Sonic
10-02-2008, 06:13
I have recently spent many many hours researching pricing online for crystals, geodes and the like. What I have to say may or may not surprise you, this is fine. But I thought I would share the experience in hopes that someone would save themselves a lot of money. This morning, like a volcano erupting, my research has come to it's conclusion after another 4 hours of research.
Target: Amethyst geode cathedral [fancy word for large pillar geode].
Websites compared: 5 pages of google searches, 5 pages of yahoo, msn, dogpile and about searching. Ebay, Amazon, and many sites in the UK.
Lessons learned: A fool and her money will soon be departed [or should be if you do not take the time to research your objective.]
Outcome: Not only did I find 3 different websites with amethyst geodes of the same size, all 3 of them had double the pricing of the previous. IE: if the #1 site had one for $1, the #2 site would have one for $2, and finally the 3rd site would have it listed for $4. Imagine this starting with $100 as a base price, or more.
I then decided to change the objective object to citrine or other crystals, for some comparison shopping. I focussed on a 50 carat piece of golden citrine. Which is about the size of your palm, in cylindrical form. I found websites with "chunks" of citrine for $30, $15, and $7.99 including ones that said "make me an offer". I was very surprised at the variance of a similar sized item of the same texture and quality. Without splitting hairs on the technicality of the find, these are general facts.
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Research tidbit #2
Rock tumbling [which reminds me, Morticia where are the pictures of your rocks!?!? :heart:].
I live in a flat. I have no basement, no shed, and nowhere to run such a contraption that makes so much noise. I then decided to look into a different type of tumbler, because it made less noise and I could put it in the bathroom and close the door. I then found an item like this (http://geology.com/rock-tumbler/rock-tumblers.shtml). I track down one of the manufacturing websites of a common brand of this vibratory rock tumbler, and review the pdf instruction manual. Several places within the manual from the manufacturer it says "do not add liquid, rather a small amount of liquid polish may be added to the tumbler". Everywhere else advertising the vibratory method stated water and grit could be used like normal.
Finally, I decided that due to circumstance I would purchase my crystals at a set stock price and a set delivery fee. Luckily I found [thank you Ebay] what I was looking for at the price I wanted to pay, but it took me 4 hours this morning to do it lol.
Target: Amethyst geode cathedral [fancy word for large pillar geode].
Websites compared: 5 pages of google searches, 5 pages of yahoo, msn, dogpile and about searching. Ebay, Amazon, and many sites in the UK.
Lessons learned: A fool and her money will soon be departed [or should be if you do not take the time to research your objective.]
Outcome: Not only did I find 3 different websites with amethyst geodes of the same size, all 3 of them had double the pricing of the previous. IE: if the #1 site had one for $1, the #2 site would have one for $2, and finally the 3rd site would have it listed for $4. Imagine this starting with $100 as a base price, or more.
I then decided to change the objective object to citrine or other crystals, for some comparison shopping. I focussed on a 50 carat piece of golden citrine. Which is about the size of your palm, in cylindrical form. I found websites with "chunks" of citrine for $30, $15, and $7.99 including ones that said "make me an offer". I was very surprised at the variance of a similar sized item of the same texture and quality. Without splitting hairs on the technicality of the find, these are general facts.
============================
Research tidbit #2
Rock tumbling [which reminds me, Morticia where are the pictures of your rocks!?!? :heart:].
I live in a flat. I have no basement, no shed, and nowhere to run such a contraption that makes so much noise. I then decided to look into a different type of tumbler, because it made less noise and I could put it in the bathroom and close the door. I then found an item like this (http://geology.com/rock-tumbler/rock-tumblers.shtml). I track down one of the manufacturing websites of a common brand of this vibratory rock tumbler, and review the pdf instruction manual. Several places within the manual from the manufacturer it says "do not add liquid, rather a small amount of liquid polish may be added to the tumbler". Everywhere else advertising the vibratory method stated water and grit could be used like normal.
Finally, I decided that due to circumstance I would purchase my crystals at a set stock price and a set delivery fee. Luckily I found [thank you Ebay] what I was looking for at the price I wanted to pay, but it took me 4 hours this morning to do it lol.