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Post by stardiamond on May 22, 2019 17:15:23 GMT -5
My general answer is to recut. Some material can be just plain nasty. When cutting the cab, the decision was cut or not cut. Since I was making the cab for myself, it was an easier decision. When thinking about selling a cab is how flawed can a cab be and still be offered without reflecting badly on the seller even will full disclosure? Pitted material would be a good example. Another example would be matrix.
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lookatthat
Cave Dweller 
Whatever there is to be found.
Member since May 2017
Posts: 1,360 
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Post by lookatthat on May 22, 2019 17:30:40 GMT -5
Depending on the nature of the flaw, creative wrapping or putting another material or stone over the flawed part might be possible.
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Post by stonemon on May 22, 2019 19:02:03 GMT -5
I believe that full disclosure is the key. Almost any piece can be attractive to the right buyer. If a piece is too fragile or has some other "terminal" flaw, i will not post it but adjusting the price to match the quality allows folks of limited means to play with something and get creative with their craft.
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Post by Rockindad on May 22, 2019 20:08:40 GMT -5
Would probably send them to a real nice guy called Rockindad (Real name Al)  Seriously though, I have some experience buying and selling used instruments and can tell you that as long as there is full disclosure about any defects (included in the description and clear pictures) I would have nothing but positive thoughts about a seller and have not had any issues when I was selling. Even though you may be done with an item, it may very well be of value to someone else. The only caveat would be if I were trying to establish a very high end shop with the best of the best (could apply to any product) I would set up a different store for the not so perfect items. Al |
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Post by stardiamond on May 30, 2019 17:49:32 GMT -5
This is what I call a pitiful cab. When BM has smutz in the slab it usually doesn't grind off. I knew that before I started and crossed my fingers. Next session, I'm going to perform major surgery and there will be fewer pits. I'm stubborn.  |
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Post by greig on May 30, 2019 18:29:48 GMT -5
I would toss a bad rock into my gravel driveway and a really bad one into my neighbours. LOL
Seriously, once I start cabbing, I bet I have lots of gifts for kids on hand.
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Post by rockjunquie on May 30, 2019 20:01:02 GMT -5
Rockindad stonemon I would agree - full disclosure with pictures- BUT, know there are people who will not read your ad and buy thinking it is the quality you generally list and then be disappointed. The exact thing happened to me. I was trying to offer people a bargain with a nice stone- nothing really wrong with it, just not an A grade stone. She left me a bad review, but changed it when I reminded her that I DID accurately describe it in the description as being a B grade stone. So, being nice can sometimes backfire.
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Post by Rockindad on May 30, 2019 20:17:35 GMT -5
Rockindad stonemon I would agree - full disclosure with pictures- BUT, know there are people who will not read your ad and buy thinking it is the quality you generally list and then be disappointed. The exact thing happened to me. I was trying to offer people a bargain with a nice stone- nothing really wrong with it, just not an A grade stone. She left me a bad review, but changed it when I reminded her that I DID accurately describe it in the description as being a B grade stone. So, being nice can sometimes backfire. My father used to say "No good deed goes unpunished" and unfortunately it is true too often. Thankfully she changed her review. Al |
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Post by rockjunquie on May 30, 2019 20:20:52 GMT -5
Rockindad stonemon I would agree - full disclosure with pictures- BUT, know there are people who will not read your ad and buy thinking it is the quality you generally list and then be disappointed. The exact thing happened to me. I was trying to offer people a bargain with a nice stone- nothing really wrong with it, just not an A grade stone. She left me a bad review, but changed it when I reminded her that I DID accurately describe it in the description as being a B grade stone. So, being nice can sometimes backfire. My father used to say "No good deed goes unpunished" and unfortunately it is true too often. Thankfully she changed her review. Al She was really good about it, actually, which I was happy for. It was a customer service challenge to point out to her that she clearly didn't read the ad. But, I pulled it off. I have found most people on etsy do NOT read the ad- and why would they? Etsy makes them jump though hoops to read it. |
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Post by fernwood on May 31, 2019 5:30:39 GMT -5
I would offer a store section with imperfections, B grade, whatever you want to call it. If possible, have a very descriptive disclaimer that while not perfect, all of the cabs have their merits (or something like that).
For each cab, list what you feel are the imperfections and include highly detailed photos of those.
Agree that creative wire wrapping can hide many imperfections in a cab.
Wishing you well on this area.
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Post by Drummond Island Rocks on May 31, 2019 6:07:38 GMT -5
When a customer orders 3 or 4 of your "A" grade cabs toss in a "B" grade cab as a gift. They may see the flaw but they will still appreciate the gift. Personally I do not sell many cabs and I have no shortage of cabbing materials so flawed cabs go in my tumbled rock bin that people fill velvet bags from at $5 per half pound. They are like treasures in the bin and people are always excited to get one.
