[meteorite-list] Auction Kings meteorite - $2000 Sikhote Alin- VIDEO

[Shawn Alan]

Hello Listers
 
I was able to find the episode where auction kings sold a Sikhote Alin for $2000. Here is a link to 
watch that episode.  
 
http://www.sendspace.com/file/iuekph

Enjoy
 
Shawn Alan
IMCA 1633
eBay Store
http://www.ebay.com/sch/ph0t0phl0w/m.html?
http://www.meteoritefalls.com/
 
 
 
 
[meteorite-list] Auction Kings meteorite - $2000 Sikhote Alin
Michael 
Gilmer meteoritemike 
at gmail.com 
Fri Mar 23 10:38:15 EDT 2012 
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Hi Folks, 

So last night I was going through the 
channel guide on cable TV and I 
saw that a show called "Auction Kings" was 
going to have a segment 
featuring a meteorite. I had never watched this show 
before, but I 
was very curious to see what type of meteorite would be shown. 

Apparently, the show is about a local auction house somewhere (not 
sure where). People bring in unusual items and the auction house 
sells 
them at open auction while the cameras follow the action. 

The meteorite 
segment came and here is where the fun begins.... 

This guy walks in 
carrying a Pelican-style case about the size of a 
camera case. He opens it 
and brings out a Sikhote Alin shrapnel about 
the size of a grapefruit. The 
meteorite had a nice patina, but the 
shape was not very interesting or 
sculpted. In other words, it was 
what most of us would call a "lump", but it 
was obvious from the 
appearance that it was a genuine Sikhote. 

First, the auction house guy was impressed because the meteorite had a 
certificate of authenticity. I thought this was laughable for obvious 
reasons and a man who runs an auction house should know that 99% of 
COA's are not worth the paper they are printed on. I can go outside, 
grab a rock from my driveway, and print up an official-looking COA for 
it. 

Next, the owner proceeds to demonstrate that the meteorite is 
"magnetic" because a magnet will stick to it and that is one of the 
key 
tests to determine if a meteorite is genuine. I'll skip comment 
on this 
misconception and use of improper terminology because the real 
kicker was 
still to come. 

So the owner tells the auction house that he is hoping to 
sell the 
meteorite to help pay for a vacation to Paris and he wants $1000 
for 
it. 

Ok, at no point in the show was the weight of the specimen 
ever 
mentioned. So without knowing the weight, it is difficult to assign 
to solid value to the piece. But judging by what I saw (apparent size 
and shape), I'd guess the piece would sell on the meteorite market or 
eBay for about $250-$300. The owner's desired price of $1000 seemed 
unrealistic to me, but this is television and a bunch of people who 
don't know jack about meteorites, so anything is possible. 

The 
auction part comes, and they have a nice turn out with maybe two 
or three 
dozen potential bidders in attendance. The meteorite ignites 
a bidding war 
and the final price for the piece was.....(*drumroll 
please*)...... $2000! 
And the buyer was thrilled because he thought 
he got a good deal. Of course, 
once he gets home and does some 
Googling to learn more about his new 
meteorite, he might change his 
mind about the deal he got. He could have 
went on eBay and bought a 
half-dozen Sikhote shrapnels of that size for 
$2000. 

So the moral of this story is - if you have a local auction house 
near 
you, go down there with a meteorite and you might be pleasantly 
surprised how much money it will fetch. I'm opening up the yellow 
pages 
today and/or getting on the internet and see what kind of 
auction houses we 
have here in the Tampa area. I'll be more than 
happy to offer them all the 
$200 stones and irons they want, as long 
as they fetch $2000 each. Heck, 
even after the auction house takes 
it's percentage, that is still a great 
deal for the seller. 

And the best part is, once the buyer gets home and 
finds out he/she 
got burned on the price, they cannot get mad at the seller, 
because 
they are the ones who bid the item up. 

Dealers - check your 
local auction houses. 

Best regards, 

MikeG 

-- 
----------------------------------------------------------- 
Galactic 
Stone & Ironworks - MikeG 

Web: http://www.galactic-stone.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/galacticstone
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