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

From: Michael Gilmer <*meteoritemike_at_meteoritecentral.com*> Date: Fri, 23 Mar 2012 16:21:39 -0400 Message-ID: <CAKBPJW91Eewew_YPXELsQ2kSKZx_=fBopVkVCpyyQj9=N6PCaA_at_mail.gmail.com> · meteoritemike_at_meteoritecentral.com

-- 
-----------------------------------------------------------
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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On 3/23/12, MexicoDoug <mexicodoug at aim.com> wrote:
> "The Sikhote on the TV show was similar in size, shape, and quality to
> this one - http://www.ebay..."
>
> Something like this?
> http://dsc.discovery.com/videos/auction-kings-meteorite-man.html
>
> "that is up to the buyer to decide"
>
> Yes - so true!
>
> Kindest wishes
> Doug
>
>
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Michael Gilmer <meteoritemike at gmail.com>
> To: MexicoDoug <mexicodoug at aim.com>
> Cc: meteorite-list <meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com>
> Sent: Fri, Mar 23, 2012 4:01 pm
> Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] Auction Kings meteorite - $2000 Sikhote
> Alin
>
>
> Hi Doug,
>
> Ok, perhaps a cueball or baseball would be a better analogy.  The
> specimen was about fist-sized and easily fit in the palm of the hand.
> I've seen similar-sized Sikhote shrapnels regularly sell for far less
> than $1000, less yet $2000.
>
> I can't state whether or not any meteorite, even my own, are a good
> deal or not - that is up to the buyer to decide.  In the case of the
> Campo irons I sell on my website, they sell and every buyer has been
> happy with their purchase - not a single complaint or return.  And
> some of those buyers were experienced collectors - they decided that a
> Campo that will never rust is worth the extra money.  (barring putting
> it into a swimming pool)
>
> The Sikhote on the TV show was similar in size, shape, and quality to
> this one -
> http://www.ebay.com/itm/Collection-Meteorite-203Gr-Shaped-SIKHOTE-ALIN-Shrapnel-/370541768509?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_2&hash=item564602af3d
>
> 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
> -----------------------------------------------------------
>
>
> 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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