wrote:
Hello all,

After spending a couple years out of the hobby and now getting back
into it, I'm amazed at the quality you can now purchase and the low,
low, low prices associated with these products. Apos and eyepieces
in
particular.

This used to be TeleVue's bread and butter, and boy did they know it
with the prices they charge! But now that we, as consumers, have
options where we get 98% of the ultra high quality performance for
50%
of the cost, what does it mean to the company that has been holding
us
over the coals for the past 20 years, wringing every red cent out of
us
for a high quality eyepiece? Could this competition be the beginning
of the end for them?? Or will there always be status-seekers in this
hobby that decide on purchases based on the name printed on the
eyepiece, as opposed to the quality/price ratio?

I just don't see this company doing well with the price wars that are
being waged right now. Deservedly so? Maybe. That's up for debate.
I'm just saying that I wouldn't want to be the most expensive company
in astronomy right now....


Good grief, what a tirade. TeleVue the most expensive company in
astronomy?? Not even close. If you call Al Nagler's long history of
innovation "holding us over the coals", well, so be it, but that's
quite short-sighted. Don't you have anything to say about eyepieces
and scopes that are more expensive that TeleVue's? How about Zeiss or
Pentax eyepieces? Do other brands offer 98% of the performance for 50%
of the price of those as well? Maybe to your eyes, but that's the
qualifier you left out. TeleVue products cost what they cost. If
you don't want them, don't buy them. Same with AP, Zeiss, Pentax,
Takahashi,,etc.

Clyde