Vixen Porta II and Celetron Nexstar 8SE #11069

opticsplanet.com sell these cheaper than local.
Every few months they will have sitewide coupon discount ranging from 10 to 13%
For this year 2013 they had FathersDays, MothersDay, Warehouse Relocation, Anniversary, BlackFriday

Do note that they are known to charge your credit card immediately (for international orders) and only after they gathered enough quota they will order from their supplier.
Even their domestic USA customers are annoyed by this but the retailer claims their new warehouse will shorten this wait by keeping more items in-stock.

For the SCT it may be a gamble to ship it internationally as the corrector plate is known to be fragile.

Below are 2 recent examples.

• Porta II can be found at around SGD $818 to 850 for set of 2 to reduce overall shipping. GST included in calculation.

• Nexstar 8SE #11069 at current exchange rate is SGD $1363 + $93 GST 7% for total $1456, local retail price is $1999

 

Celestron NexStar SLT 130 #31145

Estimated cost is SGD $738 or 20% lower than current local promotion $929.90.
Even though it is imported from Germany, the handset is actually multi-language including English.

Celestron NexStar SLT 130 Télescope (Import Allemagne): Amazon.fr: Photo & Caméscopes

 Another local retailer is selling the SkyWatcher brand of this 5inch GOTO Newtonian at SGD $808

Malaysia

I have noticed on a Malaysian retailer facebook page that their pricing of these imported beginner scopes are around 20% higher than Singapore.
Hope that you online savvy guys can take the opportunity to get your scopes online as the shipping cost from N. America & Europe to Malaysia is similar to Singapore.

Celestron Omni XLT 150 Refractor Telescope #21094

Currently at SGD 1540 inclusive of shipping and GST , about SGD310 or 17% cheaper than local promotion price SGD1850.

After you place order, send a reminder to their customer support live-chat that this product might ship in 2 separate cardboard boxes.
UK Amazon buyers who ordered the reflector Omni reported that amazon doesn't understand this and forgot the ship the tripod's box.

Celestron 21094 Omni 150 XLT Refractor Telescope 

Celestron Travel Scope 70 Refractor Outfit with additional 4mm Eyepiece and 3x Barlow Lens

From Amazon UK

About SGD 147 including shipping, comes with freebie 4mm eyepiece and 3x barlow.
Local price for this item is $199 to 229 without freebie.

I would recommend a better 3-section camera tripod that cost about $30 off ebay from china seller.
The freebie tripod is 4 section, more leg section causes more flex, unstable image.
This scope does not specialize in magnifying, so the smaller focal-length eyepieces and 3x barlow doesn't add value to the end user.

Celestron Travel Scope 70 Refractor Outfit with additional 4mm Eyepiece and 3x Barlow Lens: Amazon.co.uk

Skywatcher products on Amazon Germany

Do plan dehumidifying or anti-fungus storage solutions before buying as the long tube length might not fit.

*edit*
As of September 2013 these 2 SW refractors are no longer eligible for shipping to our region.
As of November 2013, Amazon Germany reinstated the items for shipping.

Skywatcher Startravel-102 (AZ-3) (4 Zoll) Refraktor Teleskop schwarz

SGD 560
Cannot find similar product locally for price comparison.
Includes mounting rings and AZ-3 mount with slow-motion control
Note that this is F4.9 so you may need good quality eyepiece or manage your expectation.

 

Skywatcher Startravel-120 (AZ-3) (4,75 Zoll) Refraktor Teleskop weiß 

 SGD 686 including mounting rings and AZ-3 mount

Locally the Orion 120mm F5 OTA is selling for $729 without any mount.

 *edit*
as of October2013 ... 
ebay china sellers are selling the OEM version of these golden ring eyepieces at $60 SGD and below (you can send him an offer price) ... includes "free shipping to SG"
Aliexpress china sellers are selling the 6mm 9mm at USD32 or about SGD40 but you need some navigation/filtering ability to find it as 90% of telescope related goods there are at ripoff pricing.


Skywatcher 20mm UltraWide Okular (1,25 Zoll) schwarz

Skywatcher 15mm UltraWide Okular (1,25 Zoll) schwarz

Skywatcher 9mm UltraWide Okular (1,25 Zoll) schwarz

Skywatcher 6mm UltraWide Okular (1,25 Zoll) schwarz

Eyepieces with claimed 66 AFOV

They have generally good reviews from users in the UK using it on medium&slow focal ratio scope.

Not recommended to buy eyepiece alone in the order as the first item will have higher shipping cost, the next few equal or smaller item will be much lower in shipping.

If buying the 9mm ontop of other item you are interested in, it is an additional SGD 62. Different focal length have a small 1-2 euro price difference.

On ebay these eyepieces sell for about SGD $69 and another SGD$27 for shipping from UK to SG.

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 A few scopes that do ship to Singapore but after shipping and GST they are about 20% higher than the price in UK.

Limited to no info locally so there is no price comparison.

Detailed specs and info can be found with a Google search on the model name and clicking on firstlightoptics and skyatnightmagazine.

 

 Skywatcher Evostar-150 (OTA) (6 Zoll) Refraktor Teleskop schwarz 

SGD 1172 

OTA  - F8 focal ratio

 

Skywatcher Equinox-80 PRO f/6.25 ED Apochromatischer Refraktor OTA schwarz

SGD 1254

OTA - F6.25 -

Skywatcher Explorer-200PDS (OTA) (f/5) (8 Zoll) Dual-Speed Newton Teleskop mit parabolischem Spiegel schwarz

SGD 824

OTA - 8 inch - F5

This is the improved version of the 200P frequently mentioned in UK forum.

