Miles of Alaska
The basic concept is, I want you to be happy and will do what I can within reason to see that happens. At the same time I don't want to be a sucker or get scammed. I try to be an honest person and I'll assume you are the same. With that in mind... if you receive something from me and are not happy for any reason- I will refund your money no questions. I realize with one of a kind items it is hard to know what it is like till it is in your hands- so do not feel 'stuck' with anything. Even with shops who buy from me- if they have inventory at the end of the season that has not sold, I exchange it. I'm proud of my workmanship and have been in business over 30 years. I know what I am doing. If you don't want it, someone else will- not a problem. If something you get from me 'fails' in any way- get hold of me. I have no time limit. If you have an honest problem that shouldn't have happened I'll make it right. With regular customers I can trust-- it is common for me to simply send items- they look it over, buy what they want, and return the rest. This is how I prefer to do business- mostly a matter of knowing if I can trust you to do me right in return.
Disclaimer
Following words on warranties and guarantee- needs a word beginning 'However!' . Keep in mind animal products are made by Nature- and Nature may or may not care about how it's material holds up as a necklace. Teeth enjoy cracking. It is what they like to do. Stopping them from cracking can be a challenge. Few animal materials wish to be subjected to water- fast drastic temperature humidity changes- and most susceptible will be ivory and teeth- maybe opals. If you take one of my necklaces and make a key fob out of it- please do not blame me if it gets scratched. If you buy raw ivory from me and try to cut it with a wet saw- I 'guarantee' it will crack. In otherworld you need to know at least a little about the material and if in doubt ask, or look over my advice and how to pages. . It is one reason I encourage an Email from a customer so I can get a feel for what you know- what you are getting into and kind of making sure this product is really what will be right for you even if you think so. I may decide no - it is not - and not sell it to you. Many situations need special attention. I have items illegal to sell I give away to the right people. Or items I can trade but not sell. Or I'll take a chance in the grey area if we sing from the same sheet of music. Items that may not get put in the invoice and I never heard of you if asked. I just want some things to be in good hands .I'm just now getting into and understanding offering a shopping cart. Try to be patient and understanding.
Ordering art from Miles Martin Nenana Alaska selling raw materials custom knives all hand crafted unique gifts
Miles at Miles of Alaska
box 363
Nenana Alaska
99760
1-907-832-5442 miles@milesofalska.net
click here to go to my site directory with links to all my pages. Art - raw materials for sale- book- advice- tips-ordering- info- home page etc
I do not want money up front 'because'
I value my freedom and once I have your money you are my boss. The heck with that. If I have a problem with the order, or I suddenly freak out and need a break, or suddenly the fish are biting. I must be able to walk away. If I do not have your money so what? You are upset but no loss. If I have your money I get sued.
I want you to be happy with the work. I assume you will be fair to me and I will be fair to you. I assume you made a commitment and are serious and if I do a good job you will pay me and not yank my chain. You can assume I will do my best job and be fair with my prices. The proof of that is you see it before you pay. You are obligated to buy it if I fulfilled your request correctly, if not, you are not obligated to buy it. I consider that fair and a gentleman's agreement based on handshake, not a contract. More like we are friends who think alike with a connection of some kind. You get my work, you have a piece of my soul. I care where my soul goes.
Book 'Going Wild' by Miles
If you like my art ands raw materials this book
Is about the artist, where I get my materials ideas
And outlook on life. I see the book as another
Medium like my art, to make a statement about
A life and way of thinking. Lots of high adventure
Bear stories building a houseboat and life alone in
The wilds of Alaska $15
Use the site map to the left to find answers to your questions. It's worth reviewing 'because'. I am trying to offer items not commonly offered, in ways not normally done. In most cases if you are using the shopping cart you can skip all the rest, click and order. Except read the shop cart shipping
I have divided and subdivided and cross referenced to get you in the right section
How to
Think of my web site as a store, Items in the shop cart are items on the shelf priced, labeled and ready to sell.
Items not in the shop cart are items under the shelf, or in the warehouse, or already sold. See separate section for 'no price' Retail is when you want the item for yourself or a gift and are buying only 1-3 items. Click on the shop cart symbol and it takes you to pay pal as a way to pay. If you do not want to pay with pay pal email me and discuss an option but first read my 'ways to pay' A charge card can be used thourgh Pay Pal
Ordering off the cart is how to get the best price, and see good pictures with descriptions. This is like shopping off the shelf in the store. If you contact me about an item in a picture not on the cart then I have to go look, take a picture for you, describe material just for you. The situation this creates 'depends'
Why pictures with no prices???
Several reason. It is like a portfolio or resume. It is giving ideas for special orders. You can cut and paste and I know what you have in mind when I create your order. There is even an off chance I have that item, and have not had time to properly list it, but it may take half an hour to find out. Review 'special orders' and see free time allowed chart before it becomes 'special' But but but three are so many more cool pictrue of stuff not in a cart! Uhhuh, well see 'one man show' under 'issues problems'
Do I have it?
I might have it but I might politely say it is not here. To show you the right thing I need information. If you are on that knife materials page I do not know that. If you ask “Need ivory what you got?” I am clueless if you are 12 seeking a $1 shard for show and tell, a carver, a scrim man, or need a set of scales of my best blue, Fish and Game trying to bust me, someone seeking a finished art necklace, or a collector looking for a $15,000 mammoth tusk. I need a reference point. This is good reason to cut and paste a picture of what you see on my site that catches your eye. See cut and past instructions if you need to.
