I must agree with Two Sisters.  I am also a small business online bead store, (www.djbeads.com) and I know that if people want quality glass beads, gemstones, findings etc., that they will come to me. 

When doing a jewelry show I can spot a Wal Mart project a mile away.   Forgive me, but it's just like any other piece of junk you're going to get from China, (which seems to be what Wal Mart specializes in).

On an ethical note... the lead that has recently been found in jewelry components from Michaels and Wal Mart should be enough to send the average jewelry maker running.  I don't know about you, but I couldn't live with myself if a child got lead poisoning because they put mommy's necklace in their mouth!!

I think that 'Responsible' bead store owners pay attention to this and try not to carry those items.  I'm not saying it's always possible, a lot of times my distributors won't say where an item came from.  However, I've just gotten to the point that if it says 'China' on it anywhere, I just won't carry it.

My 2 cents worth.

Carrie

www.djbeads.com

 By US law, Carrie, your distributors MUST tell you where goods are made and should label them in such a way as the end user can tell the country of origin. It's true, I know, that many distributors don't follow that law and that they are rarely forced to do so. Most small stores don't follow that rule, either.

Rings & Things has made a point of listing coountry of origin for years, sometimes to the consternation of our customers. (Sleeping Beauty turquoise Heishi made in Vietnam? Yes, that's where the most of the value was added, when the US turquoise was rolled into heishi beads.) We even list it in our catalog and on line store.

We've found he quickest way to find the Country of origin is to ask the vendor , telling them that we are shipping some to Canada and need to list it properly on the commercial invoice.

Rings & Things even tests products for lead content and lists the CA classification  for the goods on our website. It's all part of being a responsible vendor.

Avoiding Chinese made goods really limits your products as many of the US findings manufacturers have gone out of business or have switched to other products. Gemstone beads are labor intensive and primarily come from India and China. But it is possible to get reasonable goods from Chinese suppliers - it just takes some extra effort.

That's my

I just joined and saw this so sorry it may be a little late for my reply. I have been stringing for about 1 year. In my area my options are Wal-Mart, Jo-Anns, and Hobby Lobby. Those are about 20 minutes away. If I go about 1 hour away I have these as well as a Michael's and a independent bead store.

Recently, Wal-Mart has changed their beads and supplies and I find that I do not buy as much there. Maybe it is because I am getting more experienced and most selective. But I feel that I can buy more for about the same money at Hobby Lobby, especially if I wait for the sales at Hobby Lobby or the coupon that is on-line. They have went to smaller quantity and high price. I don't think that the quality has increased.

I also bought some E beads and loved the color. Not realizing that the color was not permanent. Why would anyone want beads that the color is not permanent. Luckily, I noticed this as I was working on the piece and the color was on my hands. I cringe at the thought that I would not have realized it and someone would have had a blue ring around their neck or wrist. It was a learning experience so now I double check all the labeling to make sure it does not say "Color not permanent ".

I personally don't like to buy beads online unless I know specific size and color before I buy. I have a hard time seeing something on the internet and a size like 8X12mm and really knowing what that size is. That is probably my inexperience coming through though.

For me, I would like to find a shop where I could go in and buy beads by the ounce or pound. Kind of like when I go into the candy store, pick up a bag, and load in all my favorite Jelly Bellys for $3.99 a pound. That would be ideal! I don't know how well that would work but that is my thought!

>>I also bought some E beads and loved the color. Not realizing that the color was not permanent. Why would anyone want beads that the color is not permanent. <<

They're intended as "crafts" beads, not to be worn. Even Delicas come in "non-permanent" finishes-- and I've seen them used in very elaborate Japanese designs for items intended for short-term display. The reason for them-- sometimes the only way to have THAT color/finish is to use non-permanent dyes or finishes. Or at least, to have that color/finish at a price that people are willing to pay. Gold salts make some EXCELLENT red/purple colored glass, but few would be willing to pay for the necessary colorants. Uranium salts make a great yellow, and cadmium and cobalt give some great colors now seen almost exclusively in vintage beads, because of manufacturing safety issues....

>>I personally don't like to buy beads online unless I know specific size and color before I buy. I have a hard time seeing something on the internet and a size like 8X12mm and really knowing what that size is. That is probably my inexperience coming through though. <<

Get a "bead ruler"-- I think Rings n Things has one? There is also a chart in the Fire Mt Gems catalog-- pull out the page and laminate it or slip it in a sheet protector. Tape the ruler to your computer monitor frame/keep the sheet nearby. They show little round circles in various mm sizes, as well as having inch and cm/mm length measures. The FMG page also has ovals, and cab sizes/shapes.

>>For me, I would like to find a shop where I could go in and buy beads by the ounce or pound. Kind of like when I go into the candy store, pick up a bag, and load in all my favorite Jelly Bellys for $3.99 a pound. That would be ideal! I don't know how well that would work but that is my thought!<<

You can buy seed beads by the pound/kilo, and/or 1/2 and 1/4 pounds/kilos from various on-line dealers. Also, in you live near San Diego or San Francisco-- General Bead sells them that way as well as in "retail packs" (www.genbead.com -- they sell on-line/mail order, too). They even have the same Taiwanese beads you find at WalMart, etc. The Taiwanese "E" beads are "6/0" at General Bead-- real "E" beads are/were in their listing for Japanese beads... and last I heard, they were discontinuing that line. Last time I bought a bulk pack, I think it was about $7 for a half pound of the Taiwanese ones, about $12 for a half kilo of Japanese....

