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Main
Date: 15 Sep 2006 13:08:11
From: James Harris
Subject: Scopetronix defunct?
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There was a posting with this topic back in August asking if
Scopetronix was still a viable concern. The thread seemed to end
inconclusively. I wish I had seen it before sending them an order. It
is not that my order is late, just that they have not acknowledged it
and haven't responded to e-mail.
Anyone know if they are still going? The web site still accepts orders,
of course, but gives no signs of there being a real person behind it. I
just spoke to a dealing in New York who said they had gone out of
business. Anyone know otherwise?
It sounds as though I may need to try to get my money back through
Paypal. Not sure how that is going to work out.......
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Date: 15 Sep 2006 18:14:03
From: RMOLLISE
Subject: Re: Scopetronix defunct?
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Hi Ray:
Well, I do know a few more details...but they really don't make any
difference. The bottom line is that the owner, Jordan Blessing, has to
divest himself of a company he built and operated very competently.
It's a shame that both the company name and, I fear, his, are being
diminished due to circumstances that are in a large sense beyond his
control.
Imagine how we down here feel. Other than Jordan, the only major dealer
we have in the Southeast is Wolf Camera (Chuck Pisa). They are very
good, but it's a bummer just to have _one_ dealer.
;-(
Peace,
Rod Mollise
Author of:
Choosing and Using a Schmidt Cassegrain Telescope
and
The Urban Astronomer's Guide
<http://skywatch.brainiac.com/astroland >
Ray Porter wrote:
> I don't have any idea of what's going on here and obviously, whatever Rod
> knows, he feels he can't share.
>
> All in all, it's too bad. I've bought a number of things from Scopetronix
> over the years and always found them pleasant to deal with. I hope they can
> solve their problems before the company goes under.
>
> Ray Porter
>
> "Ol' Duffer" <DontSend@MeSpam.net> wrote in message
> news:MPG.1f74ffee4c606b66989766@news.bright.net...
> > In article <1158355661.904067.235640@m73g2000cwd.googlegroups.com>,
> > rmollise@hotmail.com says...
> >> I was told by one person that he got through on the phone and was told
> >> that they are not accepting orders at this time due to the pending sale
> >> of the business.
> >>
> >> The intention is to keep Scopetronix in business, I was told by the
> >> owner.
> >
> > Without knowing the details, I would suggest that he do something
> > "real soon", as the company's credibility is eroding fast...
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Date: 15 Sep 2006 19:26:18
From: Ol' Duffer
Subject: Re: Scopetronix defunct?
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In article <1158350890.978297.63240@e3g2000cwe.googlegroups.com >,
groupstudy2001@yahoo.co.uk says...
> There was a posting with this topic back in August asking if
> Scopetronix was still a viable concern. The thread seemed to end
> inconclusively. I wish I had seen it before sending them an order. It
> is not that my order is late, just that they have not acknowledged it
> and haven't responded to e-mail.
I believe I started that thread, and it is still up in the air.
After no response for over a month, I did manage to get someone
on the phone. He gave me a story about having trouble with the
phone system which I did not entirely buy, but he did manage to
get my order shipped. Unfortunately, the story does not end there.
Some of the shipment was damaged, and I sent it back. Without
going into detail, it appeared that the person who packed one
item didn't know what he was doing. And now they are back to not
answering the phone or email again. The only "updates" I have seen
to their website is that they have taken away all references to
their phone number or address, which does not inspire confidence.
My impression is that if the company is not dead, it is comatose
or being badly mismanaged.
> It sounds as though I may need to try to get my money back through
> Paypal. Not sure how that is going to work out.......
If you have not received your order, you may have a chance. Be
sure to get the claim process started within PayPal's policy
time limit, which is pretty short.
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Date: 15 Sep 2006 14:27:41
From: RMOLLISE
Subject: Re: Scopetronix defunct?
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Hi:
I'll tell you what I know about the situation.
Their problems are of a "personal nature" not related to business per
se.
The website is up and is being updated I think.
I was told by one person that he got through on the phone and was told
that they are not accepting orders at this time due to the pending sale
of the business.
The intention is to keep Scopetronix in business, I was told by the
owner.
Along the same lines (it's a tough time for small astro-dealers), tales
of the demise of Astrotec are exaggerated. Frank tells me he is still
very much in business on the web and will be moving into a new store
before long.
Peace,
Rod Mollise
Author of:
Choosing and Using a Schmidt Cassegrain Telescope
and
The Urban Astronomer's Guide
<http://skywatch.brainiac.com/astroland >
James Harris wrote:
> There was a posting with this topic back in August asking if
> Scopetronix was still a viable concern. The thread seemed to end
> inconclusively. I wish I had seen it before sending them an order. It
> is not that my order is late, just that they have not acknowledged it
> and haven't responded to e-mail.
>
> Anyone know if they are still going? The web site still accepts orders,
> of course, but gives no signs of there being a real person behind it. I
> just spoke to a dealing in New York who said they had gone out of
> business. Anyone know otherwise?
>
> It sounds as though I may need to try to get my money back through
> Paypal. Not sure how that is going to work out.......
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Date: 15 Sep 2006 19:26:20
From: Ol' Duffer
Subject: Re: Scopetronix defunct?
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In article <1158355661.904067.235640@m73g2000cwd.googlegroups.com >,
rmollise@hotmail.com says...
> I was told by one person that he got through on the phone and was told
> that they are not accepting orders at this time due to the pending sale
> of the business.
>
> The intention is to keep Scopetronix in business, I was told by the
> owner.
Without knowing the details, I would suggest that he do something
"real soon", as the company's credibility is eroding fast...
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Date: 15 Sep 2006 20:22:04
From: Ray Porter
Subject: Re: Scopetronix defunct?
|
I don't have any idea of what's going on here and obviously, whatever Rod
knows, he feels he can't share.
All in all, it's too bad. I've bought a number of things from Scopetronix
over the years and always found them pleasant to deal with. I hope they can
solve their problems before the company goes under.
Ray Porter
"Ol' Duffer" <DontSend@MeSpam.net > wrote in message
news:MPG.1f74ffee4c606b66989766@news.bright.net...
> In article <1158355661.904067.235640@m73g2000cwd.googlegroups.com>,
> rmollise@hotmail.com says...
>> I was told by one person that he got through on the phone and was told
>> that they are not accepting orders at this time due to the pending sale
>> of the business.
>>
>> The intention is to keep Scopetronix in business, I was told by the
>> owner.
>
> Without knowing the details, I would suggest that he do something
> "real soon", as the company's credibility is eroding fast...
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Date: 15 Sep 2006 13:35:03
From: James Harris
Subject: Re: Scopetronix defunct?
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Rick Evans wrote:
> "James Harris" <groupstudy2001@yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message
> news:1158350890.978297.63240@e3g2000cwe.googlegroups.com...
>
> >
> > It sounds as though I may need to try to get my money back through
> > Paypal. Not sure how that is going to work out.......
> >
> Any reason you went with paypal instead of
> a credit card with their strong consumer protections.
I guess being in the UK dealing with a payment system I've used before
seemed preferable to handing over a credit card number to a company
overseas.
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Date: 15 Sep 2006 20:28:20
From: Rick Evans
Subject: Re: Scopetronix defunct?
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"James Harris" <groupstudy2001@yahoo.co.uk > wrote in message
news:1158350890.978297.63240@e3g2000cwe.googlegroups.com...
>
> It sounds as though I may need to try to get my money back through
> Paypal. Not sure how that is going to work out.......
>
Any reason you went with paypal instead of
a credit card with their strong consumer protections.
--
Rick Evans
----------------------------------------------------------------
Lat +42° 11' 07"
Lon -71° 04' 35"
----------------------------------------------------------------
http://www.chempensoftware.com
----------------------------------------------------------------
http://mysite.verizon.net/hiltonevans33050/astroimaging/astroimaging.htm
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Date: 16 Sep 2006 09:13:11
From: RMOLLISE
Subject: Re: Scopetronix defunct?
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Hi:
I'm not that familiar with the website...I just buy from Chuck at
Chiefland, Peach State, etc. Chuck brings in a huge collection of
accessories for these events, that's for derned sure. I do know they
are part of a large chain, now, so make sure you're on the correct
store.
Peace,
Rod Mollise
Author of:
Choosing and Using a Schmidt Cassegrain Telescope
and
The Urban Astronomer's Guide
<http://skywatch.brainiac.com/astroland >
James Harris wrote:
>
> Do you mean they have similar stock? I found a web site
> <http://www.wolfcamera.com/> but they seem to deal with main items and
> don't have anything like the wide range of accessories as found on
> <http://www.scopetronix.com/>
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Date: 16 Sep 2006 07:33:02
From:
Subject: Re: Scopetronix defunct?
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To me it is utterly irrelevent what the problem is. Two months of
ignored emails and phone calls means only one thing to my pocket book:
a black hole. Money goes in, nothing comes out.
