Scope City vs. Telescopes.com

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Date: 24 Oct 2006 06:22:04
From: Walt
Subject: Scope City vs. Telescopes.com

I'm planning on buying a 12" Meade Lightbridge and am considering these
two places. Anyone have any experience dealing with them? Are there any
other mail-order places you recommend?

Thanks,
--Walt
Bozeman, MT

Date: 24 Oct 2006 08:41:23
From: Don't Be Evil
Subject: Re: Scope City vs. Telescopes.com

Walt wrote:
> I'm planning on buying a 12" Meade Lightbridge and am considering these
> two places. Anyone have any experience dealing with them? Are there any
> other mail-order places you recommend?
>
> Thanks,
> --Walt
> Bozeman, MT

I've ordered from OPT (optcorp.com) several times and recommend them.
They offer discounts to astro club members. Probably enough of a
discount to pay for the membership.

Also, if you don't need the truss feature, Orion's dobs offer
computerized pointing.

Greg

Date: 24 Oct 2006 09:51:05
From: George
Subject: Re: Scope City vs. Telescopes.com

Date: 24 Oct 2006 09:47:37
From: Dennis Woos
Subject: Re: Scope City vs. Telescopes.com

"Walt" <weaver1308@gmail.com > wrote in message
news:1161696124.560794.295730@e3g2000cwe.googlegroups.com...
> I'm planning on buying a 12" Meade Lightbridge and am considering these
> two places. Anyone have any experience dealing with them? Are there any
> other mail-order places you recommend?
>
> Thanks,
> --Walt
> Bozeman, MT
>

Why don't you check with folks at your local astro club, and find out which
vendor(s) have supported you in the past? Our club has gotten freebies for
our annual meeting raffles, club member discounts, etc. from a number of
vendors, and we encourage our members to do business with those who help us
out. We also like to support those vendors who conribute to Stellafane.

Dennis

Date: 25 Oct 2006 10:07:47
From: Guy Macon
Subject: Re: Scope City vs. Telescopes.com

Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8Bit

Walt wrote:

>I'm planning on buying a 12" Meade Lightbridge and am considering these
>two places. Anyone have any experience dealing with them? Are there any
>other mail-order places you recommend?

Haven't tried telescopes.com. Dealt with scope city many times and have
always walked away happy. They have several brick-and-morter stores,
and are thus unlikely to go belly up unexpectedly the way some internet
vendors do.

It was 39 °F (4 °C) and cloudy today in Bozeman Montana,
and the prediction for Los Angeles is 82 °F (28 °C) and sunny.
Perhaps you might want to visit us and check out our Scope
City... :)

--
Guy Macon
<http://www.guymacon.com/ >

Date: 25 Oct 2006 21:48:14
From: Mij Adyaw
Subject: Re: Scope City vs. Telescopes.com

OPT and Anacortes are the best. Scope City is a wannabe.

"Walt" <weaver1308@gmail.com > wrote in message
news:1161696124.560794.295730@e3g2000cwe.googlegroups.com...
> I'm planning on buying a 12" Meade Lightbridge and am considering these
> two places. Anyone have any experience dealing with them? Are there any
> other mail-order places you recommend?
>
> Thanks,
> --Walt
> Bozeman, MT
>

Date: 26 Oct 2006 06:04:33
From: George
Subject: Re: Scope City vs. Telescopes.com

"Mij Adyaw" <mij@TheBitBucket.com > wrote in message
news:e5X%g.16676$ob4.13876@newsfe10.phx...
> OPT and Anacortes are the best. Scope City is a wannabe.

Perhaps, but if so, they've been a "wannabe" for quite some time.

George

> "Walt" <weaver1308@gmail.com> wrote in message
> news:1161696124.560794.295730@e3g2000cwe.googlegroups.com...
>> I'm planning on buying a 12" Meade Lightbridge and am considering these
>> two places. Anyone have any experience dealing with them? Are there any
>> other mail-order places you recommend?
>>
>> Thanks,
>> --Walt
>> Bozeman, MT
>>
>
>

Date: 26 Oct 2006 09:20:43
From: Mij Adyaw
Subject: Re: Scope City vs. Telescopes.com

"George" <george@yourservice.com > wrote in message
news:Ws6dnVKNNKetFd3YnZ2dnUVZ_qidnZ2d@insightbb.com...
>
> "Mij Adyaw" <mij@TheBitBucket.com> wrote in message
> news:e5X%g.16676$ob4.13876@newsfe10.phx...
>> OPT and Anacortes are the best. Scope City is a wannabe.
>
> Perhaps, but if so, they've been a "wannabe" for quite some time.
>
> George

That is true, however it is important to note that some folks are wannabees
all of their life. Scope city does not have nearly the inventory and
expertise that OPT and Anacortes has.

