snuffy
Cave Dweller 
Member since May 2009
Posts: 4,319
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Post by snuffy on Feb 27, 2015 8:59:10 GMT -5
Probably 6 years or so ago,I used to buy almandine garnets and small and large Lakers from this online rock shop.Cant remember name,bugs me now. Don't think they are in business anymore.Shoot some names out if anyone remembers.
I used the garnets and small lakers as filler,sure worked good.
snuffy
edit The name Bergs comes to mind.
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Post by MrP on Feb 27, 2015 9:26:37 GMT -5
It may have been Bergs Rock Shop Prescott, WI. If it was it is not there any more. They were open on Sundays so on a nice day it was a beautiful Sunday drive. I should also say a very costly drive.
My wife and I were in there one Sunday when 2 men came in wanting LSA's. Mrs. Berg showed them what they had and they asked if there were more. She said no. When Mr. Berg came back in they asked him if they had more LSA's. Mrs. Berg spoke up saying she had already told them that was all they had. Mr. Berg let them know that Mrs. Berg knew as much about what they had in the shop as he did and maybe some respect was due his wife! 2 very embarrassed men paid for what they had and left.
What a wonderful couple they were. Sure do miss them and there great shop.................MrP
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snuffy
Cave Dweller
Member since May 2009
Posts: 4,319
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Post by snuffy on Feb 27, 2015 9:40:37 GMT -5
I think the Lakers were like $6 lb for larger,$5 lb for small.Almandine garnets like $5 lb.Bought from them often,but the name eluded me until now.I'm gonna dig those lakers out and redo them in the Lotos now!!
snuffy
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Post by rockpickerforever on Feb 27, 2015 11:15:18 GMT -5
Probably 6 years or so ago,I used to buy almandine garnets and small and large Lakers from this online rock shop.Cant remember name,bugs me now. Don't think they are in business anymore.Shoot some names out if anyone remembers. I used the garnets and small lakers as filler,sure worked good. snuffy edit The name Bergs comes to mind.
snuffy, I ran across a thread on RTH in which you mentioned Berg's from a few year back: forum.rocktumblinghobby.com/thread/36019/almondine-garnet
Googling the name brought up some yelp-type info, but apparently they do not/did not have their own website.
I'm sure MrP is correct, they have gone out of business. Unfortunately, too many rock shops have gone this way. There are at least a half dozen I can remember going to years ago, all have disappeared.
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snuffy
Cave Dweller
Member since May 2009
Posts: 4,319
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Post by snuffy on Feb 27, 2015 11:39:49 GMT -5
Probably 6 years or so ago,I used to buy almandine garnets and small and large Lakers from this online rock shop.Cant remember name,bugs me now. Don't think they are in business anymore.Shoot some names out if anyone remembers. I used the garnets and small lakers as filler,sure worked good. snuffy edit The name Bergs comes to mind.
snuffy, I ran across a thread on RTH in which you mentioned Berg's from a few year back: forum.rocktumblinghobby.com/thread/36019/almondine-garnet
Googling the name brought up some yelp-type info, but apparently they do not/did not have their own website.
I'm sure MrP is correct, they have gone out of business. Unfortunately, too many rock shops have gone this way. There are at least a half dozen I can remember going to years ago, all have disappeared.
