Quartzite - Am I crazy?

[GoodEarth]

So- I have some of this Olympic Poppy Jasper that I just wrote about in the rough board. I am thinking very hard about packing up the girlfriend and dogs and heading south on a mega roadtrip to do the quartzite show. I've checked in at Desert Gardens, and they have space for me, so that's covered.

Anyone have advice for me? I know that I am being vague, but I would like everyone's impressions on trying to strike out with a single stone into a Large show.

Thanks!

Joshua

[ScarlettoSara]

That stone is a beauty and it sounds like a great adventure to me.
Remember its all about the journey:)

[rocknroll]

    sounds like fun.....i might try to make it there too! 

[Taogem]

That stone is a beauty and it sounds like a great adventure to me.
Remember its all about the journey:)

Ditto ! 

[thewrightthings]

I'm sooooooo jealous.  Must be great to be able to just make a decision and have somewhere close enough to do that.

[Michael S Hoover - Redrummd]

You should have some that is cut and polished to show it's potential. 

Some very top end slabs, from the very best found, priced high enough to make you very happy if they sell.

Some small slabs and those that just are not as nice as the others priced to be sure they sell and get out of your inventory.

Some small sized rough and some pieces that will require a 18 to 24 inch saw.

There is a huge expense in doing the Quartzite show but if your stone is really top end stuff you could get a lot of interest fast.   In fact if your stone is consistent in quality and SOLID I would be interested in the top end pieces.   

It is not easy to break out a new stone and get it known.  Kaleidiscope Jasper from Oregon looked great and had a lot of hype early on BUT then the chatter started about all of the pits and fracture lines it had and I hardly hear about it now.

I think you might get a better feel for how well your stone would sell by doing a show such as the Madras Oregon show.   The owner of the Willow Creek mine and the owner of the Carrasite mine are at this show and both attract a lot of attention.  There are several Ebay sellers who buy rough at the Madras show from these owners and then sell it by the slab.   If it is good stone that gets even more exposure.

[Freeform]

I think from the last several years of those i know who work Quartzsite and those that have tried to sell there.

First know that its a vacation metale, unless your a miner of the material and can provide cutting stock to cutters that move allot of bulk, you'll make some money. Hopefully enough to cover the trip. Which is why i say keep it a vacation metale and you will simple have a good time regardless of trying to make a profit.

Also, Quartzsite is about haggling. If you dead set on price because of rarity, you will make less than if you just want to unload your wares. Allot of hobbyist over the years ive met, work for, and bought from usually dont realize until the last week of the show. How much a pain in the butt is gonna be moving all that stuff back to were every they came from, more stuff, more pain when it doesnt sell. But again, keeping it simple with one stone type my prove fun no matter because of the people you will meet, and the neat stuff you will see. 

You will also get a hard time from many ole timers who been selling there for the last 20 years, if you price your jasper higher than $20 per pound. Regardless of rarity, its still jasper(ive heard that saying many times over the years working there) And there are several who are very pound of their jaspers. Most rely on Quartzsite to see the grandfathered in vendors, then move there roughs to Tucson were they will actually make some money.

To me, what i go for Quartzsite for anymore is for that same reason. To talk with a few grandfathered in vendors that always sell the same stuff. And maybe see someone i haven't in a few years.  This next season, the only vendor i plan to hit and know i will buy from is George and Janet of Royal Sahara jasper. Only because i was impressed with their booth and set up last year(which was their first year) And they had plenty of material in grade and price range to pick from. All of one type.  They did have their prices at little higher than $20 per pound for jasper. But as a first unknown buyer in person to them. I got a better deal than what they listed. But i also heard crap talking from a few other vendors about their prices on their jasper.  I agree, but because they are the miners, are actively mining the rough every other year. And have a very large assortment of grades, slabs, roughs, and some polished. Its hard not to spend $100 on a few real nice pieces of rough.  Which ive only manage to cut one nodule in the past 8 months of what i got from them. But i know i will go back because i know they will be there, and i really like that material.  And who doesn't like picking their own rough from hundreds of pieces, in person, instead of by the piece online, outta hand, outta sight.

Thats just my opinion, but remember to just keep the vacation mentale, and try your hardest to at least cover that expense and you'll have a blast.