If the issue referred to above is being communicated in a single
individual email but not announced at large, and is something for which
we should have sympathy and show respect, then that does not do the
rest of us any good.
Also, as in war, when a business is struggling the first casualty is
the truth. We've heard the phones only work sometimes (read:never),
we're moving, we're under new management, etc., everything but a public
announcement. To my ears, this is just plain suspicious.
If the new excuse is medical problems, divorce, hostage crisis,
whatever, then lets hear it. Otherwise I will continue to assume they
are just cutting their losses as they go under.
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Date: 16 Sep 2006 09:57:54
From: Greg Crinklaw
Subject: Re: Scopetronix defunct?
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dougspeterson@prodigy.net wrote:
> If the new excuse is medical problems, divorce, hostage crisis,
> whatever, then lets hear it. Otherwise I will continue to assume they
> are just cutting their losses as they go under.
I understand you have money at stake, but your lack of sympathy and
kindness is beyond my ability to comprehend.
Greg
--
Greg Crinklaw
Astronomical Software Developer
Cloudcroft, New Mexico, USA (33N, 106W, 2700m)
SkyTools: http://www.skyhound.com/cs.html
Observing: http://www.skyhound.com/sh/skyhound.html
Comets: http://www.skyhound.com/sh/comets.html
To reply take out your eye
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Date: 16 Sep 2006 22:29:42
From: Donal
Subject: Re: Scopetronix defunct?
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"Greg Crinklaw" <theskyhoundyoureye@yahoo.com > wrote in message
news:86a25$450c1ecf$4212a5f6$23729@TULAROSA.NET...
> dougspeterson@prodigy.net wrote:
> > If the new excuse is medical problems, divorce, hostage crisis,
> > whatever, then lets hear it. Otherwise I will continue to assume they
> > are just cutting their losses as they go under.
>
> I understand you have money at stake, but your lack of sympathy and
> kindness is beyond my ability to comprehend.
>
As a small businessman, I must disagree with you.
You *will* know if your business is going under.
It is utterly dishonest to take money from people when you know that you are
unlikely to be able to deliver.
I find it difficult to understand why the police are unable to take such
cases to court. It is *illegal* to carry on trading when you are unable to
meet your debts as they fall due. Most businesses that have failed have
been trading illegally for many months before they finally go under.
Regards
Donal
--
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Date: 16 Sep 2006 20:01:46
From: Stephen Paul
Subject: Re: Scopetronix defunct?
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Donal wrote:
>
> It is utterly dishonest to take money from people when you know that you are
> unlikely to be able to deliver.
>
It is unlikely that's the case. Jordan is a friend to anyone he has ever
done business with. I am saddened by the possibility that he's no longer
going to be running ScopeTronix, and wish him well.
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Date: 17 Sep 2006 23:47:38
From: Donal
Subject: Re: Scopetronix defunct?
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"Stephen Paul" <smarshallpaul@gmail.com > wrote in message
news:oIudnXmfr_D3DZHYnZ2dnUVZ_tudnZ2d@comcast.com...
> Donal wrote:
> >
> > It is utterly dishonest to take money from people when you know that you
are
> > unlikely to be able to deliver.
> >
>
> It is unlikely that's the case. Jordan is a friend to anyone he has ever
> done business with. I am saddened by the possibility that he's no longer
> going to be running ScopeTronix, and wish him well.
>
I may be wrong. I *do* know that a businssman will know if his business is
failing.
There is NO excuse for taking money from customers and then failing to
deliver the products. Anybody who runs a business knows this to be true.
Regards
Donal
--
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Date: 17 Sep 2006 17:43:06
From: Greg Crinklaw
Subject: Re: Scopetronix defunct?
|
Donal wrote:
> "Stephen Paul" <smarshallpaul@gmail.com> wrote in message
> news:oIudnXmfr_D3DZHYnZ2dnUVZ_tudnZ2d@comcast.com...
>> Donal wrote:
>>> It is utterly dishonest to take money from people when you know that you
> are
>>> unlikely to be able to deliver.
>>>
>> It is unlikely that's the case. Jordan is a friend to anyone he has ever
>> done business with. I am saddened by the possibility that he's no longer
>> going to be running ScopeTronix, and wish him well.
>>
>
> I may be wrong. I *do* know that a businssman will know if his business is
> failing.
>
>
> There is NO excuse for taking money from customers and then failing to
> deliver the products. Anybody who runs a business knows this to be true.
It must be nice to live in a world where there are "NO excuses" -- where
nobody ever gets killed or loses a family member or has some other
terrible thing happen to them that makes your "no excuses" seem rather,
well, petty.
Just my 2 cents.
--
Greg Crinklaw
Astronomical Software Developer
Cloudcroft, New Mexico, USA (33N, 106W, 2700m)
SkyTools: http://www.skyhound.com/cs.html
Observing: http://www.skyhound.com/sh/skyhound.html
Comets: http://www.skyhound.com/sh/comets.html
To reply take out your eye
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Date: 28 Sep 2006 19:22:06
From: Dan Krueger
Subject: Re: Scopetronix defunct?
|
> It must be nice to live in a world where there are "NO excuses" -- where
> nobody ever gets killed or loses a family member or has some other
> terrible thing happen to them that makes your "no excuses" seem rather,
> well, petty.
> Just my 2 cents.
> --
> Greg Crinklaw
> Astronomical Software Developer
Excellent! to all the crew for putting together such and
excellent film. 'Nuff said! T.T.F.N. SPENNY Thanks for the
report; I'll be on the lookout for Q at Whole Foods. Jack What
do I know.... I was a D&D fan (but you gotta love a game where
no matter how highly praised, I find that many of the authors)
in the online store, and also in trade paperback. $17.95. Check
out the tree trimmers clearing power lines.
They will then use their new found powers given to them under
the PA and other anti-terror tools to go after the same people
are here and saw all the old discussions, since the names (or at
least handles) here. Some have written books that sit in my
library (unsigned 1st editions). Some have released films,
cursing yet another generation to explore the works of the
Gentleman from Providence. One has even crashed the gates of my
alumni with pride parades and painted rainbows on my elder
signs.
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Date: 28 Sep 2006 18:40:19
From: Greg Crinklaw
Subject: Re: Scopetronix defunct?
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Dan Krueger wrote:
>> It must be nice to live in a world where there are "NO excuses" -- where
>> nobody ever gets killed or loses a family member or has some other
>> terrible thing happen to them that makes your "no excuses" seem rather,
>> well, petty.
>> Just my 2 cents.
>> --
>> Greg Crinklaw
>> Astronomical Software Developer
>
> Excellent! to all the crew for putting together such and
> excellent film. 'Nuff said! T.T.F.N. SPENNY Thanks for the
> report; I'll be on the lookout for Q at Whole Foods. Jack What
> do I know.... I was a D&D fan (but you gotta love a game where
> no matter how highly praised, I find that many of the authors)
> in the online store, and also in trade paperback. $17.95. Check
> out the tree trimmers clearing power lines.
>
> They will then use their new found powers given to them under
> the PA and other anti-terror tools to go after the same people
> are here and saw all the old discussions, since the names (or at
> least handles) here. Some have written books that sit in my
> library (unsigned 1st editions). Some have released films,
> cursing yet another generation to explore the works of the
> Gentleman from Providence. One has even crashed the gates of my
> alumni with pride parades and painted rainbows on my elder
> signs.
It looks like you have a virus that is making up nonsense posts using
text from other messages. Either that or you stopped taking your meds. ;-)
--
Greg Crinklaw
Astronomical Software Developer
Cloudcroft, New Mexico, USA (33N, 106W, 2700m)
SkyTools: http://www.skyhound.com/cs.html
Observing: http://www.skyhound.com/sh/skyhound.html
Comets: http://www.skyhound.com/sh/comets.html
To reply take out your eye
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Date: 18 Sep 2006 23:20:18
From: Mark McIntyre
Subject: Re: Scopetronix defunct?
|
On Sun, 17 Sep 2006 23:47:38 +0100, in uk.sci.astronomy , "Donal"
<donal@lanospamde.com > wrote:
>
>There is NO excuse for taking money from customers and then failing to
>deliver the products.
I'm' sure someone will bear that in mind when, between you taking
their order, ordering the goods from your wholesaler, and shipping
them to the buyer, you are hospitalised with avian flu. Be sure that
they'll be suing your arse off, and in your absence your family's,
despite your being at death's door and your grieving family burying
you.
>Anybody who runs a business knows this to be true.
Anybody who runs a business knows that there are ALWAYS times when
things go tits up for reasons beyond your control.
--
Mark McIntyre
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Date: 21 Sep 2006 00:52:37
From: Donal
Subject: Re: Scopetronix defunct?
|
"Mark McIntyre" <markmcintyre@spamcop.net > wrote in message
news:jm6ug21r8939bacs1ltmn2ll4khg3d6qbc@4ax.com...
