AstroPTX - Wholesale Optics

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AstroPTX - Wholesale Optics
Ordered an Celestar Deluxe which came broken to me (Europe) they checked reshipping and sended after a mothes wait a replacement.
They have been friendly to me on the phone al the time.
Alexander

Overall Rating: 9
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AstroPTX - Wholesale Optics
In 1994, ordered the old style C14 from Wholesale Optics. Price over $5000. When it came I noticed numerous missing parts. Also, the drive worked fine as long as there was not a telescope attached. Also parts on the scope seemed rusted and used though the scope was shipped from Celestron. This was suppose to be a new scope. Fred Pauli the owner hung up on me and would do nothing though he promised me a full refund " before" I bought the scope. I contacted Celestron, Sky and Scope, and Astronomy Mag. as the Federal trade Commission advised me. Celestrons response was we do not give refunds. I also contacted the Better Business Bureau in Danbury Conn. They told me that Wholesale Optics is rated as " Unreliable in answering customer complaints". Celestron and the magazines are fully aware of this and know of the numerous BBB complaints, though they deny anyone complaints. I sued through my credit card company to get my money back. I was told by VISA to ship at my expense the scope back to Wholesale Optics . They refused it. Sometime later I was told to ship, again at my expense the scope to Celestron since VISA got them to take it back. VISA got back the money I put on my credit card, after a year, but did not get back the money I sent by check nor the shipping for the telescope. I lost over $800 and had no scope. This was the dealer Celestron recommended to me. I feel I was ripped off by both Wholesale Optics and Celestron and will never do business with either again. Also I was threatened by both for writing letters of complaint to the BBB etc. One can get very upset when $5000 of your money is gone.

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AstroPTX - Wholesale Optics
Yes, this company is well known for their total lack of regard for customer satisfaction. Your dealing with basically a used car dealer. Unfortunately, the Federal Trade Commission will do nothing to companies until they receive hundreds of complaints. The Better Business Bureau has no power to compel companies to respond to customer complaints. The BBB office in Danbury is now closed and this was before the internet, and complete computer records so the BBB in other parts of Conn may not have a complete picture today of Wholesale Optics. The reason the magazines and the maufacturers let companies get away with this is money, and most people who get ripped off do not follow through. Did you ever see a bad review of a mail order company in Astronomy or Sky and Scope?

Another dirty secret of the industry is that there are factory seconds and rebuilt products, sold through the dealers from the manufacturers. Some dealers sell them as new in the hopes that most people won't realize what they have gotten.

It is ashame that some dealers behave in this fashion. I am sure it doen't aid the hobby.

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AstroPTX - Wholesale Optics
Fred Pauli has never been rude to me over the past 10 years and many purchases (some say that EVERYONE in Connecticut is rude). Customers must realize that it is rude of them to expect someone as busy as Fred to hold their hand while they shop. If you want to save money do your homework and know what you want before calling because there are people on hold with money in their fists waiting for the line.

Problems? I've had a couple, but they've always been cleared up sooner or later. That's the risk of buying cheap.

I'd give AstroPTX a "10" as a place to save money, and a "1" as a place to window shop. Want to window shop? Send for a catalogue package and inventory of used equipment.

Service? The only service to expect from a wholesaler is a refund if you are not satisfied. Document all transactions.

Delivery time? Ask how long it will be, then if it takes longer than that you will have a legitimate complaint.

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AstroPTX - Wholesale Optics
Fred Pauli absolutely deserves to go broke and freeze to death in the gutter. I've never been treated so badly in my life..called to get a price on an eyepiece (a specific Pro-Optic, I didn't waste time), was asked for my credit card #. I said "Give me the price first". Was told "F*** you and your F***ing 2 bit order!"and he hung up. Called back and asked for the manager or owner, was told by Fred "Call somone who gives a sh** or give me your G*ddam credit card number". I hung up. Anybody who orders from these yard-apes after seeing this site deserves to get screwed...and when you catch them on a bad day, you will.

