[meteorite-list] Fwd: How many meteorite dealers are there?

[Michael L Blood]

Hi Norbert and all,
        In terms of the survey I conducted a few years ago with list
Members, whether or not someone was a "meteorite dealer"
Was left up to them - and there were a LOT of people who
Reported themselves as meteorite dealers.
        I, personally, would consider having a meteorite web site
Or a meteorite mailing list to be minimal as qualifying as a
Meteorite dealer. Selling your upgraded collection pieces on
Ebay occasionally would not cut it - however, if you sell meteorites
On eBay on an ongoing basis, week after week, that would definitely
Constitute a "dealer" and is exactly what Dean Bessey did for a very
Long time before having a web site.
        HOWEVER, again, this topic (what constitutes a meteorite dealer)
Can be found in the list archives and was discussed for days involving
Many dozens if not hundreds of posts on the question.
        Best wishes, Michael

on 7/9/08 4:54 PM, Norbert Classen at riffraff at timewarp.de wrote:


> Hi Alex, and All,

> 

> A very good question, and I believe there's an answer to that. But let's

> start by asking some more questions:

> 

> If you sell a T-shirt or a pair of Jeans on eBay from time to time, does

> this make you a commercial dealer, or even part of the textil

> business/industry? If you sell a used book once in a while, does this make

> you a book seller? Surely not.

> 

> If you have a registered business for selling meteorites (or minerals) you

> might consider yourself a commercial seller (dealer), if you don't you are

> probably no "dealer", but just a private person/collector who sells a

> rock/meteorite sample once in a while. So, do you have a commercial eBay

> account, or a private account? It's that simple.

> 

> I don't know for other countries, but in Germany there's a clear distinction

> (set by the tax authorities): if you are making a profit with it you have a

> business and you are considered to be a "Händler" (commercial seller). If

> you are spending more on a hobby than you earn with your related sales you

> are considered a "Liebhaber" (hobbyist), and they won't even tax your

> related income because you are making zero profit with your once in a while

> sales.

> 

> So I guess some people need to re-consider the real meaning of the word

> "dealer" in a social and economical context. If we are talking of commercial

> sellers, and people who make a real profit by selling meteorites there are

> probaly not as many "meteorite dealers" as you might think.

> 

> Just my two cents,

> Norbert

> 

> -----Ursprüngliche Nachricht-----

> 

>> Can you tell the MeteoriteMan is a dealer or the collector is the

>> MeteoriteMan? Is there a borderline?

> 

> Exactly this is what I called into question! :-) Any suggestions for a

> definition of "dealer"?

> 

> Alex

> Berlin/Germany

> 

> ...who thinks there are more than those mentioned "dealers" on that list,

> but then again, where is the borderline, in terms of, may be, common sense

> and understanding? So any thoughts and ideas are welcome here....

> 


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