Good or bad experiences with shelldealers

[Guest]

Sometimes it is very difficult to get word around when there really are "bad apples" among shelldealers.People who send shells of very poor quality without labels or any further data. Still I think this forum can help.
Also when the experiences are just the opposite: the big majority of the world of shellers consists of very kind and generous people.
In my 40+ years of shellcollecting I have contacted hundreds of them. Some of them have become very close friends through the years
As more and more shellcollectors visit this forum you can learn from each other.
When somebody is really messing things up....please warn others. But when another shellcollector deserves good feedback, don't hesitate to give this!

[dave r]

Now that sounds like a very good idea. I also belong to an insect forum and there is a page on there to report good or bad traders, maybe it couldbe done here. Paul?

[pichest]

I support the idea. Anyway, the scammers can always change their identity, email, address from one to another all the time, so always beware when you are dealing with new dealer.

[dora]

I agree with the point concerning bad shell dealers, but for traders I think it's a little more complex than that and I will tell you why. I have traded 14 times already and I've gotten very high marks from some but a couple people have not been satisfied. One person dared to say that I was the worst trade he's ever had.......and i never wanted to trade again after that!! It was my good friend, teacher and mentor who told me that there's always those that cannot be pleased no matter what. My point is if you publicly list traders you could be over or under rating someone on another's "bias" opinion rather than fact.

[dave r]

Hi Dora, I think you got the wrong end of the stick. When I say 'traders' I mean people in the shell trade rather than people who trade shells with each other. Must be a transatlantic thing<img src="images/smiley/wink.gif" alt="" border="0" />
I agree it would not be fair to list bona fide people who trade with each other, as you have learnt you 'can't please all of the people all of the time' and there will always be those who are not satisfied with the trade for whatever reason. I usually find it is a misunderstanding or language problem but some people are just plain bolshy. Don't be put off by them though, personally I would much rather trade than buy.
On the insect website there is a page for people to give their feedback about dealers they have had business with, good or bad. This acts as a warning to people of bad traders and gives good traders more publicity. If you want to check it out a go to:
InsectNet.com
and look at the 'Traders' page and you will see the sort of things I mean.
Dave

[Guest]

Most important issue is the mutual trust among shellers. When shells are described as "gem" you expect a beautiful (and almost flawless) shell.
From Cypraeidae it's easier to get "gem" compared to Conidae.
But when a dealer sents heavily eroded beach-specimens as "gem" you know he or she is willingly deceiving....