Hello and welcome!
TelescopeTrader (or TT for short!) is a 100% user-supported surplus astronomy gear exchange. TT is entirely supported by our private astronomy community. What that means is that the only ads you’ll see here on TT are ads from our members and community business sponsors. We do not display any large corporate 3rd-party advertising (e.g. Google, Bing, etc.), nor do we sell your data. Types of listings allowed include used telescopes, telescope accessories, telescope eyepieces, telescope mounts, telescope parts, and astrophotography gear. If you’d like to become a telescope mentor, we welcome these types of posts in our services category.
Who we are
My name is Michael, a professional web developer and amateur astrophotography nerd. I created TT, with the help of my eldest son, to help more people discover and learn about backyard astronomy and astrophotography. TT is a family-owned business located near Tucson, Arizona and has been operating since 2017. TelescopeTrader.com is hosted, managed, and maintained via support from our member community through affordable annual memberships and sponsor advertising. Please reach out to me with any suggestions or feedback here.
Our mission and values
We aim to be the Internet’s best astronomy gear exchange and help support the growth of amateur astronomy and astrophotography in local communities. Through past and present involvement with astronomy clubs and related organizations like The International Dark-Sky Association, Planetary Science Institute, and SETI we are encouraging people of all ages to get involved with astronomy and astrophotography. Also, we support environmental sustainability by helping encourage recycling of used astronomy equipment, telescopes, and astrophotography gear.
Why sell used astronomy equipment here
If you are selling used telescope equipment, one important thing to note about TT is that it reaches a broad audience of people – many are just getting into astronomy. They’re often searching for inexpensive telescopes, cameras, and so forth. So, it’s a really great platform to get your used gear ads or service ads in front of a diverse group of astronomy enthusiasts. Also, please keep in mind that we never sell your personal info or run any large corporate advertising. We are a private astronomy community and an annual or one-time membership is required.
Membership options (Base, Plus, and Life Pass)
An annual or one-time pass is required to register a new account and ensure the highest level of safety for you and our astronomy community. If you already have a Base or Plus Pass, consider upgrading to a Life Pass; it’s a great option for members who’d like to save money and enjoy feature ad discounts. Memberships ensure the highest level of safety for you and our community. After checkout, your account will be activated immediately. Please be sure that all information you provide is accurate and valid – no exceptions! Learn more about annual pass options at this link.
Promotion options
Extended ads and Feature ads are a great way to get the most eyeballs on your listing and potentially sell more quickly! Learn more about feature ad and extended ad options at this link.
Email verification
Once you submit your ad, verify your email address by clicking the verification link in the email we send. After your email is verified and your ad is reviewed, it will be published live. Our notification emails come from [email protected], and our support emails come from [email protected]. Please add our email addresses to your safe sender list so they don’t end up in your junk/spam folders. This way, you will be sure to get email notifications when someone contacts you about your ads.
Posting a new ad
To post a classified ad listing for your used astronomy equipment, select the Add new listing button on the top right on the website. You can change the price or other details of your listing at any time after posting your ad in the “My account” menu using the “My ads” link. After you sell (or find your wanted item), please mark the ad status to “Sold” by editing your ad in the “My ads” area. Or, you can delete your ad at any time to remove it from the active listings.
Business owners and educators
If you are an astronomy business owner or educator, connect with thousands of potential astronomy enthusiasts and customers in need of your skills. Post an ad to promote your astronomy-related services, books, courses, videos, podcasts, or training programs.
Wanted ads
Make it easy for potential sellers in your city or across the United States (or Canada) to connect with you. Post a wanted ad for those rare and hard to find items!
Invite friends
If you like what we’re doing, please visit often and support us by inviting friends at this link.
Online and IRL safety
We are committed to your ONLINE safety and to make buying/selling/trading your used astronomy equipment as simple as possible. We monitor and review ALL USERS and ADS for suspicious activity. Because we personally review each item and ONLY list surplus astronomy equipment, we are able to provide a much safer experience. And, our website runs on the newest technology with robust anti-spam and security features. However, YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE for your IRL (In Real Life) safety, so don’t be a victim! Please DO YOUR PART and read our Personal safety information page.
Disclaimer
TelescopeTrader Classifieds is an astronomy classifieds website where users can buy, sell, or trade surplus astronomy equipment. Please be aware that we do NOT accept or assume any responsibility whatsoever for any transactions between members who use our website. Our staff will NOT get involved or intervene in any disputes that arise between any participants involved in transactions that occur through the use of this venue. “Buyer beware” and “seller beware” should be kept in mind when entering into transactions when using any classifieds website. For more information, please visit our Online safety page.