Chuck
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Post by greig on May 31, 2019 10:07:21 GMT -5
I would offer a store section with imperfections, B grade, whatever you want to call it. If possible, have a very descriptive disclaimer that while not perfect, all of the cabs have their merits (or something like that). For each cab, list what you feel are the imperfections and include highly detailed photos of those. Agree that creative wire wrapping can hide many imperfections in a cab. Wishing you well on this area. Here is an idea. Maybe a dumb idea, but I will throw it out there. Open a new channel exclusively for your "b" grade stones, described as such. That way, you don't contaminate the "a" grade selling channel. If you get too many bad reviews on the "b", cancel it and start another. |
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Post by rockjunquie on May 31, 2019 12:26:10 GMT -5
I would offer a store section with imperfections, B grade, whatever you want to call it. If possible, have a very descriptive disclaimer that while not perfect, all of the cabs have their merits (or something like that). For each cab, list what you feel are the imperfections and include highly detailed photos of those. Agree that creative wire wrapping can hide many imperfections in a cab. Wishing you well on this area. Here is an idea. Maybe a dumb idea, but I will throw it out there. Open a new channel exclusively for your "b" grade stones, described as such. That way, you don't contaminate the "a" grade selling channel. If you get too many bad reviews on the "b", cancel it and start another. I know a guy on etsy who did exactly that. Another thought is have a destash section where you get rid of imperfects. |
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Tommy
Administrator 
Member since January 2013
Posts: 12,965
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Post by Tommy on May 31, 2019 14:27:22 GMT -5
So many good subjects packed into this one thread and I have a little to offer on two of them so I'm going to break this into two posts. Hopefully if I did the math right one and one should add up to my two cents  Etsy is funny about having multiple stores and the links to both have to be posted in your public profile and they are watchful to make sure you aren't cheating the search system by duplicating items. I personally already have two stores (TLO and RTH Store) and even if I wasn't already maxed out I think I would feel funny dedicating a shop to lesser quality pieces. If I make a cab and after looking at it from every angle it's not quite at the quality or craftsmanship that I feel good about selling, and the wife doesn't want it, it goes straight into the free gifts drawer. I've had customers tell me more than once that they liked the gift better than they liked the cab they bought which always makes me happy and raises one eyebrow at the same time. I enjoy giving away a nice gift with every order and I try to scale up the value of the gift to match the value of the order/customer. If it's someone who buys lots of stuff from me and is always happy about it then they get as nice a gift as I have in front of me at the time. If it's a small order from an Etsy 'guest' or first time buyer they still get a nice gift but it's probably something out of the tumbler that started it's polished life as a slab scrap from cutting out preforms. |
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Post by stardiamond on May 31, 2019 14:33:48 GMT -5
I've thought about the situation. Having a bargain or scratch and dent section probably has pluses and minuses. On the plus side it might create more traffic for your other listings. The negative might be on what kind of seller you are. There are people who sell cabs very cheap which I don't understand. The typical perception is that when something is expensive it must be good and when inexpensive.....
Setting up another store for bargain cabs would be less confusing for existing customers.
I have 1000 cabs that I could sell for $5-10. They are just sitting in display boxes. I could sell them individually or in lots. For now. I'm going to continue on the path I started on.
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Tommy
Administrator
Member since January 2013
Posts: 12,965
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Post by Tommy on May 31, 2019 14:41:05 GMT -5
The other half of my two cents is about putting notes in listings.
Just yesterday I received a two-star negative review where the customer stated:
The thing is I pointed it out in the description with the following statement:
I have contacted her and hope she will respond humanely but I'm not holding my breath.
I guess my point is - this has never happened to me before but it's proof that there will be times when people aren't reading the ad correctly so it's better to err on the side of fixing it as you see it instead of assuming folks will read your alert of it as a flaw.
I'm guilty of not reading thoroughly myself - a few weeks ago I came across an Etsy ad that showed a hand holding four slabs of a rare material for a ridiculously low price and I literally could not buy it fast enough. Only after buying it and finally reading the ad it clearly stated they were selling ONE of the slabs shown in the hand. Luckily they let me cancel but dang... lesson learned for me for sure.
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Post by stardiamond on May 31, 2019 15:13:22 GMT -5
The other half of my two cents is about putting notes in listings. I'm guilty of not reading thoroughly myself - a few weeks ago I came across an Etsy ad that showed a hand holding four slabs of a rare material for a ridiculously low price and I literally could not buy it fast enough. Only after buying it and finally reading the ad it clearly stated they were selling ONE of the slabs shown in the hand. Luckily they let me cancel but dang... lesson learned for me for sure. I'm guessing that it was Tahoma. |
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Tommy
Administrator
Member since January 2013
Posts: 12,965
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Post by Tommy on May 31, 2019 15:36:58 GMT -5
I'm guessing that it was Tahoma. Yes  How did you know? |
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Post by stardiamond on May 31, 2019 15:48:02 GMT -5
I hardly ever buy any rough or slabs now. I do go down a list of materials I like and search, ebay, etsy and the web. I found the Tahoma listing with the hand full of slabs. I have a few slabs left purchased 15 years ago and won't touch those for now. I listed 8 cabs which represents 50% of the listings. I have two riker boxes of Tahoma.
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MommaGem
spending too much on rocks
Member since April 2019
Posts: 312
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Post by MommaGem on May 31, 2019 15:54:22 GMT -5
When I start posting my tumbles - I do plan on having a separate listing for my B-Grade tumbles. It really makes me nervous, because, yes, people don't read (and I'm guilty, too), but I really won't have much other option for them otherwise. But I'll have "B-Grade" in my title, pictures, description, and describe exactly what B-Grade means, so that hopefully it'll be totally obvious....
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Seriously though, I have some experience buying and selling used instruments and can tell you that as long as there is full disclosure about any defects (included in the description and clear pictures) I would have nothing but positive thoughts about a seller and have not had any issues when I was selling. Even though you may be done with an item, it may very well be of value to someone else.
How did you know?
