[SJAAboard] Thoughts on requirements for scopes larger than 10"

[Gary Mitchell]

Mark Wagner wrote:

> On Thu, May 15, 2008 7:39 pm, Gary Mitchell wrote:
> 
> 
>>The program shouldn't be trying to get people to buy scopes
> 
> 
> We are not communicating.  I am not saying that at all.  I would appreciate if you would
> acknowledge my disclaiming your assertion, and stop repeating it.
> 
> How does having scopes in the loaner program that are typical of what is commercially available
> (which tends to also be what is typically available in Dobs/Newts via ATM) get interpreted into
> trying to get people to buy scopes?  I have never suggested the SJAA try getting people to buy
> scopes.... I am certainly not sponsoring the idea that such should be the purpose of the loaner
> scope program.

OK, maybe not quite, but the following sounded to me to be
getting close enough to it:

On 5/14/2008 you said:
> I think part of the
> program's purpose is precisely to allow would be buyers to try scopes out, before plunking down
> their money.  I've suggested to numerous people I've met that they do exactly that,

I interpreted that to mean we should have the same scopes in the
program that are in the stores specifically so folks can try them
first.  Technically, that might not be trying to get people to
buy a scope, but close.

In other words, back to the car analogy, it sounds to me like
saying "This is the new E class, available in showrooms now!
Would you like to try it?"  While at the same time we're not
telling people to go buy a car.

Alright, maybe not, but we're splitting hairs mighty thin there.

When someone at a star party expresses an interest in getting a
scope, I'll suggest they join the club too, for the loaner
program.  But I'll also quickly suggest they spend a lot of time
at our star parties looking through scopes and asking questions.
You don't need to borrow anything for that.  And they'll find
out a lot more than they would on their own with a loaner.  I'll
end by urging they do both.  That will do way more than just
give a "try before you buy" experience with one or two scopes.

Gary