Shipping credit??? for OS customers

[boomboom]

I have just been looking at the overstake sale and noticed 'shipping credit' for overseas customers! What is that?
I ask as I have made my refractor around an Istar lens to avoid government import duties and large shipping costs, which combined cost as much as my build!
So as I haven't seen the 'credit' bit before can you explain what it means? It might be that someone out there is thinking what I was…but worse and not going through with a purchase cause it pushes them past the point of…it's not worth it.

Hope I have explained myself here.
Matt

[astromanuk]

Hi Matt, 

I believe this is because Istar factor in shipping for domestic customers. Mike gave me $100US rebate which was used against shipping of my 206/1200 comet seeker. Obviously it would be a lot less for a lens in cell. This is just another example to me of why Istar are such a great company to deal with. On top of the rebate Mike then went out of his way to ensure he got me the most cost effective shipping to the UK. Great service!

[boomboom]

Hi Ian,

Think that explains it! You incredibly sensible person getting an 8"Comet seeker! That is my next ATM…..well will be after I tell my wife, the bruises heal and the ringing in my ears dies away.

Gotta admit the thought of giving the government some of my hard earned cash just for the privilege of importing a scope that isn't manufactured here is too much. There is no 'duty' on items under $1000 in this country….yet…the debate rages as I type, and as the f12 lens was well under that I was home and hosed. My scope all up cost nearly $1K.

Love to read your thoughts on the 8". One of my joys is cruising the milky way and 8"'s would be a dream come true…. I digress.

Matt

[astromanuk]

Hi Matt,

Yes, I consider myself very lucky to have been able to get te 8". Milky Way scanning is a passion we share. I am fortunate enough to live in a rural location within the South Downs National Park (50 miles south of London) so skies for the south of England are dark. I was out last night with binoculars scanning from Cygnus in the north west through Perseus near the zenith and down to Gemini and Orion in the south. Fantastic fun lying flat on the ground with 20x60s Zeiss binoculars to my eyes.

Back on topic, I would advise anyone importing an Istar telescope to contact Mike first to establish costs and also the chosen carriers local office to establish the total extent of fees, local duties and sales taxes that will be in addition to the carriage costs. If you are presented with a surprise invoice it can really take the shine off a new instrument. Your case is a good example, where to buy the complete telescope would not have been cost justifiable.

I have just found a second hand Meade Super giant field tripod (the one sold with 12" and 14" LX200's) in new condition. I am almost certainly going to put an APM ALT-AZ MAX mount between that and the 8". Buying from Germany is a cinch for me as within the EU all taxes apply locally at the point of sale. So the price quoted including carriage is all I pay.

Looking forward to seeing your outfit completed. I will post details of mine in my other thread once I have firmed up mounting options. Then pictures will follow.

Best wishes

[Mike]

Dear Matt, Ian is right on the "money." We do have some shipping built into the complete OTAs because there is no additional charge for shipping within the continental US. If you were to purchase an OTA like Ian, I would give you the amount we have built into the cost toward your shipping. Australia is the most expensive place we ever ship to. I want to establish a dealer there. Unless we ship a container full there is no way to do it economically

Lenses only do not count as we ship them USPS Priority International. The shipping isn't too expensive but as you mentioned the government will get you for import taxes. If I remember correctly you chose a lens that would fall below the threshold. Or, you chose not to buy a complete scope? One or the other?

Mike

[boomboom]

Hi Mike,
I chose the ATM route really cause I have been wanting to build my own scope for a long time. Now the kids have grown up enough and house renovations are done I had the time to do it.
A nice learning curve it was too.
I can't believe that no one in Oz wants to sell Istar scopes….but on the other hand I think it's more of a small market thing and you (Istar) might take business away from the Synta's Taks etc that are here already….which might go down like a lead balloon.
When I finish my scope I intend to do a write up on Ice In Space, hopefully in the next few days as long as the weather permits me to paint the dew shield. Kitsch 101 (Matt) did a great job raising Isatr awareness, with his Gaunt Mount rebuild. When he sold his Istar f10 it went in under 5min's ! from memory. Most refractor sales last days….an uneducated lot down here I'm afraid
Duty here FWIW is 10% of the total….so around $250 or so for an f 12, not huge but enough to put some off. I did think about bring in a scope in bits, objective ,tube etc but shipping added up to more than a complete scope + import duty.
Really happy with the way I have done it.
Matt

[Mike]

Actually there are at least two dealers that want to sell our scopes but the shipping charges to "Oz" are terribly high.