Date: 26 Oct 2006 17:26:22
From: lal_truckee
Subject: Re: Scope City vs. Telescopes.com

Mij Adyaw wrote:
>
> That is true, however it is important to note that some folks are wannabees
> all of their life. Scope city does not have nearly the inventory and
> expertise that OPT and Anacortes has.

They are also a physical chain with multiple outlets, and good
off-the-shelf stock, and a strong web presence. Since Lumicon closed in
Livermore (and was bought by this very same Scope City IIRC) the SC in
San Francisco is my easiest physical astro outlet.

I wouldn't call them wannabees by any means.

Date: 26 Oct 2006 11:35:21
From: Jan Owen
Subject: Re: Scope City vs. Telescopes.com

"Walt" <weaver1308@gmail.com > wrote in message
news:1161696124.560794.295730@e3g2000cwe.googlegroups.com...
> I'm planning on buying a 12" Meade Lightbridge and am considering these
> two places. Anyone have any experience dealing with them? Are there any
> other mail-order places you recommend?
>
> Thanks,
> --Walt
> Bozeman, MT
>

I bought my 12" LightBridge through Astronomics. I've also bought other
scopes there, as well as endless accessories over DECADES. ALWAYS a good
place to order... Good inventory, courteous folks who know the products
they sell, AND good service AFTER the sale...

--
Jan Owen

To reach me directly, remove the Z, if one appears in my e-mail address...
Latitude: 33.6
Longitude: -112.3
http://community.webshots.com/user/janowen21

Date: 26 Oct 2006 23:50:55
From: Florian
Subject: Re: Scope City vs. Telescopes.com

>I bought my 12" LightBridge through Astronomics. I've also bought =
other=20
>scopes there, as well as endless accessories over DECADES. ALWAYS a =
good=20
>place to order... Good inventory, courteous folks who know the =
products=20
>they sell, AND good service AFTER the sale...

I'll second what Jan said. Astronomics has always been my first choice =
astro/binocular dealer. Good inventory, quick delivery, helpful with =
questions.

.Florian

Date: 27 Oct 2006 03:31:47
From:
Subject: Re: Scope City vs. Telescopes.com

lal_truckee wrote:
> [...]
> They are also a physical chain with multiple outlets, and good
> off-the-shelf stock, and a strong web presence. Since Lumicon closed in
> Livermore (and was bought by this very same Scope City IIRC) the SC in
> San Francisco is my easiest physical astro outlet.

Lumicon's assets were acquired by Parks Optical, not Scope City.

Parks is at <http://www.parksoptical.com/ >:

Parks Optical, Inc.
750 Easy Street
Simi Valley, CA 93065 USA
Phone: 805.522.6722
Fax: 805.522.0033

Lumicon is at <http://www.lumicon.com/ >:

Address: 750 E. Easy Street, Simi Valley, CA 93065, USA
Phone: (805) 520-0047
Fax: (805) 520-3030
E-mail: lumicon@lumicon.com

Just curious: how/where do you find parking at the San Francisco Scope
City?
The only other "real" astro dealer in Northern California is Orion in
Cupertino.

Date: 27 Oct 2006 16:04:43
From: lal_truckee
Subject: Re: Scope City vs. Telescopes.com

thad@thadlabs.com wrote:
> lal_truckee wrote:
>> [...]
>> They are also a physical chain with multiple outlets, and good
>> off-the-shelf stock, and a strong web presence. Since Lumicon closed in
>> Livermore (and was bought by this very same Scope City IIRC) the SC in
>> San Francisco is my easiest physical astro outlet.
>
> Lumicon's assets were acquired by Parks Optical, not Scope City.

Whoops.

>
> Parks is at <http://www.parksoptical.com/>:
>
> Parks Optical, Inc.
> 750 Easy Street
> Simi Valley, CA 93065 USA
> Phone: 805.522.6722
> Fax: 805.522.0033
>
> Lumicon is at <http://www.lumicon.com/>:
>
> Address: 750 E. Easy Street, Simi Valley, CA 93065, USA
> Phone: (805) 520-0047
> Fax: (805) 520-3030
> E-mail: lumicon@lumicon.com
>
>
> Just curious: how/where do you find parking at the San Francisco Scope
> City?

