679 replies to this topic

[Polyphemos]

I know based on literature that came with my AT80ED at least that one was made in Taiwan. I did further digging (see above) and it seems like Astronomics uses multiple suppliers for the astro-tech line.

 

Bob
 

Interesting! Is it an older scope, and which model?

 

I’ve watched Ed Ting’s video comparison of the AstroTech AT72 original and present versions, and the original, which he purchased in 2016, looks very much like a Taiwan made Long Perng, so I trust you are right about your scope and likely other AstroTech scopes as well, but I think that’s changed since. Of course Astronomics can change whom it purchases their scopes from at any time and the source can revert back to Taiwan in the future.

Edited by Polyphemos, 05 February 2025 - 01:36 AM.

[Bob Campbell]

Interesting! Is it an older scope, and which model?

well, like it said in the post that you responded to it is an AT80ED, and it was purchased 11/22

 

Bob

[Polyphemos]

well, like it said in the post that you responded to it is an AT80ED, and it was purchased 11/22

 

Bob

Learn something new every day!

[GrassLakeRon]

The "new tariff" just announced stops all small shipments from China.  Looks like my Astro Hood is not coming.

[DCS]

The "new tariff" just announced stops all small shipments from China.  Looks like my Astro Hood is not coming.

Here are more details on that..

 

Offhand - this seems like it'll have a substantial impact on astro retailers (to put it mildly).

 

-DCS

[GrassLakeRon]

Here are more details on that..

 

Offhand - this seems like it'll have a substantial impact on astro retailers (to put it mildly).

 

-DCS

$23 for me at least.

[Starman1]

The "new tariff" just announced stops all small shipments from China.  Looks like my Astro Hood is not coming.

Though UPS and DHL have not stopped small shipments, only USPS.

However, now if you import an eyepiece direct from China, you will pay the 8% + 10% tariffs and also likely a $25 brokerage fee.

And shipping, since UPS and DHL charge a lot more.

Edited by Starman1, 05 February 2025 - 09:43 AM.

[Doug Culbertson]

Here are more details on that..

 

Offhand - this seems like it'll have a substantial impact on astro retailers (to put it mildly).

 

-DCS

Looks like the USPS has already walked that back. https://www.yahoo.co...-023454317.html

[wykbbb]

Maybe it's time for resurgence in ATM.  That wouldn't be a bad thing

 

 

dan

ATM will be affected by the tariffs. A lot of the raw materials like screws, bolts, metal parts, focusers, etc are made in China.

 

Some people have turned to 3D printing for ATM projects. The 3D printer market is dominated by Chinese companies. If the prices greatly increase, I think people will be more weary of what to 3D print. 

[scotsman328i]

I’d also be concerned about things like Televue eyepieces. Ever noticed ‘Taiwan ROC’ embossed on their eyepieces? ROC means Republic of China. Taiwan is supposedly free trade without tariffs, but that little acronym of ROC might change things. I dunno. ‍

   I just got a Sky Watcher Solar Quest Mount. Something also tells me just in the nick of time! Why? All over the outer shipping box and every inner packing box had ‘Made in China’ printed on every one of them. Normally the product costs $530 at every other retailer. Amazon has it for $423 at -20% off.

 

See all these planets lining up in the night sky right now? It’s a sign. 

Edited by scotsman328i, 06 February 2025 - 05:39 AM.

[MJB87]

A friendly reminder that posts that do not specifically address the impact on astronomy products are being removed. Posts that migrate to broader discussions of tariff policies, taxes, etc. are being removed. We would prefer not to lock this topic since it is very relevant to many of us here.

[Bob Campbell]

Of course Astronomics can change whom it purchases their scopes from at any time and the source can revert back to Taiwan in the future.

Yes, it appeared that there is/was multiple suppliers of AT gear.

 

Bob

[PIEJr]

I'm not worried about Tariffs at all. Because none have come to fruition yet.

Appears it is all bluster.

[jragsdale]

I've heard lots of talk about how the tariffs will affect astronomy equipment. And that it will be better to go with US makers. But who are the big US maker's these days that don't source their parts from China? And it's unlikely that this will cause someone to open up a new plant here in the US. To put it bluntly, we don't have the workforce, skills or tooling to bring back a lot of these smaller manufacturing jobs in a cost effective manner that will lead to prices less than just paying the tariffs.