> On Sun, 17 Sep 2006 23:47:38 +0100, in uk.sci.astronomy , "Donal"
> <donal@lanospamde.com> wrote:
>
> >
> >There is NO excuse for taking money from customers and then failing to
> >deliver the products.
>
> I'm' sure someone will bear that in mind when, between you taking
> their order, ordering the goods from your wholesaler, and shipping
> them to the buyer, you are hospitalised with avian flu. Be sure that
> they'll be suing your arse off, and in your absence your family's,
> despite your being at death's door and your grieving family burying
> you.
Rubbish!! If I get avian flu, the business will carry on. It *will* cease
trading within a couple of days. Every customer who has paid money in
advance of receipt of goods (or services), will get a refund. I have left
written instructions.
>
> >Anybody who runs a business knows this to be true.
>
> Anybody who runs a business knows that there are ALWAYS times when
> things go tits up for reasons beyond your control.
Nonsense.
Things do NOT go tits up for reasons beyond your control. They go tits up
because you think that you cannot control them.
Regards
Donal
--
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Date: 20 Sep 2006 19:16:14
From: Greg Crinklaw
Subject: Re: Scopetronix defunct?
|
Donal wrote:
> Rubbish!! If I get avian flu, the business will carry on. It *will* cease
> trading within a couple of days. Every customer who has paid money in
> advance of receipt of goods (or services), will get a refund. I have left
> written instructions.
And if your written instructions get washed away with you, your family,
your computer, etc?
But this isn't about how prepared you are at all. It's about whether or
not you greet the misfortunes of others with self righteousness (as you
have so eloquently displayed) or perhaps just a little compassion.
--
Greg Crinklaw
Astronomical Software Developer
Cloudcroft, New Mexico, USA (33N, 106W, 2700m)
SkyTools: http://www.skyhound.com/cs.html
Observing: http://www.skyhound.com/sh/skyhound.html
Comets: http://www.skyhound.com/sh/comets.html
To reply take out your eye
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Date: 16 Sep 2006 16:19:11
From: Brian Tung
Subject: Re: Scopetronix defunct?
|
Donal wrote:
> As a small businessman, I must disagree with you.
>
> You *will* know if your business is going under.
I think Greg's point is that we (i.e., SAA) don't know whether it's in
fact going under. That is merely one possibility, which admittedly is
advanced by the fact that there's some reluctance to make the relevant
circumstances public. Of course, there are other less unsavory reasons
why they might want to keep it private.
At any rate, lots of us know Jordan Blessing, and don't regard him as
someone likely to willingly bilk someone out of their hard-earned cash.
Of course no one condones taking orders when you know your business is
going down. On the other hand, I somehow feel like this is right about
the place for the "denial ain't just a river in Egypt" line.
Partly in answer to Rod's query, I don't know that SAA is less nice,
exactly, but it does seem to be less of a community than it used to be,
and there's higher turnover, and people (perhaps for good reason) don't
come in knowing whom to trust. All that might make it seem less
friendly to those of us who have been on here for several years.
Personally, I've only been on SAA for eight years, but I've been on
Usenet for about 17, and I think there are two main events that have
affected Usenet for the worse in that time: the rise of AOL and other
inexpensive national ISPs around 1993 or so, and the dot-com boom and
bust at the turn of the millennium. Both of these led to a vast influx
of new readers and posters to a community that had been largely academic
till then. I don't think that's necessarily bad--I think Usenet should
be available to all--but all the same, these folks *as a whole* seem to
have less interest in participating long-term in a community. SAA is
largely populated by the exceptions, but it doesn't take much of the
other kind to poison the well, I'm afraid.
--
Brian Tung <brian@isi.edu >
The Astronomy Corner at http://astro.isi.edu/
Unofficial C5+ Home Page at http://astro.isi.edu/c5plus/
The PleiadAtlas Home Page at http://astro.isi.edu/pleiadatlas/
My Own Personal FAQ (SAA) at http://astro.isi.edu/reference/faq.html
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Date: 17 Sep 2006 13:37:37
From:
Subject: Re: Scopetronix defunct?
|
>Greg Crinklaw
>Astronomical Software Developer
>Cloudcroft, New Mexico, USA (33N, 106W, 2700m)
>
>SkyTools: http://www.skyhound.com/cs.html
>Observing: http://www.skyhound.com/sh/skyhound.html
>Comets: http://www.skyhound.com/sh/comets.html
>
>To reply take out your eye
On a friendlier note (than some here have posted) I will say that I
loved riding through/past the Cloudcroft area on my way further out
west a few years ago on my motorcycle. What a beautiful region.
What a great place to live.
Blues
Live Free Or Die
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Date: 17 Sep 2006 12:13:45
From: Greg Crinklaw
Subject: Re: Scopetronix defunct?
|
blues@nospam.net wrote:
>> Greg Crinklaw
>> Astronomical Software Developer
>> Cloudcroft, New Mexico, USA (33N, 106W, 2700m)
>>
>> SkyTools: http://www.skyhound.com/cs.html
>> Observing: http://www.skyhound.com/sh/skyhound.html
>> Comets: http://www.skyhound.com/sh/comets.html
>>
>> To reply take out your eye
>
> On a friendlier note (than some here have posted) I will say that I
> loved riding through/past the Cloudcroft area on my way further out
> west a few years ago on my motorcycle. What a beautiful region.
> What a great place to live.
Yeah, it is pretty nice. Good schools too. And we have a good club,
although it's going through a rough time right now.
I think there are more motorcycles here this weekend than full time
residents!
But it has been extraordinarily wet this summer; I haven't been able to
get out to observe for months now. We even had to cancel the White Sand
Star Party. The observing areas are under two feet of water!
> Live Free Or Die
Please pass that on to our leaders.
Clear skies,
Greg
--
Greg Crinklaw
Astronomical Software Developer
Cloudcroft, New Mexico, USA (33N, 106W, 2700m)
SkyTools: http://www.skyhound.com/cs.html
Observing: http://www.skyhound.com/sh/skyhound.html
Comets: http://www.skyhound.com/sh/comets.html
To reply take out your eye
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Date: 18 Sep 2006 13:54:56
From:
Subject: Re: Scopetronix defunct?
|
On Sun, 17 Sep 2006 12:13:45 -0600, Greg Crinklaw
<theskyhoundyoureye@yahoo.com > wrote:
>> Live Free Or Die
>
>Please pass that on to our leaders.
>
>Clear skies,
>Greg
>
Don't get me started on that whole other can of worms.
(I'm recently retired federal law enforcement. Unfortunately I know
better than most how the values implied by that motto have been
eroded.) (And, as Forrest Gump would say," that's all I have to say
about that" (in this venue).
Blues
Live Free Or Die
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Date: 16 Sep 2006 05:20:35
From: James Harris
Subject: Re: Scopetronix defunct?
|
RMOLLISE wrote:
> Hi Ray:
>
> Well, I do know a few more details...but they really don't make any
> difference. The bottom line is that the owner, Jordan Blessing, has to
> divest himself of a company he built and operated very competently.
> It's a shame that both the company name and, I fear, his, are being
> diminished due to circumstances that are in a large sense beyond his
> control.
>
> Imagine how we down here feel. Other than Jordan, the only major dealer
> we have in the Southeast is Wolf Camera (Chuck Pisa). They are very
> good, but it's a bummer just to have _one_ dealer.
Do you mean they have similar stock? I found a web site
<http://www.wolfcamera.com/ > but they seem to deal with main items and
don't have anything like the wide range of accessories as found on
<http://www.scopetronix.com/ >
|
| |
Date: 16 Sep 2006 05:06:10
From: James Harris
Subject: Re: Scopetronix defunct?
|
> My impression is that if the company is not dead, it is comatose
> or being badly mismanaged.
I've just had an e-mail from the owner. In it he mentioned the issue
they are dealing with (and updated me on the status of my order). Out
of respect for them I won't mention what the issue was but it was such
that would take away time they have available to deal personally with
customers and sales issues. I know a company has to serve customers but
I think if I was in that position my response would be similar. Some
things do take precedence.
I do think that if their sales operation were less person-intensive
with more work - particularly keeping customers up to date on order
progress - being done by software that they would be freer for other
matters. That, however, also takes time to get set up.
|
| | |
Date: 16 Sep 2006 10:54:40
From: Davoud
Subject: Re: Scopetronix defunct?
|
James Harris wrote:
> I've just had an e-mail from the owner. In it he mentioned the issue
> they are dealing with (and updated me on the status of my order). Out
> of respect for them I won't mention what the issue was but it was such
> that would take away time they have available to deal personally with
> customers and sales issues.
C'mon -- what's the problem? If it were a secret the owner wouldn't
have told you.
