October 2003 telescope price review

Nobody gets freebies in this world, so where does the money go to? Is this David Moore's job? An astronommical society is a place where a hobby can be explored and implemented, almost free (without the extra's like magazines etc), and not be exploited for anyones gain. AI's public liability insurance premium is not even a tenth of the net annual income...

Sorry, but I don't see how it can be justified, how a society of hobbies can 'exploit' Joe Soap who doesn't know any better. If you're going to go out observing, and someone wnats to have a peek, where's the fun in charging for that peek (seriously)??

Just my thoughts... :roll:

Seanie.

I understand how AI works (sorta) after reading that and I understand how A&S works (as it is a publicly limmited company), the bit I have issue with is how they inter-relate. When you "Join AI" your money seems to go to A&S limmited! It all seems very confusing to me!

Now I've had a close look at the A&S website, I am even more confused about all of this. I really am going to have to have a word with David Moore at Astro Expo.

1) Astronomy.ie has a tagline that reads 'Astronomy Ireland Homepage' - This indicates it is the Astronomy Ireland CLUB homepage.

2) Nowhere on that page does it mention anything about joining the club. There is actually a link to 'Subscribe' (to the magazine I presume)

3) On the subscription page, it says 'Subscription Form', but under that it says 'If you wish to join by credit card see below'. Hang on, am I subscribing or joining now?

4) The dropdown box gives the following options;

Membership/Subscription Type (Well, which is it? )
Current Issue - €5. Okay, this is to PURCHASE an issue
Back Issue(Specify in comments) - €5. Another option to purchase
Full - €40. Full what? Membership, or subscription?
Household - €40 Membership or subscription? Still not sure
Student - €35 Ditto
Unwaged - €35 Ditto
Under 18 - €35 Ditto
65 and over - €35 Ditto
Special Lifetime Membership - €800 - Now, this says membership - Do I get the magazine subscription as well?
U.K. - £30 stg - Magazine, or membership?
Europe airmail - £40 stg - Ah, it says 'airmail' - This must be for the magazine
Rest of world airmail - £45 stg - Ditto

So, here we seem to have a confusing mixture of subscriptions to the A&S magazine, and membership to the Astronomy Ireland club. Or perhaps there's a different page to just join the club? - What if I don't want the magazine, but just want to join the club, how much is that I wonder?

And now, for my favourite part of this form. The 'Donation' dropdown;

To further the society's aim of promoting interest in astronomy we ask all members to make a donation. Even €1 will help but please be as generous as possible. It will be put to good use. €1, 5, 10, 20 or Other.

Ah, now we are 'members' of a 'society'. But hang on, if we've subscribed to a magazine which is the A&S Ltd. magazine, and now we're contributing to the Astronomy Ireland Club/Society how do they divide up the money? It's all on one credit card form. In fact, now I mention it, any credit card processing has to be assigned to a merchant account, which is normally only given to a Limited Company. So, does that mean all the Astronomy Ireland credit card 'donations' or lifetime 'memberships' go into the A&S Ltd account, and they then keep track of the AI donations and membership fees which are split into a separate Astronomy Ireland account? - But then Astronomy Ireland doesn't exist as a company! Back to square one.

This really is starting to confuse me. This whole club/shop/magazine conundrum. I'm starting to doubt the club really exists. It's just a figment of our imagination.

John.

I belive he was refering to the table on that main page which compares the prives of A&S to other dealers for the same products. NOT a flattering comparison!

Bart.

Bart,

This is what's puzzling me. My browser is not picking up any reference to this telescope comparison. The page only lists a number of web sites and the side bar doesn't mention it either.

Gordon

This is what's puzzling me. My browser is not picking up any reference to this telescope comparison. The page only lists a number of web sites and the side bar doesn't mention it either.

Here you go Gordon;

www.irishastronomy.com/images/sshot.gif

John.

This is what's puzzling me. My browser is not picking up any reference to this telescope comparison. The page only lists a number of web sites and the side bar doesn't mention it either.

Wierd, it works for me even with a text based browser.

I've uploaded a screenshot of the page to www.irishastronomy.org/user_resources/fi...ber_price_review.jpg
hopefully jhonan has no objections?

Cheers,
~Al

p.s. I've just checked my reciepts for the LXD55 I bought last year in the UK. 48 hour courier from Cambridge cost £70.91 for the 117 lbs. scope.

I've uploaded a screenshot of the page to www.irishastronomy.org/user_resources/fi...ber_price_review.jpg
hopefully jhonan has no objections?

Great minds think alike...

No objection Al - After all, I nicked your links to the met office satellite pics yesterday.... :lol: