Dear Conch-L members,
 
 
I have a question regarding commercial shell-sites. Although I try to
only exchange shells with other collectors, I think sometimes you need
to look at dealers-lists to be able to purchase that-and-that shell for
your collection. I have no problem with this method of collecting shells
as it can be a very useful way to complete a section of your collection.
 
My problem however is the following : almost all the lists I've looked
through are way too expensive for the low budget I can spend on my
hobby. Don't get me wrong : I'm not looking to buy an extra rare shell
for a penny, or a gem species for the price of a third-rate shell. What
"offends" me in most of the dealers prices is the minimum price of 1 or
2 US $ they ask for even the most common shells... Sorry chaps, but I
fail to see the logic of this way of working.
I can understand that you don't set prices as "35 cents" for reason of
easy calculating and easy software-handling of things. But has anybody
thought of the following yet : "common shell : 3 pieces for 1 $" ....?
 
Anyway, everybody takes his bussiness as he pleases, but here's my
question : is it possible to find dealers that can present you lists
with common to very common shells for more reasonable prices than one
whole dollar a piece ?
 
I have a feeling that other poor collectors on this list could be helped
with such addresses too...`
And to the dealers that are reading this : please don't take this
personal, and if you feel I'm completely wrong with my statements here,
you can flame me all the way, if you have good arguments to prove me
wrong....
 
Thank you for your attention,
 
 
Jan Haspeslagh
Belgium