waterboysh
spending too much on rocks
Member since April 2021
Posts: 386
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Post by waterboysh on Aug 8, 2023 11:16:52 GMT -5
I rarely see this place mentioned, and when I do it's usually by people that live near by and go in person. Their prices are way lower than lots of other shops for the same rock. I don't understand how they can offer rocks for $4 or $5 per pound that other places are selling for double or more. Is it because they have a 5 pound minimum on orders? Most shops let you order in 1lb increments but give cheaper prices the more pounds you order. The very low prices and no pictures make me a little cautious, but I've never heard anything bad about this shop, only good things. How are they able to offer their rocks for so cheap and why do I rarely see them mentioned?
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ashley
Cave Dweller
Member since February 2023
Posts: 927
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Post by ashley on Aug 8, 2023 12:57:56 GMT -5
Following…
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hplcman
spending too much on rocks
Member since August 2022
Posts: 460
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Post by hplcman on Aug 8, 2023 13:52:41 GMT -5
I looked into making a road trip to this place a couple years ago, but couldn't because of COVID. I forget how I heard about it, but my impression was that they were a good place, sort of famous in the area due to allowing rockhounding on nearby land or something like that... I like the site and will maybe try ordering some rough for tumbling and create a post with some pictures?
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waterboysh
spending too much on rocks
Member since April 2021
Posts: 386
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Post by waterboysh on Aug 8, 2023 14:45:26 GMT -5
They have a really big selection, including a lot of things I had never heard of. But, I figured the first step is to make sure they have what I'm interested in , in a size that is good for tumbling and also wouldn't need to be cut. So I just sent them an email asking them about available sizes for several types of rocks.
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whodunit
off to a rocking start
Member since July 2023
Posts: 18
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Post by whodunit on Aug 8, 2023 15:31:41 GMT -5
Thanks for turning me on to this source!
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hplcman
spending too much on rocks
Member since August 2022
Posts: 460
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Post by hplcman on Aug 8, 2023 16:35:30 GMT -5
They have a really big selection, including a lot of things I had never heard of. But, I figured the first step is to make sure they have what I'm interested in , in a size that is good for tumbling and also wouldn't need to be cut. So I just sent them an email asking them about available sizes for several types of rocks. Thanks!! Could you update this thread when you get a response? That would be great!
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Post by catmandewe on Aug 8, 2023 17:04:28 GMT -5
They are good people, since Covid the pay dig sites have been closed and only the rock shop is open.
They have tons and tons of rock there, which is probably why they can offer better prices, most of the people selling online that are double their price are probably buying from there or someplace similar.
Tony
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Post by pebblesky on Aug 8, 2023 17:07:58 GMT -5
My communication with them were from a year ago so your miles might vary: I was about to buy some tumbling rough ("African Blue Lace" and "Antelope Picture Jasper" that were on their list back then in Sep 2022). The reply from them was:
"We are sold out of Antelope and do not have any suitable tumbling size pieces of the blue lace ( smallest piece about 15 lbs. )"
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dillonf
fully equipped rock polisher
Hounding and tumbling
Member since February 2022
Posts: 1,622
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Post by dillonf on Aug 8, 2023 18:10:35 GMT -5
I bought Teggs from them via email and they were slow to respond, but the stuff I got was AWESOME! I did email them about a rough rock order and didn't hear back. That said I didn't follow up either . . . I think calling them is the best approach. They didn't label the stuff in the boxes I got, but I was OK with that. If you are getting a lot of variety and you can't ID it on your own that may be a consideration for you.
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Rockyy
starting to shine!
Member since August 2023
Posts: 47
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Post by Rockyy on Aug 8, 2023 21:15:59 GMT -5
Probably one of the reasons they can sell cheap is the bulk they buy plus, they can trade a barrel of ? for a barrel or two of whatever they have on their ranch and they have unlimited storage space. Back when it was open for digging and camping it was an awesome place to spend a few days.
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Post by velodromed on Aug 8, 2023 21:39:59 GMT -5
Wow, thanks for posting about this place!
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Post by jasoninsd on Aug 9, 2023 9:11:05 GMT -5
I've been to their sale page numerous times perusing the list...but I've never ordered. Thanks for posting this. It's nice to see people's experience with them...it makes me feel a little more comfortable about ordering...and knowing what and what not to expect.
