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

From: Richard Montgomery <rickmont_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Fri, 23 Mar 2012 17:48:20 -0700
Message-ID: <253F473A5F87495B991D1C9874F8ADB2_at_bosoheadPC>

Yeah, I initially had the same reaction as Count...maybe not a good idea to
switch the paradigm from in-the-know-competitive-market-driven-values to a
free-for-all-mystique-value which eventually would upset at least some of
the participants when the competitive-market-driven-values are discovered.

Yet, who knows...value is where one finds it. As our passion now enjoys
front-stage TV recognition, I'd be wrong to assert that mystique-value, (and
throw in celebrity-value, howdy Geoff and Steve!) isn't now a new element;
simply check ebay to see how celebrity status carries the day (something I
applaud.) I doubt that rare metoeriteswill ever even enter into this arena:
imagine if the consigned piece was a 1 gram 100% crusted Tissint...we'd hear
the silence in the room....and wish we'd been there to offer $600 for the
"tiny little thing."

Hmmm...this is an interesting thread.....

Richard Montgomery


----- Original Message -----
From: "Count Deiro" <countdeiro at earthlink.net>
To: "MexicoDoug" <mexicodoug at aim.com>; <meteoritemike at gmail.com>;
<meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com>; <meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com>
Sent: Friday, March 23, 2012 2:54 PM
Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] Auction Kings meteorite - $2000 Sikhote Alin


> Hi List,
>
> Most auctioneers and auction bidders wouldn't be able to tell a meteorite
> from a charcoal briquet. I think the rock in question sold cheap. The
> seller could have put $2,000 as the reserve and those bidders would have
> slugged it out to an even higher figure. Why do I say that? Because what
> they did proved They didn't know market prices, so they were being
> motivated by mystique, the Public misconception of value due to popular
> media BS... and finally...good ole competition between each other. Seen it
> happen a hundred times. It will keep happening until we screw it up by
> flooding the small auction houses with meteorites and telling everyone
> when they have paid too much.
>
> And if it bothers you to see someone pay more for something than you
> would. Then ask yourself...Am I upset because I could have been the seller
> and made that killing? Or am I upset because somebody made a bad buy? I
> thought so.
>
> Regards,
>
> Count Deiro
> IMCA 3536
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
>>From: MexicoDoug <mexicodoug at aim.com>
>>Sent: Mar 23, 2012 12:43 PM
>>To: meteoritemike at gmail.com, meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com
>>Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] Auction Kings meteorite - $2000 Sikhote Alin
>>
>>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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Received on Fri 23 Mar 2012 08:48:20 PM PDT