[meteorite-list] speck specs

From: Michael Blood <mlblood_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu Apr 22 09:42:02 2004
Message-ID: <3A6CA5BE.3D28_at_home.com>

Doug, et al,
This proposal is good, and would solve many of the problems that we are
aware of. HOWEVER-- It will not happen-- Why-- because those that are
profiting from specks will not take the time and effort to make it
work. And those that buy such things, will not be patient enough to
wait till something better comes along. They have been bitten by the
"meteorite collector's fever" and will settle for an unverifiable speck
the identity of which is based solely on thier faith in the integrity of
the seller. The bottom line is profit, and this scheme, which has been
proposed before, will never come into accptance simply because of the
effort that would be involved on the part of the dealers that sell such
tiny samples.
The result of that would be significantly higher prices on what are
already grossly overpriced items.
Steve Schoner AMS
-----------
Gee Steve,
        Seems like a fine idea to me - I would certainly be willing to supply a
JPEG for any frag - or larger specimen I sell - I do not think
maintaining a photo phile ON THE NET INDEFINATELY is feasable, but I
would certainly be willing to store a numbered down sized version of the
JPEG indefinately - and I think most other dealers would, as well. For
that matter, the JPEG could be
printed out AS PART OF a document of authenticity. Then no
JPEG storage would be required.
        In fact - anyone who has bought ANY material from me in the past is
welcome to mail it back & pay return shipping & I will photograph it and
send out a JPEG of same to them - or a printed
document, or whatever they like.
         (IT SHOULD BE POINTED OUT STEVE ARNOLD HAS BEEN WORKING ON THIS IDEA
OF A DOCUMENT WITH PHOTO PRIOR TO THIS DISCUSSION! I kid you not, he
spoke to me of it the day BEFORE the first post appeared here.)
        Of course, now I am trusting my customers not to do a "switcheroo" as
it would be the label I would recognize in many cases of very small
frags. But then it always comes down to trust.
        In any event, your "nay saying" in this regard is exactly that, "nay
saying." I don't buy it and I don't think others do. If anyone
wants a JPEG from me, NO PROBLEM. I cannot imagine other dealers would
object - and, if they do, one can always buy elsewhere.
        This is actually a rather engenious solution to your old "true cross"
rhetoric. It still (and always will) comes down to trust, but at least
the buyer has documentation the specific dealer stands behind this
particular specimen to be what he says it is. It provides
a form of provenience worth far more substantial than a mere
"certificate of authenticity" any 12 year old could computer generate.
As they say, "a picture is worth a thousand words."
        Best wishes, Michael

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Received on Mon 22 Jan 2001 04:27:27 PM PST