I can't believe they're still in business.

Greg Hollander
New York

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AstroPTX - Wholesale Optics
I called to place a $4000 US order for a scope/mount package. Fred Pauli, the owner, answered the phone. I politely asked if the package included a 7x50 finder or an 8x50 (I'd just placed the order with him, so I wasn't window shopping). He said, "What do I look like, a f***ing encyclopedia? Call some other goddamn company and ask your f***ing questions, then call back and order the f***ing scope from me." Needless to say, I called someone else for the answer and spent my money there, not with a jerk like Fred.

Speaking of jerks, can you believe the person who commented earlier that a customer is rude if they ask a busy man like Fred a question and expect him to answer?

Avoid this company like the plague.

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AstroPTX - Wholesale Optics
The owner lies about having things in stock, refuses to deal with defective merchandise, and misrepresents what he has.

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AstroPTX - Wholesale Optics
In my case with Wholesale optics Fred Pauli refused to refund my money,until he was threatened by VISA over a year after I purchased. The scope sat in my living room boxed up for a year defective and non functional. Wholesale Optics refused to respond to the Better Business Bureau and refuse to respond to the Federal Trade Commission.

Had I known about this companys record I never would have dealt with this company. To top it off Wholesale Optics finally agreed to refund 80% of the money, then I was instructed to ship the scope to Celestron, and after they got it, he was suppose to refund the remainder which he never, NEVER, did. $800.00

This was theft.

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AstroPTX - Wholesale Optics
I never used them (I live in Montreal) but there is one thing I know for sure: a company's customers have *every* right to expect stellar customer service before, during and after the sale *regardless* of the price. The rest is merely wishful thinking.

Comments Only

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AstroPTX - Wholesale Optics
prices and S&H costs were excellent. delivery was slow (2 wks), but I DID NOT ASK. when i called to check the status, was given polite answer and the ups tracking #. after reading the other comments, it is doubtful i would order anything more complex than eyepieces and filters.

Overall Rating: 7
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AstroPTX - Wholesale Optics
Very low price. However, their unpublished credit card surcharge is certainly a bomber. Fred Pauli has his moods, he could be very sweet at times awfully rude.

Overall Rating: 7
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AstroPTX - Wholesale Optics
Never ordered from... But my experiences calling for info were pretty ridiculous. I got the feeling I was being call-forwarded to some guy in his garage. And returns?? Yeah, forget it. This place made me feel like I was dealing with someone from the back of a truck. Do yourself a favor and spend the couple extra $ and go with someone more reputable--like Pocono, Anacortes, etc.

Overall Rating: 2
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AstroPTX - Wholesale Optics
Just read the other comments on this company... and if you take out all the positive ones, then you have an accurate picture of this place. The hangups, lack of info, etc. are all true. And it's not an "east coast attitude" thing either. This guy is WIERD. Reading the reviews I cannot help but wonder if the few positive reviews were actually from HIM. Please do yourself a favor and order from somewhere else.. Just look at [previous] list and make your choice. Just don't go here. Trust me, you don't want to have the Astoptx experience.

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AstroPTX - Wholesale Optics
Rude, rude, rude. I will never do business with them again, ever. Even if they may have the lowest prices but it is not worth the anxiety.

This Fred Pauli Jr. only wants your money and when he gets it he drops you like a hot potato. Once he told me that the negative comments about his business were tactics of competitors. Until I too became a victim of this fellow. He keeps changing his s/h quotes, for the same merchandise inquiry but separated by only a few days and not weeks. He asks about your credit card first and then puts a 3% surcharge on everything you order, but he won't tell you that at the beginning rather only after you close a deal.

This guy is a real jerk.

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AstroPTX - Wholesale Optics
In June of 1999 I purchased a Meade LX50 8" scope, from Wholesale Optics. I found Pauli to be friendly, and the scope and other parts were in new condition and worked great. Although he did try to sell me on the 10" model, I stuck to my guns and purchased what I wanted, I have purchased some filters and two other eye peices all working great. I have had no problems with this company.