To inquire about an item with no shop cart icon
and you want a good price
Many customers are busy! They would appreciate it if I got everything out that I have that might possibly interest them. Maybe they are to busy to go through my web site and look more, or read how it works. . They want me to organize these items, weigh, describe, and price, so they have as many choices as possible. This in short is the same as putting items in the public shopping cart, only they want a personal made to order shopping cart, tailor made for their needs. Keep in mind that before they contacted me I was working in the shop, at shop time of $60 an hour. I stopped what I was doing to read their request, and now they are my boss. They have hired me to find things. No other business can get done while I serve this customer. I'm a one man business. The shop is closed, doors are locked. The customer has my full attention. The chart below is what is free, that has been calculated already into my prices, as 'average'
$10 sale equals 2 minutes
example one email one question no personal picture
#1 give me your name
I create files using a first name - so be sure at each contact to use the same first name. If a wife emails next time, or you use a nick name or initials I must spend time finding your file or may not be able to. Time is money
#2 cut and paste a picture of what you are looking at -
Do not overload me with lots of pictures, lots of interests, on a first time contact. It could take me 20 minutes to deal with each item, and there is no obligation on your part to buy. I can only donate so much time without knowing if you are planning on paying for that time. I have a note under 'my time' to look at as an indicator of what is free
#3 Clue me in.
If you only write “Do you have this? How much? ” I'm most likely to reply 'no'. Because this indicates someone unwilling to give any time, but expects me to spend the time to go look. This is to me not a yes or no question.. I might have something very similar. I do not know what it is about this you like. The size, the cap, the color, the shape or?
Tell me what is relevant I need to know. It might make a difference if you are 10 years old or 90. It might matter that you are a woman or a man if it's art. Or if it is a gift. Or if you are an artist yourself. If you know this material well. Where you live. (legal and shipping issues even cultural issues). It might be good to say you want my best product or my best price. Are you in a hurry? Would you consider I make one for you? If you run a store or this is personal. I like my art and material to 'connect' to people, it's my heart and soul. Who are you? Only some of the above might be relevant, mostly what do you care about
.
In many cases this will end up being a special order, see below
, $100 equals 10 minutes,
example a personal description, a photo on file , 2-3 email exchanges
$1,000 equals an hour.
Example several personal pictures of item several descriptions several emails
$10,000 equals several hours.
Example lots of pictures lots of emails phone calls references personal shipping inquiry and or talking to others to find best deals
$100,000 Lets get together in person.
My place or yours? Mine? Bring your fishing pole.
So review the above and see where you fit in. More time then the above is $60 an hour shop time , or a dollar a minute. You have no obligation to buy or pay for my time, but when I review your request I'm asking myself how much time are we talking about, and what are the chances this will result in a sale. What indicators do I have that you understand the situation.
It might be good to review the above 'itmes without prices; if in doubt. If you are sure you want a special order skip to next pargraph 'procedure'
In truth if you are not inquiring about something in the shopping cart you are engaged in a special order. There are various levels of special orders. If my expected time involved is within the parameters set up, it's 'free'. No extra charge. The below involves
inquires that are not special orders.
$
10 sale equals 2 minutes
example one email one question no personal picture
,
$100 equals 10 minutes
,
example a personal description, photo, 2-3 email exchanges
$
1,000 equals an hour
.
Example several pictures several descriptions several emails
$10,000 equals several hours.
Example lots of pictures lots of emails phone calls references personal shipping inquiry and or talking to others to find best deals
Procedure.
You see something on my web site I have made already and cut and paste this to me in an email so we both know what you are looking at. If I do not have it I will email back and ask if I can find something close to it or if you want me to make something similar as a special order. I'll try to give a estimate, but may need to ask more questions. If you give me a go ahead I give a time frame and price and keep you posted as the project proceeds.
Making something for you
If I have to make something for you then for sure this involves 'time' Making something you want me to make cost me twice as much and take 3 times as long as doing an art piece on my own. Are you puzzled why? If not, skip and press on to 'procedure'
I'll explain
It cost more and takes much longer. I need to put away tools and projects to gear up to do something I was not planning for. Normally on my own I grab material at hand that will work. If I have to work with specific material I have to locate it. I have to match it. If I break it or anything goes wrong I need a substitute. On my own I might just change the design to suit the mistake and call it a planned technique and charge more, my advantage not disadvantage.. If on my own I'm working on knives and am in a custom knife mood for example I might rough out 10 blanks at a time and change belts as each 10 get done at a station , not change each grit 10 separate times. If any casting is involved I only cast every 2 weeks or so and have 20 items or more. . If the casting goes bonkers no one ever knows and I loose items no one ever knew about, a loose but no stress I simply go 'rats!' and laugh. . If I loose your item in a cast I'm two weeks behind and in trouble. I may have to do a special casting. I cant sleep. On a special order I estimate what to charge on a low side to get your business and so you'll be happy. Most people can not imagine it 'done' so will not accept a high price. I finish and 90% of the time I see when done if it was mine, not yours, I could sell it for twice as much money. Often the customer wants it altered in some way, has some image in their head I must fulfill. It's not often easy. It can be fulfilling and rewarding spiritually to create something someone will treasure all their life, but economically, nothing to get excited about. Sometimes it is hard to re create something I once did because I need to be in that same mood and place. I'm someplace else, equally valid, but that unit of time I created that item you like in, is now gone. In the time space continuum that forms a parallelogram, coming back to 'now' might take 10,000 or more years. For a certainly if everything is a circle and repeats itself it's not in our lifetime. In truth the customer wants 'that piece' that sold to someone else. One might be happier accepting what already is. Rather then recreating what was. Huh? . Guru Miles has spoken.
Art wholesale
I do not ask for proof. If you can talk the talk I assume you are walking the walk. Prices depend on volume and amount spent I have no set minimum policy. Usually my wholesale is keystone or half the retail. Exceptions are on high end items. Some items are easier to wholesale in volume like my castings and local items. The best price is giving me time to fill the order. If I have 2 months lead time I can create any items at my leisure and save you money. I expect to be paid before I ship the order out on first time customers. I can email a picture of the order for approval. Items may be returned within 30 days. If you sell seasonally I often accept exchanges of inventory if you have not sold my items, so you are not stuck with items not moving in your shop. I supply brochures to help sell. There are copies of magazine articles to help sales for a fee. See warranties and disclaimer or references or other sections for more information. Email me and ask.
