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Post by sbreed on Jan 26, 2007 12:21:48 GMT -5
I have purchased from this Ebay vender a few times. He is very fast on his shipping, very reasonable on his prices and has some awesome products! He also posts stuff that is kind of hard to find and doesn't jack the price way up!! Here is the link to his store stores.ebay.com/Dick-Loveland-LapidaryCheck it out.................I love it!! Sheri |
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller 
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,496
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Post by Sabre52 on Jan 26, 2007 13:15:00 GMT -5
Sheri: I too, have purchased from Dick and have found his slabs to be really nice. As you've said,, he also has some very uncommon materials that he puts up for bid. I've always been very satisfied with the specimens I've gotten from him.....mel
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stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,113
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Post by stefan on Jan 26, 2007 13:59:30 GMT -5
I just discovered him the other day- I don't sop Ebay (but I do browse when the mood strikes) and was amazed at the variety and apperante quality of material- Good to know his stuff is as good as the pictures!
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spacegold
has rocks in the head
Member since September 2006
Posts: 732
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Post by spacegold on Jan 26, 2007 16:26:34 GMT -5
I had to quit looking. My wallet was starting to ache.
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Post by rockds on Jan 26, 2007 17:35:50 GMT -5
yup, I've bought from him before and have him in my favs.
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Post by cpdad on Jan 27, 2007 21:54:17 GMT -5
i noticed he was a new member...i love deals as all of us do....hope they joined for the right reasons...or a few will be all over them ;D....just a small thought...kev.
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Post by deb193 on Jan 28, 2007 14:46:25 GMT -5
Without taking anything away from the positive statements in this thread, I want to try expand the perspective.
I've looked at these listings now and then. His stuff comes up in the kind of searches I do. It is possible over the last 3-4 years I even bought something or at least bid a few times.
I guess the reason I did not buy a lot was price. Let me be clear, the prices are fair. The material appears (and sounds like others concur) to be good quality and variety. Still, when I shop ebay it is almost always for bargains and not for a great specimen.
If I was making something to resell, the equation would be different. But I like to find the 3-4 slabs of OK stuff going for $4.99. I like to visit one of my favorite sellers and see that they are having $$-days and all the material that has been offered before (some I may have been tempted to bid on) is now starting at $1. I think I would need to be at a show or shop where I can touch the slab to routinely pay $10+ a slab. Again, not saying it is not worth it, but rather saying that I don't need more rock and I don't buy to resell, and I like finding bargains. Frankly we dream of the estate sale or garage-sale where we get an incredible steal.
Same for others like WescCoastMining. They put up nice rough and slabs. Slabs seldom start lower than $8, but all look real nice. When I have seen a slab that I knew I could use a big part of to make a box top, I have spent $8 or $10, but not too often -and only when I could combine a couple slabs/preforms/rough to leverage the shipping.
I guess that makes me the kind of buyer that will never make an ebay rock seller rich. Also, I know if everybody bought like me, lots of neat rock vendors might not be able to afford to stay in business. But then this is not really a group on where to buy the best materials for our lapidary businesses, we are mostly a group or rockhounds and rock-addicts who don't need more rock but know we will be getting more rock and want to hear about below-market price/opportunities.
I guess I just want qualify the endorsement in this thread for the benefit of newcomers. I want to assure the rock-buying-neophyte that there are plenty of opportunities to get several colorful slabs of moss agate, jasper, pet wood, and other material for less then the price of a lot of Loveland's single slab starting bids. For folks who want less common material from specific locations, or want larger slabs, or don't want to take as many buying chances ... well, I think there is agreement that Dick's material is nice and not overpriced.
Not trying to be a downer, but I have bought a lot of nice stuff for less than what a lot of his slabs start at, and I did not want anyone to get the idea that this thread was saying that this is about what you should expect to pay. The material is nice, prices are fair, but better bargains exist. Anyone planning to break up or cut up slabs to tumble the pieces might want to look for the bargains.
Does this make sense?
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,496
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Post by Sabre52 on Jan 28, 2007 16:15:51 GMT -5
Daniel: Makes very good sense especially the part about shipping. I used to buy quite a few individual slabs but the shipping has become a deal breaker. A nice $8.00 slab sounds good untill you add the $5 or so shipping. After checking prices at tailgate shows and even the more expensive indoor shows $12 or $13 will buy some pretty darn fancy slabs and you can hand pic them, check for fractures and pits, cuttable areas etc. Now, like you, I primarily shop for deals on rough etc and try to get full flat raters because it makes the per pound cost to ship so much more reasonable....mel
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stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,113
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Post by stefan on Jan 30, 2007 10:36:52 GMT -5
No Dan- You bring up a very valid point- Because I look at rock a bit differently- It is nice to see your perspective- I often marvel at the stuff you purchase- then WOnder WHY? Sometimes I laugh at your statments that you bought stuff with NO IDEA OF USAGE!!! But you do seem to find the greatest deals- and I very rarly hear of you "overpaying" for anything- You look at Loveland and see stuff that you would not bid on Because you don't need it, and it is not a bargin for you- ANd that makes sense. I look at some of his stuff and think about the possible cabs that could be made from it (I quit collecting specimins Years ago as I just could not control myself) and think about some rare materials that I will never be able to afford in the Large Rough state- so a 10 or 15 dollar slab appeals to me so I can work at least a bit of it! Not that I have bought anything like that (the most I have ever paid for a slab is $5 from a show) But you do put it into a better perspective- ANd give any Newer Memebers some food for thought!
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Post by lbowman1 on Jan 30, 2007 12:05:46 GMT -5
Oh, I promise I'm trying to be good buying my starter rocks and resisting urges to buy awesome slabs. One thing I have to keep in mind while shopping is that I don't have a lot of old rock stashed back yet. I need to buy pounds at a time. That way maybe I wont wind up with lots of pretty things I can't do anything with because I can't fill up the tumbler with like stuff. That's when the shipping question hits me hard. Just how much of a deal is any one seller going to give me on multiple auctions? I ask that question a lot and I've gotten some reasonable answers and some really stupid ones. One guy was going to charge me $20 shipping for about 10 lbs of material. I don't think so! Not when I know Priority Mail can send closer to 20 lbs for $8.10. No way a few sheets of bubble wrap could cost over $10.
I have to sit here and do the math while I shop so I can get more bang for the buck. A tumbler sitting on the counter isn't going to do me any good if I can't afford to run it.
Lori
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stefan
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2005
Posts: 14,113
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Post by stefan on Jan 30, 2007 13:09:49 GMT -5
Lori- In all honesty I purchase my Tumbling rough from members on this board- You get great value for the money- and none of them over charge on shipping- I have 100's of pounds that I purchased from other memebers (or gotten in trade or whatever) and there has NEVER been any problems- Just keep an eye on the Buy Sell Trade section- but act fast- cause the stuff MOVES fast-
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Post by lbowman1 on Jan 30, 2007 15:02:58 GMT -5
I know. I was lucky to get the apache tears. These people are blindingly fast when somebody says theres rocks up for grabs.
Lori
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