[George N]

I've heard lots of talk about how the tariffs will affect astronomy equipment. And that it will be better to go with US makers. But who are the big US maker's these days that don't source their parts from China? And it's unlikely that this will cause someone to open up a new plant here in the US. To put it bluntly, we don't have the workforce, skills or tooling to bring back a lot of these smaller manufacturing jobs in a cost effective manner that will lead to prices less than just paying the tariffs.

USA hobby astro gear? I can think of only high-end gear that is currently made in the USA (and they do use Chinese components).

 

Telescopes: Premium Dobs like New Moon and Obsession, premium refractors like Astro Physics and TEC, RC's - Optical Guidance Systems (the $850,000 40" with fork mount price includes on-site installation and guaranteed performance demonstrated before payment) I lost track of what's happening with Questar.

 

Eyepieces: Brandon and Denkmeier (Brandon probably only because the US Military requires made in USA eyepieces). Anybody else?

 

Mounts: mostly high-end - Astro Physics, Bisque - mid-level Losmandy

 

Solar: Day Star

 

Software: Some good apps from the USA, but for how long? A week ago I asked a well-known AI app if it could write me an "astro image processing app" and it responded "yes" and then suggested 6 features that it recommended including (stacking, etc), and asked what else I wanted. I didn't get it because I'm already set with the processing software I like - but - hey, it would be free!

 

Go look at old S&T adds of the past - even then most USA astro gear was made by a small individually owned/run or family business - often as a side-line. Makers came and went pretty fast. I think the "market" is just too small for any mid-size USA-located company to crank out lots of "backyard astro" telescopes.

Edited by George N, 06 February 2025 - 01:25 PM.

[Starman1]

I'm pretty sure Denkmeier eyepieces are imported.
And Edmund outsources their lenses in the RKEs.

[jlinsobe]

Packages and parcels will be affected.  I read that the USPS will halt small packages effective immediately.

 

i never understood how AliExpress or Banggood could sell stuff and ship for peanuts.   Normally I buy stuff for my other hobby (drones and rc planes), and a few astronomy products, like extenders, cheapies etc.

 

A simple RC battery could be bought for like $9.50 plus tax (yeah right..), and free shipping from Banggood.  Now the same battery from a US store costs $18.95 + tax + $8.99 shipping.  They mention that it’s lithium ion and needs special handling.

 

As far as Astronomics, they already had great prices. We knew it was coming, so don’t complain much and support our sponsor.

 

/. I read now that the parcel halt initiative has been withdrawn.  Good.  

Edited by jlinsobe, 06 February 2025 - 11:25 PM.

[w7ay]

Amazon has just today raised the price of the Mele Quieter 4C that is popular for running N.I.N.A. by 10%.

 

Chen

[RichA]

Remember, no politics, but since it was mentioned, the threat and implementation of a tariff is, in this case, a short term ploy.  It gets the people to a talking point.  Look what already happened for Mexico, Canada, and Columbia.  

In-case this does get going, we need to make sure people understand how it works.

1.  Items MADE IN (not exported) from countries being tariffed but not if a U.S. product like a telescope is simply being re-sent to the U.S.

2.  Do NOT confuse tariffs with UPS, FEDEX or DHL ground-delivered based "brokerage" fees which can run up to $80.

3.  Do NOT confuse tariffs with the taxes applied to a product that costs over $800 which is the tax-free limit to the U.S. for imports.

4.  Do NOT confuse tariffs with STATE taxes applied by outfits like Ebay.

5.  If the product you are importing from China (at this point) wasn't MADE there, it should be exempt.  If tariffs are applied to Canada or wherever in a month, the product must be made there to be tariffed.  

6.  Do NOT confuse these new broad tariffs with tariffs already in-place when importing from other countries.  For example, imports of cameras and telescopes from Japan to Canada are tariffed at 4%.

Edited by RichA, 07 February 2025 - 12:56 AM.

[nemo129]

Packages and parcels will be affected.  I read that the USPS will halt small packages effective immediately.

