When i saw the posting that suggested Andrew Sharpe's eBay Cypraea
auctions may be fraudulent, i determined to learn the truth, so that i
could come to the aid of a fellow Canadian dealer (ok - the ONLY other
major Canadian dealer..) with whom i have done business in the past to
my good satisfaction.  So i wrote him forthwith, and i pass along out
exchange to you, below.  I assure you the Andrew i know would not set
out to defraud people, and just made an unfortunate mistake in not
saying the photos were not of his specimens, but simply meant to
represent the species.  He has removed the offending photos, by the way,
so as to not perpetuate the confusion.  Please note I am NOT
"advertising" for him - just repeating our communications. (by the way,
Avril is working REALLY hard on the Man and Mollusc educational site -
she's creating something truly useful there, so if you haven't seen it yet.....)

        eBay is still not the best place for buying and selling  top-end
specimen shells, but it is improving - and if you offer good prices for
moderate-price-range species, you can do well there!!

>  ----- Original Message -----
> > From: Ross Mayhew <[log in to unmask]>
> > To: <[log in to unmask]>
> > Sent: Tuesday, April 04, 2000 6:38 PM
> > Subject: Re: eBay cowries
> >
> > > Dear Andrew;
> > > The charge has been levelled that the photos of expensive cowries you
> > > are auctioning on eBay are in fact not your photos, but that of George
> > > Sanguileau [sic - which means i can never spell his name :-} ).  I have checked
> > > this, and found it to be true, at least for
> > > the leucodon.  I would strongly advise that you photograph or scan your
> > > own shells - right now, the word is out that your auctions may not be on the level.
> > > Advise cancelling them and re-posting with photos of your own shells.
> > > Sincerely yours,
> > > Ross.


 Dear Ross
>              You are right they are george's pictures, i realize this was a
> big mistake but for interested parties i am privately emailing the real
> photos
>     I assure you that these auctions are not fraudualent and I and my Family
> have been in the Shell Business for 30 yrs. We own 4 Shell Factories in Cebu
> and a wholesale Business here in Canada.
> I appreciate your email.
> I have 3 leucodons   6 valentia's and  5  Langfordi's in stock right now
> plus 12000 other specimens i assure you i am a very serious collector and
> dealer, i understand that you know avril bourquin she has known our family
> for nearly 25 yrs.
> best regards
> andrew sharpe
>
> P.S. do you have a URL for this accusations that are being posted
>
> http://www.bctropicalshells.com

--
Ross Mayhew: Schooner Specimen Shells:
Http://www.schnr-specimen-shells.com
"We Specialize in the Unusual"
Phone: (902) 876-2241; Fax: (603) 909-8552.
But try to find "something for Everyone"!!
Snail Mail: 349 Herring Cove Rd, P.O Box 20005, Halifax, N.S., Canada,
B3R 2K9.