This will be the best price and fastest way to do business. Think of my web site as a store. Items in the shop cart are items on the shelf priced, labeled and ready to sell. Items not in the shop cart are items under the shelf, or in the warehouse, or already sold. See separate section for 'no price' Retail is when you want the item for yourself or a gift and are buying only 1-3 items. Click on the shop cart symbol and it takes you to pay pal as a way to pay. If you do not want to pay with pay pal email me and discuss an option but first read my 'ways to pay' and note charge card is not a way. See 'special order' to understand why there are pictures with no price.
I do not usually ask for proof of wholesale business unless there is a question. Price breaks go by volume, amount spent, and chance of repeat business. Some items I can give a better break on. If it is a heavy item I have to ship in I can not compete with the source. Other items I am the source of and have the best prices in the world You have to think about what is from here, or inquire. In general my main business I want to be my art work. I tend to offer a little bit of a lot of variety. Exceptions might be lynx claws (I have 12,000) and mammoth ivory, when I find it and local rocks.
Lots pictures! No shop cart! No understand! Want buy! Uhhuh. You are interested! If you understand skip down to 'procedure' to inquire
Why pictures with no prices???
Several reasons. One is that I seek high end buyers who trust me who want me to shop for them at the big Tucson show or from Alaska locals. These pictures are samples to cut and paste and say “I need this!” I can indeed make it happen. I am like Indiana Jones. I can get the holy Grail, for enough money. I have contacts all over the world, in high places, in low places. I do not do this for $100 orders however. Those not in the game can look and dream, and buy off the cart. Or inquire, I may have it, or something like it. Review my free time chart. My asking prices have these times calculated into the price. More them then this and I'm loosing money, so must charge for my time. It could take half an hour to find out if I have it or not.
$10 sale equals 2 minutes
example one email one question no personal picture
, $100 equals 10 minutes,
example a personal description, photo, 2-3 email exchanges
$1,000 equals an hour.
Example several pictures several descriptions several emails
$10,000 equals several hours.
Example lots of pictures lots of emails phone calls references personal shipping inquiry and or talking to others to find best deals
And yup, the shop cart is just the tip of the iceberg. I have probably got 1,000 times as much as in the cart. Oh yes many customers just need to see it all to make a choice! A private showing for shopping cart prices! Many do not care if I spend an hour or more showing them items for their $10 order. Or after spending an hour say “Thanks, just looking have a nice day” Thus the new policy. Pay per view. Keep in mind I was working in the shop getting $60 an hour at the time I stopped to look for your item. I loose money helping you out without charging. Sorry! If you wonder why I do not just put it all in the shop cart.. I have 50 pounds of turquoise with cabs numbering in the hundreds. I just bought 80 pounds of local mammoth ivory and most customers want to buy it half a pound at a time. It takes 20 minutes per listing times 160 pieces of ivory. Get your fingers out to count and see how many hours that is. (see 'one may snow' in the index under 'problems and issues' Keep in mind my big business is my art work. Selling my personal stash of good stuff is not a priority. Your want is not my need. If it does not sell I am not between a rock and a hard place, I just use it myself. I just sit on it till a big buyer shows up at my house and drives off with a truckload. I do not make my money selling half pound of mammoth ivory or one tooth at a time. It helps you more them me. I do it, but it's at the bottom of the list of things to do today. I calculated it out. How much money I loose selling that 80 pounds of ivory half a pound at a time at 4 times what I paid compared to selling the whole thing at twice what I paid. I loose $20,000, because it occupies 150 hours of my time.
You see raw material on my web with no shop cart or price listed. cut and paste this to me in an email so we both know what you are looking at. (see instruction on how to cut and paste if needed in my index under how to ) If I do not have it I will email back and ask if I can find something close to it or if you want this to be a special order I'll try to give a estimate, but may need to ask more questions. If you give me a go ahead I give a time frame and price and keep you posted. I can track it down or just look through my boxes, but it will not be the same price as if you got it off the shop cart. I can locate various fossil things like Dire wolf or saber cat fangs, narwhale tusks (where legal) various types of ivory. Etc My time is worth $60 an hour so you decide if it's worth it. Those who think I'm worth it get my time. Those with a beer budget and a wine appetite get served what they can pay for. I have an advice page for those with questions, find it on my main directory. Note my 'free time' chart, I encourage inquires. .
The concept is this. I work for you like a subcontracted employee. I'm your buyer. I might find prices so good it is worth paying me to make that connection. Like a finders fee. Why? I have been in business over 30 years. I spent many years in the wilderness of Alaska living a subsistence lifestyle. I am an artist who knows my materials. I have wilderness connections among those with no electricity who do not trust civilization, but have raw materials. I go to the Tucson gem fossil show regularly and have made connections all over the world, and have a level of trust built up. The best deals are made buying in volume. I can not afford on my own with my own money to buy in the largest amounts for the best deals. Sometimes I can shop for several others and combine funds and get in on the best prices. For example I can sometimes get mammoth ivory as low as $30 a pound that normally in small amounts retails for $80 a pound. Problem is it can take $10,000 to get in on that price. Using this example a knife maker who consumes 50 pounds of ivory a year might spend $4,000 on this ivory one pound at a time. I can buy it for $1,500. Even if I double the price, that's $3,000, saving $1,000. The biggest issue is you have to front me the $3,000. Or figure out a way to transfer the money fast when I find the deal. Yes that involves a high trust level. I understand, so we do some business, smaller scale, see how it goes. I have references. There are ways to keep the money somewhat secure. It's a direction I am moving. As I get older as a retirement job Instead of hauling material and setting up at shows I want to just show up as a buyer for others. I want to get paid for my connections. If interested, especially a regular customer who is ready to take a step up. Contact me.
