Order & Delivery Info
How to Place Your Order with Astro-Physics
Astro-Physics.com is available to accept orders 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If you would like to place an order by phone, you may call our office between 9am and 5pm CST/CDT, Monday thru Friday. Please see below for accepted methods of payment.
Methods of Payment
All orders require payment in full prior to shipment. Depending on which payment method you select, shipment may require a delay to accommodate clearance of payment. Please review the below options to determine which method will best suit your needs.
Credit Card
We accept VISA, MasterCard, Discover and American Express debit and credit cards. For your security, we ask that you please do not include credit card information in any email correspondence.
PayPal
PayPal is offered as a checkout method through Astro-Physics.com. When ordering over-the-phone or by email, please request a PayPal invoice if you would like to utilize this payment method.
Check (US Only)
All checks should be made payable to: Astro-Physics, Inc.
All personal and business checks require a mandatory 5-business-day hold. Certified checks and cashier’s checks do not require any hold. Please keep this in mind when determining which method of payment best suits your needs.
Debit Authorization through ACH Transaction (US Only)
By completing our Debit Authorization Form, you authorize Astro-Physics, Inc. to contact your bank and initiate a debit to your checking or savings account. If would like to utilize this payment method, please complete the ACH Transaction Form and fax or mail it to us directly. For your protection, we ask that you please do not send a completed form to us via email, unless it is in a password protected document.
Wire Transfer
If you would like to utilize this option, please contact Astro-Physics directly for directions on how to remit payment. Please note, this option may incur fees charged by intermediary banks.
International Bank Draft
All bank drafts should be made payable to: Astro-Physics, Inc.
International Bank Drafts must be remitted in USD and be drawn from a bank within the United States with a physical address listed on the check within the United States.
Sales Tax
Astro-Physics is required to collect and remit sales tax on all orders delivered in the State of Illinois. Orders shipped to an Illinois address or picked up at Astro-Physics will be charged Sales Tax at a rate of 8.25%.
We are also required to collect sales tax for California effective April 1st, 2019.
E-commerce sales tax laws in the United States are currently being reassessed in many states across the country. As laws continue to change, this section will be updated with our affected policies.
Special Order Items
All special order items require payment in full at the time of order placement. Special order items are not eligible for refunds or returns unless the item is defective. If your item is considered “special order”, Astro-Physics will inform you at the time of order placement.
Delivery Estimates
In-Stock Items
Parts and accessories that are in stock will typically ship within 1 to 5 business days from the receipt of the order and payment.
Out-of-Stock and Backordered Items
Astro-Physics, Inc. requires a 50% deposit on all orders placed for out-of-stock items to reserve them for you. This includes all telescope, mount and accessory orders. Your deposit will ensure earliest shipment when the product is available and will guarantee the current price at the time of delivery. The balance of payment will be due shortly before shipment. Please read our cancellation policy below.
Anticipated delivery dates are given with all long term orders. These dates are only estimates, formulated with the most up-to-date information available. When we plan the production schedule for our telescopes and mounts, we estimate the time of completion. Please understand that these dates are estimates subject to change. Your order date will determine your place within the production run and the corresponding delivery date.
When you order accessories with your back ordered telescope or mount, we can ship them right away if you wish. We recommend this if you can use them with your present equipment. However, if you cannot use the items, we recommend that we ship them with your telescope or mount. Otherwise, if you later find that you must cancel your order, you will have accessories that you cannot use. Also, you may find that your needs change and you wish to revise the accessories. This is difficult to do if we have already shipped them to you.
“Notify Me” Requests
Items that are out of stock may have a “Notify Me” request button. Please provide your email address and select the button. When the item is available for you to order, we will send an email to inform you.
Cancellations
Customers may cancel most orders at any time for a full, prompt refund. We ask that you please submit your notice of cancellation by email for our records. All refunds will be returned in the same method as received. If the refund payment is to be returned by international wire transfer or bank draft, any applicable fees will be paid at the expense of the customer.