[meteorite-list] Meteorite Guides on eBay

From: Richard Kowalski <damoclid_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Mon, 13 Sep 2010 13:30:37 -0700 (PDT)
Message-ID: <980123.82096.qm_at_web113612.mail.gq1.yahoo.com>

With the fakes and frauds on ebay, and the discussions on this list, I have not heard a single person mention the guides on ebay that discuss meteorites, meteorite identification and what to do if you think you've found a meteorite.

In addition to this, I don't remember seeing any lot listing on ebay from reputable dealers that cite any of these guides.

Just looking through the titles of the 24 guides already written and in place, I see a number of them have been written by well known dealers on this list. In addition to pointing out the IMCA as a source of information, it seems to me that it would do those selling meteorites would do well to pick a few of these guides to link to on their listing.

You'll never be able to reach everyone, and as Barnum stated so well, "There is a sucker born every minute.", so I think the best anyone can do is point out the resources available to the buyer. Anyone willing to spend insane amounts of money on rocks that the seller claims is a meteorite with no verification is not really interested in meteorites to start with. They are mostly looking to get rich quick. I seriously doubt that any of those fool's money would ever end up in a legitimate dealers pocket no matter what. I honesty don't think this is hurting the meteorite market all that much. Not that I condone this, just don't believe that these buyers are not really, and never would be "meteorite people".

The ebay guides I mention can be found at:

http://tinyurl.com/2uzgvfu

--
Richard Kowalski
Full Moon Photography
IMCA #1081
      

Received on Mon 13 Sep 2010 04:30:37 PM PDT