Eyepiece Sunfilter AGAIN please help to do something. - UPDATED AGAIN - WITH REPLY
If you have received the latest "WOW Sight and Sound" catalogue you will notice on page 16 three telescopes for sale . Two of these scopes, both newts, are advertised with 1.25" solar filters included. I can only assume these are the extremely dangerous eyepiece filters. I am in the process of checking on this. If they are, and you have received this catalogue, please, please ring them and inform them of the dangers to people who use these filters.
So did I. I've got the office of Fair Trading onto it atm and have contacted the head office of WOW, so let's see how we go from there.
Do you have the catalogue Dave? If you do I'd suggest going to the Office of Fair Trading website and download the safety report and send it in to them.
Dunno, Paul. I have downloaded the latest on-line catalogue which has four telescopes listed under the 'fun' page (Page 9A). No sign of filters. Perhaps I'm missing something.
*edit*
Ah, ignore that. I just realised that the latest on-line is July 2004.
Mock up some official looking legal letterhead and say you are acting on behalf of several blinded clients who are intending to sue for damages. Maybe then they'll get the message.
Do you have the catalogue Dave? If you do I'd suggest going to the Office of Fair Trading website and download the safety report and send it in to them.
Paul, no I don't (we recycle most of the junk mail), but will keep an eye out for it. We need to make sure people don't get hurt.
Thanks 1ponders for the document link, will fill and send before Friday.
It is upsetting to know that there are still ways importers can so easily ship these potentially dangerous things to any country, and they often do so ignorantly and with little idea of the damage they can do.
The thought of a young future astronomer or any person with damaged eyesight through that kind of ignorance is unsettling.
Fred Hollows for instance i reckon would not be happy with our regulations and screening procedures.
I'd like to see every Queenslander who reads this thread to print out the pdf link and send it to Fair Trading Stephen. I think a concerted effort by everyone will do more good and someone occassionally making a complaint.
I contacted the company, but was not able to speak to anyone with influence. They were all in Cairns or Makay or somewhere up north opening a new store yesterday. I'll try again today and see how I go.
I might even give the local state member a go and see what happens.
Do you have a link for that Micko? I know it's been discussed here before, but I don't think anyone has ever been able to supply difinitive legislation. I'd love to be able to send a link to these guys.
The filters are illegal in Australia. Just contact the relevent authorities and they have to act. If not kick up a stink.
i have looked thru austlii database and havent found a single piece of legislation stating that
i even looked up australian standards and didnt find one that fit properly.
got any links or acts or regulations i can look up? I'd love to see some sort of legal document
dang, that thread has some particularly stupid and embarasing posts by me...
yet it still doesnt show what specific piece of legislation is for these dangerous filters. dont get me wrong people, i am not trying to protect the filters i am just curious.... as far as i am concerned the factories making them can burn down.
Please take some time to fill in and send a form to fair trading people!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!
Only takes about 15 minutes to do and might help prevent a personal tragedy in the future.
It is not usually the retailers themselves that are specifically to blame, most are completely ignorant, preventing them from taking delivery is the go and an importation/ customs trading administrative responsibility, their existense and use is what we pay our taxes for!
oops, here is the link once again 1ponders provided earlier for the unsafe product documents-
I contacted the Qld Office of Fair Trading and they finally got back to me. This looks promising.
Quote:
Dear Mr Russell
I refer to your complaint concerning sun filters attached to telescopes
advertised at Sight & Sound.
I have discussed your complaint with the QUT, school of Optometry where
I sought to get a professional opinion and they were extremely concerned
and they are currently investigating this matter for us.
I am awaiting a response from the QUT and then I will contact yourself
and Sight & Sound regarding the outcome of the investigation.
Kind Regards
Stephanie Young
Administration Officer
Product Safety Unit
Department of Tourism, Fair Trading and Wine Industry Development
Ph. (07) 330 59614 Fax. (07) 3305 9619 stephanie.young@dtftwid.qld.gov.au
![[1ponders]'s Avatar](../vbiis/customavatars/avatar45_9.gif){kind=avatar}
![[1ponders] is offline](/vbiis/images/statusicon/user_offline.gif)
. Two of these scopes, both newts, are advertised with 1.25" solar filters included. I can only assume these are the extremely dangerous eyepiece filters. I am in the process of checking on this. If they are, and you have received this catalogue, please, please ring them and inform them of the dangers to people who use these filters.
and might help prevent a personal tragedy in the future.
