Ordering information
Ordering secondary mounts
Secondary mounts (i.e., "spiders") are custom-made for your telescope's size. Thus, it is important to provide the proper dimensional information. Please review the instructions for ordering secondary mounts, or call the toll-free number to place your order.
Methods for placing your order
Ordering online: Use the online shopping cart system for secure and convenient transactions.
Order by phone: Telephone orders can be placed toll-free at 1-866-227-6240 (U.S.A.). For orders outside the U.S.A., use 614-785-0245. Regular business hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM (Eastern Time Zone).
Ordering by mail: Mail orders to: ProtoStar, P.O. Box 448, Worthington, OH 43085, U.S.A. Be sure to include all the information requirements listed above if you’re ordering a secondary mount. If you are in Ohio (U.S.A.), please include 6.75% Ohio sales tax.
Payment options    
Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and PayPal are happily accepted, as well as personal checks and money orders for mailed in orders from within the U.S.A. Payment for mailed-in orders from outside the U.S.A. should be either a bank check or international money order, and issued in U.S. dollars. We do not process electronic bank transfers.
Note about using PayPal with foreign orders: When ordering from outside the USA, payment with a credit card is recommended. The PayPal checkout automatically processes your payment immediately, and the shipping charges will be incorrect (it will show a USA shipping charge). There will be a balance due for the additional shipping charge, and this requires a second PayPal payment. This can be avoided by using a credit card. We process the credit card after we quote you the proper shipping charge by e-mail.
Delivery lead-times
Stocked products are normally shipped within 48 hours of your order. Secondary mountings are custom-made, so there will be a lead-time of normally 1-4 weeks. An approximate lead-time will be quoted to you when you place your order. You can get a recent update of our secondary mounts here.
Business and educational sales with purchase orders
Purchase orders from businesses and educational institutions are accepted for transactions larger than $1,000 (US) upon credit approval. At our discretion, we accept purchase orders for smaller transactions if you expect future orders. If you would like to establish credit terms with us, please call us at 614-785-0245.
Dealership information
Currently, the following vendors carry partial lines of ProtoStar products:
Canada
Kendrick Astro Instruments (http://www.kendrickastro.com/) offers ProtoStar flocked light trap products.
France
Astrotelescope (http://www.astrotelescope.com/) offers ProtoStar secondary mounts and secondary mirrors.
Great Britain
Dobsonian-parts.co.uk (http://www.dobsonian-parts.co.uk) offers ProtoStar Hi-tack flocked light trap products.
Shipping charges and methods  
Most of our products are shipped using the U.S. Postal Service (Priority Mail). The shipping charge is based on the accumulated weights of the products you order, and we strive to keep the shipping charge as close to the actual costs as possible. For larger shipments (like BlackLite tubes), we use FedEx Ground. Overnight delivery is available at extra cost. Shipments outside the U.S.A. are all shipped by airmail or Global Express Mail.
Foreign orders
Please see the Foreign orders page for more information on payment and shipping options.
How to return a product
If you need to return a product to us for a warranty repair or refurbishing service, please contact us first by e-mail or telephone (614-785-0245). The return address we will provide depends on the size of the product and your shipping method (mail, UPS, FedEx, etc.).
Order cancellation policy (for secondary mounts only)
There is a lead-time of several weeks to manufacture secondary mounts ("spiders"). You can cancel your order anytime without penalty during this lead-time period unless we have already begun construction of the part. (Your credit card will be charged when work on your order has begun.) If you need to cancel (or change) your order after work has begun, there is a 50% cancellation fee. If your project plans change, please contact us as soon as possible to make cancellations or changes.
All other non-spider order cancellations (mirrors, flocking, etc.) are refunded 100% with no cancellation penalty. (Note: PayPal fees are 3.5% of the order, and refunds due to order cancellations are less this amount.)
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