Shutan Camera & Video

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Shutan Camera & Video
I have never met anyone in the astronomy industry that wasn't helpful and friendly until I decided to pay a visit to Shutan. I had previously done all my purchases via mail order, (Astronomics) but since I only lived an hour away, I though I would drive in and check out what Shutan had to offer. When I walked into the store, I thought I was in the wrong place. Where was all of the astronomy equipment that was eluded to in their advertisements? I think I saw an LX-10 (corrector plate extremely dirty with fingerprints etc. all over it) and maybe another scope or two but that was it. Then I met the salesperson who the nicest thing I can say about him is that he was a jerk. I ended up buying a couple of filters from him (the only reason was that I didn't want to feel like I completely wasted my time driving down, but in retrospect I should have just walked out). I agree with all the other negative comments (as I read them I could relate to almost every one in the brief experience I had with Shutan.) I too think that they really don't care, and can't see how they stay in business.

Overall Rating: 0
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
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Link to this vote: https://www.excelsis.com:443/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=45089

Shutan Camera & Video
I have ordered one telescope and dual axis drive from them. The telescope arrived when they said it. When i recieved the motor it was broken. So I called them and they gave me a number to call at Meade. They were very helpful. Meade replaced the motor and it worked fine.

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
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Link to this vote: https://www.excelsis.com:443/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=45090

Shutan Camera & Video
I visited Shutan's vernon Hills store and found tons of items on display. They had five different Nexstar's, LX200's , LX90's, as well as all of Meade accessories. They even had EVERY Televue eyepiece in stock-- including the new 31mm Nagler. I'm not sure what the previous posters were talking about when they said Shutan doesn't stock anything (???). I bought an ETX125 from them. They had many ETX accessories including a neat proprietary mounting plate for my photo tripod. I for one am glad they are near me and have no problems receomending them to mail-order customers.

Overall Rating: 9
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
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Link to this vote: https://www.excelsis.com:443/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=45091

Shutan Camera & Video
Sales service was too good. Salesman was very conversant but steered me to a product that was new and frankly pretty darn good. The only problem was that upon getting home, I found that he charged list price, or $125.000 more on an item that sells for $375.00 on the net. I returned it, to his great dissapointment, but I warned him not to start a fight with me, just give the credit.

My other problem with them, is that they have no evening hours, at either of their stores. What retailer has not one evening open for shoppers? Pretty independent folks.

Overall Rating: 4
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
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Link to this vote: https://www.excelsis.com:443/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=45092

Shutan Camera & Video
I'm amused at how month after month they put a full page ad in Sky & Tel with a detailed price list (good for them!) but a brief glance shows they charge more (sometimes by only $1, often by much more) for the same product than every other company that puts price lists in the magazine. Price doesn't seem their strong suit, yet they proudly advertise their prices. I find that strange. Why don't they use that space and claim to be faster, or friendlier, or handsomer or something else that can't be so easily compared to the other advertisements?

Overall Rating: No Vote
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Link to this vote: https://www.excelsis.com:443/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=45093

Shutan Camera & Video
Their salesman Neil was very polite and tried his best to get my order out & on time their shipping deptmartment deserves to be shot, Sure wish I knew about this site before I gave up my hard earned money on a 2nd rate ETX-70 at. all of the prior comments seem to apply to their phone orders also. STEER Clear OF SHUTAN

Overall Rating: 2
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
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Link to this vote: https://www.excelsis.com:443/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=45094

Shutan Camera & Video
I like Shutan, but mainly because of their salesman Neil. If you get the other guy, you'll be lucky to get a "Hello," much less any interest in helping you. I just got off the phone with him. Called to inquire about a 3mm Radian ep, which I'd love to pick up in person rather than wait for mail order, and he said "Sorry, they're not out yet." Well, either he's an idiot or he thinks I am. Both Astronomics and Anacortes have them in-stock. But even then, it didn't occur to him to take my name, offer to order it, etc.
Bottom line: if you call, ask for Neil. That guy will help. If he's not in, hang up, because the other guy doesn't care at all.

Overall Rating: No Vote
Weight: <none>
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Link to this vote: https://www.excelsis.com:443/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=45095

Shutan Camera & Video
Advertised they had LX 90 in stock but didn't.

