A question I have thought about... How many meteorite dealers actually collect meteorites? Im not talking about one or two, Im talking about a nice collection that is not for stock.
For me, I see and am finding out more and more dealers that dont actually collect meteorites. This is shocking to me. Perhaps this is due to the fact I am a collector (even if I do sell meteorites, its more to help build my collection) and have been bitten by the meteorite bug. Im sure this may draw some heat, I dont mean for it to, but topics like this seems to bring drama on here... So... here it goes... Why do you dealers sell meteorites that dont have collections? To not collect something implies that you may not have a passion for meteorites that collectors have. Is it for the money? What is it that draws you into the meteorite "field"? I have seen some of the bigger and longtime dealers used to be "treasure hunters" which leads me to think that meteorites were the next treasure for you to seek and get paid off. I ask this not not create problems or drama with this, but out of honest interest in why some of you sell meteorites that dont collect. I got into meteorites purely by accident, but it (anything related to space) was a passion I had since I was a child. Once I found out I could actually own a real meteorite, let alone pieces of the Moon and Mars, It was honestly like a dream come true for me. I only started selling when I quickly found out that without the extra income, I could not afford this addiction I developed. the whole reason I started selling is I couldnt afford the $1000 per gram for the cheapest lunar I could find 3 years ago. Now, its readily available, many types at less then $300 per gram! Hope everyone is doing good and no feelings ruffled from this. Greg Catterton www.wanderingstarmeteorites.com IMCA member 4682 On Ebay: http://stores.shop.ebay.com/wanderingstarmeteorites On Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/WanderingStarMeteorites --- On Sun, 8/15/10, impact...@aol.com <impact...@aol.com> wrote: > From: impact...@aol.com <impact...@aol.com> > Subject: [meteorite-list] Newcomers and the Meteorite world (was STOLEN > meteorites - from Allen Shaw) > To: alm...@kconline.com, swsch...@astrum.com, > meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com > Date: Sunday, August 15, 2010, 4:17 PM > Al, and all > > When we got to well over 100 members in all corners of the > globe, we had to > organize, and become a legal entity. There was no choice > there. And yes, > that meant a Code of Ethics, ByLaws, Yearly Elections, but > also a website, and > the Encyclopedia of Meteorites,....etc, and yes that also > meant $20 a year > dues, to pay expenses, and so we could have funds to keep > on growing and > helping newcomers. And we now have 339 members and > applications coming in > everyday.. > > Al!! You are more than welcome to come back in the > Association, and I am > sure members would line up to recommend you! I'll be at the > head of the line. > > As for a "group of dealers that have some sort of stamp of > approval and > self governing". Isn't it how the IMCA started some 10 > years ago? And you know > what happened when it grew! See paragraph above. Are > you thinking about > doing that all over again? > > Anne M. Black > _http://www.impactika.com/_ (http://www.impactika.com/) > _impact...@aol.com_ > (mailto:impact...@aol.com) > > Vice-President, I.M.C.A. Inc. > _http://www.imca.cc/_ (http://www.imca.cc/) > > > In a message dated 8/15/2010 1:22:29 PM Mountain Daylight > Time, > alm...@kconline.com > writes: > Hi Scott and all, > > There are quite a few good dealers who are not IMCA > members. In fact some > of > the larger, most successful dealers are not. So don't cut > yourself off from > those long time decent dealers. I'd be glad to compose a > list for you. I > belonged at first but decided not to renew when they became > official with > dues and so forth. I believe as a newer person collecting > meteorites it > would be a better choice for your protection. > > Anne has encouraged me to join again and I probably should. > Don't know if I > could find two people to recommend me though :-) > > Perhaps we should have a remaining group of dealers that > have some sort of > stamp of approval and self governing but then in the > beginning that is how > things worked. Since we now seem to get a new dealer of > meteorites about > every month or two, not everyone knows everyone else like > in the good old > days. > > --AL Mitterling > > Mitterling Meteorites > > Mitterling.com > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Scott Schulz" <swsch...@astrum.com> > To: <meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com> > Sent: Sunday, August 15, 2010 12:13 PM > Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] STOLEN meteorites - from > Allen Shaw > > > > On Sat, Aug 14, 2010 at 11:41 AM, Barry Hughes <bhug...@sneezy.com> > wrote: > >> I am in the crazy newcomer mode of buying. > My wife found a slice in a > >> small box in the garbage yesterday, because she > wanted the box for > >> Christmas gifts. I had thrown it away. > > > > I am relieved to hear that there are others out there > with "crazy > > newcomer" disease. I caught it about a week ago, > and it has hit hard. > > > > On the other hand, it is sad to see that even this > hobby has it's > > share of dishonorable folks. Sad. But I am > glad to see that there > > exists an organization like the IMCA. I know > that logo is the first > > thing I look for once an auction/sale notice catches > my eye. > > > > SwS > > > ______________________________________________ > 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
