My new LBS, or, Did I get ripped off?

No, really, you can tell me the truth (I know you will ;o)

I headed out to my *new* LBS on Monday. New area, new beadstore, whole new
freaking ballgame *sigh* It was a huge store, with a lot of shoppers, but
it's not laid out very well, and I think I probably spent three hours in
there, trying to find what I was looking for (which, of course, was nothing
in particular.....). I came out sixty bucks lighter, and mentally
exhausted.

I should have been tipped off when I found out that they don't give quantity
discounts on Swarovski ("Yeah, you can buy a gross, but the price will be
the same as buying singly.") I bought 50 4mm bicones (10-15 of 4 different
colors), paying $0.15-0.20 a piece. I didn't buy any gemstones, because I
*knew* they were all priced too high. I would never pay $30+ for a strand
of medium-small rose quartz rounds (hmph!).

Anyway, long story short, I have major buyer's remorse from this place. I
love all the things I bought, but looking back, I think the prices were WAY
too high. I dug out an old reciept from my old LBS in Los Angeles, and they
only charged $0.08 for 4mm bicones. So, were those old LBS prices really
good, or are the new ones just really bad??

In any case, I should've know. Any LBS that can run multiple adds
consistently in all the big magazines must have high retail prices, huh? I
probably wouldn't have bought anything, but my kids were being monsters in
that store, and the two women working were really nice about it (tho I could
tell they were annoyed, LOL...*I* certainly was ;o)

Kinda related, I noticed an add in one of the magazines for a place called
Beyond Beadery, which sells Swarovski mixes (100 4mm bicones for roughly
$13). I'm interested in this, because I never have enough crystals when I
need them ;o) Can anyone give me any feedback about that company, or the
prices?

Thanks! )

--
Kyla

That's one of the Beckys! (spelling optional, I think it's Beki). They're
outstanding!!!!!

KarenK

Kinda related, I noticed an add in one of the magazines for a place called
Beyond Beadery, which sells Swarovski mixes (100 4mm bicones for roughly
$13). I'm interested in this, because I never have enough crystals when I
need them ;o) Can anyone give me any feedback about that company, or the
prices?

Thanks! )

--
Kyla

Well, I pay $5.41/100 wholesale for 4mm swarovski (no special finishes)
at Halsteads. So I would say that .10/each is a reasonable retail
price. .15 isn't awful. .20 is a bit steep.

I also buy from Michelle Eilts (since she lives just down the street
from me :-) She has moved all her crystals to her ebay store -
melampworks. Not quite wholesale, but still good prices, and can't beat
the convenience factor. :-)

Karin

Kyla wrote:

No, really, you can tell me the truth (I know you will ;o)

I headed out to my *new* LBS on Monday. New area, new beadstore, whole new
freaking ballgame *sigh* It was a huge store, with a lot of shoppers, but
it's not laid out very well, and I think I probably spent three hours in
there, trying to find what I was looking for (which, of course, was nothing
in particular.....). I came out sixty bucks lighter, and mentally
exhausted.

I should have been tipped off when I found out that they don't give quantity
discounts on Swarovski ("Yeah, you can buy a gross, but the price will be
the same as buying singly.") I bought 50 4mm bicones (10-15 of 4 different
colors), paying $0.15-0.20 a piece. I didn't buy any gemstones, because I
*knew* they were all priced too high. I would never pay $30+ for a strand
of medium-small rose quartz rounds (hmph!).

Anyway, long story short, I have major buyer's remorse from this place. I
love all the things I bought, but looking back, I think the prices were WAY
too high. I dug out an old reciept from my old LBS in Los Angeles, and they
only charged $0.08 for 4mm bicones. So, were those old LBS prices really
good, or are the new ones just really bad??

In any case, I should've know. Any LBS that can run multiple adds
consistently in all the big magazines must have high retail prices, huh? I
probably wouldn't have bought anything, but my kids were being monsters in
that store, and the two women working were really nice about it (tho I could
tell they were annoyed, LOL...*I* certainly was ;o)

Kinda related, I noticed an add in one of the magazines for a place called
Beyond Beadery, which sells Swarovski mixes (100 4mm bicones for roughly
$13). I'm interested in this, because I never have enough crystals when I
need them ;o) Can anyone give me any feedback about that company, or the
prices?

Thanks! )

--
Kyla

I just purchased my very first s. crystals, from Letrinka, thru e-bay. She
charged me about .08 each for (50) 4mm bicones, no special finishes. (which
works out to 3.99 for 50) I did a lot of researching for the best prices, and
that's where I ended up. I also paid no shipping, so yeah, I'd say you got
taken, Kyla. I'm sorry. I know how hard it is to focus when you have kids
with you. The two times I have been inside a BS, I had my kids with me, and I
know I didn't get exactly what I wanted for what I paid.