> I know a company has to serve customers but
> I think if I was in that position my response would be similar. Some
> things do take precedence.
Would you continue to accept orders -- and bill PayPal -- if you could
not see your way to ship merchandise in a reasonable time?
> I do think that if their sales operation were less person-intensive
> with more work - particularly keeping customers up to date on order
> progress - being done by software that they would be freer for other
> matters. That, however, also takes time to get set up.
Some very small sellers have software order tracking, and Scopetronix
could have had, too.
Davoud
--
usenet *at* davidillig *dawt* com
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| | | |
Date: 17 Sep 2006 00:58:10
From: Mark McIntyre
Subject: Re: Scopetronix defunct?
|
On Sat, 16 Sep 2006 10:54:40 -0400, in uk.sci.astronomy , Davoud
<see@below.net > wrote:
>C'mon -- what's the problem? If it were a secret the owner wouldn't
>have told you.
Funnily enough, people /do/ tell friends and colleagues things they
don't tell complete strangers on the internet. Maybe some people think
that its ok to trumpet other peoples private lives all over the web,
but hopefully not everyone .
>Would you continue to accept orders -- and bill PayPal -- if you could
>not see your way to ship merchandise in a reasonable time?
You have no idea if thats what happened. I can envisage circumstances
in which you might accept an order in good faith and then be unable to
fulfill it. Heck, the company offices could have been burgled, or a
burned down with a family member inside, or whatever.
>Some very small sellers have software order tracking, and Scopetronix
>could have had, too.
Sure. but its too late, and unhelpful, to say that once you have the
problem to deal with. I didn't see anyone telling Scopetronix to do
this twelve months ago.
--
Mark McIntyre
|
| | | | |
Date: 17 Sep 2006 12:20:13
From: Greg Crinklaw
Subject: Re: Scopetronix defunct?
|
Mark McIntyre wrote:
> You have no idea if thats what happened. I can envisage circumstances
> in which you might accept an order in good faith and then be unable to
> fulfill it. Heck, the company offices could have been burgled, or a
> burned down with a family member inside, or whatever.
Yikes. Or maybe your whole family, and your computer, and the passwords
to get to your web server, which is likely in another part of the
country. Under those circumstances, how would you even answer your
email, and just how important would it be to get to the server to stop
it from taking orders?
Greg
--
Greg Crinklaw
Astronomical Software Developer
Cloudcroft, New Mexico, USA (33N, 106W, 2700m)
SkyTools: http://www.skyhound.com/cs.html
Observing: http://www.skyhound.com/sh/skyhound.html
Comets: http://www.skyhound.com/sh/comets.html
To reply take out your eye
|
| | | | | |
Date: 17 Sep 2006 20:46:09
From: Mark McIntyre
Subject: Re: Scopetronix defunct?
|
On Sun, 17 Sep 2006 12:20:13 -0600, in uk.sci.astronomy , Greg
Crinklaw <theskyhoundyoureye@yahoo.com > wrote:
>Mark McIntyre wrote:
>> You have no idea if thats what happened. I can envisage circumstances
>> in which you might accept an order in good faith and then be unable to
>> fulfill it. Heck, the company offices could have been burgled, or a
>> burned down with a family member inside, or whatever.
>
>Yikes. Or maybe your whole family, and your computer, and the passwords
>to get to your web server, which is likely in another part of the
>country. Under those circumstances, how would you even answer your
>email, and just how important would it be to get to the server to stop
>it from taking orders?
I've no idea what you're trying to say. The only thing I can make
sense of is that youre a prat, apparently.
--
Mark McIntyre
|
| | | | | | |
Date: 17 Sep 2006 20:50:29
From: Mark McIntyre
Subject: Re: Scopetronix defunct?
|
On Sun, 17 Sep 2006 20:46:09 +0100, in uk.sci.astronomy , Mark
McIntyre <markmcintyre@spamcop.net > wrote:
>I've no idea what you're trying to say. The only thing I can make
etc
Dang, I would prefer if I hadn't sent that.
I failed to read Greg's post properly and thought he was being
sarcastic. Apologies greg,
I've tried to cancel the post but who knows if it will work.
--
Mark McIntyre
|
| | | | | | | |
Date: 17 Sep 2006 14:21:18
From: Greg Crinklaw
Subject: Re: Scopetronix defunct?
|
Mark McIntyre wrote:
> On Sun, 17 Sep 2006 20:46:09 +0100, in uk.sci.astronomy , Mark
> McIntyre <markmcintyre@spamcop.net> wrote:
>
>> I've no idea what you're trying to say. The only thing I can make
> etc
>
> Dang, I would prefer if I hadn't sent that.
>
> I failed to read Greg's post properly and thought he was being
> sarcastic. Apologies greg,
> I've tried to cancel the post but who knows if it will work.
Yeah, well, for the record I was actually agreeing with you. :-)
--
Greg Crinklaw
Astronomical Software Developer
Cloudcroft, New Mexico, USA (33N, 106W, 2700m)
SkyTools: http://www.skyhound.com/cs.html
Observing: http://www.skyhound.com/sh/skyhound.html
Comets: http://www.skyhound.com/sh/comets.html
To reply take out your eye
|
| |
Date: 16 Sep 2006 00:31:08
From:
Subject: Re: Scopetronix defunct?
|
I have little sympathy any more for the company its "personal"
problems and dreams of selling the business. By not being responsive to
those of us out here waiting for them to solve their problems, some of
us have lost our chance to make a claim. Paypal allows you 45 days and
then you're out of luck. As far as I am concerned, I've been robbed. I
can't imagine anyone would buy a company that is poisoning its market
like this, other than as a pure tax write off.
|
| |
Date: 16 Sep 2006 14:40:00
From: RMOLLISE
Subject: Re: Scopetronix defunct?
|
Hi Doug:
Since you've quoted two different folks here, it would be nice if you
indicated who said what (though Greg and I agree on _most_ things, I
guess ;-)). The first quote is from Greg Crinklaw, the second from me.
If you want to know what I think, I also thought your post was a little
callous. Which doesn't mean I think you are necessarily a bad person (I
don't know you, afterall), not that you should _care_ what I think,
anyway. ;-) My comment is simply that your post is the type of post
that makes s.a.a. increasingly seem like an unfriendly place. Maybe I'm
overreacting. Maybe I'm just a little too close to the situation. I've
known Jordan for some time, and he's done me more than one favor.
I didn't say _you_ were one of the people who didn't know diddly-squat
about Scopetronix, did I? I said "largest portion," which needn't
include you.
Peace,
Rod Mollise
Author of:
Choosing and Using a Schmidt Cassegrain Telescope
and
The Urban Astronomer's Guide
<http://skywatch.brainiac.com/astroland >
dougspeterson@prodigy.net wrote:
> > > I understand you have money at stake, but your lack of sympathy and
> > > kindness is beyond my ability to comprehend.
>
> I don't see how I can show sympathy or kindness towards a rumor that
> there might be a problem other than cash flow. When am I going to get a
> little sympathy from this vendor for my loss? All it would take would
> be a returned email.
>
> > I can understand people going apespit if they've been ripped off/think they've been >ripped off. Course, in typical s.a.a. fashion, the largest portion of the people jumping in >with both feet to badmouth Jordan B. have probably never even been to his website >much less talked to or dealt with him.
>
> I have talked to them on the phone once and ordered several times from
> the site. Twice now I have lost money.
|
| |
Date: 16 Sep 2006 10:36:29
From:
Subject: Re: Scopetronix defunct?
|
> > I understand you have money at stake, but your lack of sympathy and
> > kindness is beyond my ability to comprehend.
I don't see how I can show sympathy or kindness towards a rumor that
there might be a problem other than cash flow. When am I going to get a
little sympathy from this vendor for my loss? All it would take would
be a returned email.
> I can understand people going apespit if they've been ripped off/think they've been >ripped off. Course, in typical s.a.a. fashion, the largest portion of the people jumping in >with both feet to badmouth Jordan B. have probably never even been to his website >much less talked to or dealt with him.
I have talked to them on the phone once and ordered several times from
the site. Twice now I have lost money.
|
| | |
Date: 17 Sep 2006 00:54:13
From: Mark McIntyre
Subject: Re: Scopetronix defunct?
|
On 16 Sep 2006 10:36:29 -0700, in uk.sci.astronomy ,
dougspeterson@prodigy.net wrote:
>
>> > I understand you have money at stake, but your lack of sympathy and
>> > kindness is beyond my ability to comprehend.
>
>I don't see how I can show sympathy or kindness towards a rumor that
>there might be a problem other than cash flow.
So you prefer to assume the worst, and meanwhile expect someone to
broadcast the actual cause of the problem, even if its a deeply
personal issue which has no business being on the net.
>When am I going to get a little sympathy from this vendor for my loss? All it would take would
>be a returned email.
I assume you sent a politely worded email.