Northpoint parking garage - free with validation. Same building as Scope
City last time I visited (been awhile - they may have moved?)

> The only other "real" astro dealer in Northern California is Orion in
> Cupertino.

And their outlet in Watsonville - A bit far for regular visits.

Date:
From:
Subject:

Date: 27 Oct 2006 10:44:45
From: Walt
Subject: Re: Scope City vs. Telescopes.com

Jan Owen wrote:
> "Walt" <weaver1308@gmail.com> wrote in message
> news:1161696124.560794.295730@e3g2000cwe.googlegroups.com...
> > I'm planning on buying a 12" Meade Lightbridge and am considering these
> > two places. Anyone have any experience dealing with them? Are there any
> > other mail-order places you recommend?
> >
> > Thanks,
> > --Walt
> > Bozeman, MT
> >
>
> I bought my 12" LightBridge through Astronomics. I've also bought other
> scopes there, as well as endless accessories over DECADES. ALWAYS a good
> place to order... Good inventory, courteous folks who know the products
> they sell, AND good service AFTER the sale...
>
> --
> Jan Owen
>
> To reach me directly, remove the Z, if one appears in my e-mail address...
> Latitude: 33.6
> Longitude: -112.3
> http://community.webshots.com/user/janowen21

Thanks for the suggestions, everyone.

Well, after announcing I was looking for a place to buy a LightBridge I
wound up ordering an XT12 Intelliscope directly from Orion. I decided I
really didn't need the portability of a truss design since the XT12
will fit in the back of my Outback. Besides, living south of Bozeman
the skies are dark enough in my area that I don't really need to go
anywhere for good viewing.

Not sure if the Intelliscope thingie will be all that handy but it
should be fun to play with.

Thanks,
--Walt
-- Bozeman, MT

Date: 27 Oct 2006 12:10:07
From: Jan Owen
Subject: Re: Scope City vs. Telescopes.com

"Walt" <weaver1308@gmail.com > wrote in message
news:1161971085.504082.258180@m7g2000cwm.googlegroups.com...
>
> Jan Owen wrote:
>> "Walt" <weaver1308@gmail.com> wrote in message
>> news:1161696124.560794.295730@e3g2000cwe.googlegroups.com...
>> > I'm planning on buying a 12" Meade Lightbridge and am considering these
>> > two places. Anyone have any experience dealing with them? Are there any
>> > other mail-order places you recommend?
>> >
>> > Thanks,
>> > --Walt
>> > Bozeman, MT
>> >
>>
>> I bought my 12" LightBridge through Astronomics. I've also bought other
>> scopes there, as well as endless accessories over DECADES. ALWAYS a good
>> place to order... Good inventory, courteous folks who know the products
>> they sell, AND good service AFTER the sale...
>>
>> --
>> Jan Owen
>>
>> To reach me directly, remove the Z, if one appears in my e-mail
>> address...
>> Latitude: 33.6
>> Longitude: -112.3
>> http://community.webshots.com/user/janowen21
>
> Thanks for the suggestions, everyone.
>
> Well, after announcing I was looking for a place to buy a LightBridge I
> wound up ordering an XT12 Intelliscope directly from Orion. I decided I
> really didn't need the portability of a truss design since the XT12
> will fit in the back of my Outback. Besides, living south of Bozeman
> the skies are dark enough in my area that I don't really need to go
> anywhere for good viewing.
>
> Not sure if the Intelliscope thingie will be all that handy but it
> should be fun to play with.
>
> Thanks,
> --Walt
> -- Bozeman, MT
>

Have FUN!!!

I'm SURE you'll like that scope...

Been buying stuff from Orion probably as long as from Astronomics, and
that's been since rocks were new... Another great place to deal with...

