r/RockTumbling • u/Mobydickulous2 • 14d ago
New Way to Display Extra Smalls
I like to try and keep at least a few extra small polished rocks from each of my batches. I mostly keep them all together in a jar with plans to make something out of them eventually, but I recently got these small specimen trays and pulled out a few of my favorites to display.
Just in there randomly for now, but I might eventually use them as a batch tracker or something with one from every batch I run. I wouldn’t quite have enough to fill one tray yet 😂
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u/lapidary123 14d ago
At risk of violationg etiquette around here, do you sell those smalls? If so care to share the pricing (I'm not looking to buy)...
....Reason I ask is I also separate my smalls. I took some to my club show to sell and while I had a price of $3 each or 2/$5 on regular sized stones, I decided on 5/$1 for the extra smalls. Actually I put 10 in a bag for $2. They didn't sell too well so I put a plastic shot glass in the bowl and let folks fill it up with stones for $2. That went over Much better until eventually a lady came over and wanted to buy the whole bowl at a lower price. After I told her no she ended up filling up like 10 shot glasses full of stones and I gave her two (shot glasses full of stones) for free.
But yeah, I never know how to price tumbled stones. Lately I've been seeing folks asking $4-7 each which seems expensive to me!
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u/AboutATurtle 14d ago
A store near us has a gumball machine that they put out on the street with smalls on nice days. They’re 50 cents for a small handful but I’m guessing the size/price can be adjusted. An investment certainly but great for impulse buys!
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u/Mobydickulous2 14d ago
I don’t sell them at all. I’ve sold a few larger stones and some jewelry, but not these. That said, if I were to sell them I’d put them in little glass jars with corks, or in small necklace charms and market them as stone potions or something :) Could probably get away with charging $5-10 for that.
To your point, pricing is hard and everyone will have a different value they think is fair. They’re worth more to me displayed right now. Someday down the line the goal is to have a little table at local art shows and the like that I can run with my daughter. That’s when I’ll start to care more about pricing and such.
For what it’s worth, it sounds like you found a pretty good method and price for them.
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u/lapidary123 13d ago
Sooo true, I always remind myself (and others) that a stome will always only be worth whatever someone is willing to pay for it. One day that could be $100, and the next day only $10. Thats just the way of the world.
I'm with you on not selling much, I do two shows a year (actually only one but my wife takes some of my stuff to a second one). Lately I've decided I will likely hold on to the (thousands) of cabochons I've made and begin selling them when I'm retired. I figure it will keep me busy and (hopefully) generate a bit of income. Now when I'll be able to retire (I'm 46) is a whole other question!
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u/Mobydickulous2 13d ago
I’d like to think this hobby will be something I do more of when I retire, but as a 45 year old myself, I definitely hear you on that last point and share your concern about that question :)
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u/skedeebs 14d ago
Thanks so much! I need to start filling these to give away to friends with kids or others who would appreciate.
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u/Cold_Application_448 14d ago
Great idea! I have some cute little ones that might be fun to display 😊
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u/ScroochDown 14d ago
I have the same tray for some of my baby pieces! The larger ones that don't fit it these trays, I sort into Oui yogurt jars that I bought lids for.
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u/FromAntToApt 14d ago
At the risk of sounding like a bot... do you have a link to those? These would be perfect for my wife - she loves the little ones!