When I first checked out ebay, I was excited to see shells at prices I
could afford.  I bought a leucodon from one of these five companies:
quality_shells, gems_plus_seashells, pac_shells, puzzlejug and
jerseyshells previously mentioned with regards to the "Seashell : KNOCK -
OUT! Deep GEM Rare Cypraea sakuraii:  and "Remarkable Left Handed Conus
pergrandis" (there’s more than five “companies” now, but I haven't kept
track).  The leucodon turned out to be a pretty decent paint job.    I
tried them one more time about a year later with a langfordi after reading
their new propaganda “reputation is everything”.  Nope, it turned out
fake, coated in resin.  It was such a masterful fake, a true piece of art,
I kept it to show other collectors when they stop by.   I thought I was
done with this headache, but once more I had to deal with this problem
when I bought an aurantium and a hirasei from a “dealer” in Florida.
When I confronted him, he told me his supplier was none other than what I
now call the “naferius” cartel (misspelled on purpose to rhyme with the
medusa that seems to be the head these snakes).  If you’ve bought shells
worth over $100 from these guys, mostly likely you’ve got fakes in your
collection.

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