RockyBeach
spending too much on rocks
Member since July 2023
Posts: 342
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Post by RockyBeach on Sept 11, 2024 7:10:05 GMT -5
I have been tumbling/vibratorying found rocks from walking trails, parking lots, river beds and Lake Superior beaches ... mostly just "pretty rocks" and a visitor noted that I have the tools, equipment and time to do rock tumbling.
He has an interest in rocks and has quite a motherload of petrified wood and agates he has acquired in trips to South Dakota and he has asked me to tumble them for him and he will "give me some of them for my efforts". Thing is, I cannot pin him down as to what "some" is ... so ... the question (finally) is .... what would be a fair method for determining how the rocks I tumble for him should be shared?
I have some off-line input but I will wait to share that after seeing what actual rock hobbyists have to say.
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Post by HankRocks on Sept 11, 2024 7:40:03 GMT -5
I have been tumbling/vibratorying found rocks from walking trails, parking lots, river beds and Lake Superior beaches ... mostly just "pretty rocks" and a visitor noted that I have the tools, equipment and time to do rock tumbling. He has an interest in rocks and has quite a motherload of petrified wood and agates he has acquired in trips to South Dakota and he has asked me to tumble them for him and he will "give me some of them for my efforts". Thing is, I cannot pin him down as to what "some" is ... so ... the question (finally) is .... what would be a fair method for determining how the rocks I tumble for him should be shared? I have some off-line input but I will wait to share that after seeing what actual rock hobbyists have to say. Tumble for half. You are supplying the tumbler, the grit and the electricity, your time, and putting wear on your tumbler. Half of the finished product is more than fair. And make sure it's an equal half, I would do a he picks a couple, you pick a couple. If that sounds unreasonable to him walk away. or... if you do not want the tumbled pieces, charge him by the pound, maybe $5 to $6 a pound or more. Never figured a good price for tumbling rocks, but I suspect that's a good start point. My opinion |
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Post by rockjunquie on Sept 11, 2024 7:40:26 GMT -5
Difficult question. I can't answer it, but I would like to say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Maybe random pulls for weight?
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RWA3006
Cave Dweller 
Member since March 2009
Posts: 4,625 
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Post by RWA3006 on Sept 11, 2024 8:23:07 GMT -5
I'd divide the final tumbles in half and let him pick which half he wants. Also, I wouldn't do it for any less.
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Post by cabby on Sept 11, 2024 9:54:22 GMT -5
The suggestions are great but I would be reluctant to negotiate with him at all at this point. That vague “some” and being evasive has never been a good sign for me… it’s possible that he just has NO clue what is fair and doesn’t want to suggest anything… but for me that behavior typically means either they will be REALLY angry and insulted when you try to make a specific deal, or they will agree then after the work is done try to renegotiate and tell everyone how unfair you are.
I am probably overly cynical lol. If I’m understanding correctly he is the one that asked you for a favor, so being evasive about compensation is suspicious. I would go for flat fee per lb and not turn over the goods without payment, and maybe an option to reduce the price in exchange for a percentage of the material?
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RockyBeach
spending too much on rocks
Member since July 2023
Posts: 342
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Post by RockyBeach on Sept 12, 2024 11:11:32 GMT -5
Thanks everyone for the input .... have a couple of weeks to go before the first batch is finally finished and I think I will ask him for details about what he is thinking for the split of the finished collection and if it is not the suggested 50/50 will make a counteroffer and show him the suggestions made here ...
SHOULD have clarified the "split" before going ahead with the project but at the time what "some" meant didn't seem as important as it does now .... pet wood and agates take more time and attention than my usual "just pretty" rocks do ... plus "mine" are on hold while I am processing "his".
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RockyBeach
spending too much on rocks
Member since July 2023
Posts: 342
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Post by RockyBeach on Sept 12, 2024 11:19:08 GMT -5
… it’s possible that he just has NO clue what is fair and doesn’t want to suggest anything… I think that is the case ... he is an honest young man I have known for a while I am looking for a way that is fair to both of us because I am as clueless as he is as to what would be a fair split. I like the idea of a numerical 50/50 split with size and type sorted and a blind "pick a box" approach. Hopefully he will agree to that idea. |
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Post by cabby on Sept 12, 2024 11:22:50 GMT -5
If the 50/50 doesn’t go well I would just take what deal you can (or walk away at that point) and chalk it up to a learning experience for next time. If negotiations aren’t going well already then trying to back it up with third party input (after the fact) will probably make things worse. Can just return the rocks in the current state and cut losses early.
