Although I am a Chinese shell dealer, I have to agree with Wilmet, Caution
is needed when you do business with Chinese shell dealers.

I do like shells and like shelling people all over the world, I think I
have to tell something about "Chinese shell dealer"

1) No full time professional shell dealer but me  in China.
2) All Chinese dealers in shellauction and ebay began their business for
not over 3 years.
3) I sent mails to many Chinese shell dealers, but got no reply. I have no
way to get touch with some dealers. Shell dealers are living in east
China, for example, Zhejiang province, Fujian province, Guangdong
Province , Beijing and Dalian, I visit this places every year, When I call
some dealers to visit them, I was refused
 For European, American, I have to tell you something, maybe it is helpful
for you.
4) When you decide to buy a big batch of shells from a Chinese shell
dealer, you'd better asked if the shell dealer buy your shells ? Most of
Chinese shell dealers don't like shells, they don't live on shell
business, they don't buy a shell from oversea, what they do is to make
some money in their spare time. I visited a shell dealer in Fujian
province last year, he didn't have one book on shells, he copied shell
name from internet. If he can make a lot money by a fraud offer, I think
he would not mind changing an ID in shellauction or ebay.
5) More and more fisherman know the famous cowries such as C.hirasei now,
is not cheap to buy them from fisherman. Some European and American
collectors asked me shells at the price lower than what I got from
fisherman. if other people can agree with your ultro-low-price, then
caution is needed.

By the way, Mr.Wilmet, can you post the postal address of the "man" here ?
Maybe I can find the true man

Best Regards

He Jing

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