Overall Rating: 4
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
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Link to this vote: https://www.excelsis.com:443/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=45096

Shutan Camera & Video
I was ready to buy a 12" scope from them based on their advertising in Sky and Telescope, until they brought up the "additional" $200 I would have to pay for a "restocking fee" for a non-gps lx200. Total shipping/stocking would have been $400.

Sounds like bait and switch to me.

Obviously they never closed the deal with me, and I would think NYC needs the business right now.

Overall Rating: 3
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
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Link to this vote: https://www.excelsis.com:443/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=45097

Shutan Camera & Video
Excellent and quite competant service. Good shipping time. No Problems

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: https://www.excelsis.com:443/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=45098

Shutan Camera & Video
Ordered Meade ETX90 RA for $199 over phone from Vancouver B.C. No guff, just a straightforward order and voila, had it 8 days later. No problems here.
DL

Overall Rating: 9
Weight: 1 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
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Link to this vote: https://www.excelsis.com:443/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=45099

Shutan Camera & Video
I went to a their Vernon Hills store the other day for the second time to buy some accessories. I also went to this location about 2 weeks earlier after first finding out about them. I was elated we had something in the area where I could see some of the scopes I wanted to buy. Upon arrival I was of course in awe over the equipment so I started asking the guy behind the counter, Bob was his name I believe, a few questions. Instantly I feel like I'm being treated like a fool. With his short bursts of crap he instantly talks down upon everything I've tried so hard to research and tries to sell me on what "he" thinks I need. When I tell him I don't want a goto scope I get a look and he proceeds to tell me how Meade and Celestron are all going goto now days. I felt like I was pulling teeth to have a conversation with this guy about what "I" wanted out of a scope. Mind you I was raring and ready to buy the Discovery Dob I saw while I was there but as soon as I asked about it he started talking it down and saying how I should go with a SCT.

Anyhow ... figuring he had a bad day I went back in today to buy some stuff and look at the few books they had. Upon arrival I look at the telescopes again and I was looking at the red lights they had for reading the charts etc when viewing. I asked him about them ... again, he proceeded to talk down to me and give me the rub of "they aren't rocket science, just red lights". What the hell did I do to this guy? Did someone piss in his wheaties? I've never been treated so rudely by a salesmen, especially when I was willing to fork out some cash again today.

I think I may have figured out why. While I was there scanning the books, trying to stay away from the him the phone rang. He answered it and low and behold he took an order for some equipment. It dawned on me then that this was a mainly mail/phone/internet order place that merely had a showroom for the chance that people would walk in. Dealing in real life (IRL) was not their speciality.

For what it's worth I also posted this message on the SAA usenet forum.

Overall Rating: 0
Price:2 Service:0
Weight: 10 (Trustworthy Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: https://www.excelsis.com:443/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=85440

Shutan Camera & Video
I've dealt with these folks four or five times in the past year. All but one of those orders went smoothly enough. Shipment was always same day, and everything arrived in good condition via UPS. Never tried haggling with them over price, which explains my middle of the road vote there.

In one instance I received the wrong part by an honest mistake, and asked them to replace it. They did so at their own expense, but the guy responding to my email could have used a personality transplant. Some of the same experiences of the last voter came bleeding through, and I think they actually told me to take my future business elsewhere. Strange advice when you consider that they actually fixed the problem to my complete satisfaction.

Overall Rating: 5
Price:5 Service:5
Weight: 10 (Trustworthy Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: https://www.excelsis.com:443/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=91467

Shutan Camera & Video
I have to agree with the last opinion
stated here. Just to set put things
in perspective, let me say that I have
a postgraduate education in physics and
work as an engineer, so I've spent
plenty of time around telescopes and
other scientific equipment. I know
fair amount of what I'm talking about.

I've been to Shutan, because I like to
see what I'm buying before a lay out a
grand for anything. It is nice that
there is a "showroom" for all of us
geeks to go to and inspect the quality
of various scopes before we purchase one
either in person, over the phone, or
through the mail.

However, as the pervious letter states,
the people at Shutan seem to be more
interested in moving merchandise via
phone and mail than taking the time to
make (or, in this case break) a new
customer. If you want their attention,
be prepared to flash some cash, or they
will ignore you the moment the phone
rings (even if there are more than one
of them there).

