Don't Buy Meade 28 Piece Microscope set!

Whalesh · Joined: 15 May 2007 Posts: 1

I bought the Meade 28 piece microscope set for my 8 year old daughter and was very disappointed. I ordered it in March and she just opened it this weekend. It is terrible! You cannot see the specimens on the slides and both bulbs burned out after less than 5 minutes of usage. Customer service won't let me exchange it since it is past the 30 days. The representative said the microscope is just a "throw away toy" and I would have to spend over $100 to get decent quality. What a waste of time and money. I will never buy from Optics Planet again. Sad

opticsplanet.com · Posted: Wed May 16, 2007 8:07 am Post subject:

Hi

Sorry for your bad experience on this one. If you give me a call (Joanie), I will try to work something out with you, though I am not in Customer Service. As an ex-science teacher, I just hate to see a youngster have a bad experience.

As our Product Specialist, yes, I agree that is a low quality item, but this is about what $39 buys in microscopes these days and, yes, to get a reasonable quality scope, you will need to spend a bit more. A better choice for a youngster is a low cost stereo microscope, such as the Meade 8300, http://www.opticsplanet.net/meade-stereo-microscope-8300.html Although only 20x, it is simpler and easier to use than a conventional compound, such as the one you received in the kit, and it is also more rugged and durable.

With a stereo such as the 8300, there is no need to use or prepare slides. Just send the kids out into the backyard and they can stick whatever they find under such a microscope and take a look. No preparation needed. Twigs, bugs, flowers, rocks - all are fascinating even at this relatively low magnification.

Another option to explore is a binocular. You can get many a good compact or mid-sized model for well under $100. Try the Bushnell H2O 8x25, http://www.opticsplanet.net/bushnell-h2o-8x26-binoculars-150826.html
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Joanie (Jne) K
http://www.OpticsPlanet.com
Phone: (888) 263-0356
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