[meteorite-list] Meteorite worth thousands...........

From: Meteorites USA <eric_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu, 04 Feb 2010 21:58:31 -0800
Message-ID: <4B6BB387.1070803_at_meteoritesusa.com>

Hey Mike, List,

I agree that the media is and can be a good tool to keep people aware of
meteorites, their value to science and collectors. However, I think
their needs to be accurate reporting and not the one-sided reporting
we've seen thus far from the Post. They're very conveniently painting a
picture of negativity surrounding the whole deal, and their motives are
clear. Reporting should be reporting, not opinion. Leave opinions to the
blogs. We read and watch the news for news, not some distorted
politically motivated spin on the news.

The whole concentration on the money issue is only part of the problem.
Kinda wierd me saying that since I do sell meteorites too. But even I
cringed a little when all the numbers started clicking by on the screen
with each new find on the Meteorite Men. But hey, I understand it's
about entertainment, and TV shows are there to make money for the
networks. Who's going to tune into a show that's nothing but pure
science. That would be boring. Throw in some treasure hunting, some
adventure, some "thrill of the hunt" and two very funny guys walking
around the desert with metal detectors and you have the Meteorite Men
show. I like the show. I think it's good for the meteorite world, but it
also needs to be tempered with the news that's happening right now.

There's a big battle going on over the ownership of the newest meteorite
fall in the USA (Lorton) that should never have been fought over. If
this meteorite had fallen through a doctors office, on Main St of
Anytown, USA back-country America I truly believe this would not be an
issue. Instead it fell mere miles from the largest museum in the world,
near the capitol of our nation, and went through the roof of a doctors
office which was part of group of buildings owned by someone else.
Perhaps, you couldn't have picked a worse place for it to hit.

Keep all meteorites in the news. Tell everyone the whole story of this
event. Let people know that it's not just about the money. It's about
the science AND the money. Let the Smithsonian have some for study and
display, give the collecting public the opportunity to purchase some for
their collections at a fair price, and allow everyone the right to view
it. It did after all fall in the USA.

People are going to concentrate on the value. It's human nature. I
understand that posting huge dollar amounts publicly makes it harder on
hunters and those trying to recover meteorites in the field. But you
have to start somewhere, and realize the media is going to report on the
dollar value. That's a BIG part of the story and what pulls in their
viewers and readers. Viewers that can be your eyes and ears on the ground.

The landowners are the people who watch these news reports and they are
the ones we must treat with respect and above all follow their wishes.
You can't just tell a landowner a meteorite is worth $20/g or $1/g or
$100/g for their meteorite from a new fall because you don't know how
things are going to turn out yet. All you can do is offer a fair price
and work a deal with the landowner that is mutually beneficial
regardless of what he or she "believes" it to be worth. I talked to
enough landowners in West to know that it's not easy to get permission
to hunt, especially when they believe that meteorites on their land are
worth $10,000. But the fact is that not all meteorites are worth that.
Once you establish raport with the landowner only then can you speak
with them about money.

Part of establishing raport is good media information. If the reporters
are educated in meteorites then they are more likely to report well on
the issue and landowners might be more apt to let you hunt their land as
long as they believe hunters are going to be fair with them. If not, and
reporters paint it in a negative light, no one will call, and meteorites
will be plowed over come planting season. Forever lost to science and
collectors.

Keep meteorites in the news. Let landowners, media, and the public know
that it's not all about the money, but that's a big part of it. I've
made up a stock letter I send out to reporters, or when I comment on a
website to let people who are caught up in the excitement know that
their information is needed and that those who hunt and recover
meteorites aren't all out just for the money, but that it's also ok if
they are. It's all about honesty and fairness.

We need the media, the media needs us. The landowners, I'm sure would
like a fair price and to be treated with respect.

