Is this AP mount a good deal?

http://www.astromart.com/viewad.asp?cid=264050

Price is $1200 above new. Not sure why? If waiting list is 5 years
and user doesn't want mount, isn't that bad to take mount anyway
only to mark it up and sell it again? Or should I not worry and buy
for $10k?

Well the AP 1200 goto is probably one of the best portable mid sized mount out
there. The wait is around two to three years. As far as marking up is
concerned the demand of these mounts is pretty stiff and there are people out
there with plenty of money to afford it. Look at the number of RCOS RC's
getting into amtuer hands the 20 inch RC is 45k and there are people buying
them. Its up to you weather you whnat to pay the 10k privce if you wait the
price is likely to be around 10k anyway's. Of course Astro-Physics has just got
done redesigning this mount. The next prod run which is this year will have all
the changes. The next mount to be upgraded will be the 900 goto. Then there is
another smaller mount. Possibly it replaces the AP400 and 600 mounts.

Clear Skies
Dwight L Bogan

There is buying good equipment, and there is making investments.
Something the
two merge. Whether this mount is an example of such a merger only time
will tell.
But given we have started into a wierd inflationary cycle against the
backdrop of
delfation! (jobloss, oil, war, and federal monetary crisis), I would not
bet the farm
the asking price of this mount will sustain itself unless it has real
intrinsic rarity and
there will always be some demand and a few willing to pay whatever the
rest of
the economy is doing (in future). There are other good mounts to be had.
In
addition more good mounts will be coming online. We dont live in a world
that
is mountless!

Jerry




Orions Belt wrote:

http://www.astromart.com/viewad.asp?cid=264050

Price is $1200 above new. Not sure why? If waiting list is 5 years
and user doesn't want mount, isn't that bad to take mount anyway
only to mark it up and sell it again? Or should I not worry and buy
for $10k?

Well Jerry I really don't think the bottom is going to fall out of the
astrophotographic capable mounts for a very long time. Have you ever used an AP
mount such as the 900 goto or the 1200 goto mounts. They are in a class all by
themselves. They are very protable and once setup correctly and for me drift
alignment in completed in about an hour after a drop the tailgate of my truck
and start unloading. There are not many mounts out there that can do this. The
Software Bisque mount is bigger and does not break down like the AP and its 10k
anyway's the Takahashi muonts in the affordable range are smaller than the 1200
the EM-10 and the EM200 are really trick Astro-Photographic mounts. The
Losmandy G11 and the Titan are smaller than the 1200. As far as waht the
economy does. These mounts don't appear to be affected by economic down turns
your not dealing with something that is produced on a massive scale so your not
going to get one for 29 cents on the dollar these are not pork belly futures
your dealing with. Myself Im on the list for a new 1200 goto the redesigned one
and it looks as though I'll be on the list the next go around which should be
later this years early next year. I've been using my 900 goto and its sale has
already been spoken for at the original price I paid for it!

Clear Skies
Dwight L Bogan

jerry warner wrote in message ...
There is buying good equipment, and there is making investments.
Something the
two merge. Whether this mount is an example of such a merger only time
will tell.
But given we have started into a wierd inflationary cycle against the
backdrop of
delfation! (jobloss, oil, war, and federal monetary crisis), I would not
bet the farm
the asking price of this mount will sustain itself unless it has real
intrinsic rarity and
there will always be some demand and a few willing to pay whatever the
rest of
the economy is doing (in future). There are other good mounts to be had.
In
addition more good mounts will be coming online. We dont live in a world
that
is mountless!

Jerry

Another example of objects acting this way are rare Chrysler muscle
cars.
10 years ago, almost none of them cost above 5 figures. Now, many are
higher,
with one touching $1.3 million. The economic downturn in the U.S.
hasn't
(apparently) hit the people attracted to these products. But products
like this
pass from one buying group into another as their prices rise. The
equivalent to a $1600 AP apo from the mid-1980s is thousands more
today. Yes, they are
better products now but pricing has pushed them into another "class."

Also, as always, as demand rises and supply remains static, they get
"rarer" as and prices tend to rise.
But part of it is due to buying for the name's sake. There is no
reason why
other companies can't get into this business (after all, a mount is
not like
an exotic optic) but even if other mounts meet or surpass AP mount
quality,
it's unlikely they would be valued as highly. The reputation AP has
takes
years for a company to establish.
-Rich

Subject: Is this AP mount a good deal?
From: (Richard)
Date: 4/15/2004 6:22 PM Eastern Daylight Time
Message-id:



Another example of objects acting this way are rare Chrysler muscle
cars.
10 years ago, almost none of them cost above 5 figures. Now, many are
higher,
with one touching $1.3 million. The economic downturn in the U.S.
hasn't
(apparently) hit the people attracted to these products. But products
like this
pass from one buying group into another as their prices rise. The
equivalent to a $1600 AP apo from the mid-1980s is thousands more
today. Yes, they are
better products now but pricing has pushed them into another "class."

Also, as always, as demand rises and supply remains static, they get
"rarer" as and prices tend to rise.
But part of it is due to buying for the name's sake. There is no
reason why
other companies can't get into this business (after all, a mount is
not like
an exotic optic) but even if other mounts meet or surpass AP mount
quality,
it's unlikely they would be valued as highly. The reputation AP has
takes
years for a company to establish.
-Rich
****************************
If i ever need a big mount, then the AP-1200 is my top pick hands down!!!

Chas P.

Well, there's many ways to look at this:

First off, I truly believe the seller of this "Upcoming mount" is
totally erroneous in stating that he's been on the list for 5 years.
That is BS IMO.

AP's wait times are not that bad for thier mounts, and if the owners
do succeed in thier wishes to open, or enlarge thier facilities, the
wait time should be become shorter.

Back in 2000, I waited 23 months to get my AP1200GTO. Was it a long
wait? At times it felt like it was, but the product I have was
certainly worth the wait. The 1200 is a masive, highly stable mount,
yet assembles with such ease, that I think my 72 year old mother could
set it up in 15min. if I showed her how. The parts are all very
manageble, solid, yet surprisingly light, well thought out, and built
with such exceptional, one of a kind quality.

Certainly, know what your doing if you're going to take someone's
place on a waiting list. Remember too, that the price of these high
end mounts only consist of the EQ Head. There will be counterweights,
Piers, and other accessories that will add to the final price.

As far as a hypothetical seller getting $10K for this brand new issue
mount? Most certainly! (If he is authenticly perhaps on wait
list)Many do not wish to wait. As I've said before, it's the ole bird
in the hand theory.

Also consider too, ultra-high quality mounts such as these, no matter
who makes them will never become cheaper in price as time marches by.

My own 1200 mount set-up consists of the Head, an array of Various
size AP Counterweights, two Piers, shelves, mounting brackets,
etc.(48"+54") and professional built flight cases built for the whole
lot. All is in absolute mint-brand new condition.
I could probably put my circa 2000 1200GTO mount on A-Mart, and sell
it for $13K in 5 minutes, believe it without a doubt. Mark D.

Orions Belt wrote in message ...
http://www.astromart.com/viewad.asp?cid=264050

Price is $1200 above new. Not sure why? If waiting list is 5 years
and user doesn't want mount, isn't that bad to take mount anyway
only to mark it up and sell it again? Or should I not worry and buy
for $10k?