Group buys direct from China

I've seen pricing on some products direct from China and before
the middlemen get them here. Example; Celestron Ultima style eyepiece,
no markings, $21.50/ea. in 100 piece lots. I've also received emails
from Chinese optical firms offering products at similar prices.
I'm wondering that in most other hobbies people often group together
to secure better pricing on products why this doesn't happen in
amateur astronomy? Would it be possible to say buy 50 5" f8 achromats
on G5 type mounts for around $300/ea? Has anyone else seen that
various telescopes, eyepieces are available in "generic" form?
-Rich

Would it be possible to say buy 50 5" f8 achromats
on G5 type mounts for around $300/ea? Has anyone else seen that
various telescopes, eyepieces are available in "generic" form?
-Rich

Problem is who is going to be the quality control persons. By the time you sent
the quality control person several time to china to make sure everything is on
the up and up and not get shipped lens polished with bubble gum, you will most
likely raise the price similar to dealer.

Not to mention if we are really unlucky and got a whole batch of bad products.
Who are going to foot the bill.

The fact a widget cost x dollars at the source and x+y at dealer does not mean
you can ge it at x dollars at the source without spending y dollars or close
to y dollars doing it.

Hint Hint : What happen to all those cheap refractor or eyepiece or Binoviewer
or Miyauchi Clone binocular .
Have you see How much delay Burgess optic face , or how much Crap Burgess have
to put up with dealing with disgruntled customer and delay from manufacturer
side.
Who remember the 127mm refractor saga not too long ago.

I'm not trying to burst your bubble but I just don't see how this could be
done. Unless soebody is going to take the risk in putting up capital ,time and
in the end make some money (Hopefully).

Sofjan Mustopoh

Would it be possible to say buy 50 5" f8 achromats
on G5 type mounts for around $300/ea? Has anyone else seen that
various telescopes, eyepieces are available in "generic" form?
-Rich

Problem is who is going to be the quality control persons. By the time you sent
the quality control person several time to china to make sure everything is on
the up and up and not get shipped lens polished with bubble gum, you will most
likely raise the price similar to dealer.

Not to mention if we are really unlucky and got a whole batch of bad products.
Who are going to foot the bill.

The fact a widget cost x dollars at the source and x+y at dealer does not mean
you can ge it at x dollars at the source without spending y dollars or close
to y dollars doing it.

Hint Hint : What happen to all those cheap refractor or eyepiece or Binoviewer
or Miyauchi Clone binocular .
Have you see How much delay Burgess optic face , or how much Crap Burgess have
to put up with dealing with disgruntled customer and delay from manufacturer
side.
Who remember the 127mm refractor saga not too long ago.

I'm not trying to burst your bubble but I just don't see how this could be
done. Unless soebody is going to take the risk in putting up capital ,time and
in the end make some money (Hopefully).

Sofjan Mustopoh

Richard wrote:

on G5 type mounts for around $300/ea? Has anyone else seen that
various telescopes, eyepieces are available in "generic" form?
-Rich

How could you possibly have lived all these years and not known about the
'label kits' that manufacturers send out to dealerships? What did you think
they were for?
jerry

Richard wrote:

on G5 type mounts for around $300/ea? Has anyone else seen that
various telescopes, eyepieces are available in "generic" form?
-Rich

How could you possibly have lived all these years and not known about the
'label kits' that manufacturers send out to dealerships? What did you think
they were for?
jerry

I've seen pricing on some products direct from China and before the middlemen
get them here. Example; Celestron Ultima style eyepiece, no markings,
$21.50/ea. in 100 piece lots.

I say GO FOR IT....

Of course I am quite sure that Celestron Ultima eyepieces are made in Japan so
that Chinese connection is likely bogus...

Would it be possible to say buy 50 5" f8 achromats on G5 type mounts for
around $300/ea?

Someone else pointed to Burgess Optical and their difficulties dealing with the
Chinese factories. After a year of screwing around, BO has still not been able
to get the 102mm F6 refractor together as a complete package. It was offered
with some nice features, slick 2 inch diagonal, 2 speed focuser, all sorts of
stuff. But so far, things have not gone well, the current wait is for some new
"Semi-Apo" objectives that will cure all the problems.

Currently I have a 102F6 Burgess Optical scope sitting in my closet waiting for
that new objective, mine has astigmatism that seems to be about lambda/1...
Others have been luckier.

So I say GO FOR IT. Get 50 guys here to give you $300 for that scope and
tripod.

Then after a year or so, you will be holding the bag, everyone will be ****ed
off at you for not delivering and you will have spent the last year trying to
learn Chinese and flying back and forth trying to get things straightened out.


-----

Bottomline: Orion is making money on their scopes. They have developed good
working relationships with companies that are experienced in the manufacture of
optics and they are able to import those scopes at what is really a bargin
price, sell them and provide prompt delivery, great service and keep their
customers happy.

If you want to compete with Orion, Celestron and the rest, you better be
prepared to learn how to interface with the Chinese manufacturers so that the
products arrive as promised and on time.

jon

I've seen pricing on some products direct from China and before the middlemen
get them here. Example; Celestron Ultima style eyepiece, no markings,
$21.50/ea. in 100 piece lots.

I say GO FOR IT....

Of course I am quite sure that Celestron Ultima eyepieces are made in Japan so
that Chinese connection is likely bogus...

Would it be possible to say buy 50 5" f8 achromats on G5 type mounts for
around $300/ea?

Someone else pointed to Burgess Optical and their difficulties dealing with the
Chinese factories. After a year of screwing around, BO has still not been able
to get the 102mm F6 refractor together as a complete package. It was offered
with some nice features, slick 2 inch diagonal, 2 speed focuser, all sorts of
stuff. But so far, things have not gone well, the current wait is for some new
"Semi-Apo" objectives that will cure all the problems.

Currently I have a 102F6 Burgess Optical scope sitting in my closet waiting for
that new objective, mine has astigmatism that seems to be about lambda/1...
Others have been luckier.

So I say GO FOR IT. Get 50 guys here to give you $300 for that scope and
tripod.

Then after a year or so, you will be holding the bag, everyone will be ****ed
off at you for not delivering and you will have spent the last year trying to
learn Chinese and flying back and forth trying to get things straightened out.


-----

Bottomline: Orion is making money on their scopes. They have developed good
working relationships with companies that are experienced in the manufacture of
optics and they are able to import those scopes at what is really a bargin
price, sell them and provide prompt delivery, great service and keep their
customers happy.

If you want to compete with Orion, Celestron and the rest, you better be
prepared to learn how to interface with the Chinese manufacturers so that the
products arrive as promised and on time.

jon