--
Mark McIntyre
|
| |
Date: 16 Sep 2006 09:37:39
From: RMOLLISE
Subject: Re: Scopetronix defunct?
|
Greg Crinklaw wrote:
>
> I understand you have money at stake, but your lack of sympathy and
> kindness is beyond my ability to comprehend.
>
> Greg
>
Hi Greg:
Sympathy and kindness are commodities that are definitely in short
supply around here of late, that's for sure.
Of course, yes, I can understand people going apespit if they've been
ripped off/think they've been ripped off.
Course, in typical s.a.a. fashion, the largest portion of the people
jumping in with both feet to badmouth Jordan B. have probably never
even been to his website much less talked to or dealt with him.
As I said yesterday, is it my imagination, or did s.a.a. used to be a
NICER place?
Peace,
Rod Mollise
Author of:
Choosing and Using a Schmidt Cassegrain Telescope
and
The Urban Astronomer's Guide
<http://skywatch.brainiac.com/astroland >
|
| | |
Date: 17 Sep 2006 12:08:24
From: Greg Crinklaw
Subject: Re: Scopetronix defunct?
|
RMOLLISE wrote:
> As I said yesterday, is it my imagination, or did s.a.a. used to be a
> NICER place?
Naw. Usenet (and SAA) has always had an "edge" to it. I think all that
has has happened on SAA over the years is that many of the nicer people
have found other places to hang out.
I don't know if it's my filters, the way I have been responding, or just
that we have made it through the annual late summer stupidity period,
but it seems to me that things have been better here lately. I haven't
felt like I couldn't say the "sky is blue" without someone launching a
personal attack--for at least for a week now. ;-)
Greg
--
Greg Crinklaw
Astronomical Software Developer
Cloudcroft, New Mexico, USA (33N, 106W, 2700m)
SkyTools: http://www.skyhound.com/cs.html
Observing: http://www.skyhound.com/sh/skyhound.html
Comets: http://www.skyhound.com/sh/comets.html
To reply take out your eye
|
| | | |
Date: 17 Sep 2006 16:00:01
From: Davoud
Subject: Re: Scopetronix defunct?
|
Greg Crinklaw wrote:
> I haven't felt like I couldn't say the "sky is blue" without
> someone launching a personal attack--for at least for
> a week now. ;-)
You are a fool, a reprobate, and, most likely, a Bin Laden-loving,
God-hating liberal. Anyone can see that [the] sky is gray by just
sticking his head out the window.
Davoud :--)
--
usenet *at* davidillig *dawt* com
|
| |
Date: 17 Sep 2006 18:02:46
From: Joe S.
Subject: Re: Scopetronix defunct?
|
"James Harris" <groupstudy2001@yahoo.co.uk > wrote in message
news:1158350890.978297.63240@e3g2000cwe.googlegroups.com...
> There was a posting with this topic back in August asking if
> Scopetronix was still a viable concern. The thread seemed to end
> inconclusively. I wish I had seen it before sending them an order. It
> is not that my order is late, just that they have not acknowledged it
> and haven't responded to e-mail.
>
> Anyone know if they are still going? The web site still accepts orders,
> of course, but gives no signs of there being a real person behind it. I
> just spoke to a dealing in New York who said they had gone out of
> business. Anyone know otherwise?
>
> It sounds as though I may need to try to get my money back through
> Paypal. Not sure how that is going to work out.......
>
Perhaps we all need to stop for a minute -- wait until dark, go outside and
look at the sky then remember why we are here. And it's not to piss and
moan, even if we do have a few $$$ at stake.
|
| | |
Date: 18 Sep 2006 05:14:35
From: Rick Evans
Subject: Re: Scopetronix defunct?
|
"Joe S." <anon@mous.net > wrote in message
news:eekgpu011r6@news3.newsguy.com...
>
> "James Harris" <groupstudy2001@yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message
> news:1158350890.978297.63240@e3g2000cwe.googlegroups.com...
>> There was a posting with this topic back in August asking if
>> Scopetronix was still a viable concern. The thread seemed to end
>> inconclusively. I wish I had seen it before sending them an order. It
>> is not that my order is late, just that they have not acknowledged it
>> and haven't responded to e-mail.
>>
>> Anyone know if they are still going? The web site still accepts orders,
>> of course, but gives no signs of there being a real person behind it. I
>> just spoke to a dealing in New York who said they had gone out of
>> business. Anyone know otherwise?
>>
>> It sounds as though I may need to try to get my money back through
>> Paypal. Not sure how that is going to work out.......
>>
>
> Perhaps we all need to stop for a minute -- wait until dark, go outside
> and look at the sky then remember why we are here. And it's not to piss
> and moan, even if we do have a few $$$ at stake.
Do you personally have a "few $$$" at stake? I don't. It's
easy to dismiss someone else's genuine anger when their
stake is real and if one's own is only theoretical.
Also I would hardly label James' thread initiating
comments pissing and moaning. It was a simple and
sober query.
--
Rick Evans
----------------------------------------------------------------
Lat +42° 11' 07"
Lon -71° 04' 35"
----------------------------------------------------------------
http://www.chempensoftware.com
----------------------------------------------------------------
http://mysite.verizon.net/hiltonevans33050/astroimaging/astroimaging.htm
|
| |
Date: 17 Sep 2006 10:58:26
From: oriel36
Subject: Re: Scopetronix defunct?
|
Brian Tung wrote:
> Donal wrote:
> > As a small businessman, I must disagree with you.
> >
> > You *will* know if your business is going under.
>
> I think Greg's point is that we (i.e., SAA) don't know whether it's in
> fact going under. That is merely one possibility, which admittedly is
> advanced by the fact that there's some reluctance to make the relevant
> circumstances public. Of course, there are other less unsavory reasons
> why they might want to keep it private.
>
> At any rate, lots of us know Jordan Blessing, and don't regard him as
> someone likely to willingly bilk someone out of their hard-earned cash.
> Of course no one condones taking orders when you know your business is
> going down. On the other hand, I somehow feel like this is right about
> the place for the "denial ain't just a river in Egypt" line.
>
> Partly in answer to Rod's query, I don't know that SAA is less nice,
> exactly, but it does seem to be less of a community than it used to be,
> and there's higher turnover, and people (perhaps for good reason) don't
> come in knowing whom to trust. All that might make it seem less
> friendly to those of us who have been on here for several years.
>
> Personally, I've only been on SAA for eight years, but I've been on
> Usenet for about 17, and I think there are two main events that have
> affected Usenet for the worse in that time: the rise of AOL and other
> inexpensive national ISPs around 1993 or so, and the dot-com boom and
> bust at the turn of the millennium. Both of these led to a vast influx
> of new readers and posters to a community that had been largely academic
> till then. I don't think that's necessarily bad--I think Usenet should
> be available to all--but all the same, these folks *as a whole* seem to
> have less interest in participating long-term in a community. SAA is
> largely populated by the exceptions, but it doesn't take much of the
> other kind to poison the well, I'm afraid.
>
You numbskulls could'nt do astronomy if it was to save your miserable
existence ,what you call astronomy is little more than magnification
using a celestial sphere merry-go-round.
Astronomy was never designed to be a swamp,the advances and advantages
of modern technology makes the real astronomy of Copernicus,Kepler and
Roemer easier to understand and should have you guys behind in your
very limited astrological cosmos were it not for the popularity of the
exotic and novelistic theoritical nonsense of the last century.
The well was poisoned a long time ago,people see it every single day
when they get an astrological reply for the correlation between axial
rotation and terrestial rotation through 360 degrees.
You theortical freaks are finished and had their been one person with
sense they would have already figured out that astrophotography is a
facet of astronomy ,that celestial sphere geometry is only a
calendrical convenience for observation and that the orbital motions of
the planets are seen directly from Earth,this place would be buzzing
with intuitive intelligence and energy.
> --
> Brian Tung <brian@isi.edu>
> The Astronomy Corner at http://astro.isi.edu/
> Unofficial C5+ Home Page at http://astro.isi.edu/c5plus/
> The PleiadAtlas Home Page at http://astro.isi.edu/pleiadatlas/
> My Own Personal FAQ (SAA) at http://astro.isi.edu/reference/faq.html
|
| | |
Date: 17 Sep 2006 22:02:16
From: Pierre Vandevennne
Subject: Re: Scopetronix defunct?
|
"oriel36" <geraldkelleher@yahoo.com > wrote in news:1158515905.984816.160650
@d34g2000cwd.googlegroups.com:
> Brian Tung wrote:
>> inexpensive national ISPs around 1993 or so, and the dot-com boom and
>> bust at the turn of the millennium. Both of these led to a vast
> You numbskulls could'nt do astronomy if it was to save your miserable
> existence ,what you call astronomy is little more than magnification
Brian forgot to mention the dedication of outrageous nutcases who'd be
locked up and fed haloperidol if they interacted in real life as they do on
usenet.
