Re: [meteorite-list] Meteorite worth thousands...........

[Meteorites USA]

Hey Mike, List,

I agree that the media is and can be a good tool to keep people aware of 
meteorites, their value to science and collectors. However, I think 
their needs to be accurate reporting and not the one-sided reporting 
we've seen thus far from the Post. They're very conveniently painting a 
picture of negativity surrounding the whole deal, and their motives are 
clear. Reporting should be reporting, not opinion. Leave opinions to the 
blogs. We read and watch the news for news, not some distorted 
politically motivated spin on the news.

The whole concentration on the money issue is only part of the problem. 
Kinda wierd me saying that since I do sell meteorites too. But even I 
cringed a little when all the numbers started clicking by on the screen 
with each new find on the Meteorite Men. But hey, I understand it's 
about entertainment, and TV shows are there to make money for the 
networks. Who's going to tune into a show that's nothing but pure 
science. That would be boring. Throw in some treasure hunting, some 
adventure, some "thrill of the hunt" and two very funny guys walking 
around the desert with metal detectors and you have the Meteorite Men 
show. I like the show. I think it's good for the meteorite world, but it 
also needs to be tempered with the news that's happening right now.

There's a big battle going on over the ownership of the newest meteorite 
fall in the USA (Lorton) that should never have been fought over. If 
this meteorite had fallen through a doctors office, on Main St of 
Anytown, USA back-country America I truly believe this would not be an 
issue. Instead it fell mere miles from the largest museum in the world, 
near the capitol of our nation, and went through the roof of a doctors 
office which was part of group of buildings owned by someone else. 
Perhaps, you couldn't have picked a worse place for it to hit.

Keep all meteorites in the news. Tell everyone the whole story of this 
event. Let people know that it's not just about the money. It's about 
the science AND the money. Let the Smithsonian have some for study and 
display, give the collecting public the opportunity to purchase some for 
their collections at a fair price, and allow everyone the right to view 
it. It did after all fall in the USA.

People are going to concentrate on the value. It's human nature. I 
understand that posting huge dollar amounts publicly makes it harder on 
hunters and those trying to recover meteorites in the field. But you 
have to start somewhere, and realize the media is going to report on the 
dollar value. That's a BIG part of the story and what pulls in their 
viewers and readers. Viewers that can be your eyes and ears on the ground.

The landowners are the people who watch these news reports and they are 
the ones we must treat with respect and above all follow their wishes. 
You can't just tell a landowner a meteorite is worth $20/g or $1/g or 
$100/g for their meteorite from a new fall because you don't know how 
things are going to turn out yet. All you can do is offer a fair price 
and work a deal with the landowner that is mutually beneficial 
regardless of what he or she "believes" it to be worth. I talked to 
enough landowners in West to know that it's not easy to get permission 
to hunt, especially when they believe that meteorites on their land are 
worth $10,000. But the fact is that not all meteorites are worth that. 
Once you establish raport with the landowner only then can you speak 
with them about money.

Part of establishing raport is good media information. If the reporters 
are educated in meteorites then they are more likely to report well on 
the issue and landowners might be more apt to let you hunt their land as 
long as they believe hunters are going to be fair with them. If not, and 
reporters paint it in a negative light, no one will call, and meteorites 
will be plowed over come planting season. Forever lost to science and 
collectors.

Keep meteorites in the news. Let landowners, media, and the public know 
that it's not all about the money, but that's a big part of it. I've 
made up a stock letter I send out to reporters, or when I comment on a 
website to let people who are caught up in the excitement know that 
their information is needed and that those who hunt and recover 
meteorites aren't all out just for the money, but that it's also ok if 
they are. It's all about honesty and fairness.

We need the media, the media needs us. The landowners, I'm sure would 
like a fair price and to be treated with respect.

Regards,
Eric Wichman
Meteorites USA
www.meteoritesusa.com





On 2/4/2010 8:55 PM, Mike Hankey wrote:
Michael,

Sorry, but I think your criticism of the media and meteorite men is a
little harsh and one sided. In the case of the washington post, this
story is about a legal battle over the ownership of a high end
meteorite. Reporting about $10 meteorites is not relevant. Reporting
about the true value of this meteorite is.

Stories like this will inspire and motivate locals to look for these
meteorites, this will hopefully lead to more lorton meteorites being
found which is good for science and the meteorite world. Two weeks
after the fall, when the story has already been forgotten, the trail
has gone cold and the pros have gone home unable to find any low
hanging fruit what chance is there other than a local finding it?
Without the media reporting about it, how would a local even know to
look? Without a financial motive why would they care? In this regard,
I believe the media is an important tool in finding meteorites from
new falls and I am happy the post is still covering the story -- it
keeps the rocks on people's minds.

Thanks,

Mike




On Thursday, February 4, 2010, michael cottingham<mikew...@gilanet.com>  wrote:
   
Hello,


WOW!  STOP. You prove my point exactly and you read a lot into what I said!

     
NEVER. Did I suggest That the Lorton was not worth a lot of money. It probably 
is worth 50k, give or take. NEVER, did I compare it to NWA.   You prove my 
point, because the HIGH END is the only thing people remember.
       
Here is my quote from the Washington Post Article:

Internet auction sites such as eBay have made buying and selling meteorite bits 
and chunks far more lucrative in recent years, said Michael Cottingham, a New 
Mexico-based hunter and dealer. Prices for small bits of the space rock can 
vary on the Web site from $10 for a common bit of meteorite that landed long 
ago, up to thousands of dollars for a newly landed specimens.

