Guy sells aut0-scope and takes a $1000 loss for a few months ownership

[RichA]

One of those "do-everything but nothing well" scopes was sold, at considerably less than it cost. Contrast this with a good refractor and mount. AP Stowaways are selling at $2000 ABOVE retail, used.

[StarDust]

On Friday, October 8, 2021 at 2:49:19 PM UTC-7, RichA wrote:
> One of those "do-everything but nothing well" scopes was sold, at considerably less than it cost. Contrast this with a good refractor and mount. AP Stowaways are selling at $2000 ABOVE retail, used.

To buy a NEW AP, probably takes 5 years!
Demand vs. Supply , that's all!

[RichA]

That, and AP scopes have dominated the top of the refractor quality heap for about 30 years.

[StarDust]

Few things in life that can be bought and sold for more now days.
That's why rich people don't shop at Walmart!
😎

[Chris L Peterson]

On Sat, 9 Oct 2021 00:57:54 -0700 (PDT), RichA <rande...@gmail.com>
wrote:

But in the same way that a Rolex doesn't actually provide better
results than a Timex, an AP refractor doesn't outperform many others
that are available for a fraction of the cost.

[RichA]

Like?

[StarDust]

True!
For functionality , a $20 Chines digital watch outperform a Rolex.
But the value in Rolex watch lays the way it's made, using expensive materials, gold, diamonds, Safire crystal for glass etc... indestructible too.
Rolex also a status symbol for those with money, while the Chines, plastic digital watch is not and probably breaks within 5-10 years or gets outdated fast as new designs come to the market every year, like the smart watches.
Telescopes on the other hand, like quality refractors , even old ones have demands.
I've seen them sold very quick on CN , while DOBs or Cats may take some times to sell, specially the low quality, plastic, run of mill types.
My philosophy, I rather by a used BMW than a new/used Toyota or Chevy, because the big quality difference of the car.

[RichA]

The Chinese have very specific ideas as to desirability. Where I live, Chinese will drive Japanese cars up until they hit a certain income level, then it's straight into Mercedes.
Rolex crazy prices (I remember when you could get a stainless steel Rolex new for $2000, now $10,000 used) are being driven by Asian markets. They are like AP scopes, almost
as difficult to get new now. SCTs are still the go-to scopes for aperture value, and large ones dominate planetary photography, but you can get very good used bargains with them.
The hottest scopes right now are small to medium low-cost ED refractors.

[Chris L Peterson]

On Sat, 9 Oct 2021 17:45:29 -0700 (PDT), RichA <rande...@gmail.com>

wrote:

>On Saturday, 9 October 2021 at 09:51:54 UTC-4, Chris L Peterson wrote:
>> On Sat, 9 Oct 2021 00:57:54 -0700 (PDT), RichA <rande...@gmail.com>
>> wrote:
>> >On Saturday, 9 October 2021 at 02:40:42 UTC-4, StarDust wrote:
>> >> On Friday, October 8, 2021 at 2:49:19 PM UTC-7, RichA wrote:
>> >> > One of those "do-everything but nothing well" scopes was sold, at considerably less than it cost. Contrast this with a good refractor and mount. AP Stowaways are selling at $2000 ABOVE retail, used.
>> >> To buy a NEW AP, probably takes 5 years!
>> >> Demand vs. Supply , that's all!
>> >
>> >That, and AP scopes have dominated the top of the refractor quality heap for about 30 years.
>> But in the same way that a Rolex doesn't actually provide better
>> results than a Timex, an AP refractor doesn't outperform many others
>> that are available for a fraction of the cost.
>
>Like?

Virtually every triplet refractor made by reputable companies.

[Chris L Peterson]

On Sat, 9 Oct 2021 21:37:12 -0700 (PDT), StarDust <cso...@gmail.com>
wrote:

And there's nothing wrong with appreciating a beautiful piece of
engineering, and paying extra for it. As long as you know that's what
you're doing. But if you just want good images through your scope, you
don't need to invest in an AP.

[Martin Brown]

On 08/10/2021 22:49, RichA wrote:

> One of those "do-everything but nothing well" scopes was sold, at considerably less than it cost. Contrast this with a good refractor and mount. AP Stowaways are selling at $2000 ABOVE retail, used.

AP's always were speculative instruments (TM). You often saw them up on
eBay being resold almost immediately after they were delivered.

Right back when eBay was *NEW*.
Some people have no patience or more money than sense.

Second hand kit normally is good for around 2/3 of its purchase price
once the original owner has got bored with it or fed up with being cold.

--
Regards,
Martin Brown

[Martin Brown]

On 10/10/2021 01:45, RichA wrote:
> On Saturday, 9 October 2021 at 09:51:54 UTC-4, Chris L Peterson wrote:
>> On Sat, 9 Oct 2021 00:57:54 -0700 (PDT), RichA <rande...@gmail.com>
>> wrote:
>>> On Saturday, 9 October 2021 at 02:40:42 UTC-4, StarDust wrote:
>>>> On Friday, October 8, 2021 at 2:49:19 PM UTC-7, RichA wrote:
>>>>> One of those "do-everything but nothing well" scopes was sold, at considerably less than it cost. Contrast this with a good refractor and mount. AP Stowaways are selling at $2000 ABOVE retail, used.

>>>> To buy a NEW AP, probably takes 5 years!
>>>> Demand vs. Supply , that's all!

There used to be a regular trade on eBay on essentially brand new never
seen first light AP scopes offered for sale immediately after delivery.
It (AP scalping) was discussed here quite a few times in the past.

https://groups.google.com/g/sci.astro.amateur/c/2Ukl28ZWo3U/m/OECd8xJT93UJ

>>> That, and AP scopes have dominated the top of the refractor quality heap for about 30 years.
>> But in the same way that a Rolex doesn't actually provide better
>> results than a Timex, an AP refractor doesn't outperform many others
>> that are available for a fraction of the cost.
>
> Like?

Takahashi fluorite front element scopes. Available almost off the shelf.

https://www.rothervalleyoptics.co.uk/takahashi-fc-100-series.html

AP have a certain mystique particularly in the USA. They resell for
slightly more normal prices in Europe (those that are over here).

--
Regards,
Martin Brown