[stonesthatrock]

tony, chris, ralph and i did it last yr. and we didn't do all that great.  I agree with shain, if you keep it in mind its a vacation, then you will have a good time meeting all kinds of new friends.  We were at desert gardens, and ended up in the back row where people didn't make it.  This year we will be in the front row and have higher hopes.  The cost wasn't so bad,  $390  for the whole month.  Thats good to us as we spend that on a couple 2 day shows.  Apache Junction and Sedona.   I know we will have fun again because we are all going to be together again this yr. so its like meeting friends at a camp out.  lol    Did we get rich?  not even close.    We did make enough to cover our expenses but thats it.  We found it you have your rocks up on a table instead of on the ground it sells better.  Other then that everyone pretty much covered it.
If you come down, be sure to head over and meet up with us and we can sit around and talk and have fun..........

mary ann

[MrsWTownsend]

Desert Gardens in Quartzite???  I saw a big giant dirt lot...  lol

Lots of good advice here.  They are right~ Quartzite is all about the holders to mining rights and the [quality] bulk product they can provide.  If you have something that they are not selling, your odds are increased in my opinion because all of the regulars I know go to see them specifically and go because they know they can get the best pricing of any show.  Many of the vendors at the Tucson show are selling the rough they bought from the holders of the mining rights at the Quartzite show so the price is increased and not as great a deal.

If you want to, do it~ have fun, make some cool connections, bring lots of business cards and hopefully I'll be seeing you there!  I, for one, would love to have an opportunity to purchase a little of your rough.  =D

[Alvin]

great information guys. thanks.

[stonesthatrock]

by jan. 1st its no longer a dirt lot.  its full of vendors........

mary ann

[johnjsgems]

With a single unique product you should do well.  Remember the peak of the show is during the 4 days of the Pow Wow/ QIA shows and be ready for not every day being busy.  If you have quality rough you will find dealers wanting to buy in quantity so be prepared.  We sell at the Cloud's show during Quartzite and do take slabs and rough to that show.  My biggest rock sales are to people that stopped by on the way to Quartzite and came back after seeing the prices at Quartzite.  Good quality in retail and wholesale prices (fair prices) and you should be OK.  Also look at it as exposure for future sales.  Have cards or fliers to hand out so people can find you later to buy more. 

Other shows where you would do well are Snyders Pow Wow, Madras, Buena Vista (all are large tailgate type shows).

And, yes, you must be crazy to get involved in rocks in any way.

[GoodEarth]

Dang- Great advice everyone! I guess I'm in good company with the addiction....

Any thoughts on cash handling in Quartzite? Is there a bank in town? Is it worth it to try to set up to take credit cards?

Thanks!

[johnjsgems]

I don't remember a bank but Blythe, CA is about 15 minutes West.  As far as credit cards you will have to figure annual  sales to see if it is worth it.  We sell equipment and sometimes 70% of our sales are on credit cards.  Monthly charges happen whether you have sales or not. When we started, only our bank would take us on (at about 3% minimum and higher for reward cards).  After a year of established sales figures everyone wanted us and we now pay a lot less.  Every year my tax man looks at my credit card fees and says "that's why I don't take credit cards". 

[Bentiron]

A traveling jeweler friend of mine has his credit cards taken care of through Costco, they have an arrangement through some company where it was cheaper than his bank by quite a bit. He seems very happy with it compared to some of the other credit card services he has had over the years.

[Alvin]

having a retail store for years, I can tell you that I hate credit card companies, BUT it is the only way to do business. Customers buy more and pricier stuff if they can use cards. Base your retail price with cards in mind. Good luck.

[Rockoteer]

Man I gotta get out more.  These shows sound great.

TOG

[bobby1]

I love the Snyder's Pow Wow. I have been going to it for the last 25 years. It is really easy for me now because when I retired I moved to Valley Springs.....only 5 miles from the Pow Wow! Next year it has been moved from the first weekend in May to Labor Day so they get away from the rainy season. I've been there when the ranch hands used Caterpillar tractors to pull vehicles and motorhomes out of the mud. They also had to spread straw in the walk ways in front of the booths so people could move about. With it being on Labor Day it will just be a HOT and very dry three day weekend of rocks, slabs, rocks and slabs and a Budwiser beer booth. I can't remember much else going on at the other booths. They have about 200 vendors and a lot of local events.
Bob

[spirit bear beads]

There are new and less expensive routes available now for taking credit cards via your iphone or smartphone (droid type).  Fees are much more reasonable and no other equipment is needed..  Try Intuit's GoPayment or Squareup.   If you need more info let me know.

