[meteorite-list] I am home from Tokyo

[MexicoDoug at aol.com]

Hola Michael, I somewhat reticently buy your  theoretical musings on 
free-market vs. monopoly, though the obvious problem here  is everyone runs their own 
business however they please, whether on the fly or  after careful, informed 
deliberation.  So if you would agree with me that  dealers frequently cause 
themselves more problems that collectors who pony up  purchasing power, I won't 
feel the need to peep on this topic. 

As for  the Paul Harvey report, it is nice to know that things aren't always 
what they  appear to be.  After every trip I make there are a few images that 
get  scalded into memory.  Watching the blood trickling down that nice  
gentleman's Campo-pressed, tramautized fingers with sweat careening across his  
brow, as he exerted himself with the pushdolly and crates difficultly containing  
his big investment and illusions, inexplicably not even leaving one of the  
meteorite in the Hall....then, respectfully, inobstrusively as possible,  
slipping it all out the back entrance as he conquered the discomfort in the  injured 
hand, is one such image I'll just have from Tucson  '05.   

That said, I fully support your decision based on the complete  understanding 
of "the rest of the story".  I personally would have made one  exception for 
one specimen at 7:30 PM, as a consolation and taken the heat from  the other's 
crying foul.  It was a Herculean effort for someone who really  was 
completely lost in Tucson for the first time a good distance from the show  hotels and 
with a half ton of irons on his back.  Of course making an  illegal policy 
exception is easier said than done while the vultures (me  included) were 
descending upon the great offerings like a mob of locusts...and  the contributing 
dealers meeting the rules nervously fixed their calculating  gazes upon your 
shoulders in anticipation of the legendary event they help you  bring to life, as 
they load you with Atlas's labor in the heat of that instant  when the gavel 
is raised at starting time".  
Saludos,  Doug


Michael B. responded:
Hi  Doug,
It certainly looks like a  clear cut example of relating to other
dealers as "competition" instead of  colleagues.
It has been well known  in the gas business and in the shoe business,
and many other businesses, that  if another dealer opens right next to
you or across from you at an  intersection business actually INCREASES.
Even more so, if a third  dealer  comes in.
The theory  is that buyers then think of that area as the place to
get gas or shoes - or  meteorites. However, some dealers still relate to
other dealers as  "competition," and some, obviously, then go about
doing whatever it takes -  regardless of the cost to the other dealer, to
eliminate them. I believe it  is referred to as "territorial." The irony is
it doesn't really benefit the  one(s) being territorial.
--
As  for the fine fellow from So. America at the Tucson Auction - I,
too was very  disappointed with the  situation. I had run into him the
day before and  he told me he had "A Campo" (a huge one) he wanted
to put in the auction. I  told him he was most welcome and stressed
strongly that the earlier he got it  there, the better, as people would
have time to look at it and consider what  they were willing to pay.
I said 5:30 or 6 would be best,  but definitely no later than 7PM.  I do
know he spoke very little  English and I speak no Spanish, but from
what he said, I was under the  impression we were clear on all this,
as my wife is fluent in both and did a  bit of translating where necessary.
Unfortunately, instead of one large Campo  before 7PM, he showed up
with a dozen or so Campos about 7:23 PM - just a few  minutes before
bidding was to  begin.
Now, to understand the  process overall, here is how it was set up:
- People were invited to put  specimens in the auction four months in
advance. 
- Items were accepted  for the catalog up to about a week before the auction
- Announcements were  made about a week before the auction that any
items other than what were in  the catalog already would have to be submitted
for approval well in advance  of the auction and that if people waited until
the last day, they would have  to be well in advance of 7 PM and even then,
I would be severely limiting the  number of items in order to keep the length
of the auction workable for most  buyers and sellers (it starts getting
"long" after about 120 items - though  individual super items will always be
accepted if they have a low or no  minimum, as any and everyone would
prefer such items were available - and a  single item is minimal paperwork
prior to beginning the auction. Paper work  is essential to sane handling of
the items and money and NOTHING can be done  without the paperwork.
It just isn't an option). This is the one area that  has drawn the most
complaints about the auction over the years - "going too  long."
- I had turned away several people who, after 7 PM had attempted to  put
items in the auction.
So,  when the very nice gentleman from So. America showed up with
less than ten  minutes to go before the auction and had dozens instead of
one item and there  literally was not enough time to do the paperwork
even if I were willing to  make an exception (which you can be sure would
have been strongly resented by  everyone I had turned down!) I could not
have mechanically made it  happen.
I felt very badly, but I  had been very clear the night before that
yes, there was always room for ONE  more specimen - especially if it
were huge as he described and no minimum (or  very low minimum - I can't
remember which) as he described and he showed  up  before 7..... but that is
not when he showed up and not what he  showed up with. Too bad - for him, for
me and for all the bidders. I would  have gladly taken all of the specimens
he brought if he had showed up before  7, say  -  or I would even have taken
the 130Kg one he described -  even at 4 minutes before auction time.....
but there was no way I could work  with what he brought when he brought
it. The result was a loss for everyone  concerned.
So, now you have the  rest of the story....
Paul  Harvey.....er, Michael




on 6/7/05 11:52 AM, MexicoDoug at aol.com  at MexicoDoug at aol.com wrote:

> In the style of Commodore Matthew  Perry, Cap'n Blood wrote the day  before
> the Tokyo news:
>  
>> that I have heard voice disdain
>> for people making a  profit  in this business.
> 
> Michael, everyone deserves  honest pay for honest work.  Lately I  have been
> agreeing with  you more than anything else and many of the points you  make
> seem  
> very reasonable.  Please let's not burden collectors with  the  collective
> blame of dealer's problems after hearing this from  globetrotting  Farmer.
> 
> Separately, I hope it is on topic  to ask what happened at the last People's
> Auction with the South  American guy who was kicked out after he said he was
> authorized his  display there and was practically set up, which was similar 
to
> the prior  year?  It was my pleasure to help him break our backs with his
>  heavy specimens (thinking it was being a good Samaritan) when I saw him
>  struggling all by himself and so far from home while many others seemed
>  oblivious.  He 
> did have excellent irons at superb pricing.   You can  imagine the dejection
> he felt, especially after smashing  his thumb between two  big iron 
meteorites
> in the process, so far  from home, as he had to then repack  them and haul 
his
> stuff out  right back out with his tail between his legs.   I don't know  
the
> whole story, not even half, and I am sure there was good   reason, but it 
was a
> very pitiful sight?
> 
> The line  between science,  comradery, enthusiasm, and cold commercialism 
has
>  become far too arbitrary and  negotiable for my tastes.  Maybe you  have a
> better answer than I can  see.  Part is due to  everyone's justification of 
the
> trump card  "inalienable right to a  profit" I am at a loss for more words,
> reading Mike's  account,  imagining why this collusion was felt necessary.
> Frankly I 
>  wish  everybody ran around with a suitcase filled with specimens for trade 
 or
> sale  instead of aspiring to dominate each other and be the  "Man".  But 
that
> might not be acceptable under the show or auction  venue.  But, it'd be more
> intimate and leaves less room when the  ugly face of the Stranger comes 
along
> among friends and leaves a wake of  aggravation.  Sorry to hear of your
> obvious cold shower, Mike, and  I wonder if Hans' kid had some appropriate
> english 
> words to sum  up the costly adventure.  No doubt you will need to  raise  
some
> prices to cover yet another tangential "cost of doing   business".  That 
hurts
> everyone.  While this also is in the  "food for  thought" category, any
> comments 
> are also  appreciated..
> 
> Peace, Doug