--
Jan Owen

To reach me directly, remove the Z, if one appears in my e-mail address...
Latitude: 33.6
Longitude: -112.3
http://community.webshots.com/user/janowen21

Date: 29 Oct 2006 19:30:20
From: Uncle Bob
Subject: Re: Scope City vs. Telescopes.com

On 29, 2:00 pm, t...@thadlabs.com wrote:
> Uncle Bob wrote:
> > [...]
> > Notice they have the same address. Lumicon, Parks Optical and Scope City
> > are owned by the same people.Close. :-)
>
> Scope City at 730 East Easy Street
> Parks Optical at 750 Easy Street
> Lumicon at 750 E. Easy Street
>
> The original blurb when Lumicon went belly-up in 2003 stated their
> assets were acquired by Parks Optical.
>
> I used to visit Lumicon (in Livermore CA) often, and after its demise
> one of its people, Rich, went to work at Orion in Cupertino CA (and
> he's still there).
>
> I didn't realize until your comment that Scope City was based in
> California; too bad they haven't opened a store in Silicon Valley
> (e.g., the Peninsula, anywhere from San Mateo to San Jose) as
> there's a dearth of astro-related stores here.

The addresses are 78 feet apart.
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=730+Easy+St.+Simi+Valley,+CA+to+750+E.+Easy+Street,+Simi+Valley,+CA&ie=UTF8&z=18&ll=34.27368,-118.782625&spn=0.00293,0.005203&t=k&om=1
Clear Skies,
Uncle Bob

Date: 29 Oct 2006 14:00:40
From:
Subject: Re: Scope City vs. Telescopes.com

Uncle Bob wrote:
> [...]
> Notice they have the same address. Lumicon, Parks Optical and Scope City
> are owned by the same people.

Close. :-)

Scope City at 730 East Easy Street
Parks Optical at 750 Easy Street
Lumicon at 750 E. Easy Street

The original blurb when Lumicon went belly-up in 2003 stated their
assets were acquired by Parks Optical.

I used to visit Lumicon (in Livermore CA) often, and after its demise
one of its people, Rich, went to work at Orion in Cupertino CA (and
he's still there).

I didn't realize until your comment that Scope City was based in
California; too bad they haven't opened a store in Silicon Valley
(e.g., the Peninsula, anywhere from San Mateo to San Jose) as
there's a dearth of astro-related stores here.

Date: 29 Oct 2006 17:28:07
From: Pat O'Connell
Subject: Re: Scope City vs. Telescopes.com

thad@thadlabs.com wrote:
> Uncle Bob wrote:
>> [...]
>> Notice they have the same address. Lumicon, Parks Optical and Scope City
>> are owned by the same people.
>
> Close. :-)
>
> Scope City at 730 East Easy Street
> Parks Optical at 750 Easy Street
> Lumicon at 750 E. Easy Street
>
> The original blurb when Lumicon went belly-up in 2003 stated their
> assets were acquired by Parks Optical.
>
> I used to visit Lumicon (in Livermore CA) often, and after its demise
> one of its people, Rich, went to work at Orion in Cupertino CA (and
> he's still there).
>
> I didn't realize until your comment that Scope City was based in
> California; too bad they haven't opened a store in Silicon Valley
> (e.g., the Peninsula, anywhere from San Mateo to San Jose) as
> there's a dearth of astro-related stores here.

Um--there's apparently one in San Francisco, 41 miles away from Mountain
View. That would be reasonably close to Silicon Valley.

The nearest "real" telescope store that's worth a damn (e.g. not a
camera store or WalMart) near Albuquerque (where I live) is in Belen, 35
miles away. After that, it's a trip to Cloudcroft NM.

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

Date: 30 Oct 2006 01:54:56
From:
Subject: Re: Scope City vs. Telescopes.com

Pat O'Connell wrote:
> thad@thadlabs.com wrote:
> > Uncle Bob wrote:
> >> [...]
> >> Notice they have the same address. Lumicon, Parks Optical and Scope City
> >> are owned by the same people.
> >
> > Close. :-)
> >
> > Scope City at 730 East Easy Street
> > Parks Optical at 750 Easy Street
> > Lumicon at 750 E. Easy Street
> >
> > The original blurb when Lumicon went belly-up in 2003 stated their
> > assets were acquired by Parks Optical.
> >
> > I used to visit Lumicon (in Livermore CA) often, and after its demise
> > one of its people, Rich, went to work at Orion in Cupertino CA (and
> > he's still there).
> >
> > I didn't realize until your comment that Scope City was based in
> > California; too bad they haven't opened a store in Silicon Valley
> > (e.g., the Peninsula, anywhere from San Mateo to San Jose) as
> > there's a dearth of astro-related stores here.
>
> Um--there's apparently one in San Francisco, 41 miles away from Mountain
> View. That would be reasonably close to Silicon Valley.

