Why and what we do here is not by accident. Rocketry is ALL we do. We don't carry airplanes, RC cars, or trains. We specialize in just one thing: "Model Rockets." Period!

Obviously, you have a lot of choices to pick from for your rocketry supplies. There are literally hundreds of manufacturers, and probably thousands of kit re-sellers. But why buy from Apogee Components?

You were drawn to our web site for some reason. If it isn't clear why we're different from everyone else, I'll try to explain.

You got this far, and to this particular web page because you had a sense that Apogee really seems to know what rocketry is all about. More than anyone else, we "get" rocketry. Other sites may tell you "how rockets work," but we show you how much fun you really can have with this hobby. That is probably very important to you -- isn't it?

I'll tell you up front that our prices are a little higher than almost every other model rocketry dealer. The reason has to do with what we do for "you."

You see, we work for you. Our goal is to maximize your rocketry experience, so that you'll feel that you go more from the results of your project than what you paid for it. Here are some examples.

• Family Activity: If you are doing rocketry as a family, your goal may be that your children have a great time with you and want to do spend more time with you. For you personally, it will make you feel awesome that you were successful, that you can help them discover new things, and that you'll be building a lot of priceless memories (remember to take lots of pictures – not of the rockets, but of the kids). Rocketry is a great activity that bonds the whole family.
  
  
• Educator: If you are a teacher, your goal is probably to maximize the amount of educational value of the class project. There is so much to learn about how rocketry and how it has real-life impact on us as a human race. Rocketry is not a toy, but a tool that pry's open the human spirit. Once you've opened the student's mind, you can pour in all sorts of education that is beneficial in their chosen career path, whatever it might be. Entire schools are built on aerospace education, because there is nothing else like it that can get kids excited and motivated to learn. In this regard, we're unique among vendors, as I have personal experience, having worked in the space program on the Delta II rocket. I know what things are important and can tie them to the real space program.
  
  
• Personal Satisfaction: If you are doing rocketry for your own personal achievement, your goal may be to maximize those accomplishments. Whether it is building a precision scale model, developing a new type of rocket that no one else has ever imagined, or setting a new performance record, we believe that we can help you get to where you want to be.

You have some pretty lofty goals. To help you reach them, we have to spend a huge amount of time researching every product you see here on this web site. We build each model. We fly nearly ever model. We do in-depth analysis to find out how everything works so that we can match the right product to your needs. It does cost a lot of time and money.

Our goal is that you achieve success! If you don't succeed and have a great experience, then we have failed.

By contrast, there are many discount dealers on the internet that will sell you rockets for "cheap." That's all that they think you want. But what do you get in return? Since they don't match the products to your goals, you'll be paying for the wrong items. Sure you can buy a five dollar rocket kit from them, but the value of your rocketry experience may be only worth fifty cents. What kind of bargain is that? That is a very expensive rocket, wasn't it?

I don't like selling "tiny" rockets that are cheap, Why? Because the value to you is too small. I'd rather sell you a $50 rocket that pays back to you an experience and an accomplishment that is worth $500. Now that is real value, right?

Now it is possible that you can use the information found on our web site, and shop at a discount dealer. You'd save some money, that is for sure. But to me, that is like going to a nice restaurant that has a cool atmosphere, getting an excellent meal with outstanding service; and then stiffing the waiter out of the tip and leaving without paying for the enjoyment you've received.

I don't think you are that type of person. That kind of person doesn't read these long pages of text. They are only looking out for themselves, and reading this would be a waste of their time. But if you are the kind of individual that has to take advantage of someone to get ahead in life, then you're not the type of person we want to do business with. Please go away now, and never come back.

When you're paying money for rockets, what you are really buying is the experience. Is that right? Think about it. The launch itself lasts for a few seconds, and the entire flight is over in less than five minutes. If you're thinking about the cost of rocketry as dollars per minute, it is really expensive. But that isn't what you want, is it?

