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James Johnson
member
Reged: 07/30/07
Posts: 26
Loc: Maryland
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I have a used PST that I haven't used much but I recently noticed that it has a bad case of the "rust" on the front element. So today I called Meade's customer service to start the repair process and they told me that unless I had the original sales receipt that shows that the scope was originally sold within the last 5 years then the scope will NOT be repaired under warranty.
Furthermore they would not give any kind of estimate as to what the repair would cost, and shipping would be up to me but they would not honor a warranty on the repair unless the scope was sent via second day air.
Just thought the forum members would like to know about the new policy. I am torn on this. Right now I do not feel like throwing more good money after bad, and will probably purchase a product from another manufacturer. Though the wait for Lunt is long, I do not have confidence in Meade anymore.
JJ
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James Johnson
Starmaster 11.5EL Dobsonian
Celestron 9.25 SCT on Losmandy GM8
Celestron Nexstar5SE
Williams Optics Zenithstar II 80mm ED
Williams Optics Zenithstar 66mm SD
Coronado MaxScope40
ailing Coronado PST (needs rust removal)
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darkstar528
Post Laureate
Reged: 03/06/07
Posts: 4761
Loc: Hodgenville, Kentucky, USA
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That's a little concerning, I need to find my receipt in case...
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Blue skies,
Stephen "Darkstar" Ames
PST, VIXEN 8-24mm,CEMAX 2x Barlow, Thousand Oaks White Light Filter and a Meade Elec EP
CFI, CFII, MEI, working on EIEIO!
BAA Member
My solar site:
http://seemysunspot.com
Live solarcams from around the world:
http://www.seemysunspot.com/live_sun.html
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snowdragonusa
professor emeritus
Reged: 09/04/07
Posts: 637
Loc: Denver, CO
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Yes the 2nd day air policy is a bummer but I think it is because there have been a lot of instances where folks shipped ground and the poor etalons got trashed. Best to keep the sales invoice handy for sure though.
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Adam
12" LX200R
AT80mm piggyback
DSI Pro, DSI-C, LPI
Denver Astronomical Society
Brighton Astronomical Group
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colinsk
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 01/17/08
Posts: 1234
Loc: CA
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This also likely means they have stopped honoring the warranty to second hand owners. 
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Mahalo,
Colin Kaminski
Coulter 10.1" Dobsonian
PST
TV-76/Baader White Light Filter/LS50F/BF1200
LS60T/DS50/FT/BF1200
DSM
LXD-75
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stephenramsden
sage
Reged: 08/17/07
Posts: 481
Loc: Atlanta, GA--USA
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I sent my PST off to Meade about three weeks ago because the prism assembly and the focus knob just got so sloppy that I could not focus anymore. By the way, that is all that is in the mysterious black box on the PST, a prism and a connecting screw with tension spring that moves it into focus. The prism is glued to 2 peices of black plastic that ride on a channel for focusing. The glue apparantly melted as I use it a lot on hot Georgia days.
ANyway, they said nothing to me about 2nd day air. Maybe because I had the original receipt and it was under warranty still? Don't know. They did make me pay for shipping both ways up front and said that it would be at least 6 weeks for the repair.
I would really like to have my 90mm Coronado Solarmax double stacked and to adda BF30 to it but to be honest, I really don't trust Meade enough to let them have my scope for that long. Who knows how long it will take to get a 90mm etalon matched and how many teenagers will be trained in Mexico on my scope? No BF30's in stock and no idea when they will have them either.
You know, there is an EXTREME lack of available solar scope on the market. What's that group on the Isle of Man again that has stuff in stock, oh nevermind, I just looked at there prices. 
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Stephen W. Ramsden
Atlanta, GA--USA
www.solarastrophotography.com
www.stephenramsden.com
WAYYY too much Solar stuff according to my new wife..
Edited by stephenramsden (09/03/08 03:18 AM)
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frogbmth
sage
Reged: 08/09/08
Posts: 242
Loc: Dorset UK
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In the UK we would be covered under government legislation indefinately regardless of whether you have a purchase receipt or are a scope's first owner. Only Coronado/Meade make these scopes so there is no sense in asking for a sales receipt. Its not as if anybody else could have made it - I dont think China make knock off PST's!
