[meteorite-list] Question for dealers re: displaying sold items

From: Norm Lehrman <nlehrman_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Tue, 12 Apr 2011 21:00:00 -0700 (PDT)
Message-ID: <355754.73913.qm_at_web81004.mail.mud.yahoo.com>

All,

This is an interesting question with important nuances.? I am one that does
leave many sold items pictured (but I do endeavor to marke them "sold" ASAP).

Here's why I do it:? The items we sell, each and every one of them, are unique.?
It is not like listing a particular stock item that was mass produced.? We do
have categories and types and sub-types, but in the end, a whole long list of
individuals.? As a consequence, every specimen has a unique value.? One displays
this feature supremely well, another presents other aspects well.? One glorious
piece has it all.? I leave pictures of sold items on the website to help
collectors to develop a sense of perspective.? How can you recognize a truly
superb Besednice moldavite if you don't have some frame of reference for the
range of attributes possible?

So that is my "why".? But there is another question that has not been mentioned
thus far, and I would appreciate your thoughts on this.? For a long time, when I
was updating a "sold" item, I left the asking price visible.? The thought, in
line with the preceeding paragraph, was to help provide perspective as to what
other "willing buyers" had accepted as a fair price for a piece of a particular
quality.?


However, I also recognize that the day comes when a buyer may wish to resell,
and at that point, the price they paid for the piece should be a private
matter.? In fact, some buyers may not want their significant others finding out
the buying price for that great specimen they just bought instead of paying the
rent!?? So, I increasingly do remove the purchase price when I mark something
"sold" (but I?hope that potential buyers may be able to infer from my long
listing of "sold" items that many collectors have judged my pricing
reasonable---).? Do you want the purchase price deleted or do you find value in
being able to see what was actually paid for a specimen?

Periodically, I do go through our listings and weed out most of the sold items,
leaving only a selection of some of the best of the best "sold" items still
pictured.??But for those of you who don't maintain?your own websites, it is
worth noting that this involves identifying the particular thumbnail photo that
links to particular blow-up, then deleting those images and changing the
associated page to delete references to those images, etc, etc.? Frankly, there
comes a point where it is easier to just leave it all there.? Lazy is part of
the answer to the original question---

Cheers,
Norm? (http://tektitesource.com)
(back home for a month, then back to Africa---)



?


----- Original Message ----
From: Michael Gilmer <meteoritemike at gmail.com>
To: Shawn Alan <photophlow at yahoo.com>
Cc: meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com
Sent: Tue, April 12, 2011 7:59:52 PM
Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] Question for dealers re: displaying sold items

Hi List,

Martin and Shawn raised a couple of good points.? Old-school
collectors bought specimens via snail mail and telephone calls,
sometimes without seeing a photo of a specimen.? Some dealers like Bob
Haag had catalogues with photos and descriptions, but many had simple
price lists with nothing more than a line or two describing the
specimen.? Today, we have instant gratification and can shop online
for meteorites as if we are buying shoes or a hat.? But, meteorites
are unique and unusual, so they are ill-suited for a quickie "drive
through" type of sales medium.? Some of the newer dealers have very
nice and flashy websites that are quite effective, but much of the
meteorite world is still operating by it's own rules, so change comes
slowly.

Heck, I still buy the occasional specimen via snail mail and
price-list.? I've bought specimens from Blaine Reed, sight-unseen with
just a brief text description and price.? Not one time have I been
disappointed, and it's exciting to open the package and see the
specimen for the first time.? It's a thrill one can't really get when
you have already seen a dozen hi-res photos from every possible angle
before receiving it in hand.

As for the dealers who still have archives or pages full of sold
specimens, I have no problem with it, if the specimens are marked as
"sold" on the website, and the website is updated on a regular basis
or semi-regular basis.? When I can't tell which specimens are sold and
which are not, that can be frustrating.

Best regards,

MikeG

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Mike Gilmer - Galactic Stone & Ironworks Meteorites

Website - http://www.galactic-stone.com
Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/galacticstone
News Feed - http://www.galactic-stone.com/rss/126516
Twitter - http://twitter.com/galacticstone
EOM - http://www.encyclopedia-of-meteorites.com/collection.aspx?id=1564
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

On 4/12/11, Shawn Alan <photophlow at yahoo.com> wrote:
> I would say Dealers leave sold items on the website because it shows the
> buyers what they have sold in the past and also it builds up there
> reputation of their dealings in a since its a resume. If I went to a website
> and only saw a couple items that they have and nothing else I would think
> twice and would even think they are a small time player. But it can be
> discouraging that when you think you have found that meteorite and when you
> click on the image you see that its sold. That is the nature of collecting,
> but again, Anne Black said always ask. I have to agree on that too.
>
> Shawn Alan
> IMCA 1633
> eBaystore
> http://shop.ebay.com/photophlow/m.html
>
>
> [meteorite-list] Question for dealers re: displaying sold itemsMichael
> Mulgrew mikestang at gmail.com
> Tue Apr 12 19:21:29 EDT 2011
>
>
> Previous message: [meteorite-list] AD: AUCTIONS ENDING THIS WEEK- MAKE
> OFFERS & BIG SALE!
> Next message: [meteorite-list] Question for dealers re: displaying sold
> items
> Messages sorted by: [ date ] [ thread ] [ subject ] [ author ]
>
> List,
>
> I am curious why almost every meteorite dealer's website displays
> specimens that have already sold right along side specimens that are
> in stock and available for sale? I do not know of any other market
> that does this; it is unique to meteorites in my experiences. As a
> collector/prospective buyer I do not see the upside to this practice.
> It does nothing for helping me find what I'm looking for; in fact it
> is counter productive when I am shopping for a specimen as it makes it
> more difficult to see what is actually available for sale. It's
> synonymous with looking for clothes in your size and every store has
> displays showing your size but not actually selling any clothes that
> fit you. Maybe a separate page for "Sold Specimens" would be more
> appropriate if there was a need that I am not aware of to display
> pieces that have already been sold? I look forward to becoming
> educated on this matter.
>
> Regards,
> Michael in so. Cal.
>
>
>
>
>
> Previous message: [meteorite-list] AD: AUCTIONS ENDING THIS WEEK- MAKE
> OFFERS & BIG SALE!
> Next message: [meteorite-list] Question for dealers re: displaying sold
> items
> Messages sorted by: [ date ] [ thread ] [ subject ] [ author ]
>
> More information about the Meteorite-list mailing list
>
> ______________________________________________
> Visit the Archives at
> http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html
> Meteorite-list mailing list
> Meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com
> http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
>

--
______________________________________________
Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html
Meteorite-list mailing list
Meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com
http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list

Received on Wed 13 Apr 2011 12:00:00 AM PDT