Glad you chimed in.
|
| | | |
Date: 18 Sep 2006 12:05:17
From: Llanzlan Klazmon
Subject: Re: Scopetronix defunct?
|
Pierre Vandevennne <pierre@datarescue_ns.com > wrote in
news:Xns98425F1F02Cpierredatarescue@195.238.0.34:
> "oriel36" <geraldkelleher@yahoo.com> wrote in
> news:1158515905.984816.160650 @d34g2000cwd.googlegroups.com:
>
>> Brian Tung wrote:
>
>>> inexpensive national ISPs around 1993 or so, and the dot-com boom and
>>> bust at the turn of the millennium. Both of these led to a vast
>
>> You numbskulls could'nt do astronomy if it was to save your miserable
>> existence ,what you call astronomy is little more than magnification
>
> Brian forgot to mention the dedication of outrageous nutcases who'd be
> locked up and fed haloperidol if they interacted in real life as they do
> on usenet.
>
> Glad you chimed in.
>
It's best to completely ignore Oriel. The non sequiturs that it responds
with make me strongly suspicious that it is some kind of bot.
Klazmon.
|
| |
Date: 18 Sep 2006 15:31:42
From: James Harris
Subject: Re: Scopetronix defunct?
|
Rick Evans wrote:
snip
> >
> > Perhaps we all need to stop for a minute -- wait until dark, go outside
> > and look at the sky then remember why we are here. And it's not to p...
> > and moan, even if we do have a few $$$ at stake.
>
> Do you personally have a "few $$$" at stake? I don't. It's
> easy to dismiss someone else's genuine anger when their
> stake is real and if one's own is only theoretical.
>
> Also I would hardly label James' thread initiating
> comments p..... and moaning. It was a simple and
> sober query.
Thanks Rick. Yes, I'm not complaining yet, just uncertain of what is
happening. It doesn't seem that the company is failing to fulfil
orders, just that they may be running late with their communication.
I'm certainly not angry as I have no reason to be. From comments others
have made the owner seems to have had a good reputation. If I don't
hear from them in the few weeks he said the order had been delayed by,
though, I will follow up. Hope to report good news here in a few
weeks........
|
| | |
Date: 19 Sep 2006 04:33:15
From: Rick Evans
Subject: Re: Scopetronix defunct?
|
"James Harris" <groupstudy2001@yahoo.co.uk > wrote in message
news:1158618702.147784.272740@i42g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
>
> Rick Evans wrote:
> Thanks Rick. Yes, I'm not complaining yet, just uncertain of what is
> happening.
Good luck on getting a positive result.
--
Rick Evans
----------------------------------------------------------------
Lat +42° 11' 07"
Lon -71° 04' 35"
----------------------------------------------------------------
http://www.chempensoftware.com
----------------------------------------------------------------
http://mysite.verizon.net/hiltonevans33050/astroimaging/astroimaging.htm
|
| | | |
Date: 29 Sep 2006 19:38:53
From: Trane Francks
Subject: Re: Scopetronix defunct?
|
On 2006年09月19日 13:33 +0900, Rick Evans wrote:
> "James Harris" <groupstudy2001@yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message
> news:1158618702.147784.272740@i42g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
>>
>> Rick Evans wrote:
>> Thanks Rick. Yes, I'm not complaining yet, just uncertain of what is
>> happening.
>
> Good luck on getting a positive result.
I haven't had the confidence to pull the trigger on any new orders. I
wish I knew the nature of things such that I could make an intelligent
decision on whether or not it is actually SAFE to continue buying from
the company.
I'm feeling awfully stupid for not buying my NexStar 4 GT accessories a
long time ago. Best wishes to Jordan and Peggy during what must be a
difficult time.
trane
--
/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
// Trane Francks trane@gol.com Tokyo, Japan
// Practice random kindness and senseless acts of beauty.
|
| |
Date: 18 Sep 2006 10:45:08
From: oriel36
Subject: Re: Scopetronix defunct?
|
Llanzlan Klazmon wrote:
> Pierre Vandevennne <pierre@datarescue_ns.com> wrote in
> news:Xns98425F1F02Cpierredatarescue@195.238.0.34:
>
> > "oriel36" <geraldkelleher@yahoo.com> wrote in
> > news:1158515905.984816.160650 @d34g2000cwd.googlegroups.com:
> >
> >> Brian Tung wrote:
> >
> >>> inexpensive national ISPs around 1993 or so, and the dot-com boom and
> >>> bust at the turn of the millennium. Both of these led to a vast
> >
> >> You numbskulls could'nt do astronomy if it was to save your miserable
> >> existence ,what you call astronomy is little more than magnification
> >
> > Brian forgot to mention the dedication of outrageous nutcases who'd be
> > locked up and fed haloperidol if they interacted in real life as they do
> > on usenet.
> >
> > Glad you chimed in.
> >
>
> It's best to completely ignore Oriel. The non sequiturs that it responds
> with make me strongly suspicious that it is some kind of bot.
>
> Klazmon.
I am sure you understand with sparkling clarity how the return of a
star to a terrestial meridian in 23 hours 56 min 04 sec is justified
using the axial and orbital motions of the Earth -
http://astrosun2.astro.cornell.edu/academics/courses//astro201/images/sidereal_day.gif
I do not mind that the vast majority adhere to this dumb and
destructive celestial sphere junk,I would have thought that at least
one person would admire the original correlation between
clocks,terrestial longitudes and axial rotation through the two step
process which fixes axial rotation at 15 degrees per hour precisely.
With climatology requiring an accurate description of the relationship
between axial and orbital motion over the course of an annual orbit,the
convenience of the sidereal view for observational astronomy is one
thing,to justify it using the axial and orbital motions of the Earth is
an entirely different and more pressing matter.
Astrophotographers can play their part by accepting the observational
convenience of the Ra/Dec system while keeping it removed from the raw
astronomical data of planetary heliocentric motion and the relationship
between the Earth's seperate motions.It is a badge of an astronomer to
know the difference between gauging axial rotation through the
Equation of Time principles which govern the relationship between
clocks and astronomical/terrestial geometry and the later erroneous
system which uses celestial sphere geometry.
|
| |
Date: 19 Sep 2006 16:52:59
From: Jonathan Silverlight
Subject: Re: Scopetronix defunct?
|
In message <Xns98427AF77B9E3Klazmonllurdiaxorbgo@203.97.37.6 >, Llanzlan
Klazmon <Klazmon@llurdiaxorb.govt > writes
>
>It's best to completely ignore Oriel. The non sequiturs that it responds
>with make me strongly suspicious that it is some kind of bot.
>
And as you will have seen, your response triggered another automated
posting :-)
I wonder what triggered the original posting.
|
| |
Date: 19 Sep 2006 10:28:34
From: oriel36
Subject: Re: Scopetronix defunct?
|
Jonathan Silverlight wrote:
> In message <Xns98427AF77B9E3Klazmonllurdiaxorbgo@203.97.37.6>, Llanzlan
> Klazmon <Klazmon@llurdiaxorb.govt> writes
> >
> >It's best to completely ignore Oriel. The non sequiturs that it responds
> >with make me strongly suspicious that it is some kind of bot.
> >
> And as you will have seen, your response triggered another automated
> posting :-)
> I wonder what triggered the original posting.
Tell me all about how the discovery of Pluto heralded the success of
dynamicist's 'prediction' that it would be found -
"The first planet to be discovered was Uranus by William and Caroline
Herschel on 13 March 1781. It was discovered by the fact that it showed
a disk when viewed through even a fairly low powered telescope. The
only other planets which have been discovered are Neptune and Pluto.
These were predicted using ingenious mathematical arguments based on
Newton's laws of gravitation and then observed near their predicted
locations."
http://www-groups.dcs.st-and.ac.uk/~history/HistTopics/Neptune_and_Pluto.html
It is one thing to watch Newtonian dynamicists shoot themselves in the
foot but then again there are no astronomers around to enjoy the
spectacle.
The poor astrophotographers must surely be hurting with having to play
along with the dynamicists and the demotion of Pluto,not as a matter if
it justified or not, but having to believe that what was a success of
the empirical method in one decade is now quickly dropped.
|
| |
Date: 29 Sep 2006 02:29:10
From: newbinaries@yahoo.co.uk
Subject: Re: Scopetronix defunct?
|
RMOLLISE wrote:
>
> If you want to know what I think, I also thought your post was a little
> callous. Which doesn't mean I think you are necessarily a bad person (I
> don't know you, afterall), not that you should _care_ what I think,
> anyway. ;-) My comment is simply that your post is the type of post
> that makes s.a.a. increasingly seem like an unfriendly place. Maybe I'm
> overreacting. Maybe I'm just a little too close to the situation. I've
> known Jordan for some time, and he's done me more than one favor.
