[meteorite-list] Dissapointed collector

From: Mike Farmer <farmerm_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu Apr 22 09:43:29 2004
Message-ID: <3B48ACF7.B986D3C4_at_concentric.net>

Paul, Ill write you more on lthis a little later, just a quick note though, You
must buy only classified meteorites! I sell my NWA meteorite but oly AFTER they
are classified and recognized. If you are buying stuff that is being sold in
bulk, you are taking a big risk. I would not reccomend it at all for a new
collector.
Mike Farmer

nctools wrote:

> Hello
> I wonder if I could take a few moments of everyones time to get something
> off my chest.Im a very new collector and only started collecting around six
> months ago and am still quite green about much to do with meteorites.Ive
> read as much as i can and am very greatful to some sellers in America and
> here in Britain who have taken me under their wing and guided me in the
> right direction and sometimes even declined a sale if they thought I was
> choosing poorly.But I think I have made a few major errors with some other
> meteorites Ive bought from elsewhere in a rush of blood.I got all wrapped up
> in the excitement of buying quantity instead of quality.
>
> I started buying some of the ordinary chondrite meteorites on sale from the
> deserts and from Morrocco because these were very cheap and looked like a
> good bargain but some weeks ago I found out that they are all not all
> recognised.I tried to find them in the new catalogue of meteorites and
> meteor bulletins but they werent listed.Since then Ive found out that they
> WONT be listed unless I cut a bit off and send it to a scientist for
> classification.Even worse is that the only person who has decided these
> really ARE meteorites is the person who sold it to me!Im quite worried now
> and dont see how this can be fair play.
>
> Being new i assumed that these would be like all the other wonderful
> meteorites on the Matt Morgan,Mike Farmer,Robert Elliot,Robert
> Haag,Meteorite Market and many other great websites and be parts of
> meteorites that the scientists have studied and have in their museums.That
> is very important to me.The unknown desert meteorites are very cheap and
> probably are meteorites but I wanted and expected confirmation of that not
> just stuff that someone only thinks is a meteorite.How can I seriously
> collect meteorites when something is only PROBABLY a meteorite and no more
> than that??I know that its a case of you get what you pay for though I feel
> misled and that ive been taken advantage of as a new collector without much
> experience.Ive been following the discussions on the meteorite list and now
> realise that noone even knows for sure where these are from and might even
> be from a totally different country!Whats going on here??? Isnt there any
> regulation to this kind of dubious trading?
>
> I know they are cheap and give lots of weight for the money but thats
> missing the point of building a respectable meteorite collection of any
> future interest isnt it?I think some desert meteorite sellers should make it
> quite clear in their sales pitch that meteorites like these are DIFFERENT
> from the others and NOT officially recognised as meteorites and noone fully
> knows where they are from.More importantly they should also say that noone
> has actually officially confirmed they are REAL meteorites so new
> collectors dont get misled like I was.Plus if I hadnt actually seen any
> officially recognised meteorites before buying any of these unknown desert
> meteorites I would have been duped into thinking that ALL meteorites were
> just like these old rusted chunks of stone.Why would I think otherwise as a
> novice?
>
> I know the mistake was entirely my own making for being so gullible and
> trusting but what do others think about this?I dont mean to appear hostile
> just dissappointed to find out the truth behind these unknown
> meteorites.Please dont tell me that its acceptable behaviour as they give
> value for money because thats completely missing the point of everything ive
> written above.
>
> Regards
> Paul
>
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Received on Sun 08 Jul 2001 02:56:55 PM PDT