Mele Kalikimaka(Merry Christmas From Hawaii), There are several options available to collectors. 1)Buying shells from mail order lists(a few dealers still put out a listing). 2)Buying online from URL links(in other words surfing the net). 3)Shell auction sites(ie Ebay) & a few dealers run their own auctions. 4)Visiting known dealers and/or shell shops. 5)Saving your money for shell show bourses. There's no set criteria in choosing a supplier. Price, honesty, good information, adequet packing & open communication are important factors in buying shells. Of course living in Hawaii one just has to put a mask on & get wet but for most this is a dream. Just ask around, make friends, & read CONCH-L. Mahalo! CHRIS:) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- [log in to unmask] - a forum for informal discussions on molluscs To leave this list, click on the following web link: http://listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=conch-l&A=1 Type your email address and name in the appropriate box and click leave the list. ----------------------------------------------------------------------