[meteorite-list] Ad New Canadian Meteorite for sale

From: Martin Altmann <altmann_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Mon, 8 Dec 2008 01:04:47 +0100
Message-ID: <00a601c958c8$96206a20$177f2a59_at_name86d88d87e2>

I had a dream, Jason. Meteorites were free for everyone!

...but nobody was going to look for them anymore....

I'm only not sure yet, whether it was a good dream or a nightmare.



-----Urspr?ngliche Nachricht-----
Von: meteorite-list-bounces at meteoritecentral.com
[mailto:meteorite-list-bounces at meteoritecentral.com] Im Auftrag von Jason
Utas
Gesendet: Sonntag, 7. Dezember 2008 23:58
An: Meteorite-list
Betreff: Re: [meteorite-list] Ad New Canadian Meteorite for sale

Darryl, Darren, All,

You referred to the low prices mentioned in my email when I had
included Park Forest. If you didn't mention Park Forest, you didn't
refer to my email in its entirety, and didn't clarify. How was I
supposed to know you were only responding to half of my message?

> As it regards the Chergach and Bassikounou examples, I sincerely believe
> that irrespective of how inexpensive initial suppliers sell material, that
> it is incumbent on us to consider the implications of our pricing in the
> marketplace.

So we should place some sort of value on meteorites above what the
finders ask for them because....well, I can see why you as a dealer
would say this -- but from a collectors point of view, your statement
makes no sense whatsoever. Or from a logical standpoint. Why should
rocks have some inherent monetary value? It makes no sense
whatsoever.
That said, if you, as a dealer/supplier decide that they should have
some arbitrary value, and price what you sell accordingly...well, the
final decision rests in my hands, as the buyer. You can ask for
whatever you think they're worth, but unless the collectors on the
other side agree with you, it doesn't matter. Dealers only have the
ability to suggest prices. It's the collectors/buyers who actually
set them.

> I take a longer view of such anomalies. Just because I was offered
Chergach
> at $0.50/g doesn't mean that it's responsible for me to widely offer it
for
> $1.50/g even though it represents a 200% profit to me.

Responsible? I'd say your fellow collectors would be happy, and
content with the fact that they could afford specimens twice as large
at the same cost as the ones they just bought.

In fact, anyone reading this thread should now know that if they
bought any from you, the reason they don't own a specimen twice as
large is because you thought it would be irresponsible to only take a
200% mark-up.

I'd be pissed-off, big time.

>Whether we can
> quantify the effect or not, beyond cheap meteorites have an effect on the
> rest of the marketplace. They create their own "gravity." That's all I'm
> trying to say.

Oh, I never said it wouldn't have an effect on the rest of the market.
 Though now that you're bringing that up, you seem to be saying that
having lower prices would be a bad thing. Considering that most
people in the meteorite-world are collectors, and not dealers, well,
you're in a minority. By all means, you're entitled to your view, but
you are in a minority.

As to whether or not it's worth, say, $10/g or more...you're entitled
to your opinion as a dealer, and I'm sure that if you get your hands
on some, you'll charge what you like. As said, I, as a potential
buyer, will simply refrain from buying any and voice my opinion that
way...as I'm sure others will as well. I've heard reports that the
tkw could be well over 200kg or more; if, after a mere week of amateur
hunting in sub-zero temperatures and restricted access, 40+kg were
recovered...how much of any fall is ever collected in the first week?
Maybe 10%? Maybe 20?

- Sorry for the lateish reply, but I was at the Bonhams Auction.

Jason
Received on Sun 07 Dec 2008 07:04:47 PM PST