Cheapest Place To Buy a 80ED Refractor

I would agree...but...the people I am talking about WERE saving for the
traditional APOs.

After the Orion 80ED, they will be spending their money on other
things...NOT other APOs.

TMT

I would agree BUT many times the urge to buy a specific scope pales
once you have something that is 95% of the original.

Of all the owners of the Chinese 80EDs, only two are still planning on
upgrading later. The others are satisfied with the performance they are
receiving and are spending their money on mount upgrades, eyepieces and
such.

I expect to see this same trend when the 100 ED scopes are more
available.

TMT

I tend to agree. Perhaps when there wasn't a heavy supplier of a variety of
cheap but fairly good quality refractors, those that might wish for one would
have been pushed into getting a high-end refractor instead. Now that there is a
choice, the sales for the high-enders has probably slackened off a bit, but only
for those that were forced to consider them when the buyers were really thinking
medium to low-priced instruments.

--
Sincerely,
--- Dave
----------------------------------------------------------------------
It don't mean a thing
unless it has that certain "je ne sais quoi"
Duke Ellington
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"Ed T" wrote in message
ink.net...

"Too_Many_Tools" wrote in message

As I mentioned in the other post, there seem to be indications that the
Chinese refractors are affecting sales of the traditional producers of
the high end refractors.

I think you're right, some will opt for the 80ED instead of the high enders.
But long term there will be those who get their feet wet with the Orion and
decide to upgrade. I think an entry level apochromat is good for the premium
makers.

Ed T.

"Too_Many_Tools" wrote in message

I would agree BUT many times the urge to buy a specific scope pales
once you have something that is 95% of the original.

Of all the owners of the Chinese 80EDs, only two are still planning on
upgrading later. The others are satisfied with the performance they are
receiving and are spending their money on mount upgrades, eyepieces and
such.

I expect to see this same trend when the 100 ED scopes are more
available.

Here's a couple of star photos taken through the two Orion scopes:

http://www.pbase.com/mataylor/image/39280632
http://www.pbase.com/mataylor/image/39280630

Ed T.

Nice images Ed, and they show that these inexpensive scopes can generate decent
images.

But where did the dark spikes come from in the second image?

--
Sincerely,
--- Dave

----------------------------------------------------------------------
It don't mean a thing
unless it has that certain "je ne sais quoi"
Duke Ellington
----------------------------------------------------------------------

"Ed T" wrote in message
ink.net...

"Too_Many_Tools" wrote in message

I would agree BUT many times the urge to buy a specific scope pales
once you have something that is 95% of the original.

Of all the owners of the Chinese 80EDs, only two are still planning on
upgrading later. The others are satisfied with the performance they are
receiving and are spending their money on mount upgrades, eyepieces and
such.

I expect to see this same trend when the 100 ED scopes are more
available.

Here's a couple of star photos taken through the two Orion scopes:

http://www.pbase.com/mataylor/image/39280632
http://www.pbase.com/mataylor/image/39280630

Ed T.

"David Nakamoto" wrote in message
news:YjfMd.1878$uc.1039@trnddc05...
Nice images Ed, and they show that these inexpensive scopes can generate
decent images.

But where did the dark spikes come from in the second image?

I found the link on the Yahoo refractors group. Roland C. said they were
likely the result of the lens spacers extending into the light path, perhaps
exacerbated by a bit of turned down edge.

Regards, Ed T.

Actually you couldn't have seen the correct wholesale price and then
say its far below because its not. Sorry a dealer has to buy something
and sit on till its sold and you need a margin in the 35-40% range to
make any real profit and these scopes are not coming in that cheap when
sold for $399. At $499 the profit is there and reasonable.

Next time you troll don't bother because that is all this is. If you
want to say that you think they should be cheaper than say so don't
pussy foot around.


Too_Many_Tools wrote:
I too have seen the "actual" price of these scopes....it is far below
$399.

The dealers also have a much greater profit margin in this type of
the
refractor than its high end competitor.

As for "complicated legal agreements", I think you have just noted
the
problem we are really seeing. The importers are taking great pains to
keep the prices up in the market.

From what I am seeing, the cheaper refractors are affecting the
market
for the higher end scopes. I know of seven user in our own little
club
who were saving for a high end refractor but now have purchased a
Chinese 80ED. They are very happy with their purchases and will not
be
buying another.

Those buyers represent lost sales to the companies that would have
normally have sold a high end APO refractor.

TMT

"If you want to say that you think they should be cheaper than say s=ADo
don't
pussy foot around. "

No trolling here but I think you need to read the title of this
thread....

"Cheapest Place To Buy a 80ED Refractor"

Seems like that is what I am saying.... alot cheaper.

There is plenty of profit margin at $399.

Do you really think the vendor selling at $399 is doing it for free?


"you need a margin in the 35-40%=AD range to make any real profit"

Real profit? Try alot more. Plenty of room for discounts.
Refractors are going to get much cheaper in the future.

TMT

You seem to think they should do it for free so you can get a better
price.
This is a troll sorry you won't admit it because if you know the
wholesale pricing then you know someone who will sell it to you for
that and stop bothering the rest of the world with complaining there
are no discounts.

And don't try to tell me what real profit is I am a manufacturer.
BYE BYE TROLL

Sir, it sounds like you are the one who is the troll....and a worried
one at that.

Whether you are a manufacturer is very doubtful, much more likely a
vendor who is worried about his profit margins shrinking further than
it has already.

Well, get used to it. Your competition is already selling product
cheaper and cheaper. Do you think Orion is happy about the Skywatcher
discount of 20%? It is the first of many to come.

And who said anything about wholesale pricing, let's talk about actual
production cost. If you are a manufacturer, care to tell us what your
actual production cost is for a 80ED refractor? ;)