I do not take money from just anyone. I too need to check you out and ideally you are a regular customer I already know. I must feel good about knowing just what it is you seek. It's a mess if I have to return material and give money back and waste my time for example. But I have a belief like minded people can work together and make some money. Summed up perhaps, I spent my life living an Indiana Jones lifestyle. Probably you did not. You know how to make and sell. I know how to find, wheel and deal, on many levels, at the sources. While you were learning your trade, I was learning mine, killing bears and knowing how to do business with wilderness people.
Keep in mind money is not my God. I value much more, happiness, peace, respect, and time. Money can be replaced, my good name and my time can not. However paying me what I'm worth is a good way to show respect. Getting ripped off makes me a fool. Fools have no peace, are not happy, run out of time, and loose respect. And to quote one of my heroes, “Please don't rip me off, I'd hate to have ta kill you”
Pay Pal This is most common and works best for me and where the shop cart takes you. It cost me 3% but gives you insurance if I do not deliver or scam you. I like my customer to know that. It's a way of saying with deeds I'm looking out for your interest.
Check I'll take a business or personal check.
Some people do not have, or are uncomfortable with Pay Pal. I wait for the check to arrive before sending the product out. My address is at the bottom of all my emails and on all my web pages
Miles of Alaska
Box 363
Nenana Alaska
99760
COD In the US I can ship out COD
where you pick it up at the post office and pay when the item arrives. It has a added post office fee I think $4.50 and you have to go to the post office.
Money Order From a post office works instead of a check
Bank Draft This works well from outside the US.
Any bank in the world can issue a bank draft to be paid in US dollars, like a bank money order
Bank transfer No
Overseas customers often ask me to accept a bank transfer, a direct deposit from their bank to mine. I'm told in Europe this is common. My bank and friends say “No way! Do not do this!” The transfer numbers requested, that allow access to my account for deposit, are the same numbers used to take my money out.
Western Union Maybe
This is a last resort for overseas sales. The nearest western union to me is 50 miles away and I do not drive. This requires a I get a ride and cost me a days time for the 100 miles round trip on a two lane twisting road. I could go there and the money is not there yet or a problem waits me. I've never used it, but in theory it is possible. The bank draft is better if not set up with Pay Pal
Charge card No
I'm not set up for charge cards. One reason is that in my own life I do not have or use one. I do not believe in spending money I do not have and do not want to encourage it. I could make more money using it, I do not care. I also do not want to be responsible for your card numbers. If you end up with a problem, identity theft, unauthorized withdrawals , I do not even want you to wonder if it happened here. That's too spooky. Credit cards scare me. I'm a subsistence wilderness person. I personally pay cash for everything. If it is naive of me to feel we all should, so be it. I feel one of the secrets to peace and happiness is being debt free. I feel strongly about this. I'm responsible for what I sell, and what we all do effects others. If you can not afford what I have, I do not want you to buy it on credit. I wish my work and material to be part of good things, doing good deeds. I can not control what you do with it once you own it, but I can care how you acquire it.
Trade!
I smile, What you got?
I'm open to suggestions. I've traded in the past for dry apricots, gem stones, fossils, amber, outdoor equipment. Just look at my site and lifestyle and ask yourself what do you have in your area that might interest me that you are at the source of and can get cheap. It could also be an alternative to customs issues overseas, a gift exchange.
Overseas
See Pay Pal , Bank draft, trade, and Western union above. One issue is that many items I sell have shipping restrictions. If it is an animal product and not a fossil, you might need to inquire.
Shipping
US air priority with delivery confirmation
is my usual method that is a good price, reliable and works here. It takes 4-5 days normally to anywhere in the US. 2nd day takes 3 days and cost 4 times as much and saves one day (as in big deal). If you got that much extra money to save a day, give some of it to me. Delivery confirmation is only 65 cents more and allows us to find out where it is or where it went and proves to you I sent it and protects me if a customer says to me they did not get it, when they really did. I try to weed out and not sell to customers like that, but now and then one slips through,
US flat rate priority
This works well. There are two choices an envelope for I think $4.50 and a box for $8.50. Whatever fits in goes at this price. I once got 30 pounds of rocks in a flat rate box. It's a good way to send heavier items. It makes knowing what to charge you easy. Add the 65 cents delivery confirmation.
1st class
Works well. This is for smaller items in a padded envelope and cost less but goes the same way as priority. Great for a flat strong item, small finished necklace or a claw for example
Parcel post
works This is good for heavy stuff and time is not a big factor. Supposedly it takes up to 6 weeks, but often it is 5-6 days.
UPS or Fedex. No Sorry we sometimes get items in this way but not out. This is a small remote community of 400 people with no house numbers and few road signs. Even stuff coming in sometimes ends up at the local store, the library, a neighbors house and I have to figure out who has it. Going out is a joke, forget it. They'll screw it up. Do not listen to some joker in an office outside Alaska.
Try to keep in mind I am in Alaska in a village of 400 people. We have a one room post office we have to go to in order get mail in or out. Mail is trucked 50 miles to the next community Fairbanks of 70,000 where it is transferred to air. Weather can be an issue. At 50 below I may not be able to get to the post office. I go by snow machine. Now and then the mail truck can not get through. We do not measure 'time' the same as civilized people do. A day one way or the other is no big deal here. 'Checking emails often' is once a day. Most customers love that I get to hear wolves howl from my home, without thinking what the downside is. Keep your cool. Do not holler at me if a shipment appears to be a day later then expected. I'm not looking for the stress of your world. I live here for a reason. I can give you a tracking number if there is concern
Overseas Priority mail works, and we have Global express but extremely high price - but fast. Parcel post works for heavy and slow and can take 6 weeks but best price on heavy items It is better to contact me because many items are restricted or can be sent but as a gift or traded or with special permits we need to discuss. Also there may be ways to make customs payment easier on you.
Best times.