[azsavit]

So for those of you who have sold at Quartzsite, how much business do you do via credit cards?
I don't sell equipment. I will have lapidary rough and mineral specimens at both retail and keystone. There is a wide variety of qualities and price points in my inventory. I see Costco has retail CC processing for 1.48% + $0.20 per swipe (and however much equipment costs) It looks like monthly fees are waived for Costco executive members, so this looks a little less expensive than GoPayment. Would this be worth looking into or do most people work with only cash and checks?

[Bentiron]

I went to Quartzite with a friend ten years ago or so and he was down at the swap meet place and got his cash roll pick pocketed but not his billfold with his credit cards, over five hundred dollars. He always thinks he gets better deals from sellers by paying cash because then they don't need to declare it on their taxes, I think most people are more honest than that. Anyway he got his pocket picked shortly after paying for some stuff for his dirt bike. I was down buying some cabs and I used a credit card for my $100 purchase. That way I had a good hard copy receipt. I think in todays market most people pay with a card. I personally hardly ever carry anything more than $10 to $20 on me any more. I either use my debit or my one credit card. It sure makes carrying my billfold easier it not being so thick.

[johnjsgems]

That is a good rate but not the whole story.  That will be about 20% of sales.  There are also "mid rates" for reward cards and "corporate card rates" for any card in a business name.  If you want to use a wireless terminal that usually runs $20 per month and requires a wireless terminal.  The company through Costco had a lease only program when I looked into it a few years ago.  The lease rate was fairly low but you were locked into a contract for several years.  I opted for another company where I could buy the $800 terminal but take my business anywhere I wanted.  Most of the advertised rates are for the hard wired terminals you see in fixed location businesses.  Not very practical for shows.  Then if you want to do internet sales you need a "virtual terminal" with monthly portal charges and a separate account.  Some fun, isn't it?  I did talk to a guy one yearat Deserted Gardens that had a Visa Master Card sign up.  When I asked him about it he told me he ran credit cards through PayPal.  Not sure how that works but I've heard PayPal really charges fees.

[Bentiron]

My traveling jeweler friend didn't like Paypal all that much, people were sometimes complaining that they were unhappy with his work and getting refunds which came out of his pocket and he would still be out the merchandise. The thing he likes about the Costco is that to get a refund they need to return the merchandise first to get a refund. I guess there isn't any  one system that is all perfect.

[GoodEarth]

Well- just mailed my show fee. ... Now to gather enough rough to make it!

Thanks for the help everyone!

Joshua

[Bentiron]

Good luck and I hope that the weather is nice this year for you. Just maybe I'll come out this year and see the people with rocks in the head, no that didn't sound right, rocks in their eyes, no that's not quite right either, rocks on their brains, yeah that's it. No, no, no, Rocks on their MIND! Yeah that's the right phrase, well anyway have a great time and much success at the show.

[MrsWTownsend]

Well- just mailed my show fee. ... Now to gather enough rough to make it!

Thanks for the help everyone!

Joshua

Cool, I'll be looking for you at the show!

[Bentiron]

Oh, you'd better put a picture up so I know what you look like.

[slabber]

Hay Goodearth! I hope to see you there. My wife Ruby and I go to Quartzite as often as we can, and this year we will be set up at the Desert Gardens with Mineral specimens, slabs, and some less common rough. We go more for the fun than the money. We have a good friend there that is one of the few full time year round residents.  We also enjoy seeing our friends from other parts of the country that come for the sun & fun.  Quartzite in a rockhounds dream if you like to get out in the desert around the area and pick up rough. We usually make quite a few field trips to collect during the month we are there before we go to Tucson. Hope you have a successful show experience and we will try to see you there. Slabber.

[stonesthatrock]

remember ralph, tony, chris and i will be there.  Look for us..... right next to diamond pacific building.
mary ann

[vitzitziltecpatl]

Hey there, Slabber. Where will you be set up? We're going down during PowWow weekend so we can see people who will be there as well as everyone at the DG show. Putting together a list of names and spaces so we don't waste a lot of time looking for everyone.

[slabber]

Hay Vitz, We will be in space M-5 Sign says Arkhoma Hobbies. Hope to see you too!  Slabber