[meteorite-list] Meteorite Market 101

From: Matson, Robert <ROBERT.D.MATSON_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Fri Jun 11 16:06:07 2004
Message-ID: <AF564D2B9D91D411B9FE00508BF1C86904EE5D07_at_US-Torrance.mail.saic.com>

Hi Doug,
 
Welcome back. I have a simple question on the ongoing topic, as I haven't
really
been following it that closely and am frankly too busy (or lazy, take your
pick) to
check the archives to see what was really written. If memory serves, the
timing
of events was something like this:
 
1. Bob Verish announced a silent auction of a part slice of LA 001.
2. Another dealer and/or collector chose that opportunity to offer an
alternative
piece of the same meteorite at a set price.
3. Michael Blood posted his message, questioning the timing of #2
4. A few chimed in to basically agree with Michael; others complained about
price-fixing, etc.
 
Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but it seems to me that a lot of the recent
discussion here has little to do with the case at hand. There was the
implication
that the seller in item 2 above was in some way undercutting Bob's auction,
but
how can he have done so when the ultimate price for Bob's piece isn't known?
One sale is a silent auction, the other's a fixed price. You can't directly
compare
them since they are two different types of transaction.
 
I suppose the only way that the second seller influences the final price of
Bob's auction is that it refreshes people's memories as to what price (some)
dealers are willing to sell LA 001. In that respect, one could question the
necessity for the second seller to choose that precise moment to offer his
material at a fixed price. If he's had this material available at that
price for
some time, and consumers have had easy access to that information, then
I say consumers be damned -- making the ethical business decision not to
interfere with another's sale out-trumps any concern for the buyer. This
would hardly be a case of collusion; it's simply good ethics. --Rob
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Received on Fri 11 Jun 2004 03:58:02 PM PDT