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Message: <blockquote data-quote="WJC" data-source="post: 3529102" data-attributes="member: 25191">“I think honesty is a great thing, but being brutally honest will take money from your pocket.”Gerry, now our philosophical paths are beginning to cross. I know you are absolutely correct. While the Tacoma Astronomical Society had some folks who were really movers and shakers in the hobby, they also had some folks who, listening to the local wannabes, cost Captain’s a good bit, financially. For example, one fellow bought a 4-inch Vixen f/11 from me—a very fine specimen. Then, based on the advice of others, he began to complain about the scope. He brought it back for me to “check out.” Finally, he wanted to know: “Does this telescope have astigmatism?” Of course it did, and I was honor-bound to say so. Apparently he had been talking to optical wizards who told him that telescopes should not have any. I pointed out that there is no telescope without aberrations and that logically AND empirically his f/11 instrument had less astigmatism than the renown f/5.4 Televue Genesis! It didn’t matter; he wanted his money back. Had HE been truthful, he would probably have stated the real problem as “buyer’s remorse.”When it became plain that logic wasn’t going to get any traction on his gray matter, I gave him his money back.My tenure with Captain’s was replete with such stories. Yet, I could not give things and services away fast enough to keep them from coming back to me in spades. We are all partly products of our experiences. But, if my philosophy of business had been as errant as you think, I don’t believe optics would have gone from 7 or 8 binoculars to 51% of the business in 6 years. I am not aloof to the rigors of competition. I just feel that if your business plan can’t be carried out without lying to and cheating your neighbor you should probably consider a different occupation. I know there are others who consider my philosophies naïve. But, they are my philosophies, have served me well, and I will stand by them.“In matter of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock.”—Thomas Jefferson   “I don’t care where it comes from.”I agree with you here, too. That’s why in my book I state—speaking of Asian binoculars: “Not only will some Asian products go head-to-head with Europe’s best, but at savings that can run into hundreds of dollars per unit. An American company sold the binocular on the left for $580. The binocular on the right, from a European “manufacturer” sold for $899. The differences between the two? Minor aesthetics, marketing, and $319. Both binoculars were made by the same company … in Japan. The one on the right came in a box boldly stating “Made in _____________.” But it was the box that was made there—not the binocular.”and“If you have the money, they’ve got the product.”As Dr. Covey would suggest, perhaps we should agree to disagree, agreeably. :cat:</blockquote>

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