Advice for buying an expensive equiment (few thousand dollars) on Astro mart

What are your general guidelines for buying expensive (few thousand dollars) equipment on Astromart?

Will you buy an expensive equipment on Astromart without physically seeing from a seller with no rating and someone that just became member on Astromart few days before listing the equipment?

Originally Posted by Avinash Patil

What are your general guidelines for buying expensive (few thousand dollars) equipment on Astromart?

Will you buy an expensive equipment on Astromart without physically seeing from a seller with no rating and someone that just became member on Astromart few days before listing the equipment?

Absolutely NOT....ever, never ever.

1. If it is over $100 I never take that chance.....Been here a long time and bought a lot without ever having an issue but I have rules I follow. If its over $100 and they are new I don't care how good the price is I move on.

I've been burned a few times with even inexpensive items on Astromart, and not always by newbies. I wish it were different of course. But yes, once $100 and more, being careful by dealing only with a seller who has been a member with a clean record becomes vital.

Thank you Greg and Robert for your quick reply.  I will certainly follow your advice.

I would never buy anything from a stranger with no positive track record. The only exception i ever made was when i bought a 3.5" Questar. The fellow who was selling it was doing a favor for the family of the original owner who passed away suddenly. The seller knew nothing about astronomy. I ended up talking with him on the phone to "feel him out". I even requested that he send me a photo of his drivers license. Keep in mind it's difficult to recover anything bought out of state, let alone the country.

Another time, I bought a solar filter from a vendor who described the condition "as new". When i got it, it was "well used" with scratches on the coating!. It was the wrong size too!. I got my money back minus shipping costs. His ratings included one negative feedback. That should have been the "red flag" caution alert.

And finally, sold a pair of rings to a fellow who took forever and ever to pay up.

If there is a big ticket item for sale with no track record from the seller, it may be prudent to drive or fly there to pick it up.

Best of luck..