Wasted $80 on a star tracker that I returned within a week

I bought a used Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer 2i off Facebook Marketplace thinking it would be my ticket to Milky Way shots. Turns out my DSLR mount wasn't even compatible without another $40 adapter kit, which the seller didn't mention. Ended up returning it and losing $15 on shipping. Has anyone else bought gear that didn't work with their setup right out of the box?

3 comments

3 Comments

harper_wright22d ago

Bought a used telescope mount once. Same problem. Missing parts the seller never mentioned. Learned my lesson the hard way. Now I always ask for a full parts list and serial numbers before buying anything used. Saves me the headache and the shipping costs.

morgan.mary22d ago

I get what you're saying about asking for serial numbers and parts lists, but honestly is it really that serious? I mean yeah it stinks when something shows up missing a piece but it's not like the mount is going to explode or anything... most of the time you can just find a replacement part online for cheap. I've bought plenty of used gear without going full detective mode on the seller and it's worked out fine. Plus if you're buying from someone with good feedback they usually tell you if something's missing anyway. Feels like a lot of hassle for something that might not even happen.

charles91922d ago

Read somewhere that 90% of used astro gear returns are from missing parts or adapters.