"Rices Prices" is just that, a guide. Better used for trading values to
establish a common ground, it is not as reliable when used to establish
retail prices. It only shows what shells were listed for, NOT what the price
sold. Shells not listed (a large number, ask any dealer) are not included.
Also time, an important part of any price factoring is not taken into
consideration. If your friend wants to sell the shell sooner rather than
later, the prices would have to be less than those shown in Rice's Prices.

I had a shell listed at $70 that didn't sell. Reduced the price to $50 and
got an offer of $45, which I accepted. Rice's shows the $70 and $50, neither
of which was the selling price. Average them out (something many traders do
to be FAIR) and the price come to $60. So it doesn't work all the time, but
it is a great guide and I wouldn't be without it.

Frank Walker
Gems From The Sea
72 Peltier Street, Marlborough, MA 01752 USA
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