[meteorite-list] a few other auction surprises

Fri Feb 9 03:26:48 EST 2007

Hello Peter, List,

Yes, all this needs a serious clearing-up. With you and me (and others ?) 
there are (at least) 7 examples where the max bid was higher than the 
hammer price (for Vernon County, there was a typo on the hammer in my post. 
Read $ 255 instead of $ 266).
The Khohar case was resolved by Mike (another typo).
For the "stolen" meteorites and the Achim affair, I am just not competent 
to intervene.

What I wanted to say is that, despite all the above mentioned facts, I 
would also give the Langs the benefit of doubt.
I know them personally for years, never had problems with them in business 
and I still feel they are fundamentally honest and serious in business. Oh 
yes, just "feel" and this does not mean "know". My feeling is often right 
(not always though). In this case, "feel" means to me "I wish it being so". 
It does not matter if this is a naive behavior.

"Benefit of doubt" means to me that perhaps one should not exclude a huge 
mixing-up of the lots and prices or anything alike, that resulted in the 
final confusion we know. Lack of professionalism in running the auction, 
yes, maybe, but perhaps less likely an intentional cheating. And, indeed, 
all the hammer prices as reported by Mike should be confirmed from other 
sources.
The "theft" ramains a serious problem for sure but who knows what is 
behind? At least I don't want to "conclude" nor to "suppose" before more 
facts are reported.

As for me, I appreciate having winning Khohar, regret a little Marilia and 
Gorlovka (I love - among others - Brasilian and Russian significant 
meteorites) but I am not frustrated. There will always be meteorites 
available here and there and their chasing is at least as exciting as their 
acquisition.

I hope all this will not spoil the friendly spirit and funny atmosphere 
that currently characterize the gathering of all the meteorite afficionados 
in major shows.

Oh, by the way: we don't envisage to program any Auction in Ensisheim....

Best wishes to all,

Zelimir

A 23:44 08/02/2007 +0100, Peter Marmet a écrit :
>Hello Zelimir,
>
>the same here!
>
>Millbillillie went for 1100.00 USD, our maximum bid: 1300.00 USD!!!
>
>Sylacauga went for 1525.00 USD, our maximum bid: 2250.00 USD!!!!!!
>
>Tenham went for 800.00 USD, our maximum bid: 1200.00 USD!!!
>
>I made this bids for a friend of mine.
>We both are very frustrated!
>
>Cheers,
>Peter
>
>
>Zelimir Gabelica  wrote:
>
> > Hi Mike, list,
> >
> > Mike's reported hammer prices will probably shed more shadow than
> > light on
> > that famous auction.
> >
> > While we are at trying to clear all points, here are some of my own
> > amazements.
> >
> > I have put 11 absentee bids and four of them turned to be above the
> > hammer
> > prices. These are:
> >
> > Item            hammer ($)      my bid ($)
> >
> > 19 Gorlovka     160 (Achim)     210
> > 35 Marilia      610             710
> > 52 Quenggouk    180             260
> > 60 Vernon Co    266             260
> >
> > 1) Shouldn't have I been the winner or .... ??? (badly missing
> > something!)
> >
> > 2) For other 6 items, my bids were logically lower than hammers.
> > This is OK
> > (at least on my side)
> >
> > 3) But for the last item, here is the other surprise.
> > Iris Lang sent me the same letter as to Peter, about item N° 29,
> > Khohar.
> > Here it is
> >
> > Dear Zelimir Gabelica,
> > You won Lot # 29 Khohar for $495
> > Allan will be home within a week. Please contact him by e-mail to make
> > arrangment for payment. You can pay by check or credit card. Please
> > add
> > shipping and handling cost.
> > Best regards
> > Iris Lang
> >
> > Now Mike reports that this item was sold to Achim in room for $ 495
> > (which
> > is exactly my bid).
> > If Mike is corect, something really wrong here. Who is the winner ?
> > I dare hoping that Mike mixed the two winers but his statement
> > seems so
> > strong. Any thoughts?
> >
> > Unless I missed many rules or facts (not excluded), things are far
> > from
> > being clear.
> > Are there other cases ?
> >
> > Best,
> >
> > Zelimir
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > A 09:55 08/02/2007 -0800, Michael Farmer a écrit :
> >
> >> Mike and everyone else, I do not want to be in the
> >> middle of this. I am running a business at the show. I
> >> did Al and Achim a favor (I thought) by reporting
> >> stolen pieces. I did not know the firestorm that would
> >> follow. I have had at least 50 requests for prices
> >> from 50 people, I don't have time to deal with these
> >> emails, so by taking the last 30 minutes to posts the
> >> hammer prices should release me from any more emails
> >> to me. Others in the room can compare prices they
> >> wrote down. the rest is between the interested parties
> >> and the Langs.
> >> Michael Farmer
> >> This should end my involvement in the dispute I hope.
> >> Perhaps next year, people could just come to my room,
> >> and pay the fixed price listed, it would be less
> >> painfull!
> >>
> >> Michael Farmer
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> --- Mike Fowler <mqfowler at mac.com> wrote:
> >>
> >>
> >>> Mike Farmer,
> >>>
> >>> This so much really needed to be done.  Thanks for
> >>> stepping up to the
> >>> plate, even though you may receive vocal criticism
> >>> from some.  I'm
> >>> sure those that are appreciative will out number
> >>> those who oppose by
> >>> at least 10 to one, even if they aren't so vocal.
> >>>
> >>> Thanks
> >>>
> >>> Mike Fowler
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>> Mike Farmer wrote:
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>> I am going to make this as short as I can, I am
> >>>>
> >>> still
> >>>
> >>>> selling in my room in Tucson.
> >>>> I will list lot # Meteorite name and hammer sale
> >>>> price.
> >>>>
> >>>
> >>> ______________________________________________
> >>> Meteorite-list mailing list
> >>> Meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com
> >>>
> >>>
> >> http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
> >>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>
> >> ______________________________________________
> >> Meteorite-list mailing list
> >> Meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com
> >> http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
> >>
> >
> > Prof. Zelimir Gabelica
> > Université de Haute Alsace
> > ENSCMu, Lab. GSEC,
> > 3, Rue A. Werner,
> > F-68093 Mulhouse Cedex, France
> > Tel: +33 (0)3 89 33 68 94
> > Fax: +33 (0)3 89 33 68 15
> >
> > ______________________________________________
> > Meteorite-list mailing list
> > Meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com
> > http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list
> >
>
>______________________________________________
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Prof. Zelimir Gabelica
Université de Haute Alsace
ENSCMu, Lab. GSEC,
3, Rue A. Werner,
F-68093 Mulhouse Cedex, France
Tel: +33 (0)3 89 33 68 94
Fax: +33 (0)3 89 33 68 15