How to sell or give away a telescope

[geonuc]

I apologize if this thread duplicates an existing one - I searched on something relevant.

I have a 4" Meade refractor with a good mount and good eyepieces. Because of where I live, I'm unlikely to use it much anymore. In fact, it's been dormant for years.

So I'd like it to go to a good home. But where to find that home? Any recommendations on where to advertise? eBay?

I actually don't care about money - donating it might be what I want to do. But I recognize that a refractor is not what people are buying these days, so I'm not sure what to do with it.

[Nick Theodorakis]

I've never used them (so I can give neither a positive nor negative recommendation), but some people on another board seem to like Astromart (http://www.astromart.com/).

Nick

[Kaptain K]

4" is a nice size for a refractor. Big enough to be useful, small enough not to be cumbersome!
You should have no trouble finding a good home for it.

Dang, I hate to sound greedy but I am recovering from major surgery and still paying related bills. I am currently scopeless. I would gladly give it a good home if you can't sell it.

[geonuc]

4" is a nice size for a refractor. Big enough to be useful, small enough not to be cumbersome!
You should have no trouble finding a good home for it.

Dang, I hate to sound greedy but I am recovering from major surgery and still paying related bills. I am currently scopeless. I would gladly give it a good home if you can't sell it.
Not greedy at all.

OK, you're first on the list if I can't find a local home.:)

[Kaptain K]

Thanks! :)

[redshifter]

Heck, why not donate it to a local high school or other educational entity?

[ArgoNavis]

Heck, why not donate it to a local high school or other educational entity?


Whilst these sentiments may seem admirable, in my experience unless the local high school (or other educational entity!?) has a teacher who is a really keen amateur astronomer, it will just be neglected or worse, abused from lack of knowledge of correct operation. Sad but true.

Surprisingly, even donating to a local astronomy club for them to loan to new members can have similar problems.

Telescopes need owners to love them.

I would suggest sale on astromart or donation to Kaptain K.

[RickJ]

Telescopes need owners to love them.


I think it depends on how much the the scope is appreciated be it a gift or purchased.

Most schools don't I've found. I know of one success story involving schools and dozens of horror stories.

But loaner scopes in our club have been treated very well. Ours are 2 4" refractors we purchased similar to the one mentioned here, and a donated home brew 13" truss Dob. We have strict rules on the loans. Beginners (and a parent if the borrower is under 14) must take our beginner telescope course. Parents are responsible for scopes used by their kids. All borrowers are responsible for damage. Loans are limited to one week. They can be renewed if no one else has asked for the scope. To renew, if you are a new borrower, the scope must be presented for inspection. There may be others, I'm not directly involved with this any more. Other clubs in the area have had a similar experience.

I've seen telescopes brought to us by their owners for sale that were in horrible condition. Not all owners take care of them either.

Rick

[slotdrag]

I go to local middle schools and do an astronmy lesson every year. And at the end i give away two telescopes I draw names from a hat. I could find a home for your scope. I also do this for the boyscouts.

[Dave Mitsky]

I'm a member of a couple of astronomy clubs that have loaner telescope programs. If there is a club in the OP's area, the members might appreciate a donation.

Dave Mitsky

[aurora]

But ask first.

We get a lot of donated telescopes, which we refurbish and make available to members as loaners. But we also get a lot that we have to reject, or later wish that we had rejected, for two reasons: we don't have infinite space, and some telescopes just aren't worth the bother (mostly the cheap refractors on useless mounts, but some reflectors are really bad too).

On the other hand, our club has gotten some donated scopes that are extremely valuable, especially after we cleaned them up, remounted them, or got the mirrors recoated.

[geonuc]

The scope I have is a Meade 440 GEM
D = 102 mm, F = 1000 mm f/10
6 x 30 finder scope

Mount is a German equatorial, no motor but it can be fitted with one.

Optics:
Celestron 12.5 mm Ultima
Parks GS-5 10 mm Plossl
Meade MA 25 mm
Tele Vue 2.5X Barlow

Plus, a custom denim dust cover made by my mother. :)

[slotdrag]

You have a very nice peice of equipment there. I would be glad to pay for shiping and handling to get it here if that is what you decied. Also that is very cool of your mother to make a custom cover for it.

[Mayk-It]

Since I'm only about 60 miles from you...I'd gladly take it off your hands especially if you're giving it away.

It sounds like it's in much better shape than my old 60 mm Tasco which was abused before I even got it.

We've got a small group here that's getting started. (Heck, I'm just getting started.) We're even having a star party tonight... Whoo hoo!

[schlaugh]

Mayk-It, if you don't mind feel free to send me a PM (or just post it here) with details of your group.

I also have a scope that lies dormant since I live in a very light-polluted section of north Fulton county. I'm not trying to get rid of the scope but I'd be interested in taking it to a dark site some night along with other observers.

[Mayk-It]

We're just a few folks over here in the Athens area that like to get together under the instigation of one of our "members". We don't belong to the local group and don't have regular meetings.

Between us we have a few scopes, and like to get together a few times a year.

Tried a few nights ago, but got clouded out. I'm trying to get my scope in better condition. I may have to fabricate a part. It's not a bad scope, just been abused.

I sure wouldn't mind having a little better one though.

If you want me to PM you, you'll have to enable it in your profile.

[schlaugh]

If you want me to PM you, you'll have to enable it in your profile.

Ahh...had the "buddies-only" option turned on. Please try again.