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Post by Rockhobbit on Apr 20, 2012 14:11:42 GMT -5
Paul, my heart goes out to you and if there is anything I can do to help, just let me know! Sheri
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Post by Rockoonz on Apr 20, 2012 14:29:49 GMT -5
Helen, don't sweat it, didn't you buy your owyhee from Tony (catmandewe)? He's definitely not a dealer in stolen goods. Just don't buy from newcomers till they have been around awhile and you'll be okay.
Lee
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Post by helens on Apr 20, 2012 16:02:03 GMT -5
The only owyhee I have is from trades with forum members. Actually, beyond some unique rock tiles, the ONLY rocks I have are from trades with forum members, plus an estate sale and local rock club members. I'm a dumb newbie, but I'll be damned if I get accused of dealing with stolen goods ever. With all this going on, I'm not going to buy any more rocks again until Paul gets his returned in its entirety. I'll trade or buy local, and beyond this box I commited to, I'm done buying rocks from ANYONE.
I am very sincerely sorry for Paul and his losses. It flabbergasts me that there are evil people that steal, but I'm not naive enough to believe they don't exist. But when we start thinking everyone who buys rocks might be buying stolen goods or trying to take advantage of someone, or selling rocks means they may be selling stolen goods... that's a bit too paranoid for me.
Paul, please let us know when you get your rocks back.
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Don
Cave Dweller
He wants you too, Malachi.
Member since December 2009
Posts: 2,616
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Post by Don on Apr 20, 2012 17:29:50 GMT -5
This is precisely why new members need to establish their credibility prior to attempting to sell material here. (credibility is gained by participating on the forums) I have no problem buying rock from established members in this community. An established member IMHO is 50+ posts. It isn't a perfect system, but most peddlers of stolen goods are not going to stick around long enough to accumulate much of a post count.
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Post by jakesrocks on Apr 20, 2012 17:43:51 GMT -5
For myself at least, I've solved this problem. I've been on this forum 4 days shy of 2 years. In that time I've only bought material from members twice. And then from only long established members who are also trusted dealers. I don't sell my own material. I prefer to trade with the members. So far I have heard no complaints about materials I've sent to other members. And I've been more than happy with what I've received in return.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Member since January 1970
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Apr 20, 2012 18:45:21 GMT -5
I hate this cr@p. I did a bit of data mining. This guy on ebay dougy224 is advertising in his listings a website called manzanita-driftwood.com. I went to that site to get a feel. Seems like he is going out in his backyard or hillside somewhere cutting down manzanita bushes, cleaning them up and selling them for $25-40. Makes me wonder why this aquarium guy is selling stones. But, hey, I sell into multiple venues also. I don't burn people so I thought I'd look a little deeper. Then I went to godaddy to get "whois" information for the domain www.manzanita-driftwood.comHere is what that gleaned: Rafael Mendoza ()
Fax: 1009 Radka Beaumont, CA 92223 USThen a quick little search for Rafael Mendoza at www.zabasearch.com reveals his home address and telephone number. I wont post that here. Seems kinda creepy to do that. If anyone cares enough they can look for themselves. He's 35 years olf. Further, a little googling reveals support.weddingbee.com/topic/he-is-back-at-it-manzman-is-a-crook-please-protect-the-people-using-your-siteand oddly enough, my old industry. Despite him being less than 45 miles from my old shop, I had never heard of him before today. www.faunaclassifieds.com/forums/showthread.php?t=61124&page=2This guy seems to have a long track record of stealing from folks on the internet. Too bad he is such small time the authorities don't have time for him.
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Post by jakesrocks on Apr 20, 2012 19:12:29 GMT -5
Yup, saw a few parcels of fire agate yesterday being sold by a manzanita-driftwood.com. Kind of wondered about the connection to rocks.
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Post by tntmom on Apr 20, 2012 19:27:26 GMT -5
Great research!!! Did you send the info to Paul?
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orchids9
off to a rocking start
Member since October 2011
Posts: 9
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Post by orchids9 on Apr 20, 2012 19:31:19 GMT -5
The Beaumont Address is my old address, Have had all that info posted last year. They are currently either in Corona Ca, or St George Utah area or both,
Helen, We dont ever expect to get are rocks back, wish we could, at this point my only wish is to make people aware of it all. Sorry you were accused of buying something stolen, did not catch that.
Thanks Gang
Paul
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orchids9
off to a rocking start
Member since October 2011
Posts: 9
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Post by orchids9 on Apr 20, 2012 19:33:46 GMT -5
I would be interested in the Link of manzanita-driftwood.com selling fire agate ![???](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/huh.png) ![???](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/huh.png) ? Paul
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Post by helens on Apr 20, 2012 20:00:12 GMT -5
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Post by jakesrocks on Apr 20, 2012 20:31:02 GMT -5
I would be interested in the Link of manzanita-driftwood.com selling fire agate ![???](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/huh.png) ![???](//storage.proboards.com/forum/images/smiley/huh.png) ? Paul Paul, just google fire agate rough on ebay. First site I checked had 2 or 3 parcels from them. Also saw orchids9 mentioned a few times as sellers. Do you currently have material for sale on ebay ? Don
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Post by jakesrocks on Apr 20, 2012 20:43:11 GMT -5
Well, that's interesting. I just checked the same listing, and all of the items listed under the manzanita-driftwood name, as well as those listed under orchids9 seem to have been taken down. I suspect the creep thief is monitoring our conversations.
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Post by helens on Apr 20, 2012 20:43:36 GMT -5
Just curious... aren't guns legal in Ca? Where do Manzanitas grow? Ok, I'm bad.
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Post by helens on Apr 20, 2012 20:49:10 GMT -5
Yesh. I can't even stop talking about it, the subject riles me up so bad. I don't want to hang out with thieves. Period.
I spend too much time here. One thing I just realized, I don't know enough about rocks to hang out this much with you guys.
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Post by jakesrocks on Apr 20, 2012 21:00:15 GMT -5
Just curious... aren't guns legal in Ca? Where do Manzanitas grow? Ok, I'm bad. lol, guns are barely legal in Ca now, and it's illegal as hell to cut manzanita. Unless they're clearing land for a new tract of houses. The manzanita roots make the most interesting wood. How do I know, you ask ? Because for a short time I worked a part time second job for a company that made fancy tables out of manzanita roots and branches. They had to follow the new housing developments, and buy the wood from the crews doing the dirt work.
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Post by NatureNut on Apr 20, 2012 21:15:10 GMT -5
If you read the feedback, people are complaining because the Manzanita is bacteria ridden.
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Post by helens on Apr 20, 2012 21:16:45 GMT -5
Why can't someone report that website to the EPA (or whoever regulates the Manzanita trees from being cut?). Wouldn't ordering a manzanita branch give you the return address?
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Post by jakesrocks on Apr 20, 2012 21:28:24 GMT -5
Jo, if it's full of bacteria, it's because it's not being allowed to dry out properly. The owner of the business I worked at let stacks of the stuff dry for at least a year before processing it. He had a big old truck type cement mixer he'd fill half full of dry manzanita. About a hundred pounds of rocks and broken glass were added to the mixer, and the whole load dry tumbled for several days to remove the bark and smooth the wood. Never had a problem with bacteria.
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Post by jakesrocks on Apr 20, 2012 21:32:31 GMT -5
Helen, it depends on where he's getting it from. If it's from construction sites, it's legal. But if he's just going out in the wild and cutting it down, he's facing some serious prison time. Collecting desert plants is highly frowned upon.
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