Tag: beads

Finding an inexpensive source of beads can be difficult for those who enjoy making their own jewelry. There are many wholesale retailers on the internet that offer their products over the internet, which can maximize your purchasing power. However, in most cases you will probably have to order far more than you need and for those living in the US, you will have to obtain a license.
Sometimes you can avoid those issues by purchasing from an online auction site like eBay, but that can also present unforeseen problems as well.
Here are ten tips to get the most out of your money when buying beads online from auction sites.
*Stay Calm
Keep in mind what you are willing to pay so you don’t get caught up in a bidding war. The last thing you want is to pay far more than what it’s worth, so keep your cool and be willing to let it go when the price exceeds what you budgeted.
*Plan Appropriately
Before you bid, be sure to fully check out the product. Go over the picture, make sure the beads are what you are looking for and don’t assume what the sizes are, be sure to go over the information listed. If you were looking for a ready-made necklace, then a strand of beads doesn’t do you any good. And if you have any questions, ask the seller first.
*See through the Hype
Remember that the descriptions for the items are written to get your attention and build up the product, not necessarily to accurately describe what it is. Be aware of vague or incomplete descriptions like; “The picture speaks for itself.” or words like “unique”, since exquisite beads can be found in many places.
In many cases, the seller is not trying to deceive you, but they may not fully understand the meaning of some common terms like “antique”. By US Customs definition, an “antique” item is over 100 years old, not something that is 50 years old.
By spending a little time looking around, you may stumble across a truly unique item, but beware that you’ll have to look around quite a bit first, so be careful.
*Check all the Web Sites
When you find what you are looking for at an auction site, try looking at the website of the dealer itself. It could be that the dealer site may be running a special or can combine different items you are looking for and sell for a lower price.
In many cases, the seller will have several auction sites going with similar, if not identical items. Look at what those items are selling for and from that you’ll be able to make a rough, but educated guess as to what you might eventually pay.
*Check the Feedback
EBay has a feedback rating for each seller, based on what their customers think of the product and how quickly it was shipped after they paid. A seller with thousands of auctions under his or her …