FMF - Friends of Minerals Forum, discussion and message board

[John S. White]

I am not one to get terribly excited about mineral calendars but this one is very special. To see it, go to https://www.strahlen.org/index2.htm , and then click on Strahlen calendar 09! on the left.

It seems a bit pricey to me at 19.95 Euros, but it is very definitely a thing of exceptional beauty.

[MaryFender]

Very nice. Does anyone know if they are going to be in Tucson? I would like to pick up a copy while there.

Micromounting seems to be enjoying a renaissance.

[str4hler]

You can order via Tim Welting via https://www.strahlen.org/calendar/
also see https://www.strahlen.org/smf/index.php/topic,2226.msg31158.html#msg31158 ;-)
Costs are higher than in 2008 because of incredible increased shipping costs...
Enjoy !
Cheers!

[robynahawk]

I would love to order this calendar but I can't find a conversion for the numbers quoted - how much is it and what is the shipping to the US?

Robyn Hawk

[chris]

Hi Robyn,

First, Merry Christmas for all the people crazy enough (like me) to be in front of there computer on a December 25th.

Calendar price = 19.95 euro (about 30 $US at today's rate) + 17.50 euro (about 25 $US) for shipping charges outside Europe (US, Asia, ...); If you order more than one calendar, you'll get a 1 euro/calendar discount.

If you have more questions, you can send an email to Tim (email address on the page).

Christophe

[str4hler]

Hi all,
Tim Welting makes the quotes ;-)
more here: https://www.strahlen.org/calendar/2009/order2009.htm
Cheers!

[robynahawk]

Ok - that answered that! The $30 isn't so bad but the shipping....

Will they be in Tucson?

Why hasn't anyone here done something like this in the US? I was talking to a Mineral Dealer the other day about the possibility of a calander, notecards or a screen saver.

All those photos that are taken for websites should be used for enjoyment!

Robyn Hawk
Tucson Gem Show - Live!
https://www.tucsongemshow.blogspot.com

[KDF-TX]

Hi Robyn,
Fred Wilda has notecards of his fantastic art. I bought a birthstone print for my girlfriend for Christmas and he sent an example notecard. I don't have the info in front of me and don't see them on his website, but you could give him a call.
Kevin

[robynahawk]

Thanks for the info Kevin!

Robyn Hawk

[John S. White]

Robyn:

There have been countless mineral calendars produced over the years and I would guess that there will be other 2009 ones done, but in my opinion this one is vastly superior to all of the others, with all due respect to the photographers whose work appeared or appears in the others.

[str4hler]

Actually.... we can use some help at strahlen . org with the calendar.......
We used to produce it at Lulu (printing on demand via internet), but Lulu increased their shipping costs to an incredible 72 € per calendar! The calendar was priced at Lulu at € 17,00 + € 72,00 (!!!!) for shipment..... They found that normal at Lulu after we corresponded with them, so we changed to another printer...

We have been searching for weeks for a less expensive printer, and we found a local one, willing to do it much cheaper than Lulu. But still, we think also that the calendar should be produced and shipped cheaper. We at strahlen . org are not making any profit on the calendar. Even worse, at the moment it costs us money from our small reserves, because we're a not-for-profit foundation...

Perhaps we can find a better solution together? Then the 2010 calendar will be better AND cheaper ;-)

Cheers! Frank

[chris]

Hi,

Shipping cost is always a problem. I'm a member of the French Alpine Club and we have to deal with such costs for our own news magazine.

One option we have been thinking about was to add an advertising A4 paper sheet with the magazine to help us lower the shipping charges.

Another one is to offer the magazine as a PDF on our website; But that solution might be difficult as an electronic version customer would need a professional printer to get the same quality as the "printed" version.

Another option could be to deal with show organizers and/or magazine editors to resale, but here you'll need stock ad stock is expensive...

Another guess : try to find a printer in some strategic countries (US, Germany, ...) who could print & ship locally saving expansive shipping charges.

Christophe

[robynahawk]

What would happen if you tried a company like Kinkos then you could use US mineral dealers as distributors for US sales.

OR - bulik ship several to a US dealer to reduce the shipping costs...and increase the sales!

Robyn Hawk

[str4hler]

At the moment, Tim is working out a deal for US publishing of the calendar
He will keep you up to date on this from now on ;-)
Cheers!