I’m confused! Can you help?

I just listed this rock for sale here at KinesavaROCKS. But since “I’m not a great rockhound. That was my dad.” – I did a search for similar rocks for sale online to get an idea about what it’s worth. It was a confusing experience. I’m hoping that someone reading this blog will leave a message and help clear up my confusion.

The main source of my confusion was a flood of listings for petrified wood from China. There is a bunch of it.

Here’s an example …

There are several things about this ad that seem “wrong” to me. First, the seller (who appears to have dozens of listings for rocks) is offering to ship a 14 pound rock from China “free”. I’ve shipped 14 pound rocks. It ain’t easy or simple, and it is expensive. Second, the auction for this rock will expire in just 7 hours and there is a bid at less than a dollar. Even assuming that there is a last minute rush of bids, it appears that this rock will go for just pennies. (I’ve tracked other rocks in auctions. They often do go for incredibly low prices. Added note: This eventually sold for $22.49.) Is the seller really going to ship a heavy rock like this for next to nothing? The rock doesn’t look like great agate. But still ……..

Here’s another example.

In this case, identically the same rock is being offered by different sellers with different ads and different prices. But free shipping from China is still offered for both.

In other cases, petrified wood was advertised as “Arizona”. Did the rock get shipped over to China from Arizona and will then be shipped back again? I’m not a great rockhound, but I know Arizona petrified wood when I see it and the rock offered was NOT Arizona petrified wood. This same rock was another case where identically the same piece was offered by different sellers. In one, it was offered at auction with a starting bid of $0.99. In the other case, the same piece was offered at a set price of $293.25. (Discounted 15% at that price!!! Whoopsie!!!)

I considered putting in a bid for one of the auctioned rocks just to see what would happen. But I really don’t want any of the rocks from China that I looked at. I have a lot of Utah petrified wood that is far, far better than these rocks.

Have you ever bought something like this from China? How did it work out for you?

Inquiring minds want to know.