It is very true that they need a major
"personality transplant." Although they
have many scopes available to look at,
you will not be able to try them out
in any fashion at all. Furthermore, as
the previous writer states, they will
be more than happy to tell you what THEY
think you need, regardless of what
experience you may have, or what YOU
may consider buyng. They (especially
Neal) will not really answer your
questions, but will spend time putting
down just about any hardware you may be
considering, especially if the price
tag is not big enough.

I think I asked them about why they
were so opinionated, and their response
was that they "didn't like it when
someone buys the wrong scope and trys
to bring it back." Again, finaces seem
to be their primary concern.

For example, I visited their store
primarily to look at the quality of the
various makes that they had on display.
This was primarily to sort out whom
I felt was making better hardware
these days. While I was there, they
ignored me twice to take phone orders
(even though there were three guys in
the store), and kept trying to dump
off the remaining "one of
a kind models" - in this case a used
Celestron G5 and a mount upgrade if
memory serves.

Come to think of it, Neal didn't even
move from his bench at the end of the
counter except when he had to get some
forms for one of the phone orders....

I can't vote on price because I did not
buy from them, nor do I really plan on
buying from them. Too bad, as they are
just about the only place in Chicago
that carries that many telescopes and
accessories (I'm new to IL, so if anyone
knows of other dealers, please let me
know). However, they will never print
a price - their catalog and web page are
primarily devoid of them - and that
tells me that they are flexible - but
they bend 'em their way, not for the
buyer. Unfortunately, since I like
to buy in person, I may end up back
there.

Service? Fast if you're dropping 5k over
the phone. Not so fast if you actually
talk to them face to face.

In summary, their catalog or webpage
will tell you more about what YOU
want to know than they will, and they
will TELL YOU what they think YOU
SHOULD be buying. Also, brace yourself
for the attitude.

Parents, don't try to get anything
for your budding astronomer here.
Although they detest "department
store" scopes they will try to get
you to buy a Meade LX-200 12" for your
six year old. Anything else just
doesn't make it. Its a tad of overkill.

SO... stay away. I know I will.

Now I wonder what would have
happened if I had bought my cars from
these guys. "You simply must have
zee Ferrari! Zee is
crap I tell you! Crap! Zee Viper, zee
Porsche, zee Mercedes, zee Lotus,
zee BMW - Allll Crrrrrrap!"

Overall Rating: 1
Service:1
Weight: 10 (Trustworthy Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: https://www.excelsis.com:443/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=111601

Shutan Camera & Video
I had placed an order with Shutan for an LX200 12" GPS some time back, and was told it was on backorder. When I inquired regarding a possible shipping date, Shutan gave me a customer number for Meade and told me to call them. This struck me as odd as I thought that, as the dealer, they should be earning their keep by doing the legwork. After waiting a week or two I finally did call Meade. They were rather baffled to hear from a customer inquiring about an order that went through a dealer, but were friendly and courteous and checked the order for me. There was NO order bearing any of the information that Shutan had provided me with. That was enough! I called Shutan and was told that they could not answer any questions I had about my order until the owner returned the following week. Having been run around on a several thousand dollar order, that was the last straw. In no uncertain terms I instructed the character on the phone to cancel my order. Once again I was told I would have to wait until the owner (Godot?) returned. I called my bank that issued my credit card and told them not to honor any charges coming in from Shutan and ordered my LX200 from Astronomics - who did a great job by the way - and waited. Sure enough, next week I got in touch with Godot at Shutan to verify the order had been cancelled. He was sorry to have to do that, but blamed the incompetency on his staff.

I give them a 5 for price as it was neutral - same as anywhere else. The rest should be seld-explanatory! Never again.

Dave

Overall Rating: 1
Price:5 Service:1
Weight: 5 (Veritable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: https://www.excelsis.com:443/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=215930

Shutan Camera & Video
Scope was back-ordered (but so was every other place I checked). Salesman cheerfully answered my questions. I called the manager several times during the wait to check on status. He was very helpful.

Overall Rating: 6
Price:5 Service:8
Weight: 5 (Veritable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: https://www.excelsis.com:443/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=253936

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