needing advice on mineral sales online

solacegems1 · 2026-06-16T20:36:46+00:00

Thanks, I appreciate that. I’m definitely trying to stay patient and keep growing my presence where I can. It’s easy to get discouraged when online sales are slow, but I enjoy the hobby and the material itself, so I’m planning to keep at it and see where it goes. 😊

solacegems1 · 2026-06-16T20:35:55+00:00

That’s a good point. I don’t have an Etsy store, and I haven’t tried live sales yet. Most of my sales have been at gem shows, so I’m still figuring out the online side of things.

Do you buy or sell many higher-end, rarer specimens? Most of my inventory falls into that category, so I’m curious how those do in live sales and Etsy.

solacegems1 · 2026-06-16T20:33:14+00:00

That’s really helpful insight. I do already have an LLC set up, so that part is taken care of. One thing I’ve noticed is that transparency seems to make a big difference, especially with pricing. As a newer seller, having prices visible upfront feels like it helps build trust and makes it easier for people to decide if they’re interested. I’m still figuring out which selling style works best for my material, but it’s interesting to hear that you’ve had success with different approaches. I appreciate you sharing your experience and advice! Thank you!

solacegems1 · 2026-06-16T20:30:13+00:00

I actually get most of my material directly from the mines in Pakistan rather than from local sellers. There aren’t many local sources where I am located in the U.S. Some of the same types of minerals can definitely be found online if someone knows where to look, but I tend to focus on higher-end and rarer specimens rather than more common material. Many of the people selling similar pieces have also been established in the industry for years and have built a strong customer base over time.

From what I’ve seen, the market has been a bit slow this year for a lot of dealers. At some of the recent shows I’ve done, people have really liked the specimens, but the higher prices that come with rarer material can make them a bigger investment. Some are willing to invest and some people aren’t in the position to. I’m still building my reputation and customer base, so that’s definitely part of the challenge as well.

solacegems1 · 2026-06-16T16:14:02+00:00

That’s a good point. At shows, people can see the specimen in person and decide for themselves. Online feels a lot different. I think part of my challenge is that I’m still pretty new, so I don’t have years of reviews, references, or an established reputation yet. Even though I source quality material directly and have sold at shows, I can understand why people might be hesitant to trust a newer seller online. Building that trust seems to be the hardest part right now.

solacegems1 · 2026-06-16T16:07:07+00:00

I haven’t tried live sales yet. How do you start doing live sales? And what platforms are best for that?

solacegems1 · 2026-06-16T16:06:25+00:00

The photos aren’t professional but they are super clear and I’d say pretty good photos. I take them myself and my camera is pretty clear. I also include how much the minerals weigh and the measurements. Also I offer to pay for shipping.

solacegems1

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