Thanks Jean,it was Bergs for sure.Wasnt a fancy website,but sure had good rocks and prices too. snuffy |
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Post by captbob on Feb 27, 2015 12:30:37 GMT -5
I'm sure MrP is correct, they have gone out of business. Unfortunately, too many rock shops have gone this way. There are at least a half dozen I can remember going to years ago, all have disappeared. Why do you think this is? Too much competition? Not a large enough customer base? Internet sales? OTHER?? For years I had dreamed of opening a rock shop. The restraining factor was not being able to gauge the demand. Not many (any) rock shops to speak of in this area. We had one that closed a few years back. While they had some nice rocks, they focused on the metaphysical aspect and also sold new age (?) -read hippy- kinda stuff. Being well off the beaten path probably didn't help them much either. Maybe I'll start a Rock Shop thread when I get back in town. It's an idea that just won't leave me alone. |
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Post by rockpickerforever on Feb 27, 2015 13:08:46 GMT -5
captbob, I think where there's a will, there's a way. If your dream is to open a rock shop, by all means, DO IT! I think these are a few things to consider and overcome before you do. The reduction in the number of rock shops closely follows the reduction in the decline of the number of rock clubs. I'd say it's a general loss of interest, mostly. Parents get too busy, families break up, no time for the kids. Get then an Xbox to baby sit them. They're out of your hair, being entertained, so good. You've done your job as a parent in the 21st century. The kids turn into slugs, and do not do anything physical. I doubt they would want to go on a rockhounding expedition, and WALK - OMG! - all over the desert or wherever looking for rocks. Most of them don't even want to walk a couple blocks to school, let alone be lugging around a backpack or bucket full of rocks. (I know that there are exceptions to this. I'm sure that there are a few delightful young people that are really into it!) Don't have kids, but have been around others that do. I can hear them whining now, lol. And once they've found some rocks, how many will ever do anything with them? I don't think that "rocks are cool" the way they were when I was a kid. So the hipper kids may think the guy that plays with rocks is a nerd, so you've got peer pressure not to be different. Kids are so like that! I am glad I grew up in the fifties, and not now. I know my rock club used to cater to the kids years ago, had special programs for them, etc. But there are not many kids in the club anymore (have a couple of new ones recently), so these programs have fallen by the wayside. One last thought about the demise of rock shops. During the 60s and 70s, several of the larger corporations here in town - General Dynamics, Rohr, there were others (just look at an old copy of Desert Magazine to see how many clubs there were!) - had rock clubs just full of members. People that worked at these companies enjoyed working there, and the companies treated them well in return, were also very family oriented. They had long careers back then (my dad worked at General Dynamics for 39 years) and spent their off time with their coworkers and their families. Today, not so much, those companies and school of thought are long gone. Jobs farmed out to offshore factories. (Can I blame Obama for this, lol?) Go to work, punch a clock and go home. You work with co-workers, not friends.
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Post by MrP on Feb 27, 2015 13:12:45 GMT -5
Probably 6 years or so ago,I used to buy almandine garnets and small and large Lakers from this online rock shop.Cant remember name,bugs me now. Don't think they are in business anymore.Shoot some names out if anyone remembers. I used the garnets and small lakers as filler,sure worked good. snuffy edit The name Bergs comes to mind.
snuffy, I ran across a thread on RTH in which you mentioned Berg's from a few year back: forum.rocktumblinghobby.com/thread/36019/almondine-garnet
Googling the name brought up some yelp-type info, but apparently they do not/did not have their own website.
I'm sure MrP is correct, they have gone out of business. Unfortunately, too many rock shops have gone this way. There are at least a half dozen I can remember going to years ago, all have disappeared.
They did have a web site but let it go when they closed shop....................................MrP
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Post by rockpickerforever on Feb 27, 2015 13:27:01 GMT -5
Yes, it's a shame so many have closed their doors. Any more, you don't just drive somewhere (and I'm not just talking rock shops!) and expect a place to still be in business. Need to call first. The best shops, mom and pop type, are exactly the ones that are most in danger of going belly up. Can't blame a lot of them, I'm sure many are burned out, or in bad health, just want to retire. Maybe their kids have no interest in keeping the shop running. Maybe they need the money from selling to be able to retire, or to pay medical bulls. If they own their own shop (building), depending on where they are located, the property can get them a nice chunk of change. Unless it was a newer building, it would most likely get bulldozed, and strip malls or apartments for low income people built. Lots of that going on around here. Sign of the times.
