[meteorite-list] Suspicious Allende on eBay and an APOLOGY

From: Brandon D. <b1dunovant_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Mon, 31 Dec 2012 15:56:52 -0600
Message-ID: <lcvemgi8juq13flns0g9gohp.1356991012429_at_email.android.com>

Hi Mendy,

I would like to commend your efforts to educate the general public about our field. His response shows your instructions and teaching reached him and maybe if we are lucky, planted a seed for him to further his knowledge.

Happy New Years,
Brandon D.

Mendy Ouzillou <ouzillou at yahoo.com> wrote:

>dear list members,
>
>Just when I thought that trying to get eBay sellers to pull/alter meteorite listings was a quixotic effort that would simply accelerate my hair loss, here is the latest email exchange with Kidcentavo.? Though clearly not a list member, I will post a sincere apology to him in assuming he was crooked without offering him the chance to do the right thing first.
>
>He has changed his description which you can read here: http://bit.ly/UhzQDJ
>
>
>Dear kidcentavo,
>
>Before
> you return it, have someone in your local area who is knowledgeable
>take a look at it. Do not take it to not a university geology department
> unless they specialize in meteorites. If you will tell me where you are
> located, I may be able to find someone who can do that for you.
>
>
>- mendyo
>
>
>Dear mendyo,
>
>I
> see tha attach photo's box. [I'll]Take some pictures this week and attach.
>Glad the Admire is correct, feel a little better. Found the encyclopedia
> website and saw the pictures there in. And my listing looks LESS AND
>LESS like a Chihuahua meteorite. There's NOT enough fusion crust on
>mine, and NO melilikte-fassalite-anorthite chondrules. (And I know
>feldspars very well) (Anorthite is one end member of the albite to
>anorthite series) Well I will take it back to the mineral shop when the
>listing ends and get a refund. Even though it's been 7 years. A good
>lesson I have learned there eh?? That fusion crust lasts alot longer on
>the specimen in dryier climates than I thought. Thanks for all your
>time and advise. As payback from me to you, I know OPALS better than
>anyone in the southwest. If you ever decide to get one, shoot me a close
> up picture and I'll provide you with some advice of them... I go every
>year to Nevada and dig for those suckers. Kidcentavo
>
>
>- kidcentavo
>
>
>
>Dear kidcentavo,
>
>I
> had a listing for a piece of pottery that was not what it had been sold
> to me as. Lost over $250, but I pulled the listing immediately and
>relisted as a possible fake. Sold for $5 but wanted it out of my house,
>so I feel your pain and uncertainty.
>
>The Admire looks exactly as
>it should, so no issue there. I own a slice of Glorieta Mountain and it
>is absolutely beautiful material. I can't authenticate anything by
>pictures. Send me pics by attaching photos to this email string.
>I'll be happy to take a look and provide an opinion (but not a
>authentication).
>
>A fantastic resource are the following two websites:
>1) http://www.lpi.usra.edu/meteor/ (type in the name of the meteorite and look to the bottom for pictures)
>2) http://www.encyclopedia-of-meteorites.com/
>
>On
> your Allende, focus on the crust. It should be a dark grey to black
>with fine cracks. Depending on how you stored it, it may even smell a
>little sulfurous.
>
>
>
>- mendyo
>
>> On 30 Dec 2012, at 03:07, "Mendy Ouzillou" <ouzillou at yahoo.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Yup, it was pulled for a few hours and then he put it back up. Here is
>>>> his response back to me regarding the stone's history:
>>>> I bought it from Southwestern Minerals and Gems, Albuquerque New
>>>> Mexico in
>>>> 2005 and it had INFORMATION card with it. i.e. what kind of meteorite
>>>> it was, where it was from, and the date of the fall along with the
>>>> name of the shop. No mention however WHO COLLECTED IT or WHEN it was
>>>> collected, I do not think the owner of the gem shop, knew that
>>> information. ANY other questions?
>>>> Kidcentavo
>>>> I have blocked him and many other suspicious eBay sellers.? If you
>>>> want the list email me privately.
>>>>
>>>> Mendy
>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>> From: meteorite-list-bounces at meteoritecentral.com
>>>> [mailto:meteorite-list-bounces at meteoritecentral.com] On Behalf Of W&S
>>>> Schroer
>>>> Sent: Saturday, December 29, 2012 3:17 PM
>>>> To: Meteorite List
>>>> Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] Suspicious (ok, flat out fraud) Allende
>>>> on eBay
>>>>
>>>> Hi Mendy,
>>>> the Allende hasn't been pulled yet. At least not here in Australia.
>>>>
>>>> http://tinyurl.com/d29xruz
>>>>
>>>> Cheers
>>>> Werner Schroer
>>>> Australia
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> -----Original Message-----
>>>> From: Mendy Ouzillou
>>>> Sent: Sunday, December 30, 2012 6:50 AM
>>>> To: Mendy Ouzillou
>>>> Cc: meteorite list
>>>> Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] Suspicious (ok, flat out fraud) Allende
>>>> on eBay
>>>>
>>>> The suspicious Allende has been pulled. Looks like kidcentavo got
>>>> nervous regarding my inquiry. Adding his name to my s-hit list.
>>>>
>>>> Mendy Ouzillou
>>>>
>>>> On Dec 29, 2012, at 11:09 AM, "Mendy Ouzillou" <ouzillou at yahoo.com> wrote:
>>>>
>>>> http://www.ebay.com/itm/157-1-gram-Allende-Carbonaceous-Chondrite-Mete
>>>> orite-
>>>> from-Chihuahua-Mexico-/330850675605?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4d0
>>>> 83cab9
>>>> 5
>>>> I sent him an email asking who he originally bought the specimen from.?
>>>> Am curious to see his response.
>>>> Had a thought regarding fraudulent sellers on eBay. We should make a
>>>> list of these people and make sure they cannot buy specimens from us.?
>>>> Here is my logic. Seems like some of these scammers buy genuine items
>>>> to lend credibility to their other not-so-genuine items listed for
>>>> sale. I for one do not want anything I sell to be used as part of
>>>> someone else's fraudulent activity. I will start putting a list
>>>> together and I'll send it out to everyone who wants it. I will block these
>>> eBayers from buying from me.
>>>> If you want to be amused by someone completely delusional, read the
>>>> description for this "moon" rock.? I feel bad for Dr. Korotev for
>>>> having to put up with this kind of BS.
>>>> http://www.ebay.com/itm/Meteorite-/190777042426?_trksid=p2045573.m2042
>>>> &_trkp
>>>> arms=aid%3D111000%26algo%3DREC.CURRENT%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D27%26meid%3D45
>>>> 038637
>>>> 28672966212%26pid%3D100033%26prg%3D1011%26rk%3D2%26sd%3D330850675605%2
>>>> 6
>>>> Regards,
>>>> Mendy
>>>>
>>>> ______________________________________________
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>>
>>
>>
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Received on Mon 31 Dec 2012 04:56:52 PM PST