Is there an "astro" buying season?

Some products are "seasonal": for example here in the Northeast USA the
remaining stocks of boats and golf gear are currently deeply discounted,
while snowmobiles are "full price" and you probably need to order the most
popular models. If you want to sell your lawnmower, you'll get more $$ by
waiting 'til spring.

So: Is there a "good time of the year" to buy or sell astro gear? I've seen
the owner of StellarCat (GoTo systems) sell at a discount during the summer,
claiming that sales are slow then, with much of his sales coming in winter
(when ATMs are in the basement rather than out on snowy nights?). Are there
other factors pushing the price of astro gear (like Meade's $15 million loss
last year)?

George N

"George Normandin" wrote in message
...
Some products are "seasonal": for example here in the Northeast USA the
remaining stocks of boats and golf gear are currently deeply discounted,
while snowmobiles are "full price" and you probably need to order the most
popular models. If you want to sell your lawnmower, you'll get more $$ by
waiting 'til spring.

So: Is there a "good time of the year" to buy or sell astro gear? I've
seen
the owner of StellarCat (GoTo systems) sell at a discount during the
summer,
claiming that sales are slow then, with much of his sales coming in winter
(when ATMs are in the basement rather than out on snowy nights?). Are
there
other factors pushing the price of astro gear (like Meade's $15 million
loss
last year)?

George N


Well - kinda sorta...

Seasonally speaking, the best time to buy is when skies are bright (so
conversely the best time to sell is when skies are dark). So if you are
selling, you should sell when the skies are darkest - ie, never! Hmmph.

Maybe I should go away and come back in ten years ago...

"George Normandin" wrote in message
...
Some products are "seasonal": for example here in the Northeast USA the
remaining stocks of boats and golf gear are currently deeply discounted,
while snowmobiles are "full price" and you probably need to order the most
popular models. If you want to sell your lawnmower, you'll get more $$ by
waiting 'til spring.

So: Is there a "good time of the year" to buy or sell astro gear? I've
seen
the owner of StellarCat (GoTo systems) sell at a discount during the
summer,
claiming that sales are slow then, with much of his sales coming in winter
(when ATMs are in the basement rather than out on snowy nights?). Are
there
other factors pushing the price of astro gear (like Meade's $15 million
loss
last year)?

George N


ya..christmas

George Normandin wrote:
Some products are "seasonal": for example here in the Northeast USA the
remaining stocks of boats and golf gear are currently deeply discounted,
while snowmobiles are "full price" and you probably need to order the most
popular models. If you want to sell your lawnmower, you'll get more $$ by
waiting 'til spring.

So: Is there a "good time of the year" to buy or sell astro gear? I've seen
the owner of StellarCat (GoTo systems) sell at a discount during the summer,
claiming that sales are slow then, with much of his sales coming in winter
(when ATMs are in the basement rather than out on snowy nights?). Are there
other factors pushing the price of astro gear (like Meade's $15 million loss
last year)?

I would think the best time of the year to buy a telescope would be tax
refund time.

--
Pat O'Connell
[note munged EMail address]
Take nothing but pictures, Leave nothing but footprints,
Kill nothing but vandals...

GN
Subject: Is there an "astro" buying season?
GN
From: "George Normandin"
GN
Date: Sat, 21 Oct 2006 15:00:14 GMT
GN
GN Some products are "seasonal": for example here in the Northeast USA the
GN remaining stocks of boats and golf gear are currently deeply discounted,
GN while snowmobiles are "full price" and you probably need to order the most
GN popular models. If you want to sell your lawnmower, you'll get more $$ by
GN waiting 'til spring.
GN
GN So: Is there a "good time of the year" to buy or sell astro gear? I've seen
GN the owner of StellarCat (GoTo systems) sell at a discount during the summer,
GN claiming that sales are slow then, with much of his sales coming in winter
GN (when ATMs are in the basement rather than out on snowy nights?). Are there
GN other factors pushing the price of astro gear (like Meade's $15 million loss
GN last year)?

Not on an annual cucle. However, it is frequent that a bright
comet, an eclipse, planet proximity comes around to spark scope
buying.

---
þ RoseReader 2.52á P005004

On Sat, 21 Oct 2006 18:56:45 GMT, Mike L'Mao wrote:


ya..christmas




Mick, get out of here you sorry jerk.

George Normandin wrote:
Some products are "seasonal": for example here in the Northeast USA the
remaining stocks of boats and golf gear are currently deeply discounted,
while snowmobiles are "full price" and you probably need to order the most
popular models. If you want to sell your lawnmower, you'll get more $$ by
waiting 'til spring.

So: Is there a "good time of the year" to buy or sell astro gear?

George N

Just after the wife's birthday (if you play it right) ;-
jc

"Martin R. Howell" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 21 Oct 2006 18:56:45 GMT, Mike L'Mao wrote:


ya..christmas




Mick, get out of here you sorry jerk.

now now..be nice.

after christmas is a good time too look for retailers to be selling
overstock.

George Normandin wrote:
snip So: Is there a "good time of the year" to buy or sell astro
gear?

I went through an astronomy "gas" (gearhead acquisition cycle) during
the winter 2005-spring 2006 season - principally focused on Orion
Telescopes. That vendor and Meade seemed to be stuffing my mailbox
with catalogues with discounts during heavy consumer buying periods,
e.g. - November before the Christmas season and around April for the
tax refund season. There was also a short discount period before Jan.
31 - for post-Christmas pre-inventory-tax count reductions. This does
not seem to differ materially from other major retailers.

- Canopus56