khara
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2022
Posts: 1,751
|
Post by khara on Feb 27, 2024 22:46:10 GMT -5
When you buy rough or slabs, how do you track the cost that you paid, and also the names/locations/vendor that you purchased from? How do you organize your slabs and rough in a way that you can find what you paid for them originally? Or do you even care, and instead consider current market value only?
Purchased cabs are easy, a price, name, and locale can be written on the baggie. This can also 'sort of' be done with slabs. Not so easy though with rough unless there is already a cut face.
Receipts aren't so much my question. I can easily find and see my receipts for a year. But those are in my computer, or in a file folder. My rocks are spread around stored in boxes. How do you connect the two??? How do you find the original receipt from 2017 for a rock you are cutting and potentially selling today, and you don't actually remember that it was purchased in 2017, or even remember the name of it?
Back when I was a kid and started collecting rocks, I learned about the inventory system where you put a numbered sticker on the bottom of the specimen and keep a log book of info. Ya... that sounded like too much work at the age of 11, and... I also probably couldn't find a cute enough notebook. This sounds smart, if you start it at the beginning, which, obviously I didn't. But, it also sounds not very realistic for rough rock.
Thoughts appreciated!
|
|
|
Post by hummingbirdstones on Feb 27, 2024 23:04:50 GMT -5
When you buy rough or slabs, how do you track the cost that you paid, and also the names/locations/vendor that you purchased from? How do you organize your slabs and rough in a way that you can find what you paid for them originally? Or do you even care, and instead consider current market value only?
Purchased cabs are easy, a price, name, and locale can be written on the baggie. This can also 'sort of' be done with slabs. Not so easy though with rough unless there is already a cut face.
Receipts aren't so much my question. I can easily find and see my receipts for a year. But those are in my computer, or in a file folder. My rocks are spread around stored in boxes. How do you connect the two??? How do you find the original receipt from 2017 for a rock you are cutting and potentially selling today, and you don't actually remember that it was purchased in 2017, or even remember the name of it?
Back when I was a kid and started collecting rocks, I learned about the inventory system where you put a numbered sticker on the bottom of the specimen and keep a log book of info. Ya... that sounded like too much work at the age of 11, and... I also probably couldn't find a cute enough notebook. This sounds smart, if you start it at the beginning, which, obviously I didn't. But, it also sounds not very realistic for rough rock.
Thoughts appreciated!
Surely, you jest!
|
|
|
Post by Son Of Beach on Feb 27, 2024 23:32:32 GMT -5
When you buy rough or slabs, how do you track the cost that you paid, and also the names/locations/vendor that you purchased from? How do you organize your slabs and rough in a way that you can find what you paid for them originally? Or do you even care, and instead consider current market value only?
Purchased cabs are easy, a price, name, and locale can be written on the baggie. This can also 'sort of' be done with slabs. Not so easy though with rough unless there is already a cut face.
Receipts aren't so much my question. I can easily find and see my receipts for a year. But those are in my computer, or in a file folder. My rocks are spread around stored in boxes. How do you connect the two??? How do you find the original receipt from 2017 for a rock you are cutting and potentially selling today, and you don't actually remember that it was purchased in 2017, or even remember the name of it?
Back when I was a kid and started collecting rocks, I learned about the inventory system where you put a numbered sticker on the bottom of the specimen and keep a log book of info. Ya... that sounded like too much work at the age of 11, and... I also probably couldn't find a cute enough notebook. This sounds smart, if you start it at the beginning, which, obviously I didn't. But, it also sounds not very realistic for rough rock.
Thoughts appreciated!
What are you trying to accomplish Khara?
I can inventory, but I don't do it with my hobby.
Not trying to sound like a shithead, but maybe I can help knowing what your end goal is.
|
|
RWA3006
Cave Dweller
Member since March 2009
Posts: 4,213
|
Post by RWA3006 on Feb 27, 2024 23:38:25 GMT -5
I built a "corral" out of cedar fence to be a privacy screen so neighbors don't have to look at the inventory of rough I keep in 55-gallon drums. I label the drums by writing what species the rocks are in the drums and I limit only one kind per drum. I did this so I can more quickly find certain rocks. I also did it so that if I die prematurely my wife can liquidate it all easier because of good organization.
For more precious rocks that I store indoors I put them by groups into empty gunpowder barrels and label them with green painters tape and written details on the tape. These barrels hold about 60 pounds of rocks each.
