ES Australian distributor

[Ian Flowes]

Bill information shows VTI Optics is a legitimate, registered business, per ASIC records.
That is also good enough for me.
I will be buying the 24mm 82D from them.
I would prefer to buy local then overseas considering all the hassle involve,especially with warranty and returns.

[Visionoz (Bill)]

Originally Posted by Colin_Fraser

I think I'll purchase somewhere else. Does not seem right.
No addresses and only contact is a mobile phone.
He also charges a $12 handling fee on top of postage.
Prefer to deal with registered businesses or forum members.
Too iffy these days. Anyone can get an ABN online and it costs nothing, You only need to ask.
If this individual sole trader is legit, I wish him well.

He's now put his business address on his homepage
FYI it does cost money to get a "sole trader" business registration and the ABN is more a statutory requirement for ATO purposes for any legit business to trade (I might be proven wrong though!)

Oh, BTW on the right hand side of the homepage you can set your default currency which in our case is the AUD!

Originally Posted by MattT

I'm with you Colin, seems like some one is setting up really quick for what reason??? Probably sees a gap in the market, and there is, but why start up and have next to no stock for sale?? I'll be using OPT thanks. Rather support proper astro shops even if they are OS. Now if Andrews was selling ES ....I would be buying from them.
Matt

Can't understand why the doubt - after all the bloke's got the proper paper work from ASIC, his address and principal place of business is documented and he's enterprising enough to catch onto an opportunity as he claims that his company been officially appointed by JOC for Australia market (it is stated on his website) so I'd say good luck! - only time will tell if he's trustworthy to deal with etc - no-one's forcing anyone to shop with him and I think it's very Aussie to give him a "Fair Go" until proven otherwise - just MHO

Anyway YMMV - to each his own

Usual disclaimer: I am in no way associated with that company, yada...yada...yada.... don't even know him from a bar of soap

Cheers
Bill

[Poita (Peter)]

Originally Posted by brian nordstrom

Cant seem to be able to find it ?
Brian.

Works for me:
http://vtioptics.com.au/

[Colin_Fraser]

Originally Posted by Visionoz

FYI it does cost money to get a "sole trader" business registration

Yes I know Bill. What I said was ABN costs nothing.

[Suzy]

Astro Pete's selling ES??? That's exciting news! Thanks for that Stu

He's also just started selling the Baader Hyperion eyepieces, good price too at $169.

Pete and the staff are a terrific bunch of people, so helpful and so friendly. They do sidewalk astronomy outside their shop (which is located in an open air shopping centre)- lots of telescopes set up around a cafe atmosphere. And the kids love the shop- he's even got a Lego International Space Station (with Shuttle & everything!) and you won't believe this but a working little dob telescope made from Lego!!! Glass mirrors, finders, the lot! He made it for the kids to use outside his shop!

My hat's off to Pete, not only does he operate the astro shop, the open air cafe side of the shop adds to the relaxed atmosphere, and he is totally hands on with getting people involved in astronomy (sidewalk astronomy, group astro nights etc). He even collimated Shelley's new 10" dob for her when she bought it.

Look, I know I maybe going on a bit here, but I was genuinely impressed with the set up, their commitment, and their attitude towards educating the masses to "look up". I've met all the boys there, had great chats with them and bought from them, their stuff is competitively priced and their postal service is quick.

He's celebrating his first year with a celebration this Saturday July 14th, see his website here for details.

Disclaimer: No, I don't work for Astro Petes, I am just one of the many happy & impressed customers.

[Richard Gamble (Richard Gamble)]

Checked out astropete.....no ES stuff for sale.
No dates, nothing.

[MattT]

Thanks Stu... thats what I call a real astro shop. Wish it was there when I lived in Mt Gravatt 24 years ago. The Hyperion price is amazing even comparing it to OS Shops. Will be in contact with Astro Petes shortly...
Matt

[Suzy]

Originally Posted by Richard Gamble

Checked out astropete.....no ES stuff for sale.
No dates, nothing.

Pete is a fb buddy of mine and I was talking to him tonight on facebook. He said that at this stage, his supplier won't be receiving the Explore Scientific (ES) eyepieces until September. Pete also said that he hasn't formulated a price list yet but they will be as cheap as possible.

I was looking at getting the ES 4.7mm- OPT have them on back order and Pete won't be getting his stock till September so I have to start looking elsewhere. Woodlands Telescopes (Telescopes.net) in the U.S. just don't seem to want to reply to my emails (each sent a month apart). They have them on sale for $99 (82deg) at the moment. The freight cost I'm told (from someone who just bought one from there) was $50- no different to OPT. But I have a problem giving them my money when they won't respond to my purchase inquiry. So I'm running out of options who to buy from... could be a long wait... *sigh*

I'm with Matt, I too, feel uneasy buying from that site.

[Shark Bait (Stu)]

Originally Posted by Richard Gamble

Checked out astropete.....no ES stuff for sale.
No dates, nothing.

It is shown on 'page 7' of the rolling banner at the top of his sites front page. No dates or prices yet. As Suzy has mentioned, it looks like they will be available around September.

[Les Kurma]

I was saving up to purchase an 18mm, 82D ES.
Just ordered one from VTI.
Happy enough to give them the business, as they are an Authourised distributor and their price is right.
Better to buy from an authourised distributor then just any, that is MHO.

[sopticals (Stephen)]

Not everyone can wait until September. I decided on a ES 30mm last week, so checked around to see which retailers had it in stock (at the sale price). OPT listed the item in stock, now in the post US$249 plus $49.20 postage. Seems some folk are going down the "back order route". Could be a disappointing wait.

Stephen.

[Ian Flowes]

Dropped into VTI to buy my ep this morning.
No hassle. Saved the delivery and they even waived the handling charge.
Good service, I reckon.

[AG Hybrid (Adrian)]

So, any word if they are going to stock the Twilight 2 mount?

[Les Kurma]

Ordered my ep from VTI Wednesday,arrived yesterday.
Can't wait to try it out!

[Terrence (Terry Sommer)]

Hi guys,
I am just starting out,so this nut head is as new as they comes, not to mention that I am totally lost when looking up at the night sky.
Cannot tell the moon from the sun!
I am comtemplating buying a good ep with a decent price tag, as in less then $200......
Seriously, I am thinking of going ahead with a purchase.
Just noticed, they have drop the prices on a couple of eps, so there is no more reason to hold back on my wallet.

[Colin_Fraser]

Originally Posted by Terrence

Cannot tell the moon from the sun!

One comes out at night and the other comes out in the day. Not sure which though

[erick (Eric)]

Originally Posted by Colin_Fraser

One comes out at night and the other comes out in the day. Not sure which though

Not sure, I'm new in town.

Terry, you won't go wrong with an ES eyepiece, but which one? What do you want to see?

[Terrence (Terry Sommer)]

My interest is still raw but I am more inclines towards loose star clusters
and easily observable bright nebulae like the Pleiades and the Orion nebulae.So I am going for the 24mm ES.Heard they are good.

[Terrence (Terry Sommer)]

Decidely at the last moment, I purchased the 18mm ES instead as the 24mm is outside my budget.
It came yesterday, nicely packed and no, my Money did not disappear into a sink hole!
Still trying to figure out which is the moon and the sun, this nut head........

Cheers guys

[Jeremy Parker (Jeremy)]

I see VTI is starting to advertise on IIS now....hope they will do well.