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 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- [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. ----------------------------------------------------------------------