>
What you have said is quite correct - I would go further, in my view
the increasing problem of personal attacks within newsgroups is a
threat to the hobby.
The "owners" of some newsgroups have become far too causal in deleting
such posts once they have been pointed out to them: no wonder so many
members of such groups remain non-contributing, non-participating
lurkers.
|
| |
Date: 04 Oct 2006 14:27:31
From: James Harris
Subject: Re: Scopetronix defunct?
|
Sorry for the repost to sci.astro.amateur. I just realised that someone
had dropped uk.sci.astronomy from the thread. Can't have that, eh.
:-(
James Harris wrote:
> Archteryx wrote:
> > I too am in the same situation ..
>
> snip
>
> > All it would take is an email/phone call explaining (A) sorry for the
> > delay .. you;ll have your goods in x days .. or (b) I suggest
> > cancelling your order until business returns to normal..
>
> Absolutely! That was my point too. Simple communication can make an
> enormous difference.
>
> > After which I'd be happy to be an ongoing return customer as many of us
> > have been over the years..
>
> I had only just come across the company but have been impressed with
> the products available from them. I have, in fact, now obtained the
> product I was after (not direct from Scopetronix) and am delighted with
> its quality. Looking at their web site they seem to be or to have been
> an excellent resource, providing so many of the 'wish list' items that
> amateur astronomers would want.
>
> They seem to have had a great deal of good will too, and whatever the
> final outcome it is sad to see their reputation diminish.
>
> I have today requested, unless the order has already shipped, a refund
> from Scopetronix as I have obtained the goods I ordered from one of
> their dealers. Adirondack in NY were selling some Scopetronix products
> at half price, if anyone is interested. Scopetronix had said they
> expected goods to fulfil my order in two weeks and I have left it for
> more than three even though Adirondack delivered my order a while ago.
> My order was not of high value and I was keen to see whether they would
> live up to their commitments.
>
> I have said to Scopetronix that I would be interested in ordering some
> more Digi-T rings if they have them in stock, once my first order
> arrives or is refunded, of course. We'll see what happens.
>
> --
> James
|
| |
Date: 04 Oct 2006 14:22:51
From: James Harris
Subject: Re: Scopetronix defunct?
|
Archteryx wrote:
> I too am in the same situation ..
snip
> All it would take is an email/phone call explaining (A) sorry for the
> delay .. you;ll have your goods in x days .. or (b) I suggest
> cancelling your order until business returns to normal..
Absolutely! That was my point too. Simple communication can make an
enormous difference.
> After which I'd be happy to be an ongoing return customer as many of us
> have been over the years..
I had only just come across the company but have been impressed with
the products available from them. I have, in fact, now obtained the
product I was after (not direct from Scopetronix) and am delighted with
its quality. Looking at their web site they seem to be or to have been
an excellent resource, providing so many of the 'wish list' items that
amateur astronomers would want.
They seem to have had a great deal of good will too, and whatever the
final outcome it is sad to see their reputation diminish.
I have today requested, unless the order has already shipped, a refund
from Scopetronix as I have obtained the goods I ordered from one of
their dealers. Adirondack in NY were selling some Scopetronix products
at half price, if anyone is interested. Scopetronix had said they
expected goods to fulfil my order in two weeks and I have left it for
more than three even though Adirondack delivered my order a while ago.
My order was not of high value and I was keen to see whether they would
live up to their commitments.
I have said to Scopetronix that I would be interested in ordering some
more Digi-T rings if they have them in stock, once my first order
arrives or is refunded, of course. We'll see what happens.
--
James
|
| |
Date: 04 Oct 2006 11:52:27
From: Archteryx
Subject: Re: Scopetronix defunct?
|
I too am in the same situation ..
I have placed several orders, valued at close to $1000 .. and have
received 1 item out of 10 .. a $30 focus extender within 3 days .. the
rest I have not heard about in over 7 days now..
no reply to email or phone.
I will check my credit cards and be ready to pull the plug...if any
amount has been deducted before the item ships then I shall ask the
credit card company to investigate and take any legal action necassary.
I felt this way after reading that he would do the same should anyone
want to defraud him ...
All it would take is an email/phone call explaining (A) sorry for the
delay .. you;ll have your goods in x days .. or (b) I suggest
cancelling your order until business returns to normal..
After which I'd be happy to be an ongoing return customer as many of us
have been over the years..
|
| |
Date: 11 Oct 2006 13:15:12
From: James Harris
Subject: Re: Scopetronix defunct?
|
James Harris wrote:
snip
> > They seem to have had a great deal of good will too, and whatever the
> > final outcome it is sad to see their reputation diminish.
> >
> > I have today requested, unless the order has already shipped, a refund
> > from Scopetronix as I have obtained the goods I ordered from one of
> > their dealers. Adirondack in NY were selling some Scopetronix products
> > at half price, if anyone is interested. Scopetronix had said they
> > expected goods to fulfil my order in two weeks and I have left it for
> > more than three even though Adirondack delivered my order a while ago.
> > My order was not of high value and I was keen to see whether they would
> > live up to their commitments.
> >
> > I have said to Scopetronix that I would be interested in ordering some
> > more Digi-T rings if they have them in stock, once my first order
> > arrives or is refunded, of course. We'll see what happens.
That's been about a week with no reply. I have just resent the e-mail
request to three of their e-mail addresses, questions@scopetronix.com,
webmaster@scopetronix.com, orders@scopetronix.com. That seemed to get a
response last time, though I am really sorry to burden them with
multiple e-mails.
|
| |
Date: 13 Oct 2006 08:50:35
From: Darian
Subject: Re: Scopetronix defunct?
|
>From a message on the Astromart Forum, I believe the problem has
something to do with a child who is sick and the owner is away from the
business.
James Harris wrote:
> James Harris wrote:
> snip
> > > They seem to have had a great deal of good will too, and whatever the
> > > final outcome it is sad to see their reputation diminish.
> > >
> > > I have today requested, unless the order has already shipped, a refund
> > > from Scopetronix as I have obtained the goods I ordered from one of
> > > their dealers. Adirondack in NY were selling some Scopetronix products
> > > at half price, if anyone is interested. Scopetronix had said they
> > > expected goods to fulfil my order in two weeks and I have left it for
> > > more than three even though Adirondack delivered my order a while ago.
> > > My order was not of high value and I was keen to see whether they would
> > > live up to their commitments.
> > >
> > > I have said to Scopetronix that I would be interested in ordering some
> > > more Digi-T rings if they have them in stock, once my first order
> > > arrives or is refunded, of course. We'll see what happens.
>
> That's been about a week with no reply. I have just resent the e-mail
> request to three of their e-mail addresses, questions@scopetronix.com,
> webmaster@scopetronix.com, orders@scopetronix.com. That seemed to get a
> response last time, though I am really sorry to burden them with
> multiple e-mails.
|
| |
Date: 14 Oct 2006 11:18:37
From:
Subject: Re: Scopetronix defunct?
|
Darian wrote:
> >From a message on the Astromart Forum, I believe the problem has
> something to do with a child who is sick and the owner is away from the
> business.
It is my strong feeling that your post was made in good faith, and
therefore I accept as fact that you believe it has something to do with
a child who is sick and the owner is away from the business.
H.
|
| |
Date: 17 Oct 2006 08:20:44
From: Darian
Subject: Re: Scopetronix defunct?
|
howieglatter@mindspring.com wrote:
> Darian wrote:
> > >From a message on the Astromart Forum, I believe the problem has
> > something to do with a child who is sick and the owner is away from the
> > business.
>
> It is my strong feeling that your post was made in good faith, and
> therefore I accept as fact that you believe it has something to do with
> a child who is sick and the owner is away from the business.
>
> H.
Howie, I really do not know. I've not done any business with them; just
following this thread on saa.
Someone inquired about the matter on Astromart, and someone mentioned
something about a sick child.
|
| |
Date: 17 Oct 2006 05:46:19
From: James Harris
Subject: Re: Scopetronix defunct?
|
James Harris wrote:
> James Harris wrote:
snip
> That's been about a week with no reply. I have just resent the e-mail
> request to three of their e-mail addresses, questions@scopetronix.com,
> webmaster@scopetronix.com, orders@scopetronix.com. That seemed to get a
> response last time, though I am really sorry to burden them with
> multiple e-mails.
It has now been another six days. I have opened a dispute with Paypal.
I understand this will send an e-mail to Scopetronix regarding the
issue and I have tried to make the message as clear as possible. Under
Paypal rules I have 20 days to covert this to a claim if Scopetronix do
not respond.
|
| |
Date: 17 Oct 2006 12:23:24
From: Darian
Subject: Re: Scopetronix defunct?
|
howieglatter@mindspring.com wrote:
> > Howie, I really do not know. I've not done any business with them; just
> > following this thread on saa.
> > . . someone mentioned something about a sick child.
