[AZ-Observing] Re: Meade Thrives

Stan, I purchased a NEW ETX 125 PE for a grab and go scope to take camping 
because of limited space. I chose the ETX 125 due to the fact that Bill's 
ETX 125 was easy to setup and align . I also own a 10" LX 50 SCT that I have 
had for many years and was happy with. I STILL own the SCT but placed the 
OTA on an Atlas EQG. The ETX on the other hand I was never happy with from 
day one. The LNT module never worked properly. The more I worked with it the 
farther off the initial alignment would be. I don't mean a part of a field 
of view I mean 6 to 10 degrees of in alignment. I went to Weasners's ETX 
site looking for answers, the only thing I found were other people with the 
same problem. When it came to calling Meade for assistance after waiting 20 
to 30 minutes on hold the person I was talking to trying to explane the 
problem could have cared less. All I got out of him was a repair order 
number> I sent the scope to Meade with a detailed letter and after six weeks 
I get a phone call at 7:00 at night saying the scope was being returned to 
me. I asked what the problem was and all I got was "I don't know they didn't 
say".  Two day latter I received the scope and when I opened the box one of 
the Dec circles was laying on the top of the scope. Apparently when packing 
the scope the plastic knob broke and all they did was place it in the box 
with the repair order saying they had replaced the paper RA lable and the 
Azimuth knob.  I still have the scope because the optics are very good, but 
the mount is still the same zero in quality.

I am not saying that Meade has inferior products,  I am very carefull as to 
what I will buy from Meade. In fact  just last month I purchased a 16" 
Lightbridge from Meade and although I have only had it out twice I am happy 
with the optics. The mount itself is another story it is just a cheap dob 
mount that needs many modifications, but I knew that when I went into this 
project. The entire scope is made overseas for Meade and I had to wait for 
Meade to pay the manufacture before they would ship the scope to me.  If 
Meade goes under there are others to purchase from. Myself I tend to lean 
towards Orion Telescope products.

a little long and three cents worth

Ken Sikes
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Stan Gorodenski" <stanlep@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <az-observing@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Thursday, July 02, 2009 8:15 PM
Subject: [AZ-Observing] Re: Meade Thrives




Bill VanOrden wrote:

>I saw this also.
>
>A desperate attempt to save the company IMHO.  Their stock is almost
>worthless and they have been divesting themselves of parts of the company
>and moving operations to Mexico.  Personally I don't think they are long 
>for
>life.
>
>When it came time to purchase a new optical tube for my mount, I never even
>considered them because of the way I and Ken Sikes were treated when there
>were issues with equipment we purchased.
>
>

I have had similar problems. It turns out some of their customer service
reps are new at the job and not that knowledgeable. The trick is to ask
for the same person once you find someone who appears to know what they
are talking about, and be persistent. However, even they may not be
knowledgeable about certain things and may refer you to someone else.
Were these things you and Ken bought new? I heard someone at RTMC once
complain about the fact Meade didn't stand behind their product. Then I
learned from the conversation that they had expected Meade to fix
something bought second or third hand from someone else. I think this is
way too unreasonable. What it appears to me is that some people, I'm not
pointing to you Bill or anyone on this list, appear to want to have
their cake and eat it too. In other words, they are too cheap, even
though they could afford it, to buy it new and instead buy it at a
really bargain cheap price used and then expect Meade to fix it for
them. This is the way I look at it.
Stan

>I wish them luck, but don't expect them to make it.
>
>Beevo (aka Bill VanOrden)  K7BVO
>
>
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>
>
>
>
>
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