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Post by MrP on Feb 27, 2015 13:36:52 GMT -5
I'm sure MrP is correct, they have gone out of business. Unfortunately, too many rock shops have gone this way. There are at least a half dozen I can remember going to years ago, all have disappeared. Why do you think this is? Too much competition? Not a large enough customer base? Internet sales? OTHER?? For years I had dreamed of opening a rock shop. The restraining factor was not being able to gauge the demand. Not many (any) rock shops to speak of in this area. We had one that closed a few years back. While they had some nice rocks, they focused on the metaphysical aspect and also sold new age (?) -read hippy- kinda stuff. Being well off the beaten path probably didn't help them much either. Maybe I'll start a Rock Shop thread when I get back in town. It's an idea that just won't leave me alone. The Bergs were in their 60's. The rock shop was a garage attached to there house. The house was on the river with a wonderful view. They loved this location so I am sure they did not want to leave it when they closed shop. He had a large assortment of rough and a good supply of equipment and supplies. He and his wife had a great knowledge of the hobby. We had not been there for a long time and decided to go the next weekend. For some reason I looked at the web site and it said they were closed. The last time I had been there, there was no indication they were closing. When my wife and I would showe up he would head to the other garage to get a few 5 gal buckets for the rocks he knew I would buy. He knew it was going to be a good day. Thanks for bring back some good memories..................MrP |
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snuffy
Cave Dweller
Member since May 2009
Posts: 4,319
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Post by snuffy on Feb 27, 2015 14:21:20 GMT -5
Why do you think this is? Too much competition? Not a large enough customer base? Internet sales? OTHER?? For years I had dreamed of opening a rock shop. The restraining factor was not being able to gauge the demand. Not many (any) rock shops to speak of in this area. We had one that closed a few years back. While they had some nice rocks, they focused on the metaphysical aspect and also sold new age (?) -read hippy- kinda stuff. Being well off the beaten path probably didn't help them much either. Maybe I'll start a Rock Shop thread when I get back in town. It's an idea that just won't leave me alone. The Bergs were in their 60's. The rock shop was a garage attached to there house. The house was on the river with a wonderful view. They loved this location so I am sure they did not want to leave it when they closed shop. He had a large assortment of rough and a good supply of equipment and supplies. He and his wife had a great knowledge of the hobby. We had not been there for a long time and decided to go the next weekend. For some reason I looked at the web site and it said they were closed. The last time I had been there, there was no indication they were closing. When my wife and I would showe up he would head to the other garage to get a few 5 gal buckets for the rocks he knew I would buy. He knew it was going to be a good day. Thanks for bring back some good memories..................MrP There are only 2 rock shops close to me still,one 90 miles and the other 113 miles.Both owners in their 80's.A matter of time,will be shopping online only snuffy |
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Post by MrP on Feb 27, 2015 17:21:10 GMT -5
The Bergs were in their 60's. The rock shop was a garage attached to there house. The house was on the river with a wonderful view. They loved this location so I am sure they did not want to leave it when they closed shop. He had a large assortment of rough and a good supply of equipment and supplies. He and his wife had a great knowledge of the hobby. We had not been there for a long time and decided to go the next weekend. For some reason I looked at the web site and it said they were closed. The last time I had been there, there was no indication they were closing. When my wife and I would showe up he would head to the other garage to get a few 5 gal buckets for the rocks he knew I would buy. He knew it was going to be a good day. Thanks for bring back some good memories..................MrP There are only 2 rock shops close to me still,one 90 miles and the other 113 miles.Both owners in their 80's.A matter of time,will be shopping online only snuffy I am lucky in the fact that I am less then 10 miles from Rocks & Things, Princeton, MN but I sure liked Berg's better. It was a hour and half drive but well worth it.....................................MrP |
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jamesp
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Member since October 2012
Posts: 36,612
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Post by jamesp on Feb 27, 2015 20:16:39 GMT -5
snuffy- How did you use the garnets. In a rotary ? What percentage fill if you do not mind me asking ?