That's miles, not time. Driving/parking time is a serious issue here
in
N. California. That specific Scope City location is right in the heart
of
what's known as "Fisherman's Wharf", a major tourist attraction. For
me,
that's 2 hours driving time (yeah, 41 miles) and additional time
finding any
parking (which is probably another $12-20 or so (unless, as the other
poster
mentioned, one can get "validated"). Note San Francisco is anti-auto
and
approves facilities (e.g., businesses, shopping malls, etc.) without
ANY,
repeat ANY, parking. I flipped-off one girlfriend who lived there
because
it could take 3 hours' driving to even find a parking space within 2
miles
walking distance of her residence.

The SF Peninsula (aka Silicon Valley) is different. Parking is
abundant and
free (for the most part). If Scope City was smart they'd close their
SF store
and move to, say, Mountain View or Sunnyvale where there actually are
people who use scopes. There are many observatories and "events" on
the
Peninsula; I cannot recall any single astro event whatsoever in 'Frisco
(except,
perhaps, for John
Dobson's sidewalk astronomy stuff of long-gone years ago).
You put a scope on the sidewalk in 'Frisco today and it'll be
scope-jacked and
you'll end up dying of knife or gunshot wounds. Seriously.

> The nearest "real" telescope store that's worth a damn (e.g. not a
> camera store or WalMart) near Albuquerque (where I live) is in Belen, 35
> miles away. After that, it's a trip to Cloudcroft NM.

I used to live in Las Cruces NM. Agreed, there weren't/aren't many
astro
shops, but given the skies it was no big deal to mail order or make
one's
own stuff. :-) [That is 40+ years ago for me and I have many fond
memories
of the totally dark skies and excellent viewing in New Mexico at 7,000+
feet].

Date: 30 Oct 2006 23:03:49
From: Pat O'Connell
Subject: Re: Scope City vs. Telescopes.com

thad@thadlabs.com wrote:
> Pat O'Connell wrote:
>> thad@thadlabs.com wrote:
>> > Uncle Bob wrote:
>> >> [...]
>> >> Notice they have the same address. Lumicon, Parks Optical and Scope City
>> >> are owned by the same people.
>> >
>> > Close. :-)
>> >
>> > Scope City at 730 East Easy Street
>> > Parks Optical at 750 Easy Street
>> > Lumicon at 750 E. Easy Street
>> >
>> > The original blurb when Lumicon went belly-up in 2003 stated their
>> > assets were acquired by Parks Optical.
>> >
>> > I used to visit Lumicon (in Livermore CA) often, and after its demise
>> > one of its people, Rich, went to work at Orion in Cupertino CA (and
>> > he's still there).
>> >
>> > I didn't realize until your comment that Scope City was based in
>> > California; too bad they haven't opened a store in Silicon Valley
>> > (e.g., the Peninsula, anywhere from San Mateo to San Jose) as
>> > there's a dearth of astro-related stores here.
>>
>> Um--there's apparently one in San Francisco, 41 miles away from Mountain
>> View. That would be reasonably close to Silicon Valley.
>
> That's miles, not time. Driving/parking time is a serious issue here
> in
> N. California. That specific Scope City location is right in the heart
> of
> what's known as "Fisherman's Wharf", a major tourist attraction. For
> me,
> that's 2 hours driving time (yeah, 41 miles) and additional time
> finding any
> parking (which is probably another $12-20 or so (unless, as the other
> poster
> mentioned, one can get "validated"). Note San Francisco is anti-auto
> and
> approves facilities (e.g., businesses, shopping malls, etc.) without
> ANY,
> repeat ANY, parking.

I seem to remember that the Bay area has rapid transit. Take a train to
Downtown, purchase a scope, and have it shipped to your home. The Las
Vegas Scope City store kept eyepieces, books, and other small parts in
stock at the store, but larger telescopes and other big stuff were
usually shipped directly from Celestron, Meade, Park, or other
manufacturers.
...
> I used to live in Las Cruces NM. Agreed, there weren't/aren't many
> astro
> shops, but given the skies it was no big deal to mail order or make
> one's
> own stuff. :-) [That is 40+ years ago for me and I have many fond
> memories
> of the totally dark skies and excellent viewing in New Mexico at 7,000+
> feet].

I've seen some wonderful things in dark areas of NM, even without a
telescope. A recent, scope-less camping trip was highlighted by a late
night view of the Milky Way, for instance.

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