During the year there are what might be considered 'block out dates' when I am not home. Only two are predictable, two shows I do annually. I'm gone 10 days starting about the 1st of August - August 10th to do our local Tanana fair. I'm gone for almost a month for the biggest show on earth in Tucson Arizona about Jan 25th till Feb 14th. I can often check emails, but am not home to conduct business. Sometimes in summer I am off on a wilderness survey trip 3-4 days at a time or off looking for fossils and I often do not give out the dates, it's a bit hush hush. I'm just 'gone'.
Time of day
main thing is to remember I am on Alaska standard time. It might be 4 hours earlier then East coast. Try not to call me at 3am my time. But I do get up early and 6am is not a bad time, but might be on the phone shared computer line. If so between 4pm and 8pm works. I'm rarely on line and usually home. I can be in bed by 9 pm though.
Email is best. It's fast and free. I have a record of our conversation to put in a file and can refer to. I can email pictures. I am comfortable with writing because I lived in the wilds, and writing was my only social life. My only means of communication. With email we do not concern ourselves with the time difference or if I will be disturbed.
Phone me
see 'Culture' I accept calls but tend not to make or return calls. I do not even have long distance on my phone. I use a phone card. It's going to cost me $3 to return a call to the lower states. We do not have the cool phone deals the civilized world has. I understand many people feel more comfortable talking to someone in person. And we get along and become friends and I understand and we sing from the same sheet of music. They remember and I forget. They call again “You are who?” At least 20,000 people feel connected to me. I feel connected to, well you could count them on one hand or less. If you are in my computer you are my good buddy. I know because the proof is in the file. It can take me 5 years to remember a name, and 20 years to be called a friend. I'm friendly to everyone. So please, do not assume I know you, or will remember what we talked about.
Fax is same as my phone number, rarely used these days it seems but I have it
Guarantee
Few customers will think there might be a culture issue between us. But I bet I know more about civilization then you know about the wilderness. If you do not understand something, feel ripped off, did not get what you expected, any problem at all, I bet there is a 75% chance we define words and situations different. Please read the below and ask if it is relevant to your problem.
I live a subsistence life and spent 25 years alone as a hermit/ mountainman in the wilderness. I have views, spiritual beliefs, that may not be part of your culture. Time for example. Here in my village the shortest unit of time is the hour. Meetings take place, give or take an hour. “I'll get to it” means to the nearest week. “See you soon” can refer to a year. “Raw material' means dead, but still bleeding, or right out of the ground, still wet and muddy. “My neighbor” can refer to 100 miles. “Going to the post office” means an hour. “I'm busy today” means someone stopped by for tea. “Stressed out” can mean I was on the phone, and someone knocked on the door at the same time. “Rich” means a winter pile of firewood and a moose in the freezer. “Hand made” can mean without electricity. “Rustic” is a flint knife you just skinned a bear with. “Refined” means cleaned with steel wool and put in a zip lock bag. “Camping” means spending a night 100 miles in the wilds with only an ax, and eating a grouse you killed with a rock. “Insurance” means, yup, got my Smith and
Wesson 357 magnum pistol in my pocket, also called 'protection' We have no police, and no 911. .”Humane” means shooting a dog for barking. “Educated” means the ability to write well enough to make out a receipt. “Proof of authenticity” “Papers” is a handshake and a note written on a napkin. “Permit” :”license” is a pirate flag waving over the house. “laws” are suggestions. A tall building is 2 stories. A party is 3 people. A crowds is 10. Going shopping is the only local Coghill drug store. Going out to dinner is spending 10 bucks on a burger at the Roughwoods. “Sticking to business” and “keeping it short” is spending only an hour and covering only the basics , the weather, your kids, your dog, your love life, and how you like your job. 'Keeping it short' is reserved for the fuel delivery guy, the secretary, the postmaster, because after all, they are busy and need to get back to work. Anything less is downright rude. Half an hour is reserved for those whose guts you hate. You can be killed for not smiling and waving and saying hi to everyone you pass, it's that much of an insult to ignore people.
If all these terms mean something different to you, then (you just might be a redneck) we have a cultural issue, that may or may not effect our business dealings. Sometimes what works here does not work there. Sometimes customers have a visual image of what life is like here because of the news media and books they read and have expectations of me and our business dealings based on this sort of out to lunch set of data. I feel disrespected and so does the customer. It's sort of like wondering if we are both speaking English. All relevant on special orders or just the fact that I am what I sell and what I sell is me. What this means is think. Speak slow and clear. Do not assume I understand. Do not assume we sing from the same sheet of music, are bonded and became instant friends because we had a meaningful email exchange and I was friendly. (see 'sticking to business' above). Keep in mind that the average civilized person who stepped onto my planet might survive a few hours on their own. Get eaten by the first bear they saw that they ran up to and tried to hug, or screamed and ran from. But likewise I might be expected to live on your planet only a matter of hours without help before I was in big trouble. Two cultures are meeting, and you may not understand my rules as I do not understand yours. As we communicate and as you want me to do something for you it matters. Words like ethical and
fair and honest and what you expect and I expect matter. Least ye think I exaggerate, Here before me in front page news as we speak. Google it and check it out. Fairbanks Alaska Daily News Miner Dec 23rd 07. 'Wolves Circle Joggers in Anchorage-Women escape, dog injured in incident” In Anchorage, the largest city in Alaska. “A wolf pack surrounded three joggers and attacked one of their dogs in the latest of a series of Attacks” At least 7 wolves were involved. Does this happen in your neighborhood? Do you still think we live on the same planet? Do you think there just might be differences and maybe we should not assume we understand each other? So consider if you have a problem that we perceive some situation diffidently and need that clarified
.
