[meteorite-list] '869?

[Lasse Lindh]

Hi Martin

Thanks Martin for the info. Your a great source of knowledge as always 
and not afraid to give me a lesson... ;o) I do appreciate it.

I have seen some questionable info and I agree that it is unfortunate.

Regards

Lasse

Martin Altmann wrote:

> Hi Lasse,

>

> these ebay-discussions are recurrent

> and I guess, one can break them down to the consensus,

> that on ebay there are good purchases to be found, but that ebay isn't

> directly always the best place to buy meteorites. Cause if you take all

> offers together, then - pity enough for the serious sellers - ebay turns out

> to be that marketplace for meteorites with the by far lowest standards of

> ethics.

>

> That kinds of discussions are ending always like the amen in the church with

> the maxim:

> Know your dealers (and if possible: your meteorites).

>

> You have to see, that on ebay is working the whole spectrum offerers;

> >From the extremely scrupulous professional dealer or experienced veteran

> collector, down to those, who haven't any clues about meteorites or

> understand ebay as an anonymous flea-market, where they can "leave no stone

> unturned" by disthonest means to squeeze out the last penny of material of

> doubtful quality, because they won't be called to account for.

>

> Note furthermore that the so called "meteorite market" developed from a pure

> collectors' scene and still today it is borne mainly by collectors,

> especially on ebay, and even most of the reputable dealers, who you know,

> aren't making their days in selling meteorites, but are dealing meteorites

> because of their feeble for such matter or as side occupation among others.

> There of course it is natural, that also not yet so advanced collectors

> offer here and there their specimens, who naturally are making mistakes.

>

> In general it is a welcome fact, at least I think so, that meteorites and

> their trade are driven mainly by collectors and enthusiasts.

>

> Well in this case maybe the seller mixed some specimens or he bought a lot

> of NWA 869, where also some other old meteorites creeped in, which he wasn't

> able to distinguish from true 869ers.

> If you look into his other auctions, you'll find, that he must be quite new

> to meteoritics as you easily can notice from his sometimes inadequate

> attributes he uses in his descriptions and sometimes he's telling absolute

> rubbish.

> E.g. that Sikhote:

> Item number: 120231123026

>

> http://cgi.ebay.com/Sikhote-Alin-meteorite-27-1-grams-Nice-specimen-NR_W0QQi

> temZ120231123026QQihZ002QQcategoryZ3239QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

>

> Well, don't let me keep you with that beauty vs. the beholder's eyes-thing,

> the incorrectness here is, that it has absolutely no flow lines, as he

> states.

>

> Problem I see, is, that he has an IMCA-label.

> I think it should be the job of the two warrantors, who recommended him to

> be a member, to point out that mistake to him, to tutor him to do his

> homework and to coach him a little bit.

>

> Anyway, I could bet, that it won't take more than 10 days, until we'll have

> the next ebay-discussion on the list.....

>

> Best!

> Martin

>

>

> -----Ursprüngliche Nachricht-----

> Von: meteorite-list-bounces at meteoritecentral.com

> [mailto:meteorite-list-bounces at meteoritecentral.com] Im Auftrag von Lasse

> Lindh

> Gesendet: Donnerstag, 13. März 2008 11:51

> An: Meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com

> Betreff: Re: [meteorite-list] '869?

>

> Hi

>

> I just want to clearify my last message in case someone misunderstood my 

> meaning. I've bought several items from this dealer and have no 

> complaint what so ever. On the contrary, I've got great items at good 

> price and it was a pleasure.  Even if someone dislikes this slice and 

> think it's not worth a penny, the starting price WAS LOW, $0.99, and if 

> some bidder want to pay $15, $50 or a $100 for that, it's nothing to 

> blame the seller. He started low. There are sellers that sells pure crap 

> for five or 10 times that much at Buy it Now. 

>

> Hope that clears it... :)

>

> Lasse

>

>

>

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