95 replies to this topic

[starman876]

this auction will end up putting up a lot of scopes cheaply on the market.  I would presume the used market will result in lower prices for a long while. 

[jragsdale]

I'm keeping my hopes and dreams in check until I see what the bidding looks like. There has to be some meat on the bone in order to make it worth anybody's while. We'll just have to wait and see...

Yeah, once you factor in the buyer's premium, sales tax, any 3rd party pickup costs, shipping to you, testing and listing items, I doubt there is any profit for anyone other than local people or large companies.

[ericb760]

this auction will end up putting up a lot of scopes cheaply on the market.  I would presume the used market will result in lower prices for a long while. 

Never underestimate the greed inherent in a capitalist system. All one needs to do is check out Facebook Marketplace to see that.

[CHASLX200]

Never underestimate the greed inherent in a capitalist system. All one needs to do is check out Facebook Marketplace to see that.

NEVER USED IT.  I need to stay away from all ad sites and not get the temp to buy anymore.  Unreal what i saved since July.

[Cavs56]

I have limited funds. I am retired so I am very value conscious. I will buy a telescope because I want a certain part and part out the rest. Or just wait on a good value on a good telescope. I set limits so my telescope fund has actually grown. I think it’s a fun part of the hobby. Many things I get need work, I enjoy that also. I am attempting to limit the number of telescopes I have. I am at six one needs to go. I have one 8in reflector one 8in SCT. Two 80mm refractors and two f-15 4in refractors. One of the 4in will go away. I just don’t know which one yet. It’s cloudy all the time.

[starman876]

Never underestimate the greed inherent in a capitalist system. All one needs to do is check out Facebook Marketplace to see that.

and then there are a lot of good deals on Facebook.  Just like any market you have to keep an eye out to be able to get the good deals.  There is always deals to be found.   You just have to be looking at the right time to reel them in. 

[Terra Nova]

A lot of new items with no warranties, so it'll be interesting to see what they sell for when they get relisted by the winner(s)

Bill Vorce (Telescope Warehouse) has been selling surplus Meade stuff for years, much of it NIB. He’d be a likely buyer of Meade and maybe Coronado palettes if he can leverage the cash. He already has everything in place. He’d just have to list the items. Another potential buyer would be Surplus Shed. Several years ago, the owner of SS suggested he’d be closing the business and retiring, but new items are constantly being added to his offerings so I doubt that will happen anytime soon. Surplus Shed and Telescope Warehouse both have many happy customers and loyal friends here at CN who would be eager to buy some of this stuff if the price is right and both of them usually have good prices.

Edited by Terra Nova, 03 January 2025 - 02:31 PM.

[starman876]

Bill Vorce (Telescope Warehouse) has been selling surplus Meade stuff for years, much of it NIB. He’d be a likely buyer of Meade and maybe Coronado palettes if he can leverage the cash. He already has everything in place. He’d just have to list the items. Another potential buyer would be Surplus Shed. Several years ago, the owner of SS suggested he’d be closing the business and retiring, but new items are constantly being added to his offerings so I doubt that will happen anytime soon. Surplus Shed and Telescope Warehouse both have many happy customers and loyal friends here at CN who would be eager to buy some of this stuff if the price is right and both of them usually have good prices.

And then there is the guy that used to run Hands on Optics.  He is still lurking in the wings looking for good deals.  

[Lagrange]

Yeah, once you factor in the buyer's premium, sales tax, any 3rd party pickup costs, shipping to you, testing and listing items, I doubt there is any profit for anyone other than local people or large companies.

A retailer would also have to factor in that they'd be on the hook for any faulty products. They might not be able to fix any problems and an unsellable scope couldn't be returned to the manufacturer so the retailer would have to eat the cost.

[pbealo]

No credit cards! Tough for small remote buyers...

[deSitter]

And then there is the guy that used to run Hands on Optics.  He is still lurking in the wings looking for good deals.  

That dude is righteous Maybe he should get Meade going again with help from Bill Vorce (Telescope Warehouse)

 

-drl

[RichA]

I searched throughout and couldn’t find anything classic.

 

Here is the link to the auction:

 

https://www.bidspott...fa-b252016b5416

I take it it's a hidden auction so you can't see other bids?

[RichA]

Wonder if former employees can bid?  I can see someone with deep pockets buying the bulk of this and opening up a new store.  Too bad it's pick up only, I could sure use a few of those green laser pointers and brackets.  

UPS local stores can be contracted to go in, pack up the stuff and ship it.  Generally, starts at about $300-$400 for such a service.