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waterboysh
spending too much on rocks
Member since April 2021
Posts: 386
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Post by waterboysh on Aug 9, 2023 10:15:30 GMT -5
do not have any suitable tumbling size pieces of the blue lace ( smallest piece about 15 lbs. )" Oh no, the African Blue Lace is one of the ones I wanted to get. It sounds like I will need to call them. I am getting over a cold (or something) and have almost lost my voice so it'll probably be next week. If I get more information, I'll share it here for sure.
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rockngranny
off to a rocking start
Member since August 2020
Posts: 13
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Post by rockngranny on Aug 9, 2023 14:18:00 GMT -5
I am one of the lucky ones that can drive there in under an hour. They are in the middle of nowhere... yes, it really is a Ranch! They are family run business and I'm guessing low overhead conributes to their lower prices...They get large orders in from off shore as well as locally mined items such as POLKA DOT AGATE which is just north of them. Well worth the in person visit if you come out to Oregon! Regarding the blue lace agate... I saw it and some pieces are about the size of thick Rib eye steaks... (I bought one)
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Rockyy
starting to shine!
Member since August 2023
Posts: 47
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Post by Rockyy on Aug 9, 2023 14:53:31 GMT -5
I also bought a chunk of blue lace. Don't remember seeing any smaller pieces of it but was not really looking for tumbling stuff. I am going to try to get over there towards the end of the month and if I remember I will look in their bin for smaller pieces for tumbling but if they only have the one container the small stuff might be on the bottom. We wanted some swazi agate but the bin only had about 2 or 3 inches of smaller rock on the bottom. Might be good for tumbling but I was looking for bigger chunks.
If I can get out there at the end of the month I am going to pick up some more Brazilian agate. It is so cheap and some of their "small" ones are what other rock shops would call large. Should I bring the pickup or small car? hmmmm.
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waterboysh
spending too much on rocks
Member since April 2021
Posts: 386
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Post by waterboysh on Aug 9, 2023 18:21:54 GMT -5
Well I had emailed them a list of about a dozen rocks and basically just said I only want rocks that are sized for tumbling can you give me a yes/no answer if you have any of these rocks in that size and they responded back. Some of the ones I was really hoping for were not, but they said they have the African Blue Lace in tumbling size. So I am going to order 5lbs of Velvet Rainbow Obsidian, Blue Lace, and Swazi Agate.
The other ones that I asked about that they said yes to are Fluorite and Arizona Petrified Wood.
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arentol
off to a rocking start
Member since July 2023
Posts: 20
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Post by arentol on Aug 9, 2023 20:17:59 GMT -5
Glad I am reading this now, because I am driving down to the Klamath Falls area in a few weeks and going by this place will only add about 45 minutes to the drive. Definitely going to stop in and get plenty of rocks to add to the ones I plan to try and find while I am in Oregon.
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waterboysh
spending too much on rocks
Member since April 2021
Posts: 386
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Post by waterboysh on Sept 7, 2023 11:31:42 GMT -5
Following up on this. I got my order with no issues. I ordered 5 pounds of Velvet Rainbow Obsidian. Though, from my googleing I can find rainbow obsidian and velvet obsidian but not anything that has both in the name... So not sure exactly what I have.
Swazi/Mozambique Agate.
African Blue Lace.
When I talked to them on the phone I explained I wanted pieces for tumbling, but I did get several pieces of blue lace that was pretty flat. Two of them at least have some pretty druzy on the top. But that was nearly 1 of the 5 pounds.
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Post by velodromed on Sept 7, 2023 12:06:03 GMT -5
Following up on this. I got my order with no issues. I ordered 5 pounds of Velvet Rainbow Obsidian. Though, from my googleing I can find rainbow obsidian and velvet obsidian but not anything that has both in the name... So not sure exactly what I have.
Swazi/Mozambique Agate.
African Blue Lace.
When I talked to them on the phone I explained I wanted pieces for tumbling, but I did get several pieces of blue lace that was pretty flat. Two of them at least have some pretty druzy on the top. But that was nearly 1 of the 5 pounds. Wow that blue lace is nice! My order from them was also good. I should’ve gotten some of the blue lace, but got the serepe Jasper and black skin agate instead. Their swazi agate looks really good as well I see.
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Post by pebblesky on Sept 7, 2023 12:06:44 GMT -5
The Blue Lace agates look nice. How much per pound? Maybe you can tumble several of the "Velvet Rainbow Obsidian" to see if they reveal expected features...
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