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snuffy
Cave Dweller
Member since May 2009
Posts: 4,319
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Post by snuffy on Feb 27, 2015 20:27:21 GMT -5
snuffy- How did you use the garnets. In a rotary ? What percentage fill if you do not mind me asking ? James,I did them in the rotary,before I got my lotos.I just threw a small handful in with the tiny Lakers and everything else. Back then I used them,safety glass from the glass company,plastic bb's,tile spacers,ceramics,them little floating bastards,tiny rocks,marbles,and anything else I probably forgot. Now with the Lotos,I only use rocks of all sizes. Got plenty of that on hand,nothing else.I only bought a couple lbs of the garnets,beautiful little suckers. snuffy |
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Post by snowmom on Feb 28, 2015 6:15:09 GMT -5
Yes, it's a shame so many have closed their doors. Any more, you don't just drive somewhere (and I'm not just talking rock shops!) and expect a place to still be in business. Need to call first. The best shops, mom and pop type, are exactly the ones that are most in danger of going belly up. Can't blame a lot of them, I'm sure many are burned out, or in bad health, just want to retire. Maybe their kids have no interest in keeping the shop running. Maybe they need the money from selling to be able to retire, or to pay medical bulls. If they own their own shop (building), depending on where they are located, the property can get them a nice chunk of change. Unless it was a newer building, it would most likely get bulldozed, and strip malls or apartments for low income people built. Lots of that going on around here. Sign of the times. same thing happened to lots of other small businesses. Internet shopping is so much easier, and less expensive. Taxes on real estate and insuring against liability, loss to theft, punitive business permits and inspection fees, impossible requirements to meet for salaries and benefits, mountains of paperwork documentation, keeping constant hours and having the the skills( including people and marketing savvy) it takes to run a business, less business due to the poor economy. Lots and lots of reasons to close up shop. The times, they are a changin'. yep. |
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Post by johnjsgems on Feb 28, 2015 12:36:44 GMT -5
Speaking of rock shops gone, I just heard Eloxite closed. Anybody from WY or regular customers know what happened? I heard Kingsley bought up the jewelry findings and supplies and "someone out west" bought up the rest. Very curious to know the story.
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Post by rockjunquie on Mar 1, 2015 15:19:57 GMT -5
It may have been Bergs Rock Shop Prescott, WI. If it was it is not there any more. They were open on Sundays so on a nice day it was a beautiful Sunday drive. I should also say a very costly drive. My wife and I were in there one Sunday when 2 men came in wanting LSA's. Mrs. Berg showed them what they had and they asked if there were more. She said no. When Mr. Berg came back in they asked him if they had more LSA's. Mrs. Berg spoke up saying she had already told them that was all they had. Mr. Berg let them know that Mrs. Berg knew as much about what they had in the shop as he did and maybe some respect was due his wife! 2 very embarrassed men paid for what they had and left. What a wonderful couple they were. Sure do miss them and there great shop.................MrP What a great story!!!! And, yes, what a wonderful couple.  |
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Post by johnjsgems on Mar 2, 2015 12:10:11 GMT -5
Snowmom nailed it. Too expensive to run "brick and mortar" business and try to compete with the internet only "remarketers". Many of the old shops were in seasonal locations too (like Shirley's in UT and the Fallon shop) where majority of business was summer rockhounds traveling through. Then there is the sales tax advantages of selling online to other states (so far).
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Mar 3, 2015 15:47:48 GMT -5
This thread begs the question, where can one buy lakers in bulk now? thanks to snuffy for starting it. |
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Post by gingerkid on Mar 3, 2015 21:53:29 GMT -5
Speaking of rock shops gone, I just heard Eloxite closed. Anybody from WY or regular customers know what happened? I heard Kingsley bought up the jewelry findings and supplies and "someone out west" bought up the rest. Very curious to know the story.  Sure hate to read the news about Eloxite. @shotgunner, doesn't kellyj collect Lakers? |
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Sure hate to read the news about Eloxite. 
