CompuServe Messages

Hi, Don– Those are indeed problems for the notion of trading bulk specimens, but they seem surmountable. Finding participants: this may be premature, but I expect sooner or later forums or similar communications media will grow enough to become the medium of choice for finding trade partners. In the meantime, I suppose someone has to fork over the cost of classified ads in rockhound mags. I made an inquiry with rocks-and-fossils; let us see if the on-line rockhound community has already grown enough for such enterprises. Packaging and labeling – each trade could be different; the traders just need to discuss the issue. I would expect the receiver to do the labeling in more cases than not, since that lets them choose how much is spent there. Some might just set them out unwrapped, with a pile of labels on the side, while others may want something fancier. The sender might supply a single information sheet, if all the info has not already been discussed. Pricing. I'd say the sender need not worry what the receiver will charge, and leave price off any labels the sender supplies. Once again, it is most flexible that way. Competition. If some museums are not in the network of traders and find their sales fading, they will be motivated join the network and share in the presumed bounty. If their sales do not fade, there is no problem. Volumes. Let the traders discuss and figure this out case by case. Individual specimen traders manage to overcome differences in size and quality preferences, though perhaps such barriers to barter help keep the dealers going. –Doug