"When you get a new meteorite like the one in Lorton, the low-end figure gets forgotten," 
Cottingham says. "You're just not going to go find some meteorites and pay all your 
bills."

I took a lot of effort to get him to write $10.00!  He only wanted to know 
about the high end. TV shows and news stories that ONLY State the high end do 
more harm then good. In fact, they drive away young collectors. If young 
collectors or new collectors think all meteorites cost 10k, you will get very 
few people coming in to the field. YOU ALSO DRIVE UP FIELD PRICES. I am not 
talking about cheating a farmer or rancher by trying to get something for 
nothing, I am talking about ridiculous price being asked because of ignorance 
and TV SHOWS that are poorly done.

I had 6 meteorites located last year. All real meteorites. ALL 6 meteorites were found by 
people who saw the cash and treasure show and the 1st episode of "Meteorite 
Men".  All- and I mean all of these people thought their stones were worth 100k to 
begin with. Where did they get this idea?   They got it from BAD REPORTING .  Where did 
the farmer get the idea that his 1 kilo ugly ass chondrite was worth $45,000.00 ????  
From the show Cash and Treasure!
That is a fact and if I need to get his statement in writing he has agreed to 
do this.... because BAD REPORTING AND BAD TV Shows can and do harm this field.

In my ebay store I have 100's of meteorites under $100.00. Do you mention that. 
NO. You quote my high end collection pieces only.

Unlike a lot of people on this list (Most in fact) I have supported my 5 
children by really making a living by hunting, buying and selling meteorites 
for the last 10+ years. When I tell you that TV shows have had a negative 
impact on the field - I am not talking hot air.

There are 4+ meteorites sitting in farmer's houses right now because of what 
these people have perceived to learn about meteorites.

on and on and on.....

Michael Cottingham










On Feb 4, 2010, at 8:51 AM, Mike Hankey wrote:


Michael,

I have to repectfully disagree with some of your satements. First
suggesting that a hammer stone from a witnessed fall in the nations
Capitol is equivellent in price to a weathered nwa at cents a gram is
nonsense. This tactic is more about getting a good deal from an
unwitting landowner than the preservation of science.

Secondly I have seen the prices on most of your collection and from
what I can tell that farmer in Texas isn't asking much more than what
you are asking for your west meteorites. Why should an educated farmer
take the hit just so a collector can take the prize?

Third media and shows about meteorites are good for meteorites. It
increases demand which in turn increases sales and values. Supply is
limited which means anyone already invested in meteorites will
benefit. Commodities can become overvalued at times look at real
estate. When someone is asking too much the product doesn't sell. This
is part of capitalism.

I don't think the values of the lorton meteorite have been
misteprestend in any of the stories.

Spreading knowledge and excitement about meteorites is a good for
meteorites, good for science and it leads to discoveries. Hording
knowledge is good for profits and that's about it.

Thanks,

Mike

On Wednesday, February 3, 2010, michael cottingham<mikew...@gilanet.com>  wrote:

Hello,

It should be of great concern. Every news article, every TV show, every special that 
features meteorites as "treasure" first, and science second, will most likely 
result in a distorted view of what meteorites are worth.

In my recent interview with the Washington Post writer, we spent nearly 20-30 
minutes talking about the pricing of meteorites. I expressed to him that it was 
extremely important to report the pricing accurately. I told him almost every 
time a story is done on meteorites and prices are mentioned, well the reporter 
seems to forget the pennies per gram and goes with the ten's of thousands that 
a meteorite could be worth.

I told him when you state the high end only, you get a distorted view of 
pricing, and the results can be extremely negative. I believe you have more 
fraud on ebay, because people think they can get $10,000 for the meteorwrong, 
not $10.00. This is most likely a direct result of distorted news reporting and 
TV shows.

I know many of you dearly love the Meteorite TV shows of late, and think they 
are nothing but great for the field of meteorites. Well, I know of 4 meteorites 
in the field, who's owners/finders want tens of thousands of dollars, more than 
these little chondrites are worth- simply because of the Cash and Treasure Show 
and the first Meteorite Men episode.

So, because I will not pay, $45,000 for a 1 kilo chondrite from North Texas, it 
will sit, like many others meteorites with the owners- who believe, because of 
TV shows that were done poorly, that they are worth $50,000 or more.  Science 
will loose out if reporting is not done accurately.

Best Wishes

Michael Cottingham




On Feb 3, 2010, at 9:34 AM, Michael Groetz wrote:


List-
   Maybe many of the rest of you don't feel this way- but to me it
generally seems the news media and television shows are more concerned
about a quick buck rather than the science and appreciation for
meteorites for what they are- treasures from space that you can hold
in your hand.
   It seems like initially meteorites are viewed as something special
and usually wind up "How much is it worth?" after buyers roll in.
  The doctor in this case tried to maintain the scientific value for
all to appreciate while helping the people of Haiti. Then the $$$ was
thrown at them and greed seems to be winning out.
   Sorry for the frustration.
Mike

http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2010/02/03/meteorite-worth-thousands-stirs-ownership-debate/
______________________________________________
Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html
Meteorite-list mailing list
Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com
http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list


______________________________________________
Visit the Ar
     
______________________________________________
Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html
Meteorite-list mailing list
Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com
http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list

   
______________________________________________
Visit the Archives at http://www.meteoritecentral.com/mailing-list-archives.html
Meteorite-list mailing list
Meteorite-list@meteoritecentral.com
http://six.pairlist.net/mailman/listinfo/meteorite-list