Because I've had to buy most of my stuff from the UK, Europe or the US seeing as the Rep. of Ireland has no Astrovendors worth mentioning, I have played the exchange rate timing game extensively.
I've also been very lucky with avoiding Irish Customs and VAT. I get everything from the US sent via USPS who interface with the National postal service here. Those guys just don't seem to be arsed processing all the packages coming into the country. 3 out of every 4 of my orders seem to get through unmolested. Its lucky for them I'm not a drug dealer!! NB. No shenanigans with customs declaration forms or invoice values either. All above board.
Anyway, got a bunch of accessories like My Moonlite Focuser and Howie Glatter Laser through when the rate was $1.60-€1.00. Got a Brian Reed Equatorial Platform through when the right got back to the $1.50's after a dip. Got my 16" Lightbridge from the UK back in Dec '08 when a confluence of Manufacturer discount, Retailer Xmas Discount and GBP/Euro parity at the time of the credit Crunch meant I got my LB16 for €1100 instead of €2400. Got a Servocat Drive and SkyCommander for the Lightbridge when the rate got back to about $1.45 after a low of about $1.20.
Best of all??
Manufacturer discount, Retailer Discount and current $1.45 exchange rate and with a good chance of escaping Customs and VAT again mean that in about a fortnights time I should have in my hands a 3.7mm sx, 6mm, 8mm, 10mm, 13mm, 17mm, 21mm Ethos &31mm Nagler for the grand total of €2200 instead of the cheapest European price of €4500.
Even if it turns out they don't agree with me or I decide I want out of the astronomy game in a few years, I stand to make a nice profit upon selling them for a few years to come. Now that is a safe investment!
Well it certainly made rationalising a 2200 eyepiece spending spree easier
