AP "Vaporware" Complaint

(I posted this message on the general equipment talk forum as well)

All right... this is by no means a blanket indictment of AP in general. I have loved every AP product I have ever owned. BUT...

I recently received notice from AP that I am no longer on the list for the 600EGTO mount that I have patiently waited nearly 3 years for. No. Now I am on the list for the new mount that will replace the 600. My complaint?

The mount doesn't exist as of yet and there is no definitive information on what the mount will support, what the price will be (but based on the huge leap from the discontinued 155 to the new 160 I can venture a guess), or how much longer we who have been waiting for years must wait now.

Why didn't AP announce that it will no longer take names on the 400 and 600 notification lists, and then fulfill the product for those already waiting, BEFORE announcing this new mount?

Your opinions??

P.S. Thanks for letting me vent!

Given the history of AP products, and their continuing evolution, I have no doubt the new mount will be an improvement over the existing 400 and 600 mounts. Indeed, I believe a post on the AP Users Group (AP-UG) said it would be lighter and have a higher capacity. I wish I'd been on one of the lists so I'd be in line for the new mount.

IMHO, there would be no sense in putting off new, improved products for some years to fill orders for existing products. Telescopes and mounts evolve with time, as do the expectations of the buyers, and that would be a good way for a company to lose ground to the competition.

Clear skies, Alan

Sorry that I have to do that. The 600 mount is extremely difficult for us to machine and assemble, and we were basically losing money on every one we made. It is not very easy to adjust in the field if something should go out of wack.

The mount is more than 15 years old now. It definitely has run its course, and there are better ways to make mounts today. We want to take advantage of new thinking and new technology, and to beef up the weak spots in our products.

Thanks for letting me explain.

Rolando

I just went to the AP website and noticed that they fully documented their change and respect for the current list of customers waiting for the smaller mounts on or before the end of October, 2004. (See PRODUCTS, and note the last update listed at the bottom of the page)

I think that AP deserves credit for their continuing efforts to keep its customers up to date on their products.

FWIW.