Ah! A new idea!  Instead of changing the way we grade shells, why not enlist a panel of senior conchologists to grade dealers. Now wouldn't that be a service to the collecting public?
       Art


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---- Night Diver <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> The problem with shell grading is it’s direct connection to shell price.
> As Marlo points out the market will only pay for the top most ratings.
> Some dealers are driven to grade-up to make sales.  A few things can
> happen.  The buyer can be forgiving of a false grade if they find they
> like the shell enough to skip the hassle of returning it. Also there are
> many collectors that don’t recognize certain types of flaws and feel they
> got a shell accurately described.  Worse case scenario there’s a refund,
> but I suspect this is relatively rare. I would imagine there is an
> economic model from a business standpoint of what shells can be upgraded,
> and in what ways, to result in the maximum profits.  Although I would
> imagine this is a little deeper than many dealers think.  It probably just
> comes natural to them.  I always wonder when I receive a flawed shell that
> was claimed gem if the dealer doesn’t agree with my opinions on flaws, or
> if the shell was up-graded to make the sale.  Rarely do I go through the
> hassle of returning it.
>
> I would imagine only through education could a true grading system based
> on flaws be established.  Perhaps a book with photos detailing each type
> of flaw.  The flaw scale wouldn’t be 1-10; it would be 1- however many
> flaws there are.  Pretty simple, but it might ruin the innocence of some
> collectors.
>
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