General ordering information

Instructions for 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 give us a call.

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 at 614-375-3146. 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 368, New Albany, OH 43054, U.S.A. Be sure to include all the information requirements listed above if you’re ordering a secondary mount. IMPORTANT: Make checks payable to "Flexible Precision, Inc." If you are in Ohio (U.S.A.), please include 7.50% Ohio sales tax.

Payment options

Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover are accepted, as well as personal checks for mailed in orders from within the U.S.A. Please no checks from non-USA banks. We do not accept electronic bank transfers due to the fees involved.

Delivery lead-times

Stocked products are normally shipped within 1-2 days of your order. Secondary mountings ("spiders") are custom-made, so there is a lead-time for those parts. We do not process your credit card until we're ready to start on your order.

Sales and shipping outside the USA

Protostar can ship to most countries outside the U.S.A., and they are processed in the following manner:

Foreign payment methods. We accept Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover credit cards. Our online shopping cart is a convenient and secure method of transmitting your payment information to us. We do not accept electronic fund transfers.
Foreign shipping methods. We ship foreign orders by U.S. Mail via airmail or Priority Mail International (PMI). We must ship to the same address as the credit card holder for non-U.S.A. orders.
Import duties. This is a fee your government charges, and you are responsible for paying it when your package arrives at your location. Duties vary from country to country, and many countries have no duty for our products. To check your own country, use the following "HS Tariff" code for our products:

900590 "Parts and accessories of binoculars, monoculars,
and other optical telescopes (including mountings)"

(This is an international code used to determine what your duty payment will be.)

Shipping charges and methods

Most of our products are shipped domestically 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. Shipments outside the U.S.A. are sent by postal methods only.

A note about shipping costs...please don't blame us! The United States Postal Service (USPS) significantly increased shipping prices for both domestic and international packages over the past decade. The rate increases are much more than inflation. While their rates are still less than other carriers, it does make it more costly to send even lightweight packages. We are unhappy about this, as I'm sure our worldwide customers are, but our shipping rates are closely aligned with what is quoted to us on the USPS website.