[meteorite-list] Posting sources

[JKGwilliam]

I agree.  There were a few times several years ago when someone 
demanded provenance on items I was selling only to have them contact 
my source directly and attempt to take me out of the middle of the deal.
If buyers aren't sure that they can trust a dealer to sell them 
exactly what is claimed, they should probably take there business elsewhere.

I was on the other side of this situation years ago.

Several years ago, a well known dealer called me on the phone and 
said he had a fantastic deal for me - 0.10 grams of  Governador 
Valadares for $1,000.  I said I wasn't interested but he pressed me. 
When I asked about provenance, he balked but said that I could always 
send it to a lab and have it tested. Hmmmm, destroy the specimen to 
prove whether or not it is the Real McCoy. Kind of like dunking women 
in 17th century New England - if they floated they were witches, if 
they sank (and drowned) they were innocent. The dealer is still 
making a full court press telling me how fantastic ( he always 
described his specimens in the superlative form) this piece 
was.  But, as we talked, a few more tidbits came to the surface.   In 
fact, there were several "conditions" that came with the purchase of 
the specimen.  One - I couldn't tell anyone where I got it from. In 
fact, it was best if I didn't tell anyone that I even had it.   Two - 
I couldn't ask for provenance, the source wanted to remain 
incognito.  Three - I had to buy it "right now" or the deal was 
off.  I saw red flags waving at me and I still held my ground about 
not wanting the specimen.  "You must be crazy," says the well known 
dealer, " You could turn around and sell it for three grand easily."

Some of you, I'm sure, know what my next question to Mr. Pushy 
was.  When I asked him why HE didn't sell it for three grand there 
was a very pregnant pause.  Finally, his reply was the often used 
tactics of those whose business practices aren't always on the 
up-and-up. "It's starting to sound like you don't trust me," he 
stammered.  Well, to make a long story short, I hung up the phone and 
added the dealer to my "black list".

Be careful about who you do business with.  Don't let your emotions 
overrule common sense.

Best,

John Gwilliam

At 08:22 AM 4/14/2008, Jim Strope wrote:
>Sounds like a good solution Matt.
>
>I would not want my name published on a website that I provide 
>consignments if I did that sort of thing.  If I was a buyer and saw 
>that dealer A had a specimen acquired from dealer B, I would just 
>contact dealer B and see if they had any more and eliminate dealer A's mark up.
>
>Would anyone expect Marting to reveal his source for his new Martian 
>Meteorite?  Or Adam for NWA 5000?  I would bet that they will not 
>reveal their planetary sources any quicker than I will.
>
>Provenance, in my opinion, exists where old labels accompany the 
>specimen, or it came from a museum or famous old collector of yesteryear.
>
>Jim Strope
>421 Fourth Street
>Glen Dale, WV  26038
>
>http://www.catchafallingstar.com
>
>
>----- Original Message ----- From: <mmorgan at mhmeteorites.com>
>To: <meteorite-list at meteoritecentral.com>
>Sent: Monday, April 14, 2008 9:23 AM
>Subject: [meteorite-list] Posting sources
>
>
>>Why not just ask the dealer where the material came from? This has 
>>worked for over a decade for my business.  Personally, I always 
>>will tell a customer if the ask, but only if that source wants the 
>>information given. Posting the info for all to see, poses a problem 
>>for the privacy of that source and yes, I do not want others 
>>finding that source.
>>
>>Matt Morgan
>>Mile High Meteorites
>>----------------------
>>Matt Morgan
>>Mile High Meteorites
>>http://www.mhmeteorites.com
>>P.O. Box 151293
>>Lakewood, CO 80215 USA
>>
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