 This is an interesting question because as many times I've been to Walmart, the bead isle never ever crossed my mind. I never knew they even carried any beads. Personally I love online shopping. I know what I'm looking for & there are so many online companies that I trust that I know whatever I buy from them is top quality. I especially try to shop from companies that have either free or very low cost shipping, especially when you think about the cost of gas these days. I will shop at Michaels when there are 40% off coupons & what I usually buy from them is my beading wire & storage boxes. In a pinch I will pick up a pkg of ss findings if I really need them right away but the cost of supplies on line are so much more cost effective & the quality is uncomparable.

I do not buy beads in walt Mart, I prefer to go to an specialized bead shop and watch the beads, touch to feel the textured and check the size, also I check how does the bead look on light. I only do jewlery for myself but sometimes I sell it.

BeaderEnabler:

This caught my eye, being a Bead Store Owner. 

I'm not sorry for the tirade but I appreciate the forum to release my frustration.  My customers do know that if they want different, high quality and very reasonable prices, they come to me.  My store is 4 years old and fantastic.  Check it out... www.thebouncingbead.com

As if anyone cares but I wll put it out there anyway. LBS are so important to this trade. I finally (after 15 years) wrote out my mission statement. A day late and a dollar short LOL. In my mission I stated what my beliefs are around LBS if you would like to see it.

http://www.magpiegemstones.com/mission.html

The part about LBSs I cut and pasted below.

Local Bead Shops (LBS), in our opinion, are the life blood of this unique international community. They are the people passionate about the industry and where people learn the skills and get introduced to the trade. They also are the community gathering places for people interested in learning and keeping alive the skills of jewelry design. Because of this, LBS's within our local community receive their beads at the $5000 discount no matter how little they buy.

Szarka

I don't buy beads at WalMart any more because the quality is generally inferior. I'd rather pay more for decent beads any day at a show, LBS or online. I almost never go to WalMart now that I live in a major city and have more shopping options when I lived in a small town. When I do, I usually don't even bother with the bead aisle. Honestly, I flat dislike WalMart with all the cheap and potentially dangerous Chinese crap they sell. Just my 2 cents worth.

Walmarts around here are saying they will be doing away with the whole fabric/craft section. I don't get many beads at Walmart. They seem to keep the same ones all the time.

Therese

Well, I don't live in the US and have never been to a Wal-Mart, but as a seed beader I have to speak up. If you try to make a woven piece (loom or off-loom) with Indian seed beads, and base your beading experience on that, you probably won't be coming back for more... If you want to carry seed beads, go for the quality (Czech or Japanese), the price shouldn't be a huge issue. The "serious" beaders are hardly storming back to Wal-Mart, no matter what you do, but in any situation, good quality should be the first choice (even plastic products comes in different qualities!). It doesn't have to be freshwater pearls or gemstones, I'd rather buy good quality made of cheaper materials (like glass) than poor quality of expensive materials. Seed beads could be sold in relatively small quantities (like 10-20g), so the beginner or casual beader can buy more than one colour at once, or the more serious one can find the few extra beads they are missing. In Finland (and probably many other countries in Europe) craft stores, more or less specialized, often carry Gütermann's seed beads (of the Czech shape), they are not cheap compared to buying online, but they are at least of good quality. They also sell other shapes of glass beads, and are a good example of the power of branding. Well, since I live in the tiny Finland, I mostly shop online, the selection and prices are usually better. It's also a bit safer, since the "real" bead shops are really hard to exit empty handed ;D

One good rule: Know what you sell, and let the customer know it too! (Wal-Mart will most likely not come even close to the LBSs on this one, but I have a feeling, they're not even trying.)

Quite frankly, I am not sure higher end findings or nicer materials would fly in Wal-Mart for 1 main reason -its Wal-Mart. Its whole marketing target has been lower price. "Save monay, live better".. And after the whole "lead in everything" fiasco with products from China being tainted, I am not sure that anyone looking for quality pieces will look in WalMart for them.

I for one WANT to go and shop at my local bead store. I can TOUCH things, without plastic being between the bead and my finger. That's extremely important in a tactile hobby. Can Wal-Mart offer that, without fear of being robbed all the time?

I also want to go to my Local Bead Store because the selection range is incredible. Last time I looked in my local Walmart, there was 1/8 an aisle of pre-packaged cheap plastic stuff. Not what I am interested in at all. And I can ask a PERSON a question, and usually that person is a shop owner and knowledgeale about products. Jeez, you can barely find a person in Wal-Mart or Michael's or AC Moore's to ask a question to, and even if you find one, you will be lucky if they can actually answer it for you.

I liked the earlier post idea - the one about a separate, LBS only line of products. That might serve your purposes well because the perception is that if a product is available in a LBS, the quality will be better. I happen to live in an area where I have 8 really nice bead stores in a 30 mile radius -and if they don't have what I am loking for, then I get it online. But I RARELY if ever buy supplies at Michael's or AC Moore's, and I just don't buy beads at WalMart at all. All I have found at Walmart that I liked was this cool bead storage box.

jm2c

mdg

I love this thread!! I put my two cents in  a while back and am glad to see this tread is still generating responses.  Was just at Walmart the other day and the aisle IS getting smaller.

At least I can still get my fireline in the sporting gooods section!