So last week I told myself, screw it, I’m finally gonna hit the Denver Crystal Show. Heard about it for years, figured it’s time to see what shiny rocks I can find without going broke. Packed my ancient backpack – water bottle, protein bar, and a wad of twenties I’d saved up, thinking cash talks. Jumped in my car while it was still dark out. Worst decision!
Got there right when it opened, nine AM sharp. Place was already swarming, like ants on sugar. Giant convention hall stuffed with tables. Everywhere you looked, sparkly things. Quartz chunks bigger than my head, geodes split open, shiny towers, and people haggling like their lives depended on it. My eyes kinda glazed over for a minute, just spinning around trying to figure out where to even start. Shoulda grabbed a map, but nope. Wandered aimlessly.
Saw this one table stacked high with amethyst points. Deep purple, looked amazing under the lights. Guy running it was super polished, slick hair, expensive watch. Talked smooth, telling me it’s “high vibration” and “museum quality.” Almost fell for it. Asked the price – dude says ninety bucks for a decent-sized point. Felt high, but what do I know? Pulled out forty bucks, thinking I’d start low. Laughed at me! Said cash discount started at seventy. Walked away fast.
Took a break on a sticky convention hall chair, drank my water. Started noticing things. People weren’t just looking at sparkles. They were:
- Bending down to actually see the rocks close up.
- Whispering to each other, pointing at specific tables tucked away.
- Using those little flashlight things! Like, tiny flashlights! They were shining them through the crystals.
Right, okay. Lesson learned. Needed better tactics. Found a lady selling smaller pieces near the back corner, seemed less intimidating. Asked friendly-like about a little agate slice, all banded and pretty. She smiled, “Twelve dollars sweetie.” Pulled out a ten, told her it was all the cash I had left. She took it! Got my first real rock that morning.
Got bolder. Went back to a table with rough turquoise chunks. Guy looked kinda tired. Asked price on a decent blue piece. “Forty.” Smiled, pulled out two twenties. “Cash work?” His eyes lit up. “For you? Thirty.” Boom! Saved ten bucks just like that. Cash is king here. Also saw him later giving a dude who paid with plastic the stink-eye for a 3% fee!
Biggest win? Later on, found this tiny booth, guy had these raw aquamarine pieces. Looked legit, but honestly, coulda been blue glass for all I knew. Remembered the flashlight trick. Asked politely, “Mind if I take a peek?” Borrowed his little flashlight – shined it right through. Light bent all clean inside, no bubbles, no weird shadows. Felt like a detective! He saw me doing it, grinned, and gave me a genuine price straight away. Bargained him down another five bucks from fifty to forty-five cash. Felt like a total pro.
Total haul by the end? That agate slice, the turquoise chunk, my sweet aquamarine, and some funky ocean jasper without much haggling. Left sweaty, tired, but my backpack felt ten pounds heavier with good rocks, not regrets. Wallet wasn’t empty either.