I am a one man show. I created all the art on my web you see, a 500 piece inventory at any given time. I made the web and run it. I take and edit all the pictures. I write all the words. I am the secretary and the one who does emails. I do the shipping. I found many of the fossils or hand selected the rest. I wrote the book. I do the paperwork and taxes. I live alone so cook clean do the dishes and go get firewood. I'm head of the Chamber of Commerce and on the library board. I hunt my own meat and grow my own garden and run a greenhouse. I'm a wilderness land surveyor. Does this sound like someone who eagerly responds to opinions on how I can spend more time? Or has time to waste?
I am uncertain if satisfied customers want me to give their personal information out and wish to be contacted. Also some unethical type might seek out my sources and customers to buy or sell. I do however, at my discretion have customers and suppliers I can put you in touch with depending on what needs there are . Validation of my lifestyle, proof of honest financial dealings, prompt service, quality of product etc. Contact me for references . This does not bother me. You have a right to know if this between us is going to work or not.
As an example of satisfied customers, this is one months worth. I have been in business over 30 years
Friday, November 30, 2007
Hello Miles: My daughter is absolutely in heaven with some of the items I bought for her from you a few weeks ago. Saving a few for Xmas. Do you have any more copper nuggets..my favorite? She fell in love with the moonstone. Any more? Am dying the moose bone and stabilizing a bit of it to see how it turns out. Let me know on the availability of the two items above and cost. Thanks John
John Lloyd see above related
Wednesday, November 07, 2007
Hello Miles: Recd the goods yesterday. Good load! I am guessing that all the white bone is moose? My daughter will be ecstatic. The copper nuggets are great...I think my favorite of her stuff. Never saw anything like it except some big gold nuggets I have from the late 50s when I lived in Anchorage and gold was 30$/oz. How do you cut the mammoth tooth? Diamond saw? I think I'll have it stabilized first. The balleen is very interesting. I think it will be perfect for what I call a "gents" folder. I am going to have the moose bone stabilized and dyed. What do you do with the mammoth bone...or the dark grey stuff? How does it cut and finish? Thanks alot for the new toys...I love raw materials. I have been a wooworker for forty yrs now and still collect wood...by the thousands of board ft. Have aobut 40,000 bd ft now and still collecting more. Hah! Thanks again.
John
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Miles:
It is Great to hear from you. There are few who experience Life the way you have, and I am Honored to see through your eyes, by listening to your Song. I am of the Iroquois Confederacy and of the Seneca People. I too know the Importance of Balance especially when it comes to Medicine. I must admit that in the 57 years my Path has taken me to many Places and met some mighty Influential People, You are one Person that I hold in the Highest Regard! I will Smudge the Tooth and send it to you this week. If you could, Please incorporate all three Spirits within the Necklace. Would you like the $75.00 in advance?
In Hopes that this finds you and your Family Well;
Raven
Monday, November 19, 2007
The knife is amazing just the way it is... It's honestly more than I had hopped for... please let me know how much the blade will cost so that I can send payment and if you are able to ship the item by Fedex and I will send you a label from my account to expedite the blade getting to me..
Thank you so much
Jeremy Gall
Monday, November 19, 2007
Hey there Miles,
Works for me. An inner ear bone it is then. Thanks.
It has been an absolute pleasure doing business with you.
Blessings, zan
Sunday, November 18, 2007
Hi Martin,
The claw and tooth are amazing!!!:-)Thank you very very much for beautiful postcard:-)You have huge talent:-)
pozdrawiam, Poland
Kamila Jankowska
HELLO,
ONCE AGAIN I WOULD LIKE TO ORDER WOLF'S TOOTH . I WANT HUGE ONE , NOT WITH TURQUOISE ,BUT WITH 'NOWITNA RIVER CARNELIAN AGATE' . IT SHOULD BE SETTED IN SILVER . IT SHOULD BE SIMPLE , WITHOUT ORNAMENTS ,BECAUSE IT IS FOR MAN . HOLE FOR CHAIN SHOULD HAVE 5 millimeters in diameter.
SO TOTALLY HOW MUCH WILL IT COST?
GREETINGS,
CAMILA JANKOWSKA FROM POLAND
Saturday, November 17, 2007
I have never seen such Craftsmanship in all my years. As a Native American it does my Heart good to see such Spirit and Heart put into one's Creations.
I have a Large Lions tooth could you make it into a necklace for me? If so could you please let me know how to get things moving in order to get started?
I hope this finds you and your Family well;
Gary (Raven's Wolf) Crippen
Sunday, November 11, 2007
Hey Miles, Saturday nite.
Got my mail today, and Thanks you are the Man.
You couldnt have picked everything out better. There is not one piece I will not use.
Have been playing for the past few hours. I am just blown away.
Have a good trip and will catch you when you get back.
By the way Thanks, (smile).....Jerry
Tuesday, November 06, 2007
Got it!
It's gorgeous! Thanks so much for your help with this.
Joe
Thursday, November 01, 2007 Joseph Sosta
Thursday, November 01, 2007
Miles!! I got the parcel today!
Thank you so much for such a wonderful selection!! The Lynx jaw and Moose hoof were such a surprise! I am so delighted!! Thank you so much for such wonderful service! I am very sorry about the price of postage, but i have an idea. Since you were so good to your word i should like to order some more parts, and whatever i owe you we can put on the next bill. I especially liked the jaws and wondering if you had any others? i also wouldn't mind looking at proces for sections of moose antler, I would quite like a mooses' skull but i imagine that even the small ones would be such an immense size as to render the postage out of my range! Dang. Well i hope this message finds you well, i have a more stable source of income now so money isn't a huge problem, i look forward to dealing with you again in the VERY near future
All the best
Lily
Thursday, November 01, 2007
Thursday, November 01, 2007
Miles,
I just wanted to say thank you for the wolverine claws. They are great and arrived very fast. I will certainly do business with you again and pass on to friends how professional you are. Thank you again.
