Celestron Dealers

Yawnnnnnn :roll:

Sorry - I'm coming to this late but have noted all the posts.

Previously I would have been as anti-AI, as most on these boards. BUT, fair dues to Carl he is trying to make things right (it may take some more time but its moving in the right direction and lets face it this country needs more astronomy related retail outlets). I recently sent him a purchaser and pre-told them what to pay - he gave a fair deal at legitimate prices. The next step AI needs to take is to offer good prices even to the muppets who don't research before parting with shekels.

On the Celestron beating that seems the main theme of this thread, it is not without merit. Read through any US based astronomy magazine and take note of the prices - now read the UK equivalent. You'll notice that Celestron prices get transmuted almost par $ to £ (e.g. $299 gets transmogrified into £299) that's not value for money. ONLY Celestron does this! Meade however are much more "currency aware", and the same product (although still more expensive) is nowhere near a direct swapping of currency symbol. Celestron DO need to wake up to the fact that they do not want to P1$$ off all their European customers. They will make much more profit by fair dealing. By the way I am a Celestron User.

Maybe it would be worthwhile telling Celestron what we all think of their European retail strategy. IFAS should get a petition going - I'm happy to contribute - and let Celestron know what we think of their shoddy retail practices. (at least it might put an end to this thread )

OK. I started this link and it would appear in hindsight I should have kept my mouth shut. When I first started out I was checking various sites for gear. I did all the UK sites and thought if I buy in Euro I can save some money so I checked AI. I was shocked. I ended up buying a C6N on a CG5GT mount from the UK but not from Hinds. I got the scope off Telescope planet for £100 cheaper than Hinds website and when it arrived it had a big sticker on it saying dispatched from DHinds. Go figure. I am more than happy that any business has to make a profit and that Carl is starting to get the prices more into line with reasonable expectations. As for Celestron price fixing........any firm who produces a product gives it a recommended retail price.

I have a Meade scope and am equally as p*ssed off at them if not more since they probably bullied Celestron into its current position. Skywatcher is so well priced that I would have no probs buying any of their gear.

I wonder if and when Meade get set up in Asia will they reduce their prices?

Can we put this to bed now?

I urge everyone else to do the same until Celestron stop acting like complete £$%£$%£$%s

Bart.

Bart will you be urging people to boycott Meade and Skywatcher too? They operate in EXACTLY the same way as Celestron, through BC&F and Optical Vision Ltd (respectively).

Hang on, it's not the system of distributors that's the problem. Everyone uses distributors. It's the fact that Celestron prevent an Irish person buying one of their products in a British shop, or a French shop or a German shop etc.. THAT is against EU treaties. We have a SINGLE European market yet Celestron force their distributors to break it up again. That's not on.

Bart.

The only recourse I can see is to challenge the effect of these contracts in an EU court, show that illegal market restrictions are being imposed and bar Celestron and its beneficial owners from shipping product into Europe unless they remove the illegal conditions from existing contracts.

How does one do that?

..and celestron will use as a defence that this is standard practice operated by Meade and most other major manufactures of pretty much everything.

That's no defence! If you break the law you can't just point to others who are breaking it too and get away with it!

Thats just the way business works, its just as an astronomer you see this in stark relief. If you were into radio you'd probably be on some board saying the same thing about transmitter manufacturers. In fact Celestron are now the ONLY astro manufacturer with a direct distributor in Ireland.

I distinctly note that references to Meade and Skywatcher etc are being very obviously ignored.

That's NOT how business works! Ask Apple. They just had to reduce the price of music in the UK because they were doing what Celestron were doing, discriminatory pricing in different countries in the EU single market.

Also, this has NOTHING to do with distributors. This has to do with Celestron preventing Irish shops selling to other EU countries and Irish people buying in other EU countries.

Do Meade & Skywatcher do the same? Can I buy a Meade product from the UK? or a Skywatcher? If not then I won't be buying those either.

I get the impression people think I'm having a go at AI, I most certainly am not. This is about Celestron erecting illegal trade barriers within our single market.

Bart.