[meteorite-list] Meteorite Pricing/Values

[Greg Hupe]

Hi Steve,

I believe you meant to send your reply to me, "Greg". instead of Dean (see 
below). No biggie, just want to clear up the error.

Best regards,
Greg


Dear Matteo and List,

I have watched this "pricing" debate go on and on for a long time now. I
believe there are several price levels for any meteorite. One must consider
if the meteorite is a whole stone, complete slice, part slice, fragment, a
fresh piece, weathered piece or has cool characterizes that would dictate
the "value" someone is willing to pay for a particular specimen. All this
and whether the piece is large or just a speck. Every meteorite has a base
"retail" value and fluctuating prices depending on the above mentioned
attributes.

One two cents, euros...

Wished everyone the best for the holidays,

Greg Hupe
The Hupe Collection
NaturesVault (eBay)
gmhupe at tampabay.rr.com
IMCA 2185

----- Original Message ----- 
From: <MeteorHntr at aol.com>
To: <meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com>
Sent: Friday, December 23, 2005 4:09 PM
Subject: Re: [meteorite-list] Meteorite Pricing/Values


> Dean,
>
> Great post.  There are so many factors to the value of  any particular
> specimen as you pointed out.
>
> One thing I think  people selling meteorites should do is take a little 
> more
> time in justifying the  price they are asking.  This means justifying why 
> the
> price might be  particularly low (as you do so well in offering low NWA 
> prices
> - yet you also  put the twist in that you feel that soon the prices
> justifiably will go higher  later).  That is marketing.
>
> On the other hand, if someone is asking  a particularly high price for
> something, that too needs to be explained.   Again, that too is marketing.
>
> Without the explanation offered by the  seller, all to often as a buyer it 
> is
> easy for people think you are asking too  much, if not for the simple 
> purpose
> of positioning yourself for a higher value  in a trade or so that you can
> come way down making the person feel like they got  a great bargain.  Or 
> possibly
> people might think you are indeed trying to  rip people off by overpricing
> your material.
>
> And if one is asking what most consider is a normal fair price, justify 
> that
> too.
>
> Whatever the case, help prospective buyers at least understand where you 
> are
> coming from.
>
> I remember Mike Farmer seven years ago posting about how hot it was in
> Portales hunting for PV and how cows were dying and blaoting in the  heat. 
> I am
> not sure it that was a legitimate justification for a market  price on PV, 
> but
> at least we knew where he was coming from.  We knew in  part why he 
> personally
> valued a specimen at say $18/g rather than maybe $17/g.
>
> I think as buyers (or on the list - as critics) we should  acknowledge
> legitimate qualities in particular specimens and justify why he or  she 
> agrees or
> disagrees with a stated price.  Without such justification,  the critic 
> looks
> even more foolish than the seller.  Instead of replying  with a statement, 
> why
> not respond with a question as to why they think it is  worth such and 
> such a
> price.  Put the responsibility of justifying a price  back on the seller 
> rather
> on yourself to justify why it is not worth it.
>
> And if a buyer doesn't accurately justify why they don't buy (albeit only 
> to
> themselves) then they are likely to miss out on some great bargains 
> thinking
> they were making a good decision.
>
> Remember, if we all agreed to the value of all meteorites, we dealers 
> would
> be out of a job, and this list would be very boring.
>
> Steve Arnold
> Arkansas
>
>
>
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