 

That was reversed almost immediately, in fact, within hours. Link  Also from USPS themselves.

Edited by nemo129, 07 February 2025 - 07:03 AM.

[Polyphemos]

Looking through recent past purchases for small ticket Astro gear from AliExpress, and comparing what I paid for them weeks to months ago, some items remain the same price while many others increased by 50% to nearly 100%, or were listed as “no longer available”. It remains to be seen whether this is a temporarily knee-jerk reaction by sellers to protect themselves from unknowns, or a long-term adjustment reflecting increased business costs associated with new tariffs and uncertainties in USPS shipping policy. In any event the tariffs and shipping confusion are having a real and significant effect for many products we might find ourselves using.

[Starman1]

Looking through recent past purchases for small ticket Astro gear from AliExpress, and comparing what I paid for them weeks to months ago, some items remain the same price while many others increased by 50% to nearly 100%, or were listed as “no longer available”. It remains to be seen whether this is a temporarily knee-jerk reaction by sellers to protect themselves from unknowns, or a long-term adjustment reflecting increased business costs associated with new tariffs and uncertainties in USPS shipping policy. In any event the tariffs and shipping confusion are having a real and significant effect for many products we might find ourselves using.

Why would the Chinese sellers raise prices because of US tariffs?

They don't pay it, the American importer does.

The Chinese companies would only raise prices if their supplier raised its price to them.

Or, if they wanted to make more money.

[Polyphemos]

Why would the Chinese sellers raise prices because of US tariffs?

They don't pay it, the American importer does.

The Chinese companies would only raise prices if their supplier raised its price to them.

Or, if they wanted to make more money.

When there is no middleman American importer who else is there to pay the tariff or increased shipping cost but the Chinese direct seller and ultimately the customer? I guess in this case I am the American importer.

Edited by Polyphemos, 08 February 2025 - 10:06 AM.

[Starman1]

When there is no middleman American importer who else is there to pay the tariff or increased shipping cost but the Chinese direct seller and ultimately the customer? I guess in this case I am the American importer.

Now, if they offer "free shipping" and shipping prices go up, I can see them raising the price.

But because of tariffs?  Not at all.  YOU pay those when the goods arrive.

 

And now, because of the new rules, you'll likely pay a brokerage fee as well.

As larger scale importers did all along.

 

USPS can act as a broker and charge you the tariff and a fee for their services.

It will significantly slow down the arrival of the goods to you because now USPS cannot simply pass along the package.

 

When I was importing large shipments, the goods arrived, and I was billed later for the tariffs and brokerage charges.

I had an open account with the shippers, so they billed me later.

If I did not have an account, I would have either had to pay those charges COD or prior to the delivery of the goods.

And then I might have had to pay storage charges as well.

 

Applying the tariff to even the smallest order will be a logistical nightmare, and make buying a small item from China much more expensive.

It may reduce demand for the Chinese companies, but it will definitely raise prices significantly for the American consumer.

A $100 eyepiece before was $100 from China.  Now, it'll be $100 + $35 duty + ~$25 brokerage = $160.

[Polyphemos]

Now, if they offer "free shipping" and shipping prices go up, I can see them raising the price.

But because of tariffs?  Not at all.  YOU pay those when the goods arrive.

 

And now, because of the new rules, you'll likely pay a brokerage fee as well.

As larger scale importers did all along.

 

USPS can act as a broker and charge you the tariff and a fee for their services.

It will significantly slow down the arrival of the goods to you because now USPS cannot simply pass along the package.

 

When I was importing large shipments, the goods arrived, and I was billed later for the tariffs and brokerage charges.

I had an open account with the shippers, so they billed me later.

If I did not have an account, I would have either had to pay those charges COD or prior to the delivery of the goods.

And then I might have had to pay storage charges as well.

 

Applying the tariff to even the smallest order will be a logistical nightmare, and make buying a small item from China much more expensive.

It may reduce demand for the Chinese companies, but it will definitely raise prices significantly for the American consumer.

A $100 eyepiece before was $100 from China.  Now, it'll be $100 + $35 duty + ~$25 brokerage = $160.

Thanks for the explanation, Don.