[meteorite-list] Guesstimate on number of meteorite collectors.

From: Mendy Ouzillou <ouzillou_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Tue, 14 May 2013 11:53:18 -0700 (PDT)
Message-ID: <1368557598.87851.YahooMailNeo_at_web126206.mail.ne1.yahoo.com>

Don,

I guess I make the first attempt at answering some of your questions.

The number of reputable meteorite dealers is limited and the number of full time meteorite dealers significantly limited. I do not understand why you call the situation of so many sellers a fiasco. From my perspective, I think it is great and an indication that our universe is expanding and new people are getting into the avocation/vocation. These are all signs of a thriving and growing market. Does that mean more competition, yes, but this is no different than any other market place.


Hardcore/high end collectors, as I understand it, have very private relationships with one or a handful of highly regarded and trusted dealers. These types of customers take years to cultivate and we will only see or hear about them on occasion. Hard core collectors of more modest means make sacrifices and tradeoffs. I still drive my 1999 Honda Civic but could have bought many a new car if not for the wonderful art and meteorites I have collected and have enriched my life over the years.

Trying to understand the motivations of why people keep buying the same thing is important to best serve your customers, but not something to bemoan. The dealers that sell the same items have found a successful niche and more power to them. Dealers know that they need to play to their strengths and service their customers in the best way possible.

I think it is disingenuous to assume that collectors out there get/got their money from mom and dad. Our community should embrace all collectors of whatever means and get them excited about something we are all (hopefully) passionate about.

I did not answer your fundamental question of the number of total collectors out there and in some sense it does not matter. As long as the answer is that the number is growing, it's all good!


Mendy Ouzillou


>________________________________
> From: Don Merchant <dmerchan at rochester.rr.com>
>To: Meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com
>Cc: Don Merchant <dmerchan at rochester.rr.com>
>Sent: Tuesday, May 14, 2013 12:28 PM
>Subject: [meteorite-list] Guesstimate on number of meteorite collectors.
>
>
>Hi List. Some thoughts and questions to ponder. To me it seems like there is
>an endless number of Meteorite Dealers, Wannabee Meteorite Dealers, Part
>Time Sellers, Full time Sellers, One hit wonder Sellers, Mix of meteorite
>and Jewelry Sellers etc. All one has to do is just go on eBay to get a
>partial idea of this fiasco, let alone the many websites you come across
>when searching blindly on the internet involving meteorites. It seems
>everyone including my great grandmother is selling meteorites! I also know
>that meteorite collecting is confined to a very small group/percentage of
>people world wide as compared to other hobbies. Does anyone have any idea of
>how many hard core Collectors there are in the world at one time? I am not
>talking about the 1 time Buyer of a meteorite either. I see some Dealers
>selling the same material every week for years! I mean it sells, but to
>who!! The same type specimen every single week for years, I mean every
>Collector on Earth should have a piece of it by now, and yet someone buys
>another piece the following week! What are Collectors doing, double and
>tripling up on the specimens! I don't get it. Anyways....I just don't see
>how anyone can make a full time living Selling meteorites with such
>completion out there these days and the fraud that takes place. My pet
>peeves are those that sell without providing at least an ID Card or some
>kind of provenance...at least something to back the specimen. That irks me
>to no end! I have solved that issue long, long ago ...I don't buy from you,
>period. How the heck can I resell that specimen without some form of
>legitimacy. So for those of you who still continue to sell without ID Cards
>or Provenance, lets get your crap in order. Another thing I noticed is that
>(especially) on eBay that week after week after week specimens like Lunars,
>Martians, or historical specimens (well known and famous specimens) that
>which have been sold or known for years, still get high prices for the
>auction. You mean that after all these years there are still Collectors that
>do not have a piece of say NWA 482 or DaG 476! Once it is put up on eBay
>somebody buys it. Where on Earth do these people work that they continue to
>buy and buy and buy meteorites! I guess I just don't understand who is
>always buying these specimens with such a bad global economy and a limited
>elite group of Collectors. Where the heck do you get your money from!? Maybe
>inheritance? Lottery Money? Can't be from hard earned money! Just sounding
>off is all to those who want to listen/read. I mean some people go to these
>shows like Ensisheim or Tucson and spend tens of thousands of dollars or
>more on specimens! What!! Are you serious! I know for a fact that less then
>1/10th of 1% of people become millionaires starting out with nothing. The
>rest were either lucky or money was handed to them by Mom and Dad or Mom and
>Dad's business was given to them. I just don't get it. I have a very high
>paying job and no one ever gave me a penny and I barely make ends meet, let
>alone find money to purchase meteorites. This is a mystery that needs to be
>on the History Channel!
>Sincerely
>Don Merchant
>Founder-Cosmic Treasures Celestial Wonders
>www.ctreasurescwonders.com
>IMCA #0960
>
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Received on Tue 14 May 2013 02:53:18 PM PDT