Aaron
How Pay Pal works https://www.paypal.com/
You have to have an account with Pay Pal. (web address above) Anyone who has a Pay Pal account can give money to anyone else who has an account. Our email address is our Pay Pal ID. So to pay me you can open your pay pal account and click on the tool bar on the top of the page either 'send money' or 'request money' In this case you want to send money to me so click that. When asked 'who?” you put in my email address (usually at the bottom of my emails but it is
miles@mtaonline.net
How to Cut and paste a picture
You are on my web site and see a picture of something you wish to ask about. You need to get that picture in an email to me so I know what item you are talking about. See 'One man show' under 'issues' if needed. Summed up. I Have a lot going on and 1,000 pictures on my site and I may not have a clue what you are talking about unless I see a picture!
Put the cursor on the picture. Right click the mouse. A menu pops up. Choose 'save as' or 'email picture'. Left click and follow the directions. You can save the picture in your own computer to refer to in a file of your choice so you can find it and email from that fine. But easier to just choose 'email picture'. Left click and you might get asked to resize the picture so it is acceptable for an email - choose to do that. Then your email opens up - you put my email address in there
miles@mtaonline.net
This ends up being a touchy subject as a matter of fact. What is real? What do you want? Expect? for what price? According to who? I in fact have a place on my web site about spotting fakes worth looking at under 'advice'. An example of 'touchy is 'fossil' To a scientist a fossil is an item whose original material has been replaced with minerals to the extent it takes a diamond saw to cut it. OK. But under some conditions this process in nature can happen in under 100 years, even 50 years. Not exciting news to those who mean “Jurassic” Fossil in legal terms can define any animal product on the cites list of restricted parts, that is older then 1972, when the treaty was signed. Fossil walrus ivory is any ivory older then 1972. It is in fact 'mineralized' a term few understand. The general public does not know the difference. Mineralized and fossilized are legally one and the same. Mineralized is scientifically not fossil. Mineralized means enough mineral has entered the item to give it color. Somewhat vague to say the least. .We might be talking 10 years. (or maybe 1,000). The question becomes who are you, and why are you asking, and what matters to you? What will you accept and how much do you want to spend?
Keep in mind I sell to a wide range of customers with varying needs that are not all the same! It is not necessarily my job to educate every Tom Dick and Harry who inquires. I do not have time. I'm in business trying to sell stuff. I have to make a judgment call. Hopefully I'm correct. I sell to children who want a real fossil for $5. I sell to native Americans and those seeking spiritual medicine, a totem animal part, for a medicine bag or ceremony. I sell to magic people who want a dream fulfilled. I sell to the rich and famous that want something cool that will be rare and stand out, and hold up as art. I sell to museums and scientists and schools. I sell to serious collectors. Each wants something defined differently, in different price ranges. A fossil might be anywhere from 50 years old to a million years old, same product. Oh my! Indeed! Everyone wants the million year old one! Well La de da! Dream on my friends! Put 2 more zeros after the price! Wanting wine on a beer budget is 90% of the civilized world.
I look on Ebay sometimes to poke around. I'm shocked. 'Silver' is merely a color and might be actually 'lead' and that's perfectly acceptable. 'Ivory' as well is just a color. It can be plastic. And among 'gem
stones' is turquoise, and plastic, and glass. This is the brave new world we find ourselves in. I'm shocked at how few people know anymore a tooth from a claw (even items on display in museums are incorrectly labeled often times and no one seems to care) . Who knows walrus ivory from bone, a wolf from a dog? A world where a genuine fossil is anything you found on the beach.
So I ask you dear customer what am I to do when one of you comes to me and says “I want the last one on earth, for $100” Seek and ye shall find. I in fact have such an item for just such a customer. Basically tell me what you need it for. Tell me what you expect to pay, and I can make it happen. I'm honest. You get what you pay for. I want you to be happy.
Shipping should be taken care of on the shop cart items in the pay pal site. In general all I want is actual shipping cost. Nenana Alaska does not offer may options. We do not have FedEx or UPS. 2nd day is 3 days and priority is 4 days for a third the cost. I usually use flat rate when I can so there is a $4.50 for big envelope (add $1 for delivery confirmation) or the flat rate box is $8.50. I usually have delivery confirmation. If you want insurance or get it a day sooner for $10 more email me. Shipping fee is base don weight. I may have a weight or aprox weight listed or have suggested a fee to pick when you get at the shipping part in pay pal. I may not weigh everyone , trying to give you a better price with least time involved that you do not have to pay for. Make a guess or email me if you are in doubt. I can always email back and tell you I need more or you paid to much. Oh ("PS" just getting caret gong have a few web pages not up to speed so if you find an item that is confusing ... that's why )
Overseas
If you are outside the US shipping will be more. All I want is shipping money so if you know about what that will be, add it in using the shipping icons listed. In general one of my necklaces or a single tooth or claw that can go in a padded envelope can go to Europe for $5 half a pound is $15 to European countries, a pound is about $20. If your order requires more then $20 to ship, it might be good to email me. Also see what I say about restricted items on this page under 'issues'. Or email me to as
Miles Martin
Miles of Alaska
Box 363
Nenana Alaska
99760
1 907 832 5442
miles@milesofalaska.net
It is not easy to order from me.
An odd thing to say. The reasons are many. Try reading about my lifestyle. Try reading the order page, stuff like 'cultural issues'. Keep in mind I'm a one man show. Keep in mind I spent 25 years alone in the wilderness seeing no one for months. What do you think sitting in front of a computer is doing to me? I'm not superman. Sometimes the river of humanity that arrives at my home through the internet each day is depressing and overwhelming. I need to say “Halt enough!” and stumble out the door for fresh air. Consider what it means to meet a human being at the end of your click. Greetings to the plus and minus of being human, behold a personality. Greetings from Nenana Alaska with slow speed unreliable dial up, a monopoly server and no one in 100 miles who knows the internet any better then I do.