~Candace~

(re-read my message) sob yeah, only two times inside an actual bead store,
not counting the one or two times Before I knew what to do with them. sob

~Candace~

I pay that at my LBS. Which is why I prefer to buy on line, or try to buy
when I'm Outside. I think that's fairly standard pricing for a specialty
shop, and I think it's outrageous.

Tina


"Kyla" wrote in message
news:YoMqc.21810$65.8453@lakeread06...
No, really, you can tell me the truth (I know you will ;o)

I headed out to my *new* LBS on Monday. New area, new beadstore, whole
new
freaking ballgame *sigh* It was a huge store, with a lot of shoppers, but
it's not laid out very well, and I think I probably spent three hours in
there, trying to find what I was looking for (which, of course, was
nothing
in particular.....). I came out sixty bucks lighter, and mentally
exhausted.

I should have been tipped off when I found out that they don't give
quantity
discounts on Swarovski ("Yeah, you can buy a gross, but the price will be
the same as buying singly.") I bought 50 4mm bicones (10-15 of 4
different
colors), paying $0.15-0.20 a piece. I didn't buy any gemstones, because I
*knew* they were all priced too high. I would never pay $30+ for a strand
of medium-small rose quartz rounds (hmph!).

Anyway, long story short, I have major buyer's remorse from this place. I
love all the things I bought, but looking back, I think the prices were
WAY
too high. I dug out an old reciept from my old LBS in Los Angeles, and
they
only charged $0.08 for 4mm bicones. So, were those old LBS prices really
good, or are the new ones just really bad??

In any case, I should've know. Any LBS that can run multiple adds
consistently in all the big magazines must have high retail prices, huh?
I
probably wouldn't have bought anything, but my kids were being monsters in
that store, and the two women working were really nice about it (tho I
could
tell they were annoyed, LOL...*I* certainly was ;o)

Kinda related, I noticed an add in one of the magazines for a place called
Beyond Beadery, which sells Swarovski mixes (100 4mm bicones for roughly
$13). I'm interested in this, because I never have enough crystals when I
need them ;o) Can anyone give me any feedback about that company, or the
prices?

Thanks! )

--
Kyla

Yes. Beyond Beadery is owned by a GOOD person. Feel confident in buying from
her.


Becki
"In between the moon and you, the angels have a better view of the crumbling
difference between wrong and right." -- Counting Crows

You really do need to tell us the name of this store. Some of us may have
shopped there before, and we can perhaps tell you our experiences too.

I headed out to my *new* LBS on Monday. New area, new beadstore, whole new
freaking ballgame *sigh* It was a huge store, with a lot of shoppers, but
it's not laid out very well, and I think I probably spent three hours in
there, trying to find what I was looking for (which, of course, was nothing
in particular.....). I came out sixty bucks lighter, and mentally
exhausted.
~~snipped~~
~~
Sooz
-------
"Those in the cheaper seats clap. The rest of you rattle your jewelry." John
Lennon (1940 - 1980) Royal Varieties Performance
~ Dr. Sooz's Bead Links
http://airandearth.netfirms.com/soozlinkslist.html

I just purchased my very first s. crystals, from Letrinka, thru e-bay.

Letrinka, Letrinka! All sing praises of Letrinka!
Crystals Xpress eBay Store
http://www.stores.ebay.com/id=208059&ssPageName=L2
~~
Sooz
-------
"Those in the cheaper seats clap. The rest of you rattle your jewelry." John
Lennon (1940 - 1980) Royal Varieties Performance
~ Dr. Sooz's Bead Links
http://airandearth.netfirms.com/soozlinkslist.html

Kinda related, I noticed an add in one of the magazines for a place called
Beyond Beadery, which sells Swarovski mixes (100 4mm bicones for roughly
$13). I'm interested in this, because I never have enough crystals when I
need them ;o) Can anyone give me any feedback about that company, or the
prices?

Thanks! )

I've bought from Beyond Beadery at shows, havent tried them mail order
though. They are lovely, very friendly and will give an extra discount
if you buy more than $200 of crystal. They have a nice website and do a
huge range of colours and shapes.

Letrinka (crystalsxpress) on ebay is also excellent. I got my first
order recently and it arrived in 4 days which from US to UK is
exceptionally fast. Her prices are really good as well and she sells in
50s which is nice if you arent sure you want so many of one color.

:-)
--
ally
website: www.alcom.demon.co.uk