[RichA]

No credit cards! Tough for small remote buyers...

Auctions exist in the Stone Age of transaction and removal methods. 

Edited by RichA, 05 January 2025 - 03:23 PM.

[Steve_M_M]

some info about it all on Dylan O'Donnell's channel

 

https://www.youtube....h?v=AmBkSX8ivmY

 

And a compiled spreadsheet of all the lots (for easier reading)

https://docs.google....dSixkc/htmlview

Wow!  This helps to see the enormity of the auctions.  WOW!  I also noticed it is only 22 hours long.  I think once the auction goes live, bids will be visible.  I am actually travelling to CA from TX on 1/10, but will be in southern CA and only for 4 hours.  Oh well...

[Steve_M_M]

I just took a look in more detail.  I mean what do you do if there are 15 minutes left and say, just as an example, any lot 336-338, 340-341  is at $1500?  Start bidding?  Geez

Edited by Steve_M_M, 05 January 2025 - 03:54 PM.

[deSitter]

Wow!  This helps to see the enormity of the auctions.  WOW!  I also noticed it is only 22 hours long.  I think once the auction goes live, bids will be visible.  I am actually travelling to CA from TX on 1/10, but will be in southern CA and only for 4 hours.  Oh well...

Could someone convert this to an actual spreadsheet that can sorted etc.? I'm too old to do it myself. One of you youngsters maybe

 

-drl

[Steve_M_M]

Very basic.  Feel free to modify

Attached Files

•  Meade Orion Auction.xlsx   78.69KB   64 downloads

[Jlex]

Auctions exist in the Stone Age of transaction and removal methods. 

And they make a huge profit, buyer and seller fees with little overhead.  

[RichA]

Problem is, there in one instance are bunch of boxes and the description is "refractor."  You'd need to be there, have permission to get close to the boxes to find out what they are.  Unless the auctioneer is willing to elaborate on them for you.  This is how I found out the govdeals observatory telescope stuff wasn't much.

[cavedweller]

I thought it was starting today, but now it says on the 8th. The end date is still the 9th so only one day of bidding.

[RLS Astronomy]

I am a local to the Auction HS Astronomy teacher who is hoping that the lack of service, shipping, and large lot sizes will allow me to find a way to replace two 25-year-old 10" scopes that were donated to us (but have slipping gears, old motors etc.)  with couple of new ones for pennies on the dollar (or even fractions of a penny on the dollar TBH with the budget I have) - Probably wishful thinking, but if any of the big lot buyers out there want to donate a few scopes to a school hit me up....

 

Without an Orion/Meade SKU list, some of these lots are confusing as to what comes in the box. I know what I would be getting with "OTA Only" but not what "Final Assembly" or "Packing SC" mean, so I can't risk bidding on some

 

Last thing I want is to grab something to discover it is missing a drive, or a piece that I could only get from Orion/Meade that is no longer in existence.

 

The other thing that is a pain is that the tripods are not matched with the scopes, and often are no longer available after a scope lot. Buying a scope cheaply and then not having the budget to get the tripod it needs from a dealer means another block.

 

It will be interesting to watch - I hope my limited budget allows me to help outfit my program.

 

I am going up tomorrow (needed to make an appointment) to look at a few lots that the site and description just don't help with. Whomever took the photos seemed to just want to frustrate bidders. I hope that I find some worthwhile gems on the "all the crap on this shelf" lots that will make bidding on them worthwhile. Those could certainly scare bidders away - just like the returns piles.

 

Here's to hoping I need to rent a UHaul later this week.

[photoracer18]

And then there is the guy that used to run Hands on Optics.  He is still lurking in the wings looking for good deals.  

I sent Gary the link but I don't know if he is going to bid on anything. Gary would fly out, rent a truck, and drive it back. I just found out the government is closing for the day on the 9th and I will be free to follow the auction all day myself. I am more interested in the Coronado stuff as right now I only have a double stacked PST. Rothman wanted to sell all his stuff to Gary but Gary does not have room for it all as he is doing like he did before the store and using his garage as storage room. I on the other hand have 5 storage lockers spread over 3 facilities including 2 20x10s. Too much work to buy a lot of things and then have to sell it all off.

Edited by photoracer18, 07 January 2025 - 03:19 PM.

[ericb760]

I also just noticed that there is an opening bid of $50.00 on each lot that I don't recall seeing when that auction first posted, unless I just wasn't paying attention.

[starman876]

It was there from the beginning.