Raw stuff
-- So I wanted, and am good at running a huge flea market. Garage sale antique store. I am a collector. I like to sell and deal. Buy sell trade. But I do not like keeping track of stuff. So. So if you were 'here' you'd see 9 buildings filled with boxes of 'stuff'. (the raw materials). Like a yard filled by the tons of truckloads of things under tarps. You want to know about what? Ha ha and ha again! Dream on! You go find it. Have fun! Tell me if you find it! Filled with lost treasures and nooks and crannies like a treasure map. Stuff I have not seen since the 70's. Stuff with the prices still marked I paid in the 70's. No you got to pay more then that! But how much more? I have to think. I might pull a number out of the hat. See how it fits. I do not even own a suit and tie. Nothing is under bright lights with a sticker on it on a shelf. Yulk! You have arrived. You are not at an ordinary store. You are at the source , where 'raw' is defined as bloody and still twitching . Or still wet covered in mud. You have met the guy who might have drug it in screaming by the hind leg and ate it. You have arrived at some place related to Star trek. You have met Indiana Jones. The man who can make it happen. For a price, I can find even the holy grail. You just have to make it worth my while. See 'problem' below
Art !
You like to look at the art? To me it is all self evident and needs no explanation, but so few 'understand' I need to spell it out. First money is not my God. I'm not between a rock and a hard place and never will be. Happiness and lack of stress is important. I could be busy fishing today. I'm the only one who does this kind of art. It sells. If you do not get it, someone else will, and no one else offers it. . I want it in the right hands. Next. I look at today and tomorrow. I do not turn around and study my past. Once finished I loose interest in the item. I forget. I make a new one. I quit counting 15 years ago when I got to 9,999 (one of a kind items) I have made more claw necklaces then anyone else in the world. Where the item is I made yesterday I do not care. I have a good 500 finished items on hand at any given time. Sort of organized, but it might be in a box for shows, or in the tray it belongs in, or on consignment at a shop, or in for repair, or maybe I forgot, sold it, or gave it away. Rats. Some items are easier to locate . Some items sell so well I do not need to spend an hour looking for it because it will sell to the first person who sees it. Like big wolf teeth. Or blue ivory.
Problem !
So the problem is this is a garage sale and antique store. Nothing is marked and it's in any one of 9 buildings. Not a problem if you find it and bring it to me and I look up and make up a number, and you are happy. But guess what! You find the picture, not the item itself and show me the picture or give me a description and want me to go find it! Ha! Under what tarp? Which building? What shelf in what building in what box? Guess what! If I ignore you I can work in the shop for $65 an hour. If I stop to go look for something for you, my income comes to a grinding halt because the customer is not paying no $65 an hour to chat and have me go look for stuff. As in “That's $10 plus the $65 lost time it took for me to go find it” Tell me all you want about how I need to be organized. Bla bla you are in the peanut gallery, in the bleachers, while I am in the ring with the bull. Step into the ring and I might listen. Even if you are in your own ring with your own bull and are my equal, it's a state of mind. It's not about inequality. Each snow flake is unique and irreplaceable and can not be duplicated. The universe parts for each flake as it falls and closes again behind it forever changed. Some focus on that, and some focus on the storm comprised of all the flakes working together. Meanwhile yup I probably have what you want. That means squat if I cant find it. Worse, some customers talk me into looking, then say “Thanks , not what I'm looking for have a nice day” What's wrong with this picture?
Solution!
So I have no real rules, no minimum order etc. We'll see. Depends. If I'm busy, feel like it, like you, what the weather is like, and my opinion on if this is worth my time or not. All those cool pictures not in the shop cart? Teasers? Oh no not really. It's my resume, my portfolio, my references. Due to the volume of 'stuff;' going on I get to do repairs for museums, art collection value estimates for insurance companies, sometimes special orders for the rich and famous. It gives people ideas for a special order. It gives me credibility that I know what I'm doing. It's not talk, behold it is before you to see for yourself. Big buyers see my work and know I can turn it out, and some fly here to Nenana to see me and buy it by the truckload. One customer comes up from Japan once a year. We do not price it or mess around, we make a pile and I look at the pile and I make up a number. I just want it 'gone' so I have room for new cool stuff. But gone to my kind of people. He knows my prices are fair and we do not argue. I got 50 pounds of turquoise, you think I want to measure photo weigh each dinky piece? The decimal point has to get moved twice for that. On my art I have shops who say “Send me stuff” I accept returns. It all sells. I'm reasonable, fair. My prices are good, even if I make up a price at the spur of the moment my highest quote is half the completion's. Why argue? I can make a new one faster and easier then I can keep track of the last one. So in the big picture I make a living. I'm not rich, but it's my way, by my rules, when and how I want. Maybe I'm stuck up? An ego thing? Yea maybe (hmmm) But it's also a symptom of social problems that has to do with why a guy raised in the city would tune in and drop out to live in poverty listening to wolves. Why do we have to think value is in numbers or why cant we just look at something without having to own it? Maybe you are in a museum. Stop, stare, look, pause and smile. Why are customers irritated? So hey cut and paste me a picture if it's not in the cart! Who knows? Lets talk. If your only question is “Is it for sale!” in an irritated tone, well go shop on ebay and have a nice day. This is not your kind of place. Not everything is for sale just cause you want it, or because you see it. I get to choose my customers. Cool huh! Is that nuts? I can't say, but at least I'm honest. Customers are not used to seeing something they cant have? Well la de da. My soul is in my work and my materials. I either find or hand select every single item. There is less then 1% I order by mail. Every single art item I made, totally made, down to the carving, and making the mold, and casting of the cap. I had cut most of the rocks, eat many of the critters whose bones get used, find many of the fossils. There is a story behind every item. I care where my soul goes , and who gets a piece of it. The solution is all my art eventually is out there in the world being worn, and all my material one way or other is seen and used. What else matters? I own my world. What more do I need? One snowflake, that in falling, parts the universe, changing it forever. Money is not my God.
