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 <mexicod...@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 <meteoritem...@gmail.com> > To: meteorite-list <meteorite-list@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 > ----------------------------------------------------------- > ______________________________________________ > > Visit the Archives at > http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html > Meteorite-list mailing list > Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com > http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list > > ______________________________________________ Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html Meteorite-list mailing list Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list