Best online telescope retailers?

Hi,

I am thinking of buying a telescope (newtonian reflector) and apart from the usual second hand online sources in Ireland, are there any other recommended online shops to buy from? New and used.

Thanks,

Hi Derek

There are several reputable sites to choose from.

www.telescopehouse.com

www.telescope-service.com

I have used both of these over the years. Telescope service are excellent to deal with and have the lower shipping charges. There are other sites also but most sell new.

Hi Derek,

Like John I found both Teleskop Service and Telescope House excellent, and also got very good service from Opticstar ( www.opticstar.com ) and First Light Optics ( www.firstlightoptics.com/ ).

Mike

Hi,
For used equipement
www.astrobuysell.com/uk/
That page has also quite a few links for UK shops which are selling new equipement.
Now recently i have found this shop :
www.ktectelescopes.ie/
they are selling only one brand but free delivery tho...And there is North Down Telescopes aswell.
www.northdowntelescopes.co.uk/
Oh and almost forgot there is astronomy ireland but they tend to rip people off.But that just my experience.
www.astronomy.ie/
Hope that helps.

I recommend www.astroshop.eu/

They are a German company. Have bought from them many times now. Fantastic customer service, great prices and with very quick delivery. Huge range of products and they put a little bag of Haribo Gummy Bears in with every order.

Makes me smile every time

FORGET ALL THOSE SHOPS TELESCOPE SERVICE IS THE CHEAPEST
ASK THEM TO EVEN DROP THE PRICE AND THEY WILL THEIR IS
NO OTHER SHOP CHEAPER IN EUROPE THATS A FACT.

www.teleskop-express.de/shop/index.php

GLIESE 581G wrote: FORGET ALL THOSE SHOPS TELESCOPE SERVICE IS THE CHEAPEST
ASK THEM TO EVEN DROP THE PRICE AND THEY WILL THEIR IS
NO OTHER SHOP CHEAPER IN EUROPE THATS A FACT.

www.teleskop-express.de/shop/index.php

Is it wrong that when I read this it was in the voice of a used car salesman?

GLIESE 581G wrote: FORGET ALL THOSE SHOPS TELESCOPE SERVICE IS THE CHEAPEST
ASK THEM TO EVEN DROP THE PRICE AND THEY WILL THEIR IS
NO OTHER SHOP CHEAPER IN EUROPE THATS A FACT.

www.teleskop-express.de/shop/index.php

I ordered a telrad on there and had it in a couple of days. Ordered a Cheshire eyepiece on www.astronomy.ie over a month ago and I'm still waiting.

scopestuff.com is a great site for getting odd bits and pieces you just cant get elsewhere.
and look !, I KNOW HOW TO USE THE CAPS BUTTON hahahahhaa

Teleskop service in Germany offered a good price for my 10" and made an offer when I asked . Very good service.
Also Hands on Optics in US offer good deals. Ask them for their best price. Ask everyone for their best price. Also Agena Astro in Califormia have good prices and very good delivery charges. With all the stuff I've got from America, I haave never had to pay VAT/Import duty. SSSHHHHHH!

I didn't say that out loud did I?

Barry

I've saved thousands at this stage due to the obvious lack of customs sorting capacity at Portlaois What I find most funny is that anything that has incurred customs/vat was the cheaper small packages. All the expensive big box heavy stuff went through and out the other side free of customs/vat No declaration shennanigans whatsoever.

telescope servive buys direct from taiwan and china and celestron
which can not be said for a certain shop in ireland the only
people who buy from this county are first time buyers and they
get robbed.

GLIESE 581G wrote: telescope servive buys direct from taiwan and china and celestron
which can not be said for a certain shop in ireland the only
people who buy from this county are first time buyers and they
get robbed.

I have to disagree with you there. Dont tar all suppliers here with one brush I set my webshop up in order to bring some competition and competitve prices to Ireland. I cannot speak for any other retailer here, but competition is long overdue.

Yes, at the moment we only have Astro-Professional and iOptron products, but we have plenty more on the way soon, including Meade, Kendrick products, and in the longer term William Optics and GSO to name but a few.

We deliver every order over €50 for free, we match prices from Uk and Europe, and more importantly, we are here, so no warranty worries either.

Stephen.

I was a first time buyer in April last year. So like I always do before I decide to part with my hard earned cash I went out and did my research, checking prices and getting quotes from several dealers in Northern Ireland, UK and Germany for a Celestron CPC9.25. I went to Astronomy Ireland armed with all this information and following an enjoyable haggle with them, I came away with the best deal of all. I for one certainly didn't feel ripped off or robbed.

StephenK, great to see a new start up business, especially in these harsh times. The very best of luck I must add your website www.ktectelescopes.ie/ to my favourites list.

interesting site Stephen, one I'll keep in mind when buying in the future.

Pat_Dunne wrote: I was a first time buyer in April last year. So like I always do before I decide to part with my hard earned cash I went out and did my research, checking prices and getting quotes from several dealers in Northern Ireland, UK and Germany for a Celestron CPC9.25. I went to Astronomy Ireland armed with all this information and following an enjoyable haggle with them, I came away with the best deal of all. I for one certainly didn't feel robbed.

Ditto, got a great deal off teleskop service (8% off online price and free delivery on a nexstar 8se) and Astronomy Ireland not only matched the offer but threw in a power tank on top. Yes, their list prices are high partly due to licensing and not being able to source direct. Yes, some first time buyers who don't research may pay over the odds. But just like any consumer product, it pays to shop around and haggle. You may just get a good deal locally and have a retailer there to support you if there are issues etc.

Great to see a new Irish seller in the marketplace. I just got a laser collimator delivered from telesckop, looking at www.ktectelescopes.ie/ I would have got it about 15 Euro cheaper!!

Hi Stephen, I never had any problems with Astronomy Ireland, but it certainly is good news to have another supplier in this island. I look forward to seeing new brands added to your list, especially as I am trying to scrape together a slush fund for a medium sized Dob. Be prepared to haggle

Mike

Many thanks for all of the words of encouragement

It is great to get them from such a community as what we have here on this forum.

Clear skies for all,

Stephen.