Regards,
Eric Wichman
Meteorites USA
www.meteoritesusa.com





On 2/4/2010 8:55 PM, Mike Hankey wrote:
> Michael,
>
> Sorry, but I think your criticism of the media and meteorite men is a
> little harsh and one sided. In the case of the washington post, this
> story is about a legal battle over the ownership of a high end
> meteorite. Reporting about $10 meteorites is not relevant. Reporting
> about the true value of this meteorite is.
>
> Stories like this will inspire and motivate locals to look for these
> meteorites, this will hopefully lead to more lorton meteorites being
> found which is good for science and the meteorite world. Two weeks
> after the fall, when the story has already been forgotten, the trail
> has gone cold and the pros have gone home unable to find any low
> hanging fruit what chance is there other than a local finding it?
> Without the media reporting about it, how would a local even know to
> look? Without a financial motive why would they care? In this regard,
> I believe the media is an important tool in finding meteorites from
> new falls and I am happy the post is still covering the story -- it
> keeps the rocks on people's minds.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Mike
>
>
>
>
> On Thursday, February 4, 2010, michael cottingham<mikewren at gilanet.com> wrote:
>
>> Hello,
>>
>>
>> WOW! STOP. You prove my point exactly and you read a lot into what I said!
>>
>>
>>> NEVER. Did I suggest That the Lorton was not worth a lot of money. It probably is worth 50k, give or take. NEVER, did I compare it to NWA. You prove my point, because the HIGH END is the only thing people remember.
>>>
>> Here is my quote from the Washington Post Article:
>>
>> Internet auction sites such as eBay have made buying and selling meteorite bits and chunks far more lucrative in recent years, said Michael Cottingham, a New Mexico-based hunter and dealer. Prices for small bits of the space rock can vary on the Web site from $10 for a common bit of meteorite that landed long ago, up to thousands of dollars for a newly landed specimens.
>>
>> "When you get a new meteorite like the one in Lorton, the low-end figure gets forgotten," Cottingham says. "You're just not going to go find some meteorites and pay all your bills."
>>
>> I took a lot of effort to get him to write $10.00! He only wanted to know about the high end. TV shows and news stories that ONLY State the high end do more harm then good. In fact, they drive away young collectors. If young collectors or new collectors think all meteorites cost 10k, you will get very few people coming in to the field. YOU ALSO DRIVE UP FIELD PRICES. I am not talking about cheating a farmer or rancher by trying to get something for nothing, I am talking about ridiculous price being asked because of ignorance and TV SHOWS that are poorly done.
>>
>> I had 6 meteorites located last year. All real meteorites. ALL 6 meteorites were found by people who saw the cash and treasure show and the 1st episode of "Meteorite Men". All- and I mean all of these people thought their stones were worth 100k to begin with. Where did they get this idea? They got it from BAD REPORTING . Where did the farmer get the idea that his 1 kilo ugly ass chondrite was worth $45,000.00 ???? From the show Cash and Treasure!
>> That is a fact and if I need to get his statement in writing he has agreed to do this.... because BAD REPORTING AND BAD TV Shows can and do harm this field.
>>
>> In my ebay store I have 100's of meteorites under $100.00. Do you mention that. NO. You quote my high end collection pieces only.
>>
>> Unlike a lot of people on this list (Most in fact) I have supported my 5 children by really making a living by hunting, buying and selling meteorites for the last 10+ years. When I tell you that TV shows have had a negative impact on the field - I am not talking hot air.
>>
>> There are 4+ meteorites sitting in farmer's houses right now because of what these people have perceived to learn about meteorites.
>>
>> on and on and on.....
>>
>> Michael Cottingham
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> On Feb 4, 2010, at 8:51 AM, Mike Hankey wrote:
>>
>>
>> Michael,
>>
>> I have to repectfully disagree with some of your satements. First
>> suggesting that a hammer stone from a witnessed fall in the nations
>> Capitol is equivellent in price to a weathered nwa at cents a gram is
>> nonsense. This tactic is more about getting a good deal from an
>> unwitting landowner than the preservation of science.
>>
>> Secondly I have seen the prices on most of your collection and from
>> what I can tell that farmer in Texas isn't asking much more than what
>> you are asking for your west meteorites. Why should an educated farmer
>> take the hit just so a collector can take the prize?
>>
>> Third media and shows about meteorites are good for meteorites. It
>> increases demand which in turn increases sales and values. Supply is
>> limited which means anyone already invested in meteorites will
>> benefit. Commodities can become overvalued at times look at real
>> estate. When someone is asking too much the product doesn't sell. This
>> is part of capitalism.
>>
>> I don't think the values of the lorton meteorite have been
>> misteprestend in any of the stories.
>>
>> Spreading knowledge and excitement about meteorites is a good for
>> meteorites, good for science and it leads to discoveries. Hording
>> knowledge is good for profits and that's about it.
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>> Mike
>>
>> On Wednesday, February 3, 2010, michael cottingham<mikewren at gilanet.com> wrote:
>>
>> Hello,
>>
>> It should be of great concern. Every news article, every TV show, every special that features meteorites as "treasure" first, and science second, will most likely result in a distorted view of what meteorites are worth.
>>
>> In my recent interview with the Washington Post writer, we spent nearly 20-30 minutes talking about the pricing of meteorites. I expressed to him that it was extremely important to report the pricing accurately. I told him almost every time a story is done on meteorites and prices are mentioned, well the reporter seems to forget the pennies per gram and goes with the ten's of thousands that a meteorite could be worth.
>>
>> I told him when you state the high end only, you get a distorted view of pricing, and the results can be extremely negative. I believe you have more fraud on ebay, because people think they can get $10,000 for the meteorwrong, not $10.00. This is most likely a direct result of distorted news reporting and TV shows.
>>
>> I know many of you dearly love the Meteorite TV shows of late, and think they are nothing but great for the field of meteorites. Well, I know of 4 meteorites in the field, who's owners/finders want tens of thousands of dollars, more than these little chondrites are worth- simply because of the Cash and Treasure Show and the first Meteorite Men episode.
>>
>> So, because I will not pay, $45,000 for a 1 kilo chondrite from North Texas, it will sit, like many others meteorites with the owners- who believe, because of TV shows that were done poorly, that they are worth $50,000 or more. Science will loose out if reporting is not done accurately.
>>
>> Best Wishes
>>
>> Michael Cottingham
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> On Feb 3, 2010, at 9:34 AM, Michael Groetz wrote:
>>
>>
>> List-
>> Maybe many of the rest of you don't feel this way- but to me it
>> generally seems the news media and television shows are more concerned
>> about a quick buck rather than the science and appreciation for
>> meteorites for what they are- treasures from space that you can hold
>> in your hand.
>> It seems like initially meteorites are viewed as something special
>> and usually wind up "How much is it worth?" after buyers roll in.
>> The doctor in this case tried to maintain the scientific value for
>> all to appreciate while helping the people of Haiti. Then the $$$ was
>> thrown at them and greed seems to be winning out.
>> Sorry for the frustration.
>> Mike
>>
>> http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2010/02/03/meteorite-worth-thousands-stirs-ownership-debate/
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Received on Fri 05 Feb 2010 12:58:31 AM PST