York optical

[tlgerdes (Trevor)]

Originally Posted by jjjnettie

Higher prices can't be helped when you have a physical shop front.
The rent and wages have to be covered.

Maybe so, but the cheaper price came from someone who has a shop front as well.

I would look to part of the fact being that their Sydney shop is in a high rent district, not known for shopping, with bad parking.

[GraemeT (Graeme)]

I'm sorry to hear the negatives about York Optical. As a newbie, I bought my scope from them, paid $10 more than the advertised prices by other Sydney retailers at the time, mainly because of the good advice and patient, interested service I received. Of the other retailers, one chose to ignore me for over 20 minutes while they chatted behind the counter screen over a cup of coffee, another was only interested in bagging everyone else in the trade and their products. The only other retailer I have subsequently found on a par with York was Andrews.
I guess that, if you know what you want, price will be the over-riding consideration, but for an inexperienced newcomer, patient explanation and no hard sell will often be worth a few extra dollars.

[PCH (Paul)]

Originally Posted by GraemeT

I'm sorry to hear the negatives about York Optical. As a newbie, I bought my scope from them, paid $10 more than the advertised prices by other Sydney retailers at the time, mainly because of the good advice and patient, interested service I received. Of the other retailers, one chose to ignore me for over 20 minutes while they chatted behind the counter screen over a cup of coffee, another was only interested in bagging everyone else in the trade and their products. The only other retailer I have subsequently found on a par with York was Andrews.
I guess that, if you know what you want, price will be the over-riding consideration, but for an inexperienced newcomer, patient explanation and no hard sell will often be worth a few extra dollars.

Some great points there Graeme, and I'd say noone would whine about a $10 price difference. However, the earlier post displayed a substantial difference - hundreds of dollars were involved.

But regarding individual retailers/outlets, I have not-so-great stories about the ones you've placed on pedestals, - and I suppose others could add to this idea. It just shows that everyone, retailer-wise has good and not-so-good days in their work. And also that they can't please everybody all the time. For example, the guys that left you standing (and unhappy because of that), would have really pleased me. I prefer to be allowed plenty of time to look, - and if I have a question, I'm happy to go over and throw rocks at them (or politely ask ) to get their attention.

Just my 2c

[Gallifreyboy]

In Perth we have very little in the way of astro retail, its like it or lump it (he won't price match in my experience) from the 1 small store hence online shopping is a way of life for most of us over here. Nearly 2 years ago with my astronomy renaissance I was going to buy from Andrews but leading up to Xmas their stock was sold out on a couple of items I wanted. They had their prices advertised in ASandT and I used that as a bargaining point with U-shop who did price match for the items I wanted. The guy I spoke to had to check with his boss and I think he thought I was on hold listening to phone music while he spoke with the boss, the thing was I could hear everything he said. It was clear at those prices the margins were tight and he openly discussed bumping up transport costs with the boss, I think by about $40 in the end. I went through with the purchase of over $2k though knowing that it was a good price. I subsequently became aware of York and U-shop having too many similarities to think they were truly in competition with each other. I haven't bought from them since but I would consider it
Lessons I learnt :
shop around if you know what you want and what you want to pay and if they are reputable suppliers see if they will price match
they might try and sting you somewhere else so beware

[Max Vondel (Peter)]

All the retailers are in trouble with the dollar. I just placed an order with Lunt in the US. Even after paying for UPS I still save $120- over a populist local retailer for the same products (currently out of stock locally)