Astronomics

Ratings:Top:Astronomy:Places To Buy:Astronomics

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Astronomics
They have made me very unhappy. When buying a C9 1/4 from them I mentioned that other dealers were offering the two axis drive free and they said they couldn't do that. So because I had been so pleased with their service in the PAST I bought it anyway. Within a few weks they were offering the two axis drives free with their scopes. The scope arrived short one of the counterweights and they told me they "forgot" to send it after I called Celestron to asked them why it wouldn't balance. One time I called and asked about their single axis drives and the guy said they didn't have any. I called later the same day and talked to someone esle and they said sure they had them. I tried to trade my cheap CG_5 mount in on a Losmandy mount and they refused to deal. Astronomics is the last place I deal with NOW. I hope to find someone as good as they used to be.

Overall Rating: 0
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Link to this vote: https://www.excelsis.com:443/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=45265

Astronomics
Dropped in on them one day when I was in the neighbourhood. They were short-staffed due to the flu and up to the eyeballs in work, but took the time to talk to us. We learned a few things about what comes back for repairs most often (usually bad batches of otherwise reliable products), and how the fancy pictures that Meade puts on their boxes causes real disappointment when beginners buy their scopes and can't see the Andromeda Galaxy like that...

Seems like an outfit to do business with. They don't push things you don't need. A lot of stuff sure comes back to a big operation like this!

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Link to this vote: https://www.excelsis.com:443/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=45266

Astronomics
I ordered a Celestron Starhopper 8", which they had in a package. In addition to the standard scope and 10mm kellner, it came with a 25mm kellner and a telrad 1X lighted finder. And, for less than I could buy just the standard scope/eyepiece anywhere else I looked.

Haven't had any other contact so far, so I can't really comment of customer service after the sale. The woman I ordered from was courteous and helpful.

Overall Rating: 9
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
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Link to this vote: https://www.excelsis.com:443/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=45267

Astronomics
Most of what I have to say has been said before. They don't always have th best prices, but occasionally they have *very* good prices. Their recent closeout sale of the Meade ACHR/102 being a good example. I (and 124 others) got one at the excellent price of $350 (regularly $700). I've been looking around ever since and I've seen no one else even coming close to that price. It was exactly the scope I wanted at a price I could afford. Their service was prompt. How could I say anything bad about them?

Well, unfortunately there is that other side. It seems my experience is similar to others who have commented. Several months ago I tried to buy a used ETX-70 from them. They were very pleasant to deal with and I got the scope a few days later. But it had problems -- several of them. Some serious (it wouldn't slew!) and others not serious but easy for them to avoid before shipping (like no instruction manual.) When I contacted them, they decided they had accidentally pulled one from the "defective shelf" and sent me another one. They were still nice to me. Apparently the next one they sent was the right one but it still had problems. No instruction manual (again), no hex wrench (standard with these scopes -- the first "defective" scope came with one), and three different computer problems the first time I tried the scope. (I've used an ETX-60 for a year, I know how to use it even without a manual!)

This time when I contacted them they were quite rude. (I talked to a different person -- perhaps the same one others have encountered.) Obviously he didn't really believe me (or at least didn't want to.) Also I asked him whether he would be willing to beat the price on Woodland Hills Camera on a new ETX-70 (at that time $319). He seemed annoyed that I had even asked him. (They hae since lowered the price to $299). They *did*, in fact, take the scope back, but then they took over a month to put the credit back on my card. (I had to remind them.) I don't know if that was out of spite or just slowness.

Bottom line seems to be that when they are good they are very very good: great prices (sometimes), very knowledgable, and usually polite. But when they are bad (like when they send defective equipment) they can be horrid. I'm going to continue to do business with them (my ACHR/102 is fine, by the way), but I'll be careful about buying used stuff from them, just because having to deal with rude people really ruins it for me. And I'll hope that I don't have to send anything else back.

Overall Rating: 7
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
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Link to this vote: https://www.excelsis.com:443/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=45268

Astronomics
Heaven forbid that these assholes actually have to speak on the phone to us. They act like we just kicked their grandma in the face or something.

They need to get some 'people persons' down their. Either that, or they should take somekind of medication to 'ease the pain' of having to communicate with other people. I have a great idea! Maybe they should check their packages before they send them. What a concept.

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Link to this vote: https://www.excelsis.com:443/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=45269

Astronomics
Folks:
I have been dealing with Astronomics for over 10 years and have made dozens and dozens of purchases from them. Never once did I have a problem with any rude salespeople or after purchase support. Everyone there has always been very curtiuos, helpfull and willing to answer all my questions. And on the three occassions when I had to return merchandise, they were very cooperative and promply gave me refund or exchange. I think they are a wonderfull outfit.

Overall Rating: 10
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Link to this vote: https://www.excelsis.com:443/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=45270

Astronomics
Great service,good phone support

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
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Link to this vote: https://www.excelsis.com:443/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=45271

Astronomics
Good prices, FAST delivery, robust stock.

