I agree. There were a few times several years ago when someone
demanded provenance on items I was selling only to have them contact
my source directly and attempt to take me out of the middle of the deal.
If buyers aren't sure that they can trust a dealer to sell them
exactly what is claimed, they should probably take there business elsewhere.
I was on the other side of this situation years ago.
Several years ago, a well known dealer called me on the phone and
said he had a fantastic deal for me - 0.10 grams of Governador
Valadares for $1,000. I said I wasn't interested but he pressed me.
When I asked about provenance, he balked but said that I could always
send it to a lab and have it tested. Hmmmm, destroy the specimen to
prove whether or not it is the Real McCoy. Kind of like dunking women
in 17th century New England - if they floated they were witches, if
they sank (and drowned) they were innocent. The dealer is still
making a full court press telling me how fantastic ( he always
described his specimens in the superlative form) this piece
was. But, as we talked, a few more tidbits came to the surface. In
fact, there were several "conditions" that came with the purchase of
the specimen. One - I couldn't tell anyone where I got it from. In
fact, it was best if I didn't tell anyone that I even had it. Two -
I couldn't ask for provenance, the source wanted to remain
incognito. Three - I had to buy it "right now" or the deal was
off. I saw red flags waving at me and I still held my ground about
not wanting the specimen. "You must be crazy," says the well known
dealer, " You could turn around and sell it for three grand easily."
Some of you, I'm sure, know what my next question to Mr. Pushy
was. When I asked him why HE didn't sell it for three grand there
was a very pregnant pause. Finally, his reply was the often used
tactics of those whose business practices aren't always on the
up-and-up. "It's starting to sound like you don't trust me," he
stammered. Well, to make a long story short, I hung up the phone and
added the dealer to my "black list".
Be careful about who you do business with. Don't let your emotions
overrule common sense.
Best,
John Gwilliam
At 08:22 AM 4/14/2008, Jim Strope wrote:
Sounds like a good solution Matt.
I would not want my name published on a website that I provide
consignments if I did that sort of thing. If I was a buyer and saw
that dealer A had a specimen acquired from dealer B, I would just
contact dealer B and see if they had any more and eliminate dealer A's mark up.
Would anyone expect Marting to reveal his source for his new Martian
Meteorite? Or Adam for NWA 5000? I would bet that they will not
reveal their planetary sources any quicker than I will.
Provenance, in my opinion, exists where old labels accompany the
specimen, or it came from a museum or famous old collector of yesteryear.
Jim Strope
421 Fourth Street
Glen Dale, WV 26038
http://www.catchafallingstar.com
----- Original Message ----- From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com>
Sent: Monday, April 14, 2008 9:23 AM
Subject: [meteorite-list] Posting sources
Why not just ask the dealer where the material came from? This has
worked for over a decade for my business. Personally, I always
will tell a customer if the ask, but only if that source wants the
information given. Posting the info for all to see, poses a problem
for the privacy of that source and yes, I do not want others
finding that source.
Matt Morgan
Mile High Meteorites
----------------------
Matt Morgan
Mile High Meteorites
http://www.mhmeteorites.com
P.O. Box 151293
Lakewood, CO 80215 USA
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