25 replies to this topic

[kbart0791]

www.telescopesettlement.com

 

I have seen postings on this here on CN.  I just got an email from Amazon since I purchased a 100mm Skywatcher maksutov.  Like I said I dont know how long ago the courts approved this.

 

[BQ Octantis]

Same here today for my Skywatcher Mak 180. Here's the link to website to file the claim:

 

https://www.telescopesettlement.com

 

But I wasn't in one of the Indirect Purchaser States of Arizona, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia, or Wisconsin.

 

BQ

Edited by BQ Octantis, 13 December 2024 - 10:55 PM.

[CeeKay]

Same here today for my Skywatcher Mak 180. Here's the link to website to file the claim:

 

https://www.telescopesettlement.com

 

But I wasn't in one of the Indirect Purchaser States of Arizona, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia, or Wisconsin.

 

BQ

Orion Mak purchaser in WA state... got the same email from the website and Amazon.
 

[kbart0791]

Same here today for my Skywatcher Mak 180. Here's the link to website to file the claim:

 

https://www.telescopesettlement.com

 

But I wasn't in one of the Indirect Purchaser States of Arizona, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia, or Wisconsin.

 

BQ 

I guess in the end if you are happy with you product it should not be an issue.  However, we have seen monopolization for some time now.  It has its ups and downs.  If it is a good product - and that is a big if, being rebranded  (Skywatcher and Orion) to name a couple means your still getting the same basic product.  The other side of the coin is it would be nice to have more options and variety to choose from.  This is the sad outcome of initially choosing a cheaper mass produced product that eventually squashes the competition.

[BQ Octantis]

Orion Mak purchaser in WA state... got the same email from the website and Amazon.

I smell some cash coming your way!

 

Honestly, I felt a little guilty pondering taking the cash before I realized I wasn't one of the plaintiffs. But I reckon Synta already realized the cost, and you're just claiming your share.

 

That said, I paid way less than what they're going for now. And I feel I totally got my money's worth. So I'm not sure how I was supposedly aggrieved…

 

BQ

[BQ Octantis]

I guess in the end if you are happy with you product it should not be an issue.  However, we have seen monopolization for some time now.  It has its ups and downs.  If it is a good product - and that is a big if, being rebranded  (Skywatcher and Orion) to name a couple means your still getting the same basic product.  The other side of the coin is it would be nice to have more options and variety to choose from.  This is the sad outcome of initially choosing a cheaper mass produced product that eventually squashes the competition.

I don't see punishing Synta with a $32M settlement creating more diversity of options. But lawsuits are political. They have nothing to do with economics.

[TOMDEY]

Lawyers chase a lot more things than just ambulances. So much effort for a few buck pay-out five years from now just seems kind of non-Christmasy.    Tom

[kbart0791]

I smell some cash coming your way!

 

Honestly, I felt a little guilty pondering taking the cash before I realized I wasn't one of the plaintiffs. But I reckon Synta already realized the cost, and you're just claiming your share.

 

That said, I paid way less than what they're going for now. And I feel I totally got my money's worth. So I'm not sure how I was supposedly aggrieved…

 

BQI

I feel like you.  I am included in the suite but I feel like the mak I got was worth it.  Might feel different if I could get the same quality at a cheaper price.

[kbart0791]

I don't see punishing Synta with a $32M settlement creating more diversity of options. But lawsuits are political. They have nothing to do with economics.

You are correct.  Look at Orion.  In the end there was no additional diversity in the market, and in the end now Orion is out.

[BQ Octantis]

You are correct.  Look at Orion.  In the end there was no additional diversity in the market, and in the end now Orion is out.

 

I know, right! Ironically enough, I bought an Orion SkyView Pro mount to hold the Skywatcher Mak 180. And I picked that over a Meade mount. So I had far more diverse options in the past…

 

BQ

Edited by BQ Octantis, 14 December 2024 - 06:33 AM.

[RichA]

www.telescopesettlement.com

 

I have seen postings on this here on CN.  I just got an email from Amazon since I purchased a 100mm Skywatcher maksutov.  Like I said I dont know how long ago the courts approved this.

Interesting from one aspect, once you see how much you get it'll tell use how many scopes were sold in that time period, to a reasonable number.

[CharLakeAstro]

This is already inked by the looks of it, might as well accept the $.

30% of $32 million, 9.6m to the lawyers. The 22.4M balance gets spread out thinly.

 

One way to help the overall am-astro market, each of us taking a cheque, ought use it to buy more astronomy gear. 

