[meteorite-list] Current and future meteorite market

From: MeteorHntr at aol.com <MeteorHntr_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Mon, 17 Mar 2008 23:40:22 EDT
Message-ID: <d2c.242a900b.351093a6_at_aol.com>

Bob,

Just a slight suggestion: The Federal Trade Commission will not allow
dealers to call meteorites "an investment." That term is only allowed with
registered securities.

Of course as a collector, you are free to call them what you like. ;-)

And of course, politicians are exempt from the FTC regulations when they
call "raising taxes" "investments' into our economy.

"Collectibles," like "investments," are subject to the laws of supply and
demand. Of course different meteorite specimens from different locations have
their own unique supply and demand dynamics, so what might apply to one
meteorite may not apply to another one.

Having said that, I personally think that over time, we are going to see
less supply and more demand for meteorites in general. While new finds are
continually being made, and new falls occur every so often, I think publicity on
meteorites as a cool collectible is gaining ground.

Also, there are a LOT of people at NASA that really need us to put some men
on Mars in the next couple of decades, their job security depends on it.
NASA has one of the best PR departments on the planet. Expect to see "positive"
stories cranked out about NASA missions to space and to Mars to escalate as
to keep the money flowing to them from Congress. In my opinion, this can
only help the demand side or the equation to grow.

Of course, having said all that, the general economy always has to be taken
into account. Nobody NEEDS another meteorite, collectors only WANT another
meteorite. So if the economy goes bad, we might expect that to have some
downward pressure on what meteorites will sell for in the future. Likewise, a
better economy should put upward pressure on values.

I will note, that I was told (although I don't know first hand) that Glen
Huss was selling out of the meteorites he had in the 1980's as he felt there
was no way the high prices could keep going up from the point they had reached
back then.

I guess one man's mountain peak, might be another man's valley.

Steve Arnold
Arkansas


In a message dated 3/17/2008 9:39:46 P.M. Central Daylight Time,
bobe5531 at comcast.net writes:
Hello List,

I don't believe that this is discussed nearly as much as it should be
discussed. I'm primarily a collector , occasionally a dealer and I'm curious
where my meteorite investments currently are and where they are headed.
I don't sell nearly enough volume or to a large enough market to have a good
grasp on the current conditions and future expectations of the meteorite
market.
I'm curious to hear from the dealers overseas just as well.
Is your clientele expanding? exponentially ? How are sales? Supply? Trends
?You get the picture.

It would behoove us all that are investing substantial amounts of money to
periodically examine the market.

BTW- I know Michael Blood does a fine job with his " Meteorite Market Trends
" article, but I would like to get more than his perspective.

Any comments ?

Thanks,
Bob




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Received on Mon 17 Mar 2008 11:40:22 PM PDT