JohnLX200 is known to have written:

> Subject: [M]: MAPUG "annual report"
> Date: Thursday, January 01, 1998 6:04 PM
>
> Greetings All,

<snip>

> I've dreamed up a few ideas for things MAPUG and/or individual members
might
> take on. In some cases it would have to be centralized, and in others
anyone
> with initiative could do it on their own. Before I personally implement
> anything, private feedback and/or volunteers would be appreciated.
>
> 1. A privacy-respecting database of who owns what, which versions,
repair
> histories, satisfaction with dealer, used purchase prices vs. condition,
etc.
> with reduced statistics made available to all.
>
> 2. A meeting-arranging ability to deal with cases like Comdex, eclipse
> expeditions, vacation scope-borrowing, visits, newbie orientation, star
> parties, etc. People sometimes want to do this, but it clogs the list.
>
> 3. A petition/suggestion/information-generating ability to deal with
> collectively presenting our individual positions (perhaps as expressed in
> questionnaire-results form) to Meade. I do NOT wish to imply that we
start
> voting, speaking with one voice, or anything like that. Simply saying
> something like "422 of our 511 responding members want a better keypad;
89
> would pay $100 for it, while 333 would pay at least $20 for it; what are
you
> going to do about it?" or whatever.
>
> 4. Forming a purchasing cooperative, or otherwise using our numbers to
get
> "member discounts" or "group discounts" or "double warranty" etc. What
> percentage of dealers do you suppose buy and sell more equipment than we
do
> collectively? If being a AAA customer "member" or using a particular
credit
> card to buy something gets me a major benefit or discount, then being a
> contributing member of something like MAPUG that really benefits the
industry
> should get us even more.
>
> 5. Getting our overseas members some relief regarding phone calls for
> service, crazy prices in general, etc. Certainly some of us would be
willing
> to place the call for them in response to an email. Others might look
into
> the practicalities and legalities of buying, shipping, or hand-carrying
parts
> for them, perhaps in conjunction with #2 above. A simple buddy system,
or one
> volunteer per foreign language, might be appropriate.
>
> In short, the MAPUG list is a great resource as it stands, and I think it
> benefits Meade more than they know. They probably think we're a bunch of
> whiners, but I can't count the number of emails I've gotten that say
> something like "It seems like no scope manufacturer is great with dealing
with
> problems, but I bought the Meade because at least there are you guys who
seem
> like you know what you're doing and say you'd buy one again even if you
knew
> it would have problems."
>
> Now that we have formed a worldwide community, more possibilities are
open to
> us than just posting problems, fixes, and observations. Rest assured,
> though, that the list will continue doing that exactly as it is now.

<snip>

Hello All,

I was going to keep this off the list as John requested, but part of my
message is for other list subscribers who live where I do (in New Zealand),
and I no longer have their e-mail addresses (had them on my old PC, now
gone). Sorry to all.

I think these are great suggestions, John. It is nice to see ideas and
considerations about global cooperation - particularly when it comes to
dealing with Meade. Here in New Zealand, it is not practical to call Meade
on the phone. Fax, yes, the blower (NZ slang for phone), forget it! We
usually have to go back to the dealer. Fortunately, most dealers here sell
Meade (dealers include various camera shops, specialty shops, and the
ubiquitous department store), though there are also Celestron dealers (few
and far between; I know of only 2 in the entire country).
Prices at specialty shops tend to be uniform: ~$10 or so between them. A
model 230 60mm sells for around US $190. In a camera shop I was passing a
few weeks ago though, they had a 230 for $360!

Ok this next part is for the NZ's (Once more, sorry for any waste of
bandwidth!)

Guys, can you please send me your e-mail addresses again (those who
responded to my post asking about the 390, a Dob, and the ETX)?
BTW, Hope to see you at the Waharau Star Party in Thames during March!

Mayhem

"If you live life in the fast lane, it will eventually catch up with you"

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