[meteorite-list] Auction Kings meteorite - $2000 Sikhote Alin

From: MexicoDoug <*mexicodoug_at_meteoritecentral.com*> Date: Fri, 23 Mar 2012 16:11:00 -0400 (EDT) Message-ID: <8CED74831DEDB19-174-4D3_at_webmail-m160.sysops.aol.com> · mexicodoug_at_meteoritecentral.com

--
-----------------------------------------------------------
Galactic Stone & Ironworks - MikeG
Web: http://www.galactic-stone.com
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On 3/23/12, MexicoDoug <mexicodoug at aim.com> wrote:
> Mike G wrote:
>
> "He opens it and brings out a Sikhote Alin shrapnel about the size of 
a
> grapefruit."
>
> "I'd guess the piece would sell on the meteorite market or eBay for
> about $250-$300.  The owner's desired price of $1000 seemed 
unrealistic
> to me."
>
> Mike, very entertaining!  I think I will start meteorite hunting on
> eBay.  I sure would be easier than in the field if what this is true.
> A Sikhote the size of a grapefruit, if we use the United States
> Department of Agriculture's (USDA) definition for an average pink
> grapefruit size, is ...
>
> 3.61 kg.
>
> So less eBay and paypal commissions, we must be receiving $218 for
> these Sikhote grapefruits, because we have an addiction to giving 
stuff
> away on eBay. ;-)
> The problem with "I caught a fish and it was *this big*" is you are
> building a story around a supposition you have made, when in fact 
$1000
> may have been a reasonable offering price for the meteorite, or it may
> not have.
>
> Do you think 2.29 kg Campo for $749 is a better deal?
>
> 
http://www.galactic-stone.com/product/campo-del-cielo-iron-meteorite--big-centerpiece-specimen-229kg
>
> " and a bunch of people who don't know jack about meteorites"
>
> ???:  huh?  What does an isolated sales price have to do with knowing
> about meteorites?
>
> Kindest wishes
> Doug
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Michael Gilmer <meteoritemike at gmail.com>
> To: meteorite-list <meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com>
> Sent: Fri, Mar 23, 2012 10:38 am
> Subject: [meteorite-list] Auction Kings meteorite - $2000 Sikhote Alin
>
>
> Hi Folks,
>
> So last night I was going through the channel guide on cable TV and I
> saw that a show called "Auction Kings" was going to have a segment
> featuring a meteorite.  I had never watched this show before, but I
> was very curious to see what type of meteorite would be shown.
>
> Apparently, the show is about a local auction house somewhere (not
> sure where).  People bring in unusual items and the auction house
> sells them at open auction while the cameras follow the action.
>
> The meteorite segment came and here is where the fun begins....
>
> This guy walks in carrying a Pelican-style case about the size of a
> camera case.  He opens it and brings out a Sikhote Alin shrapnel about
> the size of a grapefruit.  The meteorite had a nice patina, but the
> shape was not very interesting or sculpted.  In other words, it was
> what most of us would call a "lump", but it was obvious from the
> appearance that it was a genuine Sikhote.
>
> First, the auction house guy was impressed because the meteorite had a
> certificate of authenticity.  I thought this was laughable for obvious
> reasons and a man who runs an auction house should know that 99% of
> COA's are not worth the paper they are printed on.  I can go outside,
> grab a rock from my driveway, and print up an official-looking COA for
> it.
>
> Next, the owner proceeds to demonstrate that the meteorite is
> "magnetic" because a magnet will stick to it and that is one of the
> key tests to determine if a meteorite is genuine.  I'll skip comment
> on this misconception and use of improper terminology because the real
> kicker was still to come.
>
> So the owner tells the auction house that he is hoping to sell the
> meteorite to help pay for a vacation to Paris and he wants $1000 for
> it.
>
> Ok, at no point in the show was the weight of the specimen ever
> mentioned.  So without knowing the weight, it is difficult to assign
> to solid value to the piece.  But judging by what I saw (apparent size
> and shape), I'd guess the piece would sell on the meteorite market or
> eBay for about $250-$300.  The owner's desired price of $1000 seemed
> unrealistic to me, but this is television and a bunch of people who
> don't know jack about meteorites, so anything is possible.
>
> The auction part comes, and they have a nice turn out with maybe two
> or three dozen potential bidders in attendance.  The meteorite ignites
> a bidding war and the final price for the piece was.....(*drumroll
> please*)...... $2000!  And the buyer was thrilled because he thought
> he got a good deal.  Of course, once he gets home and does some
> Googling to learn more about his new meteorite, he might change his
> mind about the deal he got.  He could have went on eBay and bought a
> half-dozen Sikhote shrapnels of that size for $2000.
>
> So the moral of this story is - if you have a local auction house near
> you, go down there with a meteorite and you might be pleasantly
> surprised how much money it will fetch.  I'm opening up the yellow
> pages today and/or getting on the internet and see what kind of
> auction houses we have here in the Tampa area.  I'll be more than
> happy to offer them all the $200 stones and irons they want, as long
> as they fetch $2000 each.  Heck, even after the auction house takes
> it's percentage, that is still a great deal for the seller.
>
> And the best part is, once the buyer gets home and finds out he/she
> got burned on the price, they cannot get mad at the seller, because
> they are the ones who bid the item up.
>
> Dealers - check your local auction houses.
>
> Best regards,
>
> MikeG
>
> --
> -----------------------------------------------------------
> Galactic Stone & Ironworks - MikeG
>
> Web: http://www.galactic-stone.com
> Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/galacticstone
> Twitter: http://twitter.com/GalacticStone
> RSS: http://www.galactic-stone.com/rss/126516
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