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AstroPTX - Wholesale Optics
Pauli is one of the worst customer service guys I have ever seen. Interesting the comments I see about receiving a defective illuminated reticle, because I received one as well.

I also was left with the impression that if you are spending lots of money, Pauli is your friend. Otherwise, I have been hung up on on more than one occassion. I had to threaten to dispute the charge w/my card company in order to get my money back on the reticle I ordered.

DO YOURSELF A FAVOR AND FIND ANOTHER DEALER!

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AstroPTX - Wholesale Optics
Great price and great service. I would say that their scope prices are unbeatable.

Overall Rating: 10
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AstroPTX - Wholesale Optics
The man who answered the phone was completely obnoxious. I have no doubt that his post sales service is similar. If there was a problem with the scope (e.g. factory defect), it seems very unlikely that he would do anything to correct the problem. You can get better service from Anacortes, Astronomics, Pocono, etc for perhaps 10% more and I think that's worth it.

Overall Rating: 4
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AstroPTX - Wholesale Optics
I have dealt with Fred for 10 years now, and have bought numerous items including a total of 7 telescopes, enumerous eyepieces and accessories, and have never, ever been treated rudely or was rushed off the phone. I have meet him personally and have refered at least 20 others for business to him in the past 5 years and all were completely satisfied with his service. All becoming repeat customers. He has by far the best prices and for that you do get what you pay for. I have spent time with him at his showroom and have seen him in action and heard him on the phone. Over at least 200 calls over the years I only saw him hang up on a customer once, and that was after he told him that the item he wanted was no longer manufactered and the person got personal about it. A number of times I even answered the phone for him and was very suprised how RUDE the customers can be, when asking questions. I had one person ask the same question 6 times in a row! Even as patient as I am, I could not handle the continued questioning over $40 item! He is quick to invite questions later in the day, after the order rush, and even TELLS the customers very politely to do so. Often refering them advice where to get the information when they're undecided as to what they want. He has even refused to sell something to someone when they were undecided, (Did that with me once, and thank God he did!)telling them to do a bit more research before they made a purchase. He has even refered customers to OTHER companies when he didn't have what they wanted in stock. When have you seen someone else do that! The couple of times I ordered from Adorama and Focus camera they NEVER even told me that it was backordered! I had to wait for 2 weeks to finally find that out! Fred is a one man operation and he has by far the lowest prices, and he has even sold an item for LESS than wholesale to make the sale. I asked him why one time and here is a quote "I want to fill the world with telescopes as cheaply as possible. I'd even give them away if I could." He's a WHOLESALER remember, not a retailer, so he is less a salesman then a wholesaler! When did you get exemplary service at Cosco or BJ's? If you know what you want, and are polite you get good service. If not, well what can I say. Lastly, I've worked in customer services for 13 years now, and i can tell you one thing. You only hear about the complaints, rarely the praise. Praise is when the customer never complains and comes back for more service. He has sold to 10's of thousands of people over the years. I'll bet the complaint rate is less than 1%. There are those who can't be satisfied no matter what. Also, I had NO problem returning or exchanging something with him or Celestron. They took my C9.25 back and I got a new one because of a defect even though OUT OF WARRANTY! Defects are rare, but they do happen. But, don't expect it to be resolved over night either.

Overall Rating: 9
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AstroPTX - Wholesale Optics
Just because you may have never been ripped off by Wholesale Optics, or whatever name he has changed his company to this year, doesn't mean others haven't had bad experiences. If you look at all the other companies no one really compares to this one. Keep ordering from Fred Pauli you will have the Astroptx experience at some point.

Folks take out the positive response which Fred I am sure has influenced and you have an accurate picture of what you may experience. Is a cheap price worth the risk of dealing with someone with a bad record?

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