I suspect that you want the full rocketry "experience." That may be a lot of different things to you. It might be a great family activity that gets you and your kids outside and spending a lot of wholesome family time together. It may be for the phenomenal educational value that rocketry has. It may be the personal sense of accomplishment of succeeding at a well thought out rocketry mission. You may even want to turn on a young person to an activity that will not only divert them from trouble, but that will put them on a path to a great career. Rocketry is a great way for you give back to the community, and has only positive aspects to it.

We get what rocketry is really about, and we get you. We know your rocketry experience starts right here on this web site. We want to prove to you that we are different and worthy of your business. We're prepared, and we'll take the first hundred steps to earn your trust. That is why you'll find so much information and useful tips that you can use to make your rocketry activity a pleasurable one. If you have the time, you'll find so much free stuff on this web site, that you'll be wondering how we can give so much away without going out of business. But we have to prove to you that we are the ones you want to do business with.

When you order from our store, you'll also find that we continue the experience by providing you with outstanding service. You're not a discount customer to us, like you would be to those dealers that sell cheap products. You're a valuable customer and we will treat you as such. Want proof? Check out our product guarantee. Check out our "speedy shipping" guarantee. And check out our Frequent Flyer Program that explains the other things we do to earn your continued business.

Great customer service is much more than getting the order out the door in a reasonable amount of time. Great service is helping you select the best rocket that fits your specific needs and desires. It is helping you when you have a crisis situation and need things in a hurry. It is a simple thing like letting you know if there will be any type of delay in processing the order. It is quickly refunding money that you might have overpaid in shipping fees. It is contacting you quickly if you accidentally selected incompatible items (just to make sure you know with absolute certainty what you're getting). It is even updating the web store daily to let customers know if an item is on back-order. How frustrating is it to order an item, and then find out days later that you won't get it in time?

But the real test of great customer service is what happens when mistakes happen. For example, forgetting an item in a shipment. We know these things happen; that's why they are called mistakes and accidents. But we actually budget for them ahead of time, so we can keep you happy and coming back again and again. We drop what we're doing to get your missing items out right away.

This is the type of stuff we do every day. We have been doing real customer service since 1989 (that's over 20 years!). Meanwhile, we have watched "discount dealers" come and go like the waves crashing against the seashore. The don't last long, because they don't take the time to find out what you really want.

Providing the type of customer service you expect does cost money. Whether they know it or not, the discount dealers have no choice but to cut service costs. And they do. So you often end up paying more for something, or worse yet, buying something that is completely useless.

Your satisfaction is important to me. I wouldn't be able to sleep at night if I knew a customer felt he got a raw deal. If you were in my shoes, would you charge a high price, a low price, or a fair price for the great service you get when dealing with Apogee Components? Our prices are a great value for the experience you get, and the quality of merchandise you'll receive. I know that once you do business with Apogee Components, you'll agree.

I'm glad you finally found the Apogee Components web site. We are like you and want to help you get the most value out of rocketry. Our goal is to maximize your experience with rocketry by offering you the best products that suit your needs. And even though our prices are a tiny bit higher, when you match what you get to the accomplishments you'll achieve, they will seem like a huge bargain.

Tim Van Milligan
President - Apogee Components

Apogee Components is located at:

3355 Fillmore Ridge Heights
Colorado Springs, Colorado 80907 USA
(click here for MapQuest map to our faciltiy)

Telephone: 719-535-9335
Office Hours: M-F, 9 am to 5 PM Mountain Time Zone (GMT minus 8 hours). But we've been known to answer email questions at all times of the day/night.

"My package arrived today in excellent condition.

I am so pleased with my new toys, and the quality of the accessories I bought. The two models certainly look challenging. I hope I'm up to the task.

Same day shipment, via FEDEX as requested, arrived on time and in good packaging, good quality stuff; you run a tight ship Tim, I wish you all prosperity.

Please accept my sincerest thanks for all that you have done for me."
-- Stan Hemphill (Taipei, Taiwan.)