[Kam Hoi Shing Buyback Case] Mr. Kwok of Ho Man Tin Sells Top-Grade Japanese Oma Dried Abalone

Hello everyone, I am Kam Hoi Shing. Having been in the dried seafood buyback business for years, I have seen countless rare and expensive seafood items. Behind every buyback, there is actually a story. Today, I want to share with you a real case we recently handled, showing how we helped a client turn idle top-quality dried abalone at home into real cash.

Buyer Background and Reason for Sale

Client Information: Mr. Kwok, 65 years old, retired trader, residing in Ho Man Tin. Reason for Sale: Changes in eating and drinking habits and the younger generation not knowing how to cook.

Last week, Mr. Kwok contacted us Kam Hoi Shing via WhatsApp. Mr. Kwok had previously done business, often had to entertain customers, and personally loved tasting and collecting top-quality dried seafood. But recently, after a medical check-up, his doctor advised him to have a lighter diet, paying attention to cholesterol and uric acid. Moreover, his children are already very busy with work and have no time or interest to learn the complicated skills of preparing abalone.

"Keeping them in the fridge and the safe, I can't eat them myself, and the youngsters find them troublesome and don't know how to handle them. It's really a waste of such fine things. Why not find someone who knows their value to take them?" Mr. Kwok told me this over the phone.

On-site Assessment: The Table Full of Treasures

After preliminary communication, we scheduled a time to visit Mr. Kwok and inspect his collection. The moment we opened Mr. Kwok's treasure box, it truly amazed me (everyone can refer to the actual photos we took above).

A large batch of dried abalone was spread across the entire table, emitting a strong abalone aroma. I picked up four of them to examine carefully in my palm, and the four abalones almost filled my whole palm! This batch is extremely top-quality.Japanese Oma dried abaloneOma dried abalone is relatively thin and boat-shaped, with unique threading hole marks at the edges. These features are clearly visible in Mr. Kwok's batch.

We do not suppress an offer after only a cursory glance. We check each abalone's dryness, smell for off odours, and use a strong light to inspect the translucency of its "soft centre." Mr. Kwok's batch was exceptionally well preserved, with deep colour and a natural surface bloom—traits sought in the market. After a professional assessment, we made an offer near the upper end of the current market range. Mr. Kwok considered it fair and accepted on the spot, and we arranged an immediate transfer. The process was straightforward and efficient.

Product Evaluation and Market Trend Analysis

To help everyone better understand the value of this top-grade seafood, we compiled a simple evaluation report:

Learn more about dried abalone buyback

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dried abalone head count Q&A

Q: Among the three famous Japanese abalones, which has the highest buyback price?
A: Amidori dried abalone (Yoshihama, Aomori Prefecture) has the highest buyback price because its fibers are fine, the sugar core is prominent, and the yield is extremely low; then comes Kippin dried abalone (Iwate Prefecture), which circulates the fastest in the market and sells most easily; Oma dried abalone (Aomori Prefecture) is smaller in size but has fine fibers and stable market conditions.

Q: How is the head count of abalone calculated?
A: Formula: 600 grams ÷ the weight of one abalone in grams = head count. For example, one 60-gram abalone is 10 heads. The smaller the head count, the larger the abalone, and the higher the unit price. The industry saying "A pair of abalones are priceless" refers to this.

Q: How much is the buyback price difference between South African abalone and Japanese abalone?
A: The difference is usually 5–10 times. The three famous Japanese abalones are collectible/investment grade, while South African abalones are mass-market grade. However, there is a buyback market for South African abalone, mainly used for business banquets and dining.

Q: Is abalone still valuable if it has worm damage?
A: It depends on the severity. Slight edge worm damage still has a buyback price, but the unit price will be reduced by 20–35%. Severe internal worm damage is more difficult to salvage. It is recommended to contact us for appraisal as soon as possible.

Q: How to distinguish if an abalone has a "sugar core"?
Answer: Shine a phone torch from the bottom upwards. A good dried abalone will display an amber semi-transparent color, clear fibers, and a central part with a slightly semi-liquid texture (soft center). If there are cloudy shadows in the middle, the trade calls it a 'flower heart,' indicating it is not fully dried and has started to mold, which will drastically reduce the buyback price.

Question: How long do I need to wait for an on-site appraisal?
Answer: Within the 18 districts of Hong Kong, Kowloon, and the New Territories, a master can be arranged for on-site inspection within 24 hours. Central, Wan Chai, and core areas of Kowloon can arrange same-day visits.

Key points for photos before selling dried abalone

Before a dried abalone appraisal, you can first take clear photos of the head count, shape, edges, dryness, and packaging source; a preliminary evaluation via WhatsApp can give an idea of the approximate buyback direction.

Kam Hoi Shing dried seafood buyback
WhatsApp:(852) 69035182
We value privacy and safety, and the appraisal, quotation, and handover process will all be clearly explained.