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February 2024 by Gilbert Velasquez
I wanted to buy a telescope for my son to learn on and for me to get back into stargazing since it's been almost a decade since I sold my 6" newt. Lawrence and Mike were incredibly nice and professional and took all the time to talk to me about optics and general astronomy. I was glad that there was also a local brick and mortar store that I can support. They had a used 8" dob that was great for us and we're incredibly supportive. They will be my goto for anything astronomy related. The drive from the IE was absolutely worth it.
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January 2024 by Eric Basta
Great staff. Knowledgeable.
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December 2023 by Damon Scott
A Man Named Mike: A story of excellent service!I'm a level below a beginner when it comes to Astrophotography (AP) to say the least. However, as I am slowly gaining traction on the learning curve, I reached the milestone which allows me to operate my telescope and mount wirelessly and slightly remotely (within my car when it's 30-40 degrees outside at night). With my particular motorized mount, I was looking for the controller's wifi adapter to connect to mount wirelessly. After researching purchase options and being impatient, I found Orange County Telescope was only 1.5 hours away. This is when I first encountered Mike.I called in and explained what I was looking for to see if they had the product in stock before making the drive. Mike answered the phone very friendly and welcoming. It reminded me of the phone greeting from the major branded hotels I once worked in. He knew he carried the product, but he took it a step further and checked his inventory. Within one minute, Mike returned to the phone and said "You can only purchase no more than 3." We both chuckled before he reminded me of store hours and we ended the call.Upon arrival, I come inside to see a lively and consultative conversation between Mike and two women who were just starting their journey with astronomy. I listened as he gave advice and guidance that helped these ladies feel more confident about their new telescope. Mike reassured them that they were doing well with the learning curve and then used his experience and knowledge of what their goals were to advise the ladies that they would be ready for the next phase in a few months. You could see how happy these customers were as they left the store.Mike promptly turned to me and began answering my questions. within 3-5 minutes in, he got a phone call and asked if I could give him a moment to answer. Once again, Mike engaged his customer on the phone perfectly. He told the customer that he could answer any questions in 15-20 minutes and verified the phone number to call back. Again, this was top notch because Mike heard the customer's situation and not only confirmed the phone number, but also asked for a mobile number to ensure Mike did connect and follow-through on his promise.Mike came back to me without skipping a beat. He allowed me to ask questions, which led him to advise me on a better solution for my longer term goals. I ended purchasing the ASIAir Controller Interface which will help solve multiple challenges I'm facing now on the learning curve and also serve me as continue to grow and upgrade equipment.Overall Mike was friendly, consultative, concise, relatable, and honest. Although Orange County Telescope already has a 4.9 star rating with 165 reviews, I wanted to make sure I contribute as well. Yea, I could have ordered that wifi adapter online and paid to have it overnighted to me, but I'm glad I decided to come here and interact with someone who truly cares and uses his 32 years of experience to be a guide for others on their astronomy or AP journeys. Kudos to you Mike and I'm looking forward to only coming to you for anything AP that you can provide me.
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December 2023 by Joseph R.
Called to ask about my used scope and accessories. Was instructed by the staff to send pictures and they would provide me with a virtual quote. I did they said 1200.00 wholesale for the entire kit. I brought it down to their facility only to be told they would give me only 600.00 for the scope all of the diagonals and eyepieces and software was trash pennies on the dollar.. Had I know that before I would not have brought them my equipment and wasted my time shame on them....
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December 2023 by Florida Man
Got a Celestron 4 a few years back after a co-worker, Shane, recommended them. Highly recommend them. They’re website has allot of cool items,,, im looking to upgrade to a bigger Telescope soon. Thanks!
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November 2023 by Glenn Fedon
I ordered a Celestron 40" telescope bag from them and never received it. I just got a call from them and they are going to ship it right away. Apparently there was an issue with the e-mails. All is good now. Thank you
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November 2023 by Eric Sutton
I came to look at telescopes and to learn more about what telescope was best suited for my needs because their is just so much information online I wanted to talk to someone experienced. Lorenz was fantastic at explaining the pros and cons of each type of telescope. We talked for an hour and a half (mostly just me listening), his enthusiasm is contagious and he is truly passionate about astronomy. The service was great and I look forward to going back for any additional telescope needs I may have. Cannot recommend them enough!
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November 2023 by Craig H
LOVE these guys!! Fast shipping and excellent phone service also. I had a question about the SkyRaider .8X Reducer, a great piece of glass for the money, that they sell and connecting it to a ZWO ASI533 MC Pro camera. I left a voicemail and they called me back and talked me through it, they even waited on the phone while I grabbed the pieces and had me take pictures so they could see what I should do. Excellent service and store!!
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November 2023 by Terry D
Very friendly and extremely helpful! This place is amazing if you're interested in astronomy. Highly recommend.
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November 2023 by Crystal M.
Whether you are a Novice or an advanced astronomer, this is the store for you! Mike went above and beyond to help me over the phone and in person to choose the perfect, first telescope for my husband's birthday! Telescopes range in size, clarity, and price. Excellent prices, superior customer service, and great selection of products to choose from. I felt very welcomed and my kids got to hold a small meteorite and learn about it. I was very impressed! Thank you Mike, for a wonderful experience!
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October 2023 by Charles C.
I built rockets that went up 25000 feet as a boy. Now I am a retired eye surgeon (meaning optics). Mike and Lorenz are first class in all respects. I have a 8" Schmidt-Cassegrain with star tracker on layaway for 10 months but I will probably buy it in full before then. My excuse for buying this $3K scope plus a $5K personal observatory dome is my latest grandson, Elias, due for birthing in 6 weeks. When he is older, I want him to LOOK UP and see where he came from and where he is going back to. Yes, I believe we came from star stuff and that is what we are going back to. OCTEL has helped me every step of the way to achieve my dream for myself, Elias, and others.
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October 2023 by Hmail
Great shop for anything telescope. They sell all part and telescopes and do repairs or maintenance on them.Went in for a Finderscope and Lawerance is awesome and knowledgeable and friendly. Great shop!
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October 2023 by Hipertec Mail
Great shop for anything telescope. They sell all part and telescopes and do repairs or maintenance on them.Went in for a Finderscope and Lawerance is awesome and knowledgeable and friendly. Great shop!
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September 2023 by Mark Gauntt
Love telescope and Triple camera and computer. Salesman was very nice very helpful. I would recommend this place.
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September 2023 by Derrick Muska
I cannot express how thrilled I am with the exceptional service we received from OC Telescope, and especially from Lorenz. We recently embarked on a mission to revive our beloved 1980s C8 telescope, which had been gathering dust for far too long. Thanks to Lorenz's expertise and dedication, our telescope has been resurrected and is now ready to provide countless hours of stargazing pleasure for the next generation of our family and friends.From the very first interaction with Lorenz, it was evident that we were dealing with a true professional. His knowledge and passion for astronomy and telescopes shone brightly throughout the entire process. He patiently listened to our concerns, assessed the condition of our vintage telescope, and devised a comprehensive plan to bring it back to life.Lorenz's technical prowess and attention to detail were truly remarkable. He not only restored our telescope to its former glory but also went above and beyond to ensure it performed even better than we could have ever imagined. His willingness to answer all of our questions and provide valuable insights into telescope maintenance and usage was invaluable.I drive all the way from LA County to go to OC Telescope and will continue to do so.
