[kingrex]

Personally, I feel only 2 or 3 of the dealers from AF can be trusted. Amulets in Thailand became commercially made and sold which deprived the meaning of wearing amulets for protection or fortune. It became a business trading for dealings in thailand. US and some other countries became interested in collection,which could go up to few hundred thousand bhats. Stories of Pitha protecting a person from bullets, a somdej protecting another from bus collision, all badly injured and only he got from out unscratch. All these are myths, to protect yourself, one must have full faith and practise good karma. No use wearing 3 or 5, some even 9 amulets on one's body. You never go against the 5 precepts, why you need so many amulets on your body.

As for the "fake" amulets, fake with fake price, real with high price? I don't believe in paying a rididulous high price for a real piece. I don't think that's the way in Buddhism. Must distinguish yourself as amulet believer (which is the teacher, an arjan or highly ordained monk) or an amulet collector.