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Post by stardiamond on Jan 28, 2024 18:57:37 GMT -5
I've made one order from Mckay, a large piece of OJ rough. It was probably a fair price but not as nice as I hoped. I look at his offerings regularly. I have a good handle on prices. Since I don't sell expensive cabs, I watch what I buy. I paid $100 for around a pound of rough. High quality material with good poppies. The coloration was not as good as what I usually buy.
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Post by stardiamond on Jan 27, 2024 21:50:25 GMT -5
I defer to your expertise. All I am looking for is the pictures of the tumbled pieces. Going to Etsy, eBay and web pictures. Pieces looking exactly like these are being sold as Crowley.
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Post by stardiamond on Jan 27, 2024 20:37:32 GMT -5
The pumps are a complete piece of shit. The first one burned up when the seal between the pump and motor went out, flooding the motor with oil. It then burned up. The second one which was a replacement lasted about 4 days before it stopped working. They accidentally sent me a second replacement and it worked half assed until it became too cold to work in the garage. In the spring I am going to find a better pump to use because the cheap chinese ones are junk. The centrifuge is still wonderful except that the seal between the body and motor leaks a little bit. All in all, I give it a D-. If the pump was quality and the seals did not leak on everything, I would give it an A+. I wasn't paying close attention at the HP zoom. I thought I heard that they were having a lot of trouble with the pumps. The manufacturer kept changing them. I'd contact HP for a status.
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Post by stardiamond on Jan 27, 2024 13:42:54 GMT -5
stardiamond John will say most anything to get a sale, he picked up the Chinese sales model real well. Guess it takes all types. He's a salesman and there is so much bs at his sales that I feel like I need a large shovel. When buying a person needs to be knowledgeable. He also likes to tell stories and he has told this one before. Quartzsite is not on my bucket list. In 2020, Tony (catmandewe) was selling Willow Creek at Quartzsite for the miner. When he got back he sent me pictures of the rough and I chose about 15 pounds. I don't know how much better I would have been choosing the pieces at the show. I've sold enough cabs to pay for the lot and have plenty of cabs and slabs remaining.
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Post by stardiamond on Jan 27, 2024 11:51:58 GMT -5
I understand. It would be great if someone else could finish these.
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Post by stardiamond on Jan 26, 2024 18:04:33 GMT -5
I really like Pietersite. I have made some nice cabs and even priced right they don't sell. My rule is don't buy more material that doesn't sell. That seems to be the case for me for all chatoyant material.
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Post by stardiamond on Jan 26, 2024 17:38:27 GMT -5
John Rowland said that deals are harder to find at Quartzsite. Booths are expensive and sellers would rather pack up their inventory than reduce price. I've never considered attending since I wouldn't buy enough. I'm only interested in selling cabs, not rough or slabs.
I'm finding a lot of reasonably priced material at FB.
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Post by stardiamond on Jan 26, 2024 12:51:26 GMT -5
Any progress?
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Post by stardiamond on Jan 25, 2024 1:17:38 GMT -5
I went to Paypal and checked for a 1099k. They didn't create one. I received around $2,000 in paypal payments for merchandise sold in 2023. As of now, Etsy hasn't created a 1099K for 2023. The documentation on both sites says $600 but that was suspended. $600 kicks in 2025 but it is anticipated that congress will fix the mess before then.
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Post by stardiamond on Jan 25, 2024 0:59:27 GMT -5
The thresh hold for generating 1099k for 2023 is $20,000. A company may send one for less. Getting a 1099k doesn't mean you had income that requires paying taxes just requires additional documentation when you file. If I loan you $25,000 through paypal and you repay the loan through paypal, we both get a 1099k for $25,000. Is it taxable income, no
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Post by stardiamond on Jan 21, 2024 18:40:42 GMT -5
I buy most of my material on FB. It's generally hobbyists selling to hobbyists. HP is in business to make money. There is an excess of hype regarding scarcity and value. Some of the pricing is capricious. There was a Guadalupe slab that I bid on that didn't make their minimum. It didn't sell. Next time it was offered, John was running the auction and he offered it for less than my previously rejected bid so I snagged it. Before bidding, know the material and what is a good price for it. I bought some pieces that were misidentified at a good price. My biggest mistake is misjudging the size of a small piece. If the auctions aren't blood in the water, ask for size before bidding. There is a lot of bidding before the item is shown. There was some Indonesian Blue plume that looked good. I had my finger on the trigger and was too late multiple times. It took me three days of auctions to have a winning bid. I didn't get a good look at it, but the size and seeing previous pieces made it worth a gamble. I know what I can sell a cab for and the cost of material is ideally 1/3. I don't buy collector slabs so when a large Blue Biggs slab is being offered at $1500, I don't see evenb getting my money back on cabs.
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Post by stardiamond on Jan 21, 2024 17:06:33 GMT -5
I am a repeat customer with Blairrock. I have been treated well and have a good relationship with them. They have sent me extra pieces and included cash refunds on shipping. I mentioned that I was disappointed with a piece and received a refund without asking. I haven't bought much lately. Not since July. I look regularly. What I liked was the ability to try new material at a low price. Some of the things I bought in the past are not available now or have become too expensive. Their identification can be off. I've ordered mainly small slabs.
I've had much worse experiences with other vendors. I guess things change.
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Post by stardiamond on Jan 21, 2024 12:19:49 GMT -5
Sometimes I consider the auctions infomercials. I was on for part of it last night. Saturday night is supposed to be slabs but a lot of the items were rough and the slab selection was uninspired. Some of the prices on what I was interested can be described as 'dream on'. They bought a lot of material from Indonesia so that is what they are pushing. They also buy collections and offer some tough to find material.
I usually play online poker when the auctions are on. One time, I didn't buy anything but won $100. I also question the buyers who bid on a lot of auctions including some very expensive ones. I have a buying formula based on what I know I can get for a cab. The math on the prices is way off.
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Post by stardiamond on Jan 15, 2024 15:21:41 GMT -5
High 50's and rain for the next week. Too cold to work outside. I've never ice fished but grinding is like ice fishing without gloves.
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Post by stardiamond on Jan 14, 2024 16:40:06 GMT -5
19oz Turkish stick agate.
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Post by stardiamond on Jan 11, 2024 22:58:09 GMT -5
ear wax is free.
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Post by stardiamond on Jan 11, 2024 16:49:07 GMT -5
I live in a relatively low humidity area. I keep my NM slabs inside. I had one small piece of rough that was outside and corroded. I've made dozens of cabs and they stay bright and shiny. The 100k paste leaves some coating even after being wiped off.
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Post by stardiamond on Jan 9, 2024 14:51:04 GMT -5
14 oz piece of Morrisonite rough. Something I chase but rarely catch. I can't sell cabs for enough to cover the cost of the material. No Matrix. I wish it would warm up enough to go outside and make some facing cuts.
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Post by stardiamond on Jan 7, 2024 17:50:13 GMT -5
The material is becoming more difficult to find and more expensive. I prefer it to the Indonesian. I look for distinct plumes in clear agate. You could sell that slab for more than $50 and some sellers would ask $100. I sold this cab for $65.
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Post by stardiamond on Jan 7, 2024 16:53:13 GMT -5
A favorite and messy to cab.
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