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
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Link to this vote: https://www.excelsis.com:443/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=45272

Astronomics
Can't get much better then these guys....

Overall Rating: 9
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Link to this vote: https://www.excelsis.com:443/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=45273

Astronomics
Fast. Great service. Answer questions. Huge stock. Low prices. No reason to give them anything but a 10.

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
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Link to this vote: https://www.excelsis.com:443/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=45274

Astronomics
Usually have items in stock.
Prices slighly above average.

Not impressed with support after sale when product arrived defective. Told
to deal directly with manufacture. Expected more, received nothing additional for added cost (Support).

Overall Rating: 5
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
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Link to this vote: https://www.excelsis.com:443/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=45275

Astronomics
Placed an order last Sunday night. Received confirmation of the order Monday a.m., shipping notice Monday p.m. and delivery Tuesday p.m. I'm not that far from Oklahoma City (Plainview, Texas) but I thought the process was very effective.

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
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Link to this vote: https://www.excelsis.com:443/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=45276

Astronomics
Good service, curteous salespeople, decent prices, acceptable shipping - I guess the BEST thing to say is that I have ordered 3 things from them within the last month, and will probably order my next items from them too.

Overall Rating: 9
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
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Link to this vote: https://www.excelsis.com:443/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=45277

Astronomics
Their Web site is easy to navigate and gives good info on stock availability.
Secure ordering. Ordered 8" LX200 Wednesday Aug. 8 (evening), received it
Monday Aug. 13, exactly as they said. Received e-mail confirmation of order,
and e-mail notification containing UPS tracking number when shipped. Order
arrived packed well and in excellent condition.
Exactly what I expect from a mail order outfit - fast service with competitive
pricing.

(As an aside, I had placed the same order with another big mail order company
on July 26. They e-mailed me that it would be back ordered 30 to 60 days.
This would not have bothered me too much, except that Meade was offering $600
worth of free eyepieces if ordered prior to Aug. 15. I called Meade, they said
that the 8" LX200 production was not that backed up, there should be no reason
that it would be back ordered that long. I cancelled the oerder and got good
service from Astronomics.)

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
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Link to this vote: https://www.excelsis.com:443/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=45278

Astronomics
Made one purchase from this company and all went well. Wanted to upgrade my next purchase to a high end Tak. Called for a sales rep but he was on the phone. Asked for a call back and was told by the Secratary that I could leave a number but it was very unlikely he (Mike I think) would call me back. With that kind of attitude I'll spend my money somewhere else thank you!!!!!!!

Overall Rating: 3
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Link to this vote: https://www.excelsis.com:443/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=45279

Astronomics
I have spoke to that rude person also. It is a shame because some of the people there are relly nice. Some seem to actually know what they are talking about.

Overall Rating: No Vote
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Link to this vote: https://www.excelsis.com:443/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=45280

Astronomics
They suck. I will never buy from them again. I purchased a mount an adapter plate from them. Paid 37.00 in freight then could not mount the motor drives on the mount. Called them and they got rude with me. Basically was at their mercy on what they would refund. They charge re-stock fees and it cost me 45.00 to send it back to them. If they think I will ever do business with them again they are crazy. It was the first time and the last. Their advertisement is a joke, friendly service, bunch of assholes.

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Link to this vote: https://www.excelsis.com:443/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=45281

Astronomics
After reviewing the comments here, I reluctantly ordered my Meade LX-90 from Astronomics. I phoned on tuesday morning and spoke with a guy named Tom. When I asked him about the possibility of getting it shipped out that day so that I could have it by the weekend he said sure, if we got the order in within the next hour. Tom was very friendly and courteous and I placed the order. I asked him for an email confirmation of shipment and he promised. Sure enough tuesday evening came along with the UPS tracking numbers. The next day I ordered a wedge from their website and got those tracking numbers that evening. Today is thursday and I just brought my new LX-90 in from a cloudy hazy viewing night. The scope is awesome but more to this point is that I had a very satisfying experience with Astronomics. They did what they said they would do and although their shipping charges were a bit high relative to what I could have shipped it to them for, I not only would buy from them again, I already have. SB

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Link to this vote: https://www.excelsis.com:443/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=45282

Astronomics
Always very friendly, helpful, and prompt. I bought a Meade scope from them and it was defective. The sent a replacement before they received the damaged scope back from me and volunteered to check out the replacement to make sure it was working before they sent it to me (note: Anacortes refused this service when asked). Consequently, I am a repeat customer of Astronomics.

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
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Link to this vote: https://www.excelsis.com:443/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=45283

Astronomics
Very efficient, the web site is one of the more informative. A bit of a Home
Depot feeling, I think this must be one of the higher volume vendors in
N. America.

Overall Rating: 9
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
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Link to this vote: https://www.excelsis.com:443/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=45284

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