[Rustler46]

I just filed a claim online for C-11 purchased from Astronomics in 2008. They got only my name, address & email address. I chose them mailing a check for my portion of the $32 million claim to the address given, rather than giving an electronic account like PayPal. I'm not holding my breath about getting rich over this.

 

An interesting note:

• C-11 XLT OTA in 2008 - $2095
• C-11 XLT OTA in 2024 - $2999

Same part number 91036-XLT. Inflation and production cost over 16 years adds up.

 

 

CS,
Russ

Edited by Rustler46, 14 December 2024 - 01:46 AM.

[CeeKay]

I smell some cash coming your way!

 

Honestly, I felt a little guilty pondering taking the cash before I realized I wasn't one of the plaintiffs. But I reckon Synta already realized the cost, and you're just claiming your share.

 

That said, I paid way less than what they're going for now. And I feel I totally got my money's worth. So I'm not sure how I was supposedly aggrieved…

 

BQ

WA state isn't list a one of the "indirect purchaser states"... no cash for me.

Very happy with the Mak - it was listed on Orion's site as a "second" - only problem with it was that the cap covering the corrector plate is slightly warped. 

[BQ Octantis]

WA state isn't list a one of the "indirect purchaser states"... no cash for me.

Very happy with the Mak - it was listed on Orion's site as a "second" - only problem with it was that the cap covering the corrector plate is slightly warped. 

Sounds like you need to file a new suit for the remainder of the aggrieved!

 

When you do, don't forget those Americans who shipped to APO/DPO/FPO post offices as well…

 

BQ

[helpwanted]

I think this might be a bad idea to jump on the bandwagon and sue just for the sake of getting money. in the end, it’ll hurt the industry which hurts our wallets. This money isn’t free, it’s gonna come from the price of all future telescopes and accessories. 

[bobhen]

I got one of the email notices as well.

 

This lawsuit isn't political. And it has nothing to do with economics. Synta broke the law – period. Synta is a bad actor. They colluded to fix prices – simple as that. It doesn't matter if you like their products or not. Fixing prices hurts everyone. It's the fixing of prices that hurts people's wallets. If Synta raises their prices now, well, no one is forced to buy from Synta. 

 

Yes, the lawyers will make money. And those harmed will only get a few bucks. But that is not the main point. The main point is that "hopefully" because of the financial penalty that Synta has to pay for their unlawful action, they will think twice before pulling something like this again. There must be consequences for unlawful behavior or that behavior will not stop.  

 

Bob

[Terra Nova]

The lawyers will get the gravy, people will get pennies. I got two e-mails yesterday. The first one was from lawyers, second from Amazon. I trashed them both. Not worth my time.

[Terra Nova]

I think this might be a bad idea to jump on the bandwagon and sue just for the sake of getting money. in the end, it’ll hurt the industry which hurts our wallets. This money isn’t free, it’s gonna come from the price of all future telescopes and accessories. 

Yep, just like tariffs. Prices will go up across the board. The buyer ultimately pays for it.

[Terra Nova]

You are correct.  Look at Orion.  In the end there was no additional diversity in the market, and in the end now Orion is out.

Yep! They payed the price. By suing Synta/Sunny/Meade they pi$$ed off Synta and lost their main supplier.

[BQ Octantis]

Here's the soap-opera background…

 

https://casetext.com...quisition-llc-1

[SandyHouTex]

Lawyers chase a lot more things than just ambulances. So much effort for a few buck pay-out five years from now just seems kind of non-Christmasy.    Tom

I agree.  I've participated in a couple of these, and if you live long enough, you might get a check for $20.  I passed even though I got the notice.

 

Lawyers typically get 40% for not doing much.  Ask me how I know.  So the plaintiffs will split 32-12.8 or 19.2 million.

[Bill Barlow]

I just filed a claim online for C-11 purchased from Astronomics in 2008. They got only my name, address & email address. I chose them mailing a check for my portion of the $32 million claim to the address given, rather than giving an electronic account like PayPal. I'm not holding my breath about getting rich over this.

 

An interesting note:

• C-11 XLT OTA in 2008 - $2095
• C-11 XLT OTA in 2024 - $2999

Same part number 91036-XLT. Inflation and production cost over 16 years adds up.

 

 

CS,
Russ

Most vendors sell the C11 OTA for $3200.  

[TOMDEY]

These chickens will take a looong time to hatch. I wouldn't start counting quite yet or expect much. There would be other international associates owed $$$ ahead of "regular customers" in the cash-out line... who would get what's left. The courts and lawyers will be sorting out all those details. Anyway... probably worth something being on the list.    Tom

[kbart0791]

One way to help the overall am-astro market, each of us taking a cheque, ought use it to buy more astronomy gear.