As for my supply of coprolites I place them in cylindrical wire cages about 30" diameter and 4' tall and they are scattered throughout my orchard.
|
|
RWA3006
Cave Dweller
Member since March 2009
Posts: 4,213
|
Post by RWA3006 on Feb 27, 2024 23:40:16 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by realrockhound on Feb 27, 2024 23:52:04 GMT -5
It’s all just strewn across the lawn. But I can name 99% of the material just from memory and where it’s located out there or in the shop, or house, or shed, or garage 😂.
I’m currently in the process of trying to get it all organized tbh.
|
|
khara
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2022
Posts: 1,751
|
Post by khara on Feb 28, 2024 0:51:07 GMT -5
Well, I'm glad I gave Robin hummingbirdstones a good laugh! And, I actually DID search the forum for this. It isn't here, as far as I can find. :-) Maybe everyone else already decided this is an insane idea. Son Of Beach No, it's a good question. I guess my intent is to not lose track of high dollar material, to not forget it. Some is quite obvious and I have it memorized, others not so much. And, 'inventory' might not be the best word, but I couldn't think of another description. This is currently still just a hobby. I can see it getting to be quite a headache of trying to go backwards in time if turned into a business. If I can come up with a good system to start now, maybe that'll help reduce future headaches. I like this RWA3006 . Kind of more my style. My problem is space. I have things tucked in nooks and crannies all over the house. I've realized I need a space where they can be mostly all together, and visibly labeled. I've realized tonight I've lost my Stonewall Canyon from vegasjames which is driving me absolutely nuts. It's here somewhere, "safe". Your barrels are way bigger than I need so maybe just some boxes with writing on the outside. realrockhound I feel like I can visualize your property. :-) And I worry for you whenever you mow the lawn! I need your address so I can put it into my zillow and snatch that house up if ever it goes on the market. There's probably going to be goodies buried in that lawn for eternity.
|
|
|
Post by liveoak on Feb 28, 2024 7:17:11 GMT -5
I think it probably depends on how many rocks you have & how much space. I have a limited amount of rocks, most of it is in slab form that I purchased. I organized most of it, in plastic "shoeboxes" by sorting all the rocks into different categories or type, OR by color, so I could find them easier.
For slabs, I purchased individually, I put painters tape on it. Truthfully, I marked the tape with the name, not the cost - guess that was most important to me. Patty
|
|
|
Post by hummingbirdstones on Feb 28, 2024 7:57:26 GMT -5
khara I did have a good laugh! Thank you! My rocks are strewn all over. There are rocks everywhere! They are "somewhat" organized. My studio has most of the higher dollar stuff in it. I have flat files full of slabs and smaller rough that are pretty organized. Most of the slabs that I bought years ago off of Ebay I either taped the description and price that I cut off the receipt on them or put it in the plastic bag it was shipped in. This is my "too pretty to cut" material, which was a good idea back when I bought the stuff, but now I'm wondering what the hell I was saving it for? Nobody but me really cares about it and it will all get sold for way less than what it's worth when I croak. The saw shop has rocks in boxes on racks and in cabinets stuffed full. There is no extra space in there for any more rocks. There are rocks from club members houses that I've sold all around my house outside and on the back porch. Behind the saw shop is a rock pile of stuff including a mess of Serape that Vince bought a couple of years ago from a lady whose husband had owned a rock shop. Crazy lace from that same purchase is in crates in the greenhouse. I need to get serious about getting rid of a lot of it, but it's a bit overwhelming now that it's just me.
|
|
pebblesky
fully equipped rock polisher
Purchased another UV mini bowl for tumbling
Member since September 2022
Posts: 1,442
|
Post by pebblesky on Feb 28, 2024 12:52:08 GMT -5
Apparently I don't have enough rocks to inventory For a few of the valuable purchases, I wrote down a label as $xxx or $xx per pound, while most of my rocks fall into the < $10 per pound category and if there is any intention to label them it is just because I still couldn't recognize myself what they are.
|
|
|
Post by Starguy on Feb 28, 2024 14:04:49 GMT -5
kharaLOL. The age old problem of rockhounds. I keep my rough in 2 1/2 or 5 gallon buckets. I can write on the buckets plus they’re stackable. I’ve completely lost track of what I paid for a lot of material but I don’t worry about it too much. When I buy rocks it’s because I really like them or they make me feel happy. I rarely think about how much I can make by processing them. If you’re picturing a highly organized system, that’s not me. I’m in it for the fun.
|
|
|
Post by Pat on Feb 28, 2024 14:21:32 GMT -5
I don’t keep an official inventory, but….
I label plastic drawers to match what I have such as long and thin, fossils, glass, pink, green, black, from Ed, John, etc. These are in a home made shelving unit that holds about 25 3-drawer dresser type units.
