A very fine new week to everybody on Conch-L !!!!,
 
 
Some days ago, I put the question to the list why one couldn't fine very
common shells in the commercial circuit for less than a dollar. I had
many responses to this problem, mainly from the dealers themselves as I
had hoped and expected...
 
First of all : thank you ladies and gentlemen shell-dealers for being
open and honest with me. I now understand your problems a little better
than before. I still have some remarks though, I'd like to put up for
discussion in this list.
 
1) Most of you had the argument of simple cost/benefit analysis :
although we all know a common Littorina or Monodonta really isn't worth
a dollar, it is evident one has to put the same amount of work and cost
in this one shell to sell it, as for a Conus gloriamaris. It has to be
captured, cleaned, labelled, packed and posted. It takes a line on the
list and thus has the same publicitary cost as any 300 $ shell. So far
so good.
My problem with this is more why these 'cheap shells' simply disappear
from most lists. Sometimes, when I look at a commercial shell
price-list, I have the feeling I'm in to a hobby for millionaires... One
of you understood me however when I argued that a good dealer presents a
good 'marketing-mix' : he takes the cheap, average AND expensive shells
into his offer, in order to broaden his market as much as possible. In
my point of view a dealer must take a risk of loosing money and selling
20 shells for less than a dollar a piece : this could mean a loyal
customer for the more valuable shells in the future...
 
2) A more fundamental remark came from a person who is not a dealer, but
works in a museum where amongst other things, he takes care of a
shell-collection. His remark is : what is the value of a shell basically
? I know this has been a discussion about a year ago here on Conch-L,
but would like to refresh it.
 
On one hand there are the objective factors : size, visible quality,
flaws, exact data. These things can be measured, yet even standards can
be made for it (such as the GEM, F classification). But even here we see
a problem. I've taken the time to compare some lists from well-known,
and trustworthy dealers and behold : a GEM species from one list to
another gives me a difference in price going from 2 to 10(!) $ in
extreme cases. It is not my intention to ridiculise things, on the
contrary. I only want to say that in my opinion the difference in
cost-making between dealers is not the only explanation for this
phenomenon.
There is a strong subjective judging in pricing shells, which is almost
inavoidable. A piece of furniture has a clear price structure, because
all the processes and materials which form the article have a clear
price. Not so with shells ! For example : I have a Scrobicularia plana
lying on my desk, collected last year on a muddy beach by my eldest
daughter. This shell has a commercial value of about 10 cts (I think),
yet to me it's worth much more. I know I'll never sell it neither will I
trade it, and I have only unmeasurable sentimental reasons for not doing
it... So, what is the value of this Scrobicularia, nobody knows...
A second factor in price-setting (which was often used as an argument by
the dealers) is the 'rare-ness' of a shell. Well, this is as far as I
know a very abused factor in commercial selling. I don't say everbody
exagerates the rare-ness of his shells, but it happens often. As an
example : Patella vulgata is, according to many people, a rare species
on the Belgian coast. But when I go to Oostende (the largest town on our
coast) I ussualy find at least 5 to 10 species, and quite often living.
So, how rare is rare and what does this term mean to the price of a
shell ?
 
Many questions for the start of the new week, I know, but I hope you
will yet give some other good arguments to this discussion.
 
By the way : as a result of my first posting I did find some good
dealers which offer me good prices, and even some of them willing to
trade... The rules of Conch-L are strict however : no publicity, so if
you want names, mail me privately, and I'll send you addresses (if these
guys give me permission for doing so, of course !)
And finally : my most rewarding acquisitions still are the result of
exchanging shells with fellow collectors !
 
Greetings,
 
Jan Haspeslagh
Belgium