The scariest thing you'll see this halloween!!!......

They also said that their high end Celestron prices are all negotiable and (for members of any Irish astronomy club) they can match the UK sterling prices.

Well presumably they will sell anything once they can make some profit off of it, so that stands to reason.

Curious that a distinction is made for high end scopes. Does that imply its ok to rip off by 100% beginners looking for a first telescope? All of the complaints I have heard are from people who bought beginner scopes from them and only later found out the prices in UK magazines. Presumably people wanting the high end scopes have researched the scope and prices so will either buy elsewhere or bargain A&S to a reasonable price.

To be fair, if people are willing to part with EURx00 without looking for prices elsewhere then thats their own fault. harsh but true.

Anyway, arcing back on topic, with Coronado now owned by Meade its unlikley that A&S will be selling them at all. That would make North Down and Andromeda optics the distrubitors here.

Cheers,
~Al

Hi all,

With the conversation (on another thread) coming back to the price of telescopes in "that Dublin shop", and the fact that I'm on holidays this week (not gloating!...) and have a little time on my hands, I decided to do a little research. I did a little comparison on prices between A&S Astronomy shop (aka Astronomy Ireland) and David Hinds Ltd in the UK. Both are dealers of Celestron telescope so I could make a direct comparison. Many of the "old hands" here, will be aware of the vast difference in prices to be found by shopping around so this is mainly for the beginners.

All prices were all taken from each suppliers web-site today (27th Oct. 2004) and to even the playing field, I have converted the prices to exclude VAT. (as you may be aware, the VAT rate in the UK is 17.5% as opposed to 21% in Ireland so this helps A&S more). I have also converted the UK prices to euros so that we can see a direct comparison (1 euro = 0.69 sterling). The figures speak for themselves.....SHOP AROUND!!!..

I think A&S have alot of price dropping to do to match the UK prices.....

http://www.irishastronomy.org/user_resources/files/1098905609-Prices.bmp

SCARY OR WHAT!...

Well done Lionsden

Truth will out, reminds me to do my annual posts on the shopping sites advising the parents thinking of getting a scope for their little son or daughter of this discrepancy in prices.

I might link here if you don't mind.


Conor

I'd imagine the guys in dublin would quote extra shipping costs as the reason for the increase in price.

If true, man am I in the wrong business, I should be in haulage !!!

Well done Lionsden

Truth will out, reminds me to do my annual posts on the shopping sites advising the parents thinking of getting a scope for their little son or daughter of this discrepancy in prices.

I might link here if you don't mind.


Conor

Knock yourself out (not literally!.... :lol: )
The more poeple who know about this , the better!

Well done Leo!

I don't think you'll be getting a Christmas card from someone this year!

:lol:

Old news Leo, old news, but still shocking. There are plenty of other things to complain about A&S ltd as well, while ignoring "Astronomy Ireland". I think it's incredible that "your National astronomy shop" only stocks one astronomy magazine. Isn't that just incredible? Your average Easons, or whatever, has a bigger selection of astronomy magazines than an astronomy shop. David Moore, in my humble and non-litigious opinion, has a very short-sighted approach to making a short term profit which jeopardises long-term profits. I would love to have an independent astronomy shop which is reasonably priced. I'd certainly shop there. David's prices mean that I won't be taking any trips to Artane.

Leo; you're on holidays this week. Are you a teacher? It has its moments, doesn't it?