The saga of my faulty SM90

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axlefoley
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The saga of my faulty SM90

Post by axlefoley »

Some of you here will remember I purchased a SM90 from Anacortes in America in November 2013 and after advise from the big fella Stephen, Ralph Smith (Solar) and others with expitise in solar equipment I sent it back to Anacortes in America for warranty.
Gary from Anacortes then sent it to Meade who supposedly fixed it.
It was sent back to Ken Merlin66 in Melbourne Australia who tested it and was still faulty.
It was returned to Gary at Anacortes who returned it to Meade in November last year.
So Meade has had it since November to fix it a second time.

Here is the latest email from Gary (Anacortes) the etalon just arrived back from Meade to him.
I don't have a problem with Gary and Anacortes they (Gary) have gone out of their way to help.
-------------------------------------------
Hi guys,
Well, I got the etalon back today from Meade but I’m not a bit happy. I told my Meade rep:
“Whoever is responsible for handling your repairs should be looking for work elsewhere. It arrived back here in the same box that was used to ship it from Australia to you – your repair department just crossed out the shippers name in Australia, added mine and stuck labels over labels as you can see. The box is heavily damaged and was nearly opened – just a couple pieces of tape holding things together. There was a half-inch of bubble wrap on the bottom of the box and then “odds and ends” bubble wrapping on the top.”
I noticed there is a nice scratch in the etalon that I don’t recall seeing before – please confirm. These scratches are rather deep. I don’t see how the damage could occur unless the etalon came out of the box during transit up here from Meade, especially since the box was being held together only by a couple pieces of tape. I unscrewed the cover and nothing appears broken but I just wanted you to know this.
Gary Pierson (WW7Q)
Anacortes Telescope & Wild Bird
---------------------------------
I have 4 photos of the damaged box and how it was packaged, even a ball made out of cement would have broken.
I am also down approx $700 in postage on top of the nearly $4000 AUD for the etalon.
I am at a total loss as to what I should do now.


Alan
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Re: The saga of my faulty SM90

Post by GUS »

Sorry to hear this, I hope you can get this sorted soon. Meade should give you a new unit to compensate you for all the crap you're going through trying to get this sorted under warranty(what a joke).


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Re: The saga of my faulty SM90

Post by axlefoley »

Just wish I'd bought a Lunt.


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Re: The saga of my faulty SM90

Post by GUS »

Sorry to say Alan, but that would have been the better option.


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Re: The saga of my faulty SM90

Post by GuillermoBarrancos »

Very sad to hear. Sadly, this just one more story to add on top of many when it comes to Meade and their terrible QA and customer service. :(
Hence, why I avoid them like the plague.


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Re: The saga of my faulty SM90

Post by Bill Edelen »

Alan,
That's a sad story....I feel for you... :cry:


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Re: The saga of my faulty SM90

Post by swisswalter »

Hi Alan

I'm so sorry for you. It's a shame


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Re: The saga of my faulty SM90

Post by marktownley »

Not good. Can your bank do anything here? I know mine offers protection on purchases etc, may be worth asking them?


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Re: The saga of my faulty SM90

Post by Bob Yoesle »

Years ago I returned a BF30 to Meade for an ITF replacement, and the repaired filter had a scratched trim filter...

Check your country's consumer protection laws, you might be entitled to returning the defective item and then getting a refund. Then consider getting the Lunt.


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axlefoley
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Re: The saga of my faulty SM90

Post by axlefoley »

Seams like I might have some good news thanks to Gary at Anacortes, Meade has told Gary they are willing to give me a credit on a new one but I will have to wait till they have one in stock.
I'm waiting for a return email from Gary after I told him to proceed with their offer.
It does mean I will have to settle for another SM90.


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Re: The saga of my faulty SM90

Post by GuillermoBarrancos »

axlefoley wrote:Seams like I might have some good news thanks to Gary at Anacortes, Meade has told Gary they are willing to give me a credit on a new one but I will have to wait till they have one in stock.
I'm waiting for a return email from Gary after I told him to proceed with their offer.
It does mean I will have to settle for another SM90.
As long as you get a good working unit you paid for I guess it will be well in the end. Just what you have to go through to get there is no good! :(

These kind of aperture solar scopes are no pocket change and you would expect them to go the extra mile on QA before shipping these out! But that is Meade. Seeing it too often, even with their top of the line LX850 range, people received them with all kinds of issues that had slipped through QA. At those price ranges totally unacceptable!


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Re: The saga of my faulty SM90

Post by axlefoley »

Well guess what just turned up,,,,,,a new SM90,,,,,, 1 year and 8 months since I purchased it,,,,,lets just hope this one works.

Al


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Re: The saga of my faulty SM90

Post by marktownley »

Wow, that's a long wait. I really hope this one works for you...


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Re: The saga of my faulty SM90

Post by Montana »

Wow!!! :shock: :shock: :shock: it better .... work!!

Alexandra


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Re: The saga of my faulty SM90

Post by GUS »

Hope you have luck with this one Alan.


axlefoley
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Re: The saga of my faulty SM90

Post by axlefoley »

Thanks guys & gals.

Al


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Re: The saga of my faulty SM90

Post by Derek Klepp »

Well I hope that's all sorted Al and you get several years of enjoyment from your purchase.


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Re: The saga of my faulty SM90

Post by astroshot »

Wow, that's quite a wait!


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