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  1. Whole dinosaur eggs are highly sought-after fossils. The ones usually available to collectors are Hadrosaur eggs, Oviraptor eggs and Segnosaur eggs from China. This thread deals specifically with hadrosaur eggs. Hadrosaur eggs (Dendroolithus sp.) as we know from the market are in fact various dinosaur species, often hadrosaurid (many collectors/dealers lack the tools or discipline to examine eggshells under microscopes or have accredited museums examine them). Commercially available eggs vary greatly in price, anything from 150 USD to 1,500 USD depending on quality, size, hatched/unhatched and prep work. They usually range from 3.5 inches to 7 inches in diameter, and are mostly hatched types (which means the egg is in fact empty. If you prep out the bottom matrix, chances are it's hollow). However, hadrosaur eggs are also one of the most commonly faked, or mistaken fossils in the world. Anything from pieces of rock, pebbles, septarian nodules, concretions, or even chemically-etched objects are sold as eggs. There are several online right now. Here are examples of false hadrosaur eggs we often see in the market. Here are examples of partial/composite hadrosaur eggs (Note these ones are real to an extent. They can be a more economical choice as long as you know what you are getting).
  2. Hi everyone! I purchased this "Mosasaurus Skull" about a year ago. I'm certain that it's fake, but I was curious as to how bad of a fake it was (to humor me) and what kind of teeth these are. Thanks!
  3. A new "T-Rex" tooth just showed up on our favorite site. It is not a Tyrannosaurus rex tooth however but a more common and far cheaper Carch tooth. We know this because of its more blade-like morphology, its slender profile, its shape, its smaller denticles and the sand on the base I already notice multiple bids on it and I have no doubt the price would escalate as many hopeful collectors would try their hands on getting a cheap T-Rex tooth for themselves. For anyone looking to buy a true T. rex tooth, there are several factors to take note of: 1) Thickness - T. rex had crushing teeth, hence the teeth are thick. They are meant to crunch through bone 2) Locality - T. rex teeth in the market commonly comes from the Hell Creek Formation and Lance Formation. These two formations are found in Montana, Dakota and Wyoming. If a tooth originates from Africa or Morocco, it cannot be a T. rex tooth 3) Price - T. rex teeth command a premium price. Even a small tooth an inch long may cost 500 USD or more. A 2.5 inch tooth would easily be 2k USD. While exceptions do occur, if a deal seems too good to be true, then you should be extremely wary 4) Source - Make sure you get your T. rex tooth from a reputable source. By that, I don't mean a seller with a high feedback score or someone who prints you a "cert of authenticity". I mean a seller who has a history of collecting or selling Hell Creek/Lance Formation material. Better yet, get it from someone who digs there 5) Morphology - Educate yourself on the differences between T. rex, Carch, Spino, Daspletosaurus and other large theropod teeth. That way, you can immediately spot inconsistencies such as serrations or colors that does not match a T. rex tooth 6) Cross section - If all else fails, look at the cross section. If the tooth has red sandy matrix or sand, it is most likely not T. rex but is more likely from Morocco Here, I will show an example of a red T. rex tooth that superficially resembles the Carch tooth above. Take a look at the thickness and cross section though and you would quickly realize both teeth have very different morphologies Getting an authentic T. rex tooth isn't cheap, nor will it be easy. But it will be worth it in the end when you finally obtain one. Good luck in your hunt and always feel free to ask TFF if you are unsure of an upcoming purchase
  4. Hi all, please be careful whenever you purchase Chinese vertebrate fossils or dinosaur eggs, especially turtles and birds. While some of these may look laughably fake, a search on purchase history reveals that these fossils have been sold over and over again. No prize for guessing which auction site these fossils were sold. I notice three devious techniques used by these sellers: 1) Issuing a certificate, claiming it's been examined by experts etc - Certs mean nothing, unless they are provided by actual museums 2) Selling some real fossils - I've been monitoring this seller's listings for years. Every now and then, a real one shows up. His victims may have bought something genuine from him before, and assumed all his listings are good. 3) Selling replicas alongside his fake fossils - By outright proclaiming some of his listings as replicas, this seller creates the impression that he is a responsible seller who would inform people about the true nature of their purchases. "The best lies have an element of truth" Remember, if you aren't absolutely sure of your purchase, post some pics here on TFF. We have experts who would help you if they can. Also, if you need more info about this listings or the seller, feel free to PM me.
  5. Hi all, I am noticing an increasing number of sellers (especially those based in Asia) who advertise on Facebook, Instagram, WeChat and other social media instead of eBay. Unfortunately, many of them do not use Paypal. As you know, not every payment platform has buyer protection. To protect yourself, please carry out these checks: 1) Find out why the seller doesn't use Paypal. Is it for a legitimate reason? E.g. a Lebanese seller can't use Paypal as it's restricted there. Mainland China sellers apparently, CAN use Paypal, so take extra care if they refuse to use it. 2) Check the seller's track records. Ask friends and trusted collectors if any of them have ever made successful dealings with the seller. 3) Beware of similar photos on multiple platforms. Scammers sometimes create fake profiles that look just like a legitimate dealer, and steal their pictures as well. Perform background checks. Don't just assume that a dealer has multiple accounts, FIND OUT. Message him on his separate accounts (e.g. Facebook and eBay) and see if he notices. 4) Beware of non-Paypal platforms such as AliPay, WeChat and Western Union etc. There is little-to-no buyer protection on them. Don't send your money over unless you are absolutely sure of this deal. 5) Ask questions! Does the dealer know what shipping to use? Can the dealer take multiple photos of the fossil for you at specific angles you request? Is the dealer evasive with his answers? Is the deal too good to be true? There is no such thing as too much checking. 6) Be objective. It doesn't matter how friendly a dealer is. He could be the friendliest man on the planet, asking you about your family and work, laughing at your jokes, liking all your pictures. Most of the time, all they want is your money. Dealers who genuinely want to be your friend are rare gems, and worth holding on to. 7) Facebook mutual friends / Instagram followers doesn't matter. Scammers can make attractive accounts and add a thousand friends just to look trustworthy. I've seen a scammer FB account that shared over 100 mutual friends with me. 8) Does your credit card protect you? Assuming the dealer is sketchy, but you are somewhat sure of this deal, find out if your credit card/bank can protect you if this is a scam. Take note that AliPay doesn't work with many major credit cards. 9) If all else fails, demand Paypal. If the dealer genuinely wants business, and he operates in a country with Paypal, then it's in his best interest to use Paypal. Remember - great fossils appear every other day. Is this deal so special as to be worth the risk you're taking? Lastly, don't forget to post some pictures here at TFF; there are many experts here more than willing to share their expertise. Good luck!
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