The Bintel dobs are Guan Sheng.
Orion used to be Guan Sheng, but currently use Synta for their dobs and have for maybe 2 years.
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Geoff,
The 12" Orion scope uses GS Optics as Synta's largest mirrors are only 10" at present. The other Orion dobs use Synta optics as you point out.
CS-John B
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21-01-2006, 01:12 PM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Shoalhaven Heads, NSW
Posts: 2,620
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If you want a cheap cardboard box containing a telescope buy it from Andrews.
If you want to establish a relationship with a dealer, who will offer free high quality advice, bend over backwards to help you, now and 20 years into the future, buy it from Bintel. Quality advice is only a phone call away with Bintel, all the staff are experienced observers and optical technicians. Sometimes theres more to a long term purchase than just the base price. Consider what you are after on a long term basis, then decide where to buy it.
CS-John B
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21-01-2006, 09:06 PM
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Professional Idiot
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Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Maryborough
Posts: 47
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I have just ordered a 8 inch premium Dob from Bintel. $550 for the scope, $85 for freight to Hervey Bay, and a Orion collimation tool for $75. This scope has the Crawford focusser and mirror fan. It also comes with 3 eyepieces- 9mm, 15mm and 26mm. The andrews 8inch was $50 less but with only 2 eyepieces.
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21-01-2006, 09:26 PM
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6000 post club member
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Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Launceston, Australia
Posts: 6,570
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John B is right.
Don't base your decision solely on saving a couple of $$$,
There's an enormous amount to be said for product knowledge and after sales service.
It's only a personal thing but I try to avoid purchasing from non astro folk. Suppliers who are passionate astronomers themselves will be the best to deal with, IMO.
I won't name names but I can recall trying to buy a $2000+ scope and getting bundled off the phone by the owner four times before I gave up. He was always "too busy to talk at the moment"!!!!
There was also an occasion where I had my credit card in my hand and tried to buy a collection of items and was hurried off the phone and told he'd call back. He didn't. Twice!
You know who I'm talking about.
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21-01-2006, 09:43 PM
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Vagabond
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Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: China
Posts: 1,477
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ausastronomer
If you want a cheap cardboard box containing a telescope buy it from Andrews.
If you want to establish a relationship with a dealer, who will offer free high quality advice, bend over backwards to help you, now and 20 years into the future, buy it from Bintel. Quality advice is only a phone call away with Bintel, all the staff are experienced observers and optical technicians. Sometimes theres more to a long term purchase than just the base price. Consider what you are after on a long term basis, then decide where to buy it.
CS-John B
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I disagree. I have delt with both companies and I have never had a problem with Andrews and would recomend them to anybody. Bintel on the otherhand have been a mixed blessing for me. Sometimes the service has been good but other times particually when asking questions they don't seem that interested. And all this talk of after sales service, that makes no difference on this side of the country.
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21-01-2006, 09:46 PM
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He used to cut the grass.
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Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Hobart
Posts: 1,235
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Hi,
Not long ago I rang a shop that sells astronomy gear. (Soon they'll be selling very large truss dobs.) The guy sounded OK, but he was obviously in a rush. Now, I'm a pretty efficient guy when I'm on the phone, and I don't believe I was being particularly slow, obtuse, or wasting his time. I knew what I wanted, and we both knew that I was prepared to spend a reasonably large amount of money to get it. Nonetheless, I received the impression that this guy had bigger fish to fry. Not only that, but during the course of our very brief conversation he called me variously Ian, Graham, Tony, Michael, and Steve. My name is Brian.
A few minutes later I rang Bintel.
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21-01-2006, 09:52 PM
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6000 post club member
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Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Launceston, Australia
Posts: 6,570
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Service includes making the time to speak to people.
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21-01-2006, 10:20 PM
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Vagabond
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Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: China
Posts: 1,477
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I totally agree Matt. The staff at Andrews are always ready for a good yarn with out wanting to know your credit card number first. Hopefully I will be dealing with them soon about the 16" GSO (goody goody)
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21-01-2006, 10:37 PM
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6000 post club member
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Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Launceston, Australia
Posts: 6,570
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Sorry Mick, but that's not been my experience with that particular vendor.
I am, however, happy that you're happy
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21-01-2006, 11:15 PM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Shoalhaven Heads, NSW
Posts: 2,620
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mickoking
And all this talk of after sales service, that makes no difference on this side of the country.
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It makes a lot on this side.
CS-John B
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21-01-2006, 11:22 PM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Shoalhaven Heads, NSW
Posts: 2,620
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Miaplacidus
Hi,
Nonetheless, I received the impression that this guy had bigger fish to fry. Not only that, but during the course of our very brief conversation he called me variously Ian, Graham, Tony, Michael, and Steve. My name is Brian.
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That's Lee to a tee  I have called him for the last time and I don't care how cheap he sells the stuff. I am sick of him saying he will, "call me back and let me know if he can get it !!!", he just never does.
CS-John B
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21-01-2006, 11:29 PM
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Vagabond
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Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: China
Posts: 1,477
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ausastronomer
It makes a lot on this side.
CS-John B
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I don't think I explained that point too well, After sales service does matter even over here in Australia's economic powerhouse  But as Andrews and Bintel are in Sydney we can't exactly walk into the stores and talk face to face with the merchants.
Also some people have had a few problems with Andrews, I must say I have had a few with another sydney store who didn't seem interested when I wanted to buy a $4000+ 200mm SCT. That was when I was living in Newcastle and was in the store.
I guess many of us fall into either the Andrews camp or the Bintel camp. I have and will continue to use both stores for my Astronomy supplies. I just think Andrews has the better service based on my experience
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21-01-2006, 11:36 PM
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Registered User
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Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Shoalhaven Heads, NSW
Posts: 2,620
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mickoking
I just think Andrews has the better service based on my experience 
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I can appreciate that you can only go on your own dealings Mick. At one time in the distant past I thought the same thing and bought a number of products off him, including my current scope. Subsequent continued dealings and phone calls and particularly "non returned" phone calls only served to erode the relationship.
CS-John B
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21-01-2006, 11:38 PM
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6000 post club member
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Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Launceston, Australia
Posts: 6,570
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We're not all from Sydney either.
And I think it's a mistake assuming any of us fall into a camp by reducing the equation to just 2 vendors.
My last few purchases have been through MyAstroshop and were very pleasant experiences.
But I've also bought from Bintel and Andrews.
And others.
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