>
> Darian, I was not casting any aspersion on you - it was just my
> tongue-in-cheek way of saying I have reason to believe that's not the
> real story.
> I'm in the hole for $1000 that Scopetronix owes me since early
> 2005.
>
> Clear skies and perfect collimation,
>
> Howie
No problem, Howie. That'd be a shame to use "a sick child" as a made up
excuse. DR
|
| | |
Date: 21 Oct 2006 21:50:39
From: JOHN PAZMINO
Subject: Re: Scopetronix defunct?
|
D > Subject: Re: Scopetronix defunct?
D > From: "Darian" <darian.rachal@gmail.com>
D > Date: 17 2006 12:23:24 -0700
D > >
D > > Darian, I was not casting any aspersion on you - it was just my
D > > tongue-in-cheek way of saying I have reason to believe that's not the
D > > real story.
D > > I'm in the hole for $1000 that Scopetronix owes me since early
D > > 2005.
D >
D > No problem, Howie. That'd be a shame to use "a sick child" as a made up
D > excuse. DR
It's irrelavent in a business climate. Let's take the story as
true. I have no dealings lately with Scoptrnix, the last being at NEAF
last year. Let's further assume that the business is a mon-&-pop
operation, so there is no subsititue staff. It may have been run off
of the owner's dinette table.
Never the less, it is putting out statements of service,
collecting money, and, so the posting say, passing up on delivering.
From a consumer advocate's perspective, the reawson is not an ecuse,
It could be an extenuating circumstnce, not not a ticket to be let
off.
In New York, consumer regulation is awfully strict. Large
megacompanies and small corner shops are routinely lenalized for
messing around with orders, payments, deliveries, goods
representation.
In my own case, i work with NYSkies Astronomy Inc and am handling
its 2007 Obsrver's handbook offer. Due to increased requests and
interst during 2006, our allotment is a mite larger than n previous
years. Already about ten requests are in hand with more in the mail.
let's tay with ten for argument's sake.
The OH this year was delayed in publication from its nromal early
September to now late ober. In fact, this yer morning, RASC FedExed
to NYSkies its books. RASC in the past weeks was in phone comms with
NYSkies to update on the status of the OH and assure that they were in
progress.
However, I've been getting payments for them. So, what to say or
do? First off, by business and legal caution, NYSkies is NOT banking
any of the payments UNFTIL it sends out the books, which wil start
this coming week. That way, it, to be fair to the astronomer, is not
'using' the payment while the astronomer twiddles thumbs.
This was expalined on the NYSkies yahoogroup forum, so the
with-it home astronomer in the New York area knows up front what's
going on.
What would have happened if, for some cause, the package never
arrives? There was an earthquake in Toronto that leveled the printing
company.
Soonest I got the news, I sold immediately announce that the OH is
kaput AND REFUNDS ARE NOW BEING SENT OUT. End of story. No sillu
hedging and run-aeound. No crap about 'sending it to run the
business' or what ever. No book; you get your maony back.
What happens if a book is received in defective condition? This
did occur a couple times over the years. So far, due to careful
packing, the defect was internal to the book: a page got folded in the
printing press, an ink blot somehwhere.
We go and replace the book. Period. The astronomer doesn't have to
return the entire defective book, just the cover and a sample page
showing the flaw. That keeps him from the trouble and expense of
packing and mailing the whole book. A couple tear-out pages with the
actual front cover fit into an letter envelope and mails for a single
stamp. He gets the new, inspected!, book for no extra cost.
Is this a brutal regime of operation for a newish and small
astronomy service? NYSkies is only 1-1/2 year old as a corporation,
and it put on only a few events of 'large' size. the next one in the
Allies in Space lecture on November 4th, see spearate posting about
that.
Yes, it is.
Without it, things can spiral out of control very quickly, to the
point of having the public advocate on your stoop.
---
þ RoseReader 2.52á P005004
|
| |
Date: 17 Oct 2006 12:13:13
From:
Subject: Re: Scopetronix defunct?
|
> Howie, I really do not know. I've not done any business with them; just
> following this thread on saa.
> . . someone mentioned something about a sick child.
Darian, I was not casting any aspersion on you - it was just my
tongue-in-cheek way of saying I have reason to believe that's not the
real story.
I'm in the hole for $1000 that Scopetronix owes me since early
2005.
Clear skies and perfect collimation,
Howie
|
| |
Date: 19 Oct 2006 16:49:54
From: James Harris
Subject: Re: Scopetronix defunct?
|
James Harris wrote:
> James Harris wrote:
> > James Harris wrote:
> snip
> > That's been about a week with no reply. I have just resent the e-mail
> > request to three of their e-mail addresses, questions@scopetronix.com,
> > webmaster@scopetronix.com, orders@scopetronix.com. That seemed to get a
> > response last time, though I am really sorry to burden them with
> > multiple e-mails.
>
> It has now been another six days. I have opened a dispute with Paypal.
> I understand this will send an e-mail to Scopetronix regarding the
> issue and I have tried to make the message as clear as possible. Under
> Paypal rules I have 20 days to covert this to a claim if Scopetronix do
> not respond.
It seems Scopetronix has refunded my payment and that they did so on
the same day I opened the dispute with Paypal, i.e. 17th. I haven't
heard from them whether they have the Digi-T rings in stock but I'm
glad to get the refund ... and it proves that a response is possible.
--
James
|
| | |
Date: 20 Oct 2006 11:03:35
From: John Steinberg
Subject: Re: Scopetronix defunct?
|
James Harris wrote:
> It seems Scopetronix has refunded my payment and that they did so on
> the same day I opened the dispute with Paypal, i.e. 17th
Good to know.
In my own personal dealings with the man behind the the curtains at the
subject company, he has always been nothing less than a complete
gentleman.
(And by gentleman I really mean douchebag but that kind of thing is
often hard to convery in a text-only medium.)
--
-John Steinberg
email: not@thistime.invalid
|
| |
Date: 23 Oct 2006 11:34:30
From: Archteryx
Subject: Re: Scopetronix defunct?
|
I mentioned on an alternate thread .. I cancelled my Scopetronix order
( no response though ) and bought the part I needed from ebay at a
third of the original price ..
lo' and behold .. the senders address was the same area/street as
scopetronix ... I guess for whatever reason .. there is a "get rid of
the equipment" sale going on ;o)
John Steinberg wrote:
> James Harris wrote:
>
> > It seems Scopetronix has refunded my payment and that they did so on
> > the same day I opened the dispute with Paypal, i.e. 17th
>
> Good to know.
>
> In my own personal dealings with the man behind the the curtains at the
> subject company, he has always been nothing less than a complete
> gentleman.
>
> (And by gentleman I really mean douchebag but that kind of thing is
> often hard to convery in a text-only medium.)
>
> --
> -John Steinberg
> email: not@thistime.invalid
|
| |
Date: 24 Oct 2006 15:19:17
From: James Harris
Subject: Re: Scopetronix defunct?
|
Archteryx wrote:
> I mentioned on an alternate thread .. I cancelled my Scopetronix order
> ( no response though ) and bought the part I needed from ebay at a
> third of the original price ..
>
> lo' and behold .. the senders address was the same area/street as
> scopetronix ... I guess for whatever reason .. there is a "get rid of
> the equipment" sale going on ;o)
Care to let us know the seller's id?
|
| |
Date: 09 Nov 2006 07:43:56
From:
Subject: Re: Scopetronix defunct?
|
Does anybody have news about Scopetronix? Also, I could not find a
phone number to call Scopetronix, would anybody be able to provide a
phone number or address?
Thanks
Gerald
James Harris wrote:
> James Harris wrote:
> > James Harris wrote:
> snip
> > That's been about a week with no reply. I have just resent the e-mail
> > request to three of their e-mail addresses, questions@scopetronix.com,
> > webmaster@scopetronix.com, orders@scopetronix.com. That seemed to get a
> > response last time, though I am really sorry to burden them with
> > multiple e-mails.
>
> It has now been another six days. I have opened a dispute with Paypal.
> I understand this will send an e-mail to Scopetronix regarding the
> issue and I have tried to make the message as clear as possible. Under
> Paypal rules I have 20 days to covert this to a claim if Scopetronix do
> not respond.
|
| |
Date: 09 Nov 2006 19:12:38
From: Archteryx
Subject: Re: Scopetronix defunct?
|
The only number I got was on one o their web pages .. contacts/camera
adapters ...
(239)945-6763.
But nhever an answer...even email isn;t responded too ... For my
records they are now defunct, finished ... how the future looks .. I
wouldn';t hold my breath, but you never know.'
Thats my own personal opinion and experience ..
A.
gbot@taconic.com wrote:
> Does anybody have news about Scopetronix? Also, I could not find a
> phone number to call Scopetronix, would anybody be able to provide a
> phone number or address?
>
> Thanks
>
> Gerald
|
|