Dual speed focuser and secondary moved closer to primary for shorter tube length.

Skywatcher Explorer-250PDS (OTA) (f/4.7) (10 Zoll) Dual-Speed Newton Teleskop mit parabolischem Spiegel schwarz

SGD 1144

 OTA -10 inch - F4.7

Manfrotto 410 and 055XB

Manfrotto Junior Geared Head 410 : Amazon.co.uk

SGD 264 

I cannot estimate the discount % compared to local price, info from clubsnap forum is that some camera shops selling 300+ to low 400. This item sold for $190-$220 in year 2003-2004.
Second-hand sale on clubsnap marketplace is also very in demand.

 

 Manfrotto Classic Tripod 055XB- Black : Amazon.co.uk

About SGD $243 merely 10% lower than local price $268-269
Not recommended to buy together in the same order with the above 410 mount as it will be over SGD$400 including shipping and taxed 7% extra.

You can often find this item listed for SGD $120 to 160 on clubsnap forum marketplace but must be very quick to reserve it as usually it is snapped up by the next day afternoon.

The two above mentioned Manfrotto products have been rather rigid in pricing on Amazon, rarely any significant price drop.
For the 055 tripod there are 3 different version, XDB for tighten by wing nut, XB for flip lock, PROB for flip lock and centre column able to flip horizontal.
PROB's feature is not needed for astro usage and potentially add another weak point that can induce shake.
The 190 series tripod are cheaper but the leg tube diameter is smaller and rated load capacity is less.

Celestron Nexstar SLT 127 Mak #22097

 Estimated cost is SGD $795 or 20% lower than current local promotion.
*edit*
As of current price at October, it is Euro427 or around $740 SGD

 Please read the product reviews  and comments on amazon USA, amazon europe, cloudynights forum before buying as there are mixed reviews on the electronic component and the weak tripod legs need to be tightened.

Celestron NexStar SLT 127 Télescope (Import Allemagne): Amazon.fr: Photo & Caméscopes

Orion Versago II #10105 Synta Skywatcher AZ4

mount and tripod

The blue telescope tube in picture is not included.

*As of October 2013 update, Amazon have raised the price and a local retailer with revamped webstore have brought in the steel leg version at $450

Aluminium tripod is SGD $382

Steel tube tripod leg is SGD $547

Compared to local prices they are approximately 37% and 25% lower respectively.

Aluminium leg

Skywatcher AZ4-1 Alt-Azimuth Montierung mit Aluminium Stativ & Spektivhalterung silber

Steel leg

Skywatcher AZ4-2 Alt-Azimuth Montierung mit 1.75 Zoll) Edelstahl-Stativ & Spektivhalterung silber

Skywatcher BlackDiamond series Maksutov Cassegrain OTA

*edit*
As of October2013, all 3 of these maks no longer ship to Singapore
As of November 2013, Amazon Germany reinstated the items for shipping.

5inches SGD $598
Skywatcher Skymax-127 (OTA) (5 Zoll) Maksutov-Cassegrain Teleskop OTA schwarz

6inches SGD $1130
Skywatcher Skymax-150 PRO 6 Zoll) (f/12) Maksutov-Cassegrain OTA schwarz

7inches SGD $1664
Skywatcher Skymax-180 PRO (f/15) (7 Zoll) Maksutov-Cassegrain OTA schwarz

Introduction

Will post any telescope or related accessory that ship to Singapore and is cheaper by more than 20% compared to local prices.
Currently there are 5 local telescope sellers with 3 posting their product price in SGD on their website.

All price estimates I put on this website are the final cost after

• direct international shipping

• 7% GST if exceed SGD$400 per shipment

• 3% extra buffer for bad exchange rate that most credit card issuer charge for foreign currency transaction.

Some might feel conservative about buying online without physical inspection or warranty, but my view is that we should keep the choices available for future use.

For example amazon.com and it's associated european branches .co.uk .fr .de .es .it
They cover manufacturing defects and shipping damage for the first 7 days.
You can contact their customer service and they will instruct you to ship it back with the most economic postal service within 30days and refund you the postage cost in full once they receive it on their end.
For warranty issues after 7 days up to 1year or manufacturer stated period, the buyer have to foot the nasty Singpost postage.

The USA site have the best prices but they are not allowed to ship internationally due to manufacturer restriction.
European branches are slowly expanding the range of  OTA that ship to SG.
The point is to wait for downward price adjustment to maximise savings. This can take months based on past data. They also tend to automatically jump back up in price after fulfilling an undisclosed sales quota.
Prices u see at the product page are inclusive of Eurozone VAT, for export customers it will be removed at final checkout page, around 16% less. To view the shipping quotes at checkout you need to register your credit card and address with your amazon account.
If you are having trouble at France and Germany page, use google chrome browser with the google translate plugin.

For many products the final cost is around 20 to 35+ % lower than local price. The trade-off is you don't get local warranty.

The manufacturer double layer cardboard packaging is adequate against transport crush but not so against 1metre high "postman drop", so the risk is there if you order a scope with fragile glass parts.
Electronic parts are more complex and prone to failure so it depends on your risk appetite.

Leave a comment if you have good/bad experience or any of the above info is wrong.