Items (mostly slabs) that don’t fit go to a bigger plastic box and labeled by color—- green box, red box etc. these bigger boxes are under a nearby table.
I’m not particularly interested in original source or cost. I’m not a dealer. I don’t really need another rock, but I’m frequently tempted 😀
Works for me.
|
|
|
Post by realrockhound on Feb 28, 2024 14:38:21 GMT -5
khara it’s not that bad, but yes, sometimes rocks do end up in the yard, and I have found stuff seeded down in the ground 😂
|
|
chris1956
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since July 2022
Posts: 1,258
|
Post by chris1956 on Feb 28, 2024 14:56:06 GMT -5
khara it’s not that bad, but yes, sometimes rocks do end up in the yard, and I have found stuff seeded down in the ground 😂 Hmmm. You could charge a fee for people to come and look for buried stuff.
|
|
|
Post by Rockoonz on Feb 28, 2024 15:07:11 GMT -5
RWA3006 crap gabions in the garden, gotta love that... When (if) I finally do a true inventory of the tons around here I seriously want to put the stuff I will never get to, and stuff really not worth cutting, into actual gabions at the front gate to hold the fence down. khara maybe google organized hoarder? Elizabeth and I have different approaches to organization, but equally difficult time remembering where we put "that rock". It can be entertaining to onlookers I'm sure.
|
|
|
Post by Rockoonz on Feb 28, 2024 15:14:05 GMT -5
khara it’s not that bad, but yes, sometimes rocks do end up in the yard, and I have found stuff seeded down in the ground 😂 Hmmm. You could charge a fee for people to come and look for buried stuff. I'll come look!!! I remember years ago when we went to one of Judy Elkins annual "really going out of business this year" sales during PowWow weekend and found some amazing stuff in the dirt out back under her 50 cents or buck a lb or whatever it was mounds. It's all in a box somewhere.
|
|
goldfinder
starting to spend too much on rocks
Member since December 2020
Posts: 234
|
Post by goldfinder on Feb 28, 2024 16:08:30 GMT -5
Great thread and a lot of good ideas already!
When I visited Tony's shop in Idaho a couple years back. He stored a lot of higher end rough in file cabinets and mentioned how well they worked. It turned out to be an excellent idea and the older heavy duty file cabnets work great, it amazing how well the shelves slide even loaded with like 100 lbs of rock lol. I have one file cabinet that is a newer made in China one and it's absolute junk. The old heavy ones are the ones you want.
The file cabnets are nice because you can access any level at anytime, unlike stacked boxes or crates. I keep the higher grade rough and slabs in file cabnets the garage and the mid/lower grade stuff in milk crates and buckets outside.
|
|
khara
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2022
Posts: 1,751
|
Post by khara on Feb 28, 2024 17:40:58 GMT -5
I think it probably depends on how many rocks you have & how much space. I have a limited amount of rocks, most of it is in slab form that I purchased. I organized most of it, in plastic "shoeboxes" by sorting all the rocks into different categories or type, OR by color, so I could find them easier.
For slabs, I purchased individually, I put painters tape on it. Truthfully, I marked the tape with the name, not the cost - guess that was most important to me. Patty Thanks Patty. I'm happy to say I DO have the shoebox system going! Unfortunately, the slabs in them aren't well labeled. I guess I figured I'd always have a good memory... Ha! Painters tape... not sure how I hadn't thought of this one. I keep trying to write info in pencil on slabs. Thanks!
|
|
khara
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2022
Posts: 1,751
|
Post by khara on Feb 28, 2024 17:49:08 GMT -5
My rocks are strewn all over. There are rocks everywhere!.... ...My studio has most of the higher dollar stuff in it. I have flat files full of slabs and smaller rough that are pretty organized. Most of the slabs that I bought years ago off of Ebay I either taped the description and price that I cut off the receipt on them or put it in the plastic bag it was shipped in.... ...There is no extra space in there for any more rocks... Thanks Robin! I can SO relate to rocks being strewn all over and having no more space. Mine are mostly all in our house though, stashed in closets, under beds, in the garage, nooks and crannies. Then junk rocks thrown in the yard. I really like the idea of cutting off the receipt info and taping it to the slab/rock. Thumbs up.
|
|
khara
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since September 2022
Posts: 1,751
|
Post by khara on Feb 28, 2024 17:52:40 GMT -5
Apparently I don't have enough rocks to inventory For a few of the valuable purchases, I wrote down a label as $xxx or $xx per pound, while most of my rocks fall into the < $10 per pound category and if there is any intention to label them it is just because I still couldn't recognize myself what they are. Give it time... It doesn't happen overnight!
|
|