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Returns and Warranty Policies

Our Guarantee

We stand behind what we sell. If you are not satisfied with a product, you may certainly return the item in new, fully resellable condition within 20 days for a full refund, less shipping charges or cost for any damage.  We ask that you call or write for approval, prior to returning an item (email to: contact@alpineastro.com).  Full details on our Returns process are listed below.

As Baader Planetarium’s N. American representative, we offer expert technical support and out-of-warranty repair as needed.  Please contact us with your issues and we’ll do our best to help resolve them.

Warranties

Baader Planetarium products are warranted by the original manufacturer for 2 years, for flawless optical and mechanical function under normal use (not necessarily cosmetic optical or physical appearance).  Warranty is void if the product has been misused or damaged. 

Alpine Astronomical is the official Baader Planetarium warranty center for N. America and provides support of in-warranty issues with their products.  Please note: The Baader Planetarium Warranty is only valid for items sold by Alpine Astronomical or through one of our Authorized Baader Dealers.  Proof of purchase location will be required for warranty support.  Grey market goods purchased through overseas vendors will not be warranted.  

Celestron offers 2-Year or Limited Lifetime Warranties on almost all of their products.  All warranty services will be provided by the manufacturer.  Please refer to the official Celestron Warranty page for information regarding warranty and support.  

Solar Spectrum warranties their filters for 5 years on all optical components under normal use.  Electronic components are warranted for 3 years, unless otherwise noted, under normal use.  Any tampering with components or misuse of the filter will render the warranty void.

PlaneWave warrants your product to be free from defects in materials and workmanship for a period of one year for optical coatings and two years mechanics and electronics from the date of delivery. This warranty does not cover damage resulting from misuse, abuse, modification not authorized by PlaneWave, control systems that bypass PlaneWave’s software, weather or poor environmental control (rain, ice, snow, dust/sand, pollen, power-surges, brownouts, etc.), improper storage, pests, lightning, fire, flood, earthquake, riot, war, or acts of God. Items sold by PlaneWave, but manufactured by a third-party, are warranted by the third-party manufacturer.  For additional details, please see the Planewave Warranty Page.

Returns Policy

We stand behind everything we sell.  If for any reason you are not satisfied with your purchase you may return the item(s) in new (fully resellable) condition within 20 days of receipt of the item, for a full refund, less shipping fees both ways.  On items that were sent with free-shipping, the costs paid by Alpine Astronomical for original delivery will be deducted from the credit or refund.

All returns must be accompanied by an RMA number.  The RMA number must be posted on the shipping label and not the original box.  To obtain an RMA number and return shipping information please contact Alpine Astronomical at (208) 939-2141 or email contact@alpineastro.com.

It is the customer’s responsibility to securely package and insure the returned item(s).  Any merchandise that does not arrive in new condition will be subject to a restocking fee.  Missing parts, packaging, instructions, warranty cards, etc., as well as damage or other detrimental effects to merchandise, will result in higher restocking fees. Restocking fees will be determined by Alpine Astronomical after inspecting the merchandise.

If you receive an item you believe is defective, or incorrect, please contact Alpine Astronomical.  We will do our best to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.

Telescopes, Mounts, Tripods, Cases and Non-Stock Item Returns and Cancellations

Our 20-Day Return Policy applies to Telescopes, Mounts, Tripods, Cases and other non-stock items.  However, these items are subject to special conditions.

Cancellations of Telescopes, Mounts, Tripods, Cases, and other non-stock items will be handled on a case-by-case basis.  Import orders that are cancelled prior to shipment of the product to the US are subject to a 5% cancellation fee.   Cancellation of import orders after they have left the originating country will be subject to a 25% fee that will be withheld from the refund or deposit.  There may be additional fees required to cover costs of any unrecoverable bank and credit card fees.

If you receive a Telescope, Mount or related item that you believe is defective, please contact us immediately.  We will do our best to help correct the issue.  In most instances, perceived problems are due to setup or adjustments that we can assist you with.   

Returns of these items require extra care.  It is the customer’s responsibility to ensure the items are securely packaged and insured.  We strongly recommend that you save the factory packaging materials for this purpose.

Special-Order Items

Our manufacturers produce a large range of products, some of which are not listed on the Alpine Astronomical website.  We are happy to import these special-order items by request, but we ask that you understand these items are not returnable.  Of course, the manufacturer’s standard warranty applies, and we are happy to work with you to address any issues or defects.

Damaged Item Returns

Please inspect your packages and items as soon as possible after delivery to determine if any damage has occurred during shipping.  If there is any shipping damage, the customer must report the damage immediately to the carrier (USPS, UPS, FedEx).  The customer must follow the carrier’s process in reporting and documenting the claim.

Return of shipping-damaged items must be processed through the carrier and not sent directly to Alpine Astronomical.  Items that are not returned through the carrier’s process will not be accepted for refund or exchange.