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Actually new coatings are not that much more than using F.C.
F.C. is about $50.00 per cleaning of an 8" mirror (as stated above). We're charging $70.00 for a new coating.
Of course, there is shipping to consider etc. so I think one has to consider the age and condition of thier coatings as well.

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I understand the efficiency of this kind of cleaning quite well. But the pricing strategy of F.C. is not a smart one since it is way too expensive to widely introduce this great product to the scope owners. Therefore, it will remain a niche product.
I doubt that the manufacturing costs are that high.
Reasonable pricing might lead to great success in the astro and photo community.

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Just an FYI, and not necessarily the case in this instance, but sometimes you price things above where you could get wider market acceptance NOT because your costs are high or you want to be greedy on a per-unit profit, but because your business model cannot support higher volumes (at all, or cost-effectively)...

Say something COSTS a manufacturer $10 each. Say they are pricing it at $100. Per-unit profit is $90. And you get 1000 sales per year = $90,000 Profit.

Say they priced it at $20. Per-unit profit at $10. And say they get orders for 10,000. On paper that would be $200,000 profit. But maybe in order to handle a volume of 10,000 they have to invest in new manufacturing processes, suppliers, equipment, etc. and that investment might cost $1M. They might be reluctant to make that investment.

Grossly simplified example, but there may be other reasons than "profit greed" behind their price-point. Or it might be costs of raw materials. Don't know.

Main point? Pricing is a much more complicated formula than simply "cost" + "profit" = "price". There are many factors to which we are not privvy.

I think, if it works as the above comments describe, it has a place in many Astronomer's "arsenals" (and am considering it myself).

I do wish (naturally) it was cheaper. But, it isn't. Then again, nobody is forcing anyone to buy it.

Clear enough skies

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Dave
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