Just a quick reply.....
I applaud Jim for the comment on possibly inventing some new scale to rate
shells on. However, I dont think that will ever come to be accepted by the
majority.
Most dealers, ok, well, some dealers, are pretty liberal and fair with
their ratings. I sell a few shells here and there and usually I rate under
what another person would consider the specimen. Most people's F++
specimens would be a high F+ to me. But, when they receive the shell,
sometimes I'll get an email that says, wow this is a nice shell for being a
high F+. Thats all the gratification I need right there.
I think the 1-10 scale may work.....an F++ shell possibly being say between
say, 7.5 and 9?
I'm a bit mixed on the whole subject....I'd rather see some changes made to
eBay and other auction sites to get rid of the people who sell junk and
whatnot. But, i guess there is always someone willing to shell out 40
dollars for a pair of 4 inch lightning whelks of the quality you can pick
up on the beach, legally.
-LT
> [Original Message]
> From: Jim Miller <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Date: 12/11/2005 7:43:38 PM
> Subject: Grading Sea Shells
>
> Greetings all,
>
> First off, I want to say how sad I am at the state of Conch-L right
> now. I remember years ago when things were really peaking and we had
> some terrific back and forth discussions on many topics. Many was the
> day when I'd have 5 or 6 messages in my mailbox or even more. Now
> they dribble in and it's almost like we all ran out of gas.
>
> Well, on to my main subject: The grading of sea shells. Folks, I
> think it's time that we seriously look at changing the way a shell is
> rated in terms of its overall condition. We really have only three
> grades, which is Good (or Acceptable), Fine and Gem, plus our little
> "+" signs. If this system is go great, why do we see shells grades
> "F++" or "Gem-"? Wouldn't a "Gem-" be a "F+"?
>
> I propose the following (and let's face it, this "hobby" isn't one
> that takes change very well):
> We grade shells like we grade (or rate) everything in life, which is
> very simply one through ten. Or 1-10 if you prefer. It's how vintage
> guitars are rated. So when a 1967 Fender Telecaster is rate 7 out of
> 10, we know exactly where it rates in terms of overall quality. So
> even if I see the guitar as a 7 and you see it and rate it as a 6, we
> are still not far off. While in our old system, I constantly see
> shells that are graded "F++/Gem" and to be they are only F+.
> Personally, I cannot see what is essentially a perfect shell having
> to be "honestly" graded F+ because it has a few growth marks. Many
> species are never really Gem. Our of the hundreds of Junonias I
> pulled off the scallop boat lines, none was a Gem. There were three I
> got that had perfect lips, but all had growth marks and healed scars.
> But personally, I'd call those Gem, simply because they are the best
> I saw. Under my proposed grading, those shells would be a 9 (out of
> 10).
>
> We rate all sorts of things by this scale, like the "10 best football
> teams" or the "10 best movies" and so forth. Heck, even when I go to
> the doctor for my migraines, the first question they ask is: "On a
> scale of 1-10, where do you rate the pain?" When I say "8" they
> pretty well know it's bad and when I say "10" they know it's really,
> really terrible.
>
> So why not abandon our old, outdated grading system for one that is
> far more intuitive?
>
> Now, let's throw open the floor for comment.....
>
> Best regards,
> Jim
>
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