From The Mines Crystal Warehouse — Local services in Northvale

I was hesitant to write this review and you can see why if you look at how the owner replies to people who don’t agree with this business. He told one person who had a bad experience to mind their own business and to grow up. Don’t believe me just look a few reviews down.

I am from the tristate area originally and both my wife and I have been working with minerals for the last 42 years. I often come across from the mines sponsored posts on Instagram (one recently which involved the owner making fun and stereotyping his own customers) which has prompted me to share my experience with this vendor here on Google.

My experience with this vendor dates back to over a year ago and is only for his wholesale warehouse (not his Instagram live sales which I currently see reviews for).

A year ago I attended a wholesale appointment with my niece who opened an online crystal shop. Yes, from the mines has a minimum order amount but that is pretty standard in this field and when purchasing wholesale. She wanted a hands on experience and the ability to pick her own inventory. There are only a few rock and mineral wholesalers in the state she lives in so she picked this place first.

There is no other way to explain the owner Chris except for rude, condescending and confrontational. Much of what he said to my niece was incorrect. I have been selling and dealing minerals probably longer than this guy has been alive. I was there to help my niece who is new to this field and it was my job to steer her in the right direction.

So what were some things that he said? Well for starters he told her he was one of the only wholesalers in the US (absolutely incorrect). When I noticed some of his items were high in price he said something about us supporting Chinese wholesalers and child labor. First, I have direct connections to almost every mineral producing country including South Africa, brazil, Madagascar, Uruguay, India, Pakistan, Russia, Turkey, Switzerland (the list goes on). Sir, your prices are high for different reasons. Second, China produces some of the most beautiful calcites, fluorites, Quartz, malachite, etc. This is harmful rhetoric.

At one point I was telling my niece about old stock ocean jasper. This appointment occurred before the founding of the 8th mine. I told her that the 7 prior are currently closed. Any true and authentic ocean jasper that is on the market is circulated from old material. Chris disagreed and said there is still ocean jasper producing mines. Incorrect. Ocean jasper is a trademarked term and can only be used to describe material from veins 1-8. (Then it was just 7). Before the 8th opened which was after this appointment (all 7 have been closed. Some for decades. Some for years). Well he was combative about that. This is a fact and something every personal in this field should know.

When my niece was looking at Himalayan Quartz, I told her I would pass on them. They either weren’t Himalayan Quartz or they were very poor quality. They were extremely foggy with very little clarity. If you know of Himalayan Quartz then you would know it has incredible clarity. He was selling it for 200/250 per kg if I remember correctly.

Overall, his products were just mid quality. Some better than mid. Some less. The vendors I work with can be accessed by anyone and for much lower than what was offered at from the mines. It was nice that my niece was able to pick her inventory. It was very hands on for her.

I think the selection, quality and price would be awesome for someone who sells at a physical storefront where prices can be higher and quality isn’t as important. For an online crystal shop like my niece has, it just didn’t cut it. When you sell online the quality has to be superb in order to compete with the market. I trade and sell fine minerals so it wouldn’t work for me either.

Overall my niece had fun but the owner is just not a nice person. Very rude and full of himself. There is another wholesaler in NJ with 3x the selection, slightly better pricing and a MUCH nicer...

I have been doing business with Chris and From the Mines, now for 2 years. I am a new shop, open for 2.5 years. The quality of their material is so good it makes my shop look good. I like that I can hand pick each item for my shop, this was extremely important to me and for the shop I've created. Ethically sourced and fair trade were qualities that I was seeking, and From the Mine guarantees this and I can pass that guarantee to my customers. It is more important to me to have Ethically sourced material, than purchasing the cheapest. This way I know the stones have passed through "happy" hand before I got them. Exploitation of labor and material, in this industry, is more common than not. So, ethically sourced was a priority. Chris and his crew are very knowledgeable not only about their material but also the business at large. Chris has personally shared tips with me that have served to help grow my business. As a small business owner, I wanted to deal directly with a business and hand pick my material, and to grow a relationship of familiarity and partnership, and I am happy to say that is what I have with From the Mines. Everyone has been so nice and kind; and have gone above and beyond. I greatly appreciate that they do appointment only, and a $1000 minimum purchase. This lets me be in there by myself, and the minimum purchase weeds out the general public. I have gone to shows and thing for inventory and never felt quite right that the general public could purchase the same stuff I was, at basically the same price, and I'd have to mark it up at my shop. (I am a day trip from Quartzsite and Tucson.) Exclusive access allows me to select items the general public don't have access to. I feel much more professional this way. As a tiny shop owner (brick and mortar) all of these qualities are what make my shop unique, hand picked one of a kind specimens fit for a museum as well as magical work. I cannot say enough good this about Chris and his crew, they...

I am not one to leave reviews but in this case it is warranted. Today I had my first appointment to shop the From the Mines warehouse as well as pick up an order from a live auction held on Instagram. I would like to first say if you have never tuned into a live auction From The Mines…do it! The deals are great, the staff running it are fantastic and the quality of stones are amazing!!! That all said I really want to address the owner Chris. As this was my first experience meeting Chris I have to admit I was a bit taken back. He is genuinely one of the kindest, most honest, spiritual, direct and absolutely ethical people I have met. I felt confident in his knowledge about the crystals and rocks he sells and his business ethic concerning where his inventory comes from and who is doing the mining. It is getting harder and harder to find people who not only are trustworthy but also a pleasure to work with. I have been involved with crystals and rocks for a good portion of my 54 years and found the quality of his products and the way he approaches business and life refreshing. Thank you From the Mines and thank you Chris I am looking forward to the next time we...