T3D Re: American Science & Surplus

[boris@xxxxxxxxxxxx (Boris Starosta)]

>From: Michael Georgoff <Michael_Georgoff@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
...
>Anyone ever buy from these folks??

I've occasionally bought from American Science and surplus.  Optics, and
other stuff.  Quality on the optics seems okay - I wouldn't really know.

The funny thing about their offering, aside that many times things are out
of stock (bait and switch?  I doubt it), is that they sprinkle their
catalog with expensive items that are definitely not good deals.  Some of
the stranger items do come cheap and can be useful, but you've got to
develop an eye for the right things.

Among the duds:

Pocket spy scope from Celestron, heck they are practically asking retail
for this.  Also any of their $500 russian microscopes.  I can't imagine
these being good deals (though again, someone might prove me wrong).

I've gotten packing tape and a tape dispenser from them which was not very good.

The things that are good from them are less products than commodities.  If
it doesn't have any moving parts, or was never "assembled" in some factory,
you may run less of a chance of it being junk.  I'm thinking of the optics,
the rubber feet, strange papers and foils, that kind of stuff.

Good luck,

Boris

Boris Starosta            boris@xxxxxxxxxxxx
                          http://www.starosta.com
usa 804 979 3930          http://www.starosta.com/3dshowcase



------------------------------