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SIMPLE – Eight Weeks – Four Payments.

For orders of $200 and over, we offer a straightforward Lay-By service. This is a great way to secure a bargain, lock in limited stock, and pay the balance over time.

You pay for your goods in four instalments over a maximum of 8 weeks. Your goods are physically set aside and securely stored for you, and will be shipped immediately once the final instalment is cleared.

1. The Payment Schedule
After you check out and make your initial deposit, we will email your official Lay-By Payment Schedule (usually within 1 business day).

Payment 1 (Deposit): 25% paid on the date of order to secure your items.

Payment 2: 25% due 14 days after the order date.

Payment 3: 25% due 28 days after the order date.

Payment 4 (Final): 25% due 56 days (8 weeks) after the order date.

Note: You use your own banking service to make these direct deposits on or before the due dates using the provided reference number.

EXAMPLE:

We will send you a confirmation after each deposit.

2. Cancellation by the Customer
You have the right to cancel this lay-by agreement at any time before the delivery of the goods.

If you cancel, we will refund all amounts you have paid, minus a Termination Fee of 10% of the total order value (capped at a maximum of $150). * Why we charge this: Astronomy equipment is highly specialized and often in short supply. This fee represents our reasonable costs incurred, including administration, banking/processing fees, physical storage of large optical tubes, and the loss of opportunity to sell the reserved stock to other customers during the lay-by period.

3. Changing Your Mind (Switching Products)
If you decide you want to switch your lay-by to a different product (e.g., changing from a Dobsonian to an Equatorial mount), the original lay-by must be terminated. As a gesture of goodwill to our customers, the Termination Fee is reduced to 5% for the original lay-by, provided the new lay-by is of equal or greater value.

4. Missed Payments and Breach of Agreement
You must make your payments by the dates outlined in your schedule. If you are struggling, please contact us before the due date to discuss options. We do not extend lay-bys beyond the maximum 8-week period.

If you miss a payment:
We will contact you via email to notify you of the missed payment.
You will have a 7-day grace period to make the payment.
If the payment is not received after this grace period, you will be in breach of this agreement. We reserve the right to cancel the lay-by, return the goods to stock, and refund your paid amounts minus the Termination Fee.

5. Cancellation by Astro Dog
Under the Australian Consumer Law, we can only cancel this lay-by agreement if:

You breach the terms of this agreement (e.g., failing to make payments after the grace period).
We cease to trade.
The goods are no longer available due to circumstances completely outside our control (e.g., manufacturer recall or warehouse damage).
If we must cancel the lay-by because the goods are no longer available, you will receive a 100% full refund with no Termination Fee applied.

6. Acknowledgment
By selecting “Direct Deposit / 8 Week Layby” at checkout, you explicitly agree to these terms. Please keep copies of this agreement, your payment schedule, and your banking receipts. If you have any questions, please contact us—we are always happy to help!