[meteorite-list] Guesstimate on number of meteorite, collectors.

[Tom Randall]

    Hi Don and list,
       I personally am a small time collector. I am NOT EVEN CLOSE to 
being even comfortably well off! I just retired actually from a medium 
income job after 35 years. I'm O.K. with that. I don't try to "keep up 
with the Jones'" but I like to buy when I can. I find these space rocks 
VERY fascinating and very special.  I find them so fascinating it's hard 
to describe.  I have shown some of mine to pre-school kids in a college 
teaching setting and got "Oooohs and Ahhhs"  out of them! I've let them 
hold a Canyon Diablo and they were amazed at the weight of the rock. 
"This is a piece of a BIG rock that caused THIS crater! " While showing 
them a photo of Meteor Crater.  It's amazing how fixed these little ones 
can be when seeing a meteorite and then a photo of the hole it caused! 
Family and friends kids have seen and held some of my meteorites, they 
are always very excited that they came from SPACE!

     As far as how people can make a living out of selling these special 
rocks, well the "proof is in the pudding". There are always young people 
and older people that may be interested in meteorites. Let's face it, 
these come from OUTER SPACE! That alone is VERY alluring, even to US!
There will ALWAYS be a market for meteorites, how STRONG a market is a 
different story.

     As far as MY own buying opinion, I only buy from folks on this 
list. People I TRUST. I NEVER buy from those I have never heard or seen 
from.  Buyer beware is what I tell people. KNOW YOUR SELLER. Do your 
homework.  Ask me and I'll guide you to the legitimate dealers.

    Oh, I remember when the History Channel was actually WORTH watching. 
TV is such garbage anymore.........

Regards!

Tom