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Post by cabby on Sept 12, 2024 11:33:33 GMT -5
… it’s possible that he just has NO clue what is fair and doesn’t want to suggest anything… I think that is the case ... he is an honest young man I have known for a while I am looking for a way that is fair to both of us because I am as clueless as he is as to what would be a fair split. I like the idea of a numerical 50/50 split with size and type sorted and a blind "pick a box" approach. Hopefully he will agree to that idea. Oooh that changes things! I was under the impression that it wasn’t someone you really knew, just kinda met. I think the suggestions were all more “business transaction”. For me, “fair” has different meanings for friends than for strangers 😆 with people I know and trust “fair” is whatever we are both happy with, regardless of monetary value. |
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RockyBeach
spending too much on rocks
Member since July 2023
Posts: 342
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Post by RockyBeach on Sept 12, 2024 11:38:25 GMT -5
If the 50/50 doesn’t go well I would just take what deal you can (or walk away at that point) and chalk it up to a learning experience for next time. If negotiations aren’t going well already then trying to back it up with third party input (after the fact) will probably make things worse. Can just return the rocks in the current state and cut losses early. Hopefully all will come out ok and both of us will be "happy" enough for there to be more shiny agates and pet wood in my future ...if not ... it's been a learning experience tumbling some new kinds of rocks and if I get to keep only a few, I will have more now than I did at the start of the project and after all, how many REALLY pretty rocks does one actually need ?  |
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python
spending too much on rocks
Member since June 2024
Posts: 292
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Post by python on Sept 12, 2024 20:18:32 GMT -5
You could also try talking him into joining the hobby and getting his own equipment after this deal is done. Then you will pick up a rockhound/tumbling buddy. 👍
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RockyBeach
spending too much on rocks
Member since July 2023
Posts: 342
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Post by RockyBeach on Sept 12, 2024 20:48:54 GMT -5
You could also try talking him into joining the hobby and getting his own equipment after this deal is done. Then you will pick up a rockhound/tumbling buddy. 👍 He is a recent college grad with a new job and a new house and a girlfriend who seems to be a "keeper" so his plate is pretty full right now. I don't know if he would have the patience to do the actually work of polishing. I inherited the LittleRedPlastic Kid's tumbler he had when he was in grade school because he had no interest in it any more. Darn thing is SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO loud I only used it a couple times until I went to Harbor Freight. If/when we get the dividing the spoils settled, all should shake out ok.... I hope ! I really LIKE that pet wood and the agates sure look promising! |
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Post by jasoninsd on Sept 14, 2024 23:13:56 GMT -5
You could also try talking him into joining the hobby and getting his own equipment after this deal is done. Then you will pick up a rockhound/tumbling buddy. 👍 He is a recent college grad with a new job and a new house and a girlfriend who seems to be a "keeper" so his plate is pretty full right now. I don't know if he would have the patience to do the actually work of polishing. I inherited the LittleRedPlastic Kid's tumbler he had when he was in grade school because he had no interest in it any more. Darn thing is SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO loud I only used it a couple times until I went to Harbor Freight. If/when we get the dividing the spoils settled, all should shake out ok.... I hope ! I really LIKE that pet wood and the agates sure look promising! It's 'cause they're from South Dakota! LOL Please please please post pictures when they're done!  |
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RockyBeach
spending too much on rocks
Member since July 2023
Posts: 342
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Post by RockyBeach on Sept 14, 2024 23:48:30 GMT -5
jasoninsd RE: pictures .... will try ! It's been a while since I posted any.
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RockyBeach
spending too much on rocks
Member since July 2023
Posts: 342
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Post by RockyBeach on Sept 22, 2024 12:47:23 GMT -5
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python
spending too much on rocks
Member since June 2024
Posts: 292
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Post by python on Sept 22, 2024 19:10:19 GMT -5
Nice looking batch!
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RockyBeach
spending too much on rocks
Member since July 2023
Posts: 342
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Post by RockyBeach on Sept 22, 2024 21:13:01 GMT -5
Thanks ! That was my first run of anything other than yard and garden and beach and river rocks so I was pleased to see a shine that is more impressive than I get on many of my "everyday" type rocks. I sorted them by basic shape and weighed them so it really IS a 50/50 split as much as I could manage. |
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RockyBeach
spending too much on rocks
Member since July 2023
Posts: 342
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Post by RockyBeach on Sept 30, 2024 22:30:13 GMT -5
The "split" has been accomplished and both parties are happy with the results.
In addition to the pet wood, a tray of agates were split with him choosing his "I GOTTA HAVE THIS ONE" and then we took turns making a 5 at a time selection of the remainers.
He is knowledgeable about agates and wanted some of each of the different kinds and I am just happy with "pretty" rocks, so it worked out well.
Just for fun, when we were finished with the division, I weighed the rocks and both stashes weighed within a couple of ounces!
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