If you’re headed out to the Gem and mineral Show tomorrow, Dunday, at the Billings Convention Center, and it’s your first time, you’ll want to keep a few buying tips in mind.

These shows are huge!! It’s easy to become overwhelmed quickly with all of the beautiful and one-of-a-kind treasures.

If there something in particular you’re looking to start your collection and don’t know where to begin, do some research on the gem and look at prices.

Remember, the aesthetic of a rock isn’t always the same as its quality. An ugly specimen of a rare mineral variety might cost much more than a transparent crystal of a common variety.

Three Power Shop Tios:

1) Bring Cash

Make sure you can buy what you want! Many dealers come from overseas to sell their wares and cannot process credit card payments. An ATM is usually nearby. However, it’s best to have some cash on hand to avoid fees that are currently running up to 4%.

2) Always buy ricks by weight! Many rocks are sold by weight in units. For instance, a gram is about the weight of a paper clip, and a kilogram is about

3) Always Ask Questions! Gem shows are set up for the experts. Many specimens have no labels, so if you’re not sure what something is, ask! Similarly, if there’s something on your shopping list, ask the vendor if they have any – it could save you a lot of time.

The great shopping advantage and “high” if you will, is finding gorgeous quality merchandise at much lower prices than retail.