Are consumer laws different in the USA? Can manufacturers make something with a known issue and do nothing to correct it?
Andy
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http://frogsolar.blogspot.com
Coronado Ha PST
Celestron C90 Mak
DMK21AU04.AS CCD
Philips SPC900NC webcam
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Jim Rosenstock
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 07/14/05
Posts: 2408
Loc: MD, south of the DC Nebula
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Hi James,
First, WELCOME to Cloudy Nights! Hope you like it here! 
As best I remember, the PST was introduced in early 2004? So, although the first ones are getting a little long in the tooth, it would seem that they're all still under the 5-year Coronado warranty...
BTW, my Coronado warranty (for my purchased-used SM40) does NOT specify "original purchaser", and the warranty itself has the original shipping date. About a year ago, Meade replaced my rusting blocking filter...no questions or arguments, and a not-too-terribly-unreasonable wait of a few weeks...
They weren't too worried about seeing my dated warranty card, though I did ship a copy along with my rusty BF....perhaps Meade is anticipating the upcoming fifth birthday of the first PSTs, early next year...
I do have to commend Meade for taking care of a large number of rusted Coronado products, the liability for which they purchased along with the Coronado operation.
I take it that you don't have a dated warranty card or any other proof from your PST's original purchaser. It also sounds like you didn't get the most helpful person at Meade, either.
My service from Meade took a sudden turn for the better when I got through to a responsive supervisor, Vincent Sanchez. If your experience is like mine, you'll save yourself at least half an hour of waiting on hold, plus you'll get honest information and respectful service. Call 1-800-626-3233, then key in his extension, 6402. (I sure hope Vincent is still there....worth a try.)
good luck....
...and Sunny skies!
Jim
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pennyandchris
professor emeritus
Reged: 01/30/07
Posts: 505
Loc: Horsham, England
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Earliest post I can find says the first ones shipped in May 04, so there shouldn't be any in circulation that are more than 4.5 years old at the moment.
My newly aquired CaK PST left the factory in '06, so I hope there's no long term issues with that.
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Orion UK OMC140 Mak Cass
TeleVue Ranger
Coronado Ha and CaK PSTs
Meade LXD75 mount
Ambermile alt-az mount on wooden surveyors tripod
Manfrotto 074 photo tripod with 501 head
+ various binocs
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Skywatchr
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 06/03/06
Posts: 1585
Loc: North-Central Pa.
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Quote:
You know, there is an EXTREME lack of available solar scope on the market. What's that group on the Isle of Man again that has stuff in stock, oh nevermind, I just looked at there prices.
DayStar has their SolaRedi scopes available. They are MUCH nicer than a PST. Check daystarfilters.com. Plus they have a 10 year warranty to boot!
Jeff
Edited by Don W (09/07/08 04:37 PM)
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Jim Rosenstock
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 07/14/05
Posts: 2408
Loc: MD, south of the DC Nebula
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Quote:
DayStar has their SolaRedi scopes available. They are MUCH nicer than a PST. Check daystarfilters.com .Plus they have a 10 year warranty to boot!
Well, at well over 3X the cost of a PST for their basic model, it sure SHOULD be much nicer...
As I've stated before, there is NO "apples to apples" comparison to a PST. If you want a dedicated H-alpha scope for anything close to $500, you have just one choice: a PST.
The Lunt 60, at its "introductory pre-order" price, came a little closer, but, at its new price of $999, it's fully twice the price of a PST (well, that'll be "only" 167% when the PST goes back up to its $600 regular price...)
As for warranties, well, one needs a company to still be around and willing to honor their warranty. We already have JJ's report of Meade refusing warranty work on a PST that can't yet be 5 years old; who knows if there will even be a Coronado (or a Meade) in 5 more years? I have greater hopes for both Lunt and Daystar, but both are really relatively new "start-ups", risen from the ashes of the "old" Coronado and Daystar operations, both of whose founders passed away in recent years.
For me, I'd rather pay more up-front for a more durable product, than buy a fragile one with a warranty that might or might not be of any value in the future.
Sunny skies,
Jim
Edited by Don W (09/07/08 04:37 PM)
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