I've changed my mind about Chinese bead vendors

Hi all,

Hey do you remember that discussion thread when Robin (Littlebird) was talking about the great deals she got from bead sellers on eBay that are located in China?  I remember I replied that I was leary of shopping from certain countries overseas, but she said she had great experiences with them. 

Well, after the great deals on fabulous gemstones I got at the bead show last month, I think I've changed my mind.  I do my best to buy American, but after a conversation I had with Deb at AZ Bead Depot (BD member) it seems that nearly all beads except Arizona turquoise are processed in China these days.  If you ever shop for gemstones at FMG, you'll notice that most gemstone bead packets have a little sticker on them  that's "Made in China", although they now have a new line that's "Made in India".

Well, shortly after the bead show last month, I bought some 15x20mm rhodochrosite beads from a Chinese seller on eBay that were $10 a strand.  Most of you know how expensive rhodochrosite can be.  There was nothing wrong with the stones I got and they had great banding.

So now I'm beginning to shop with some of the eBay sellers located in China.  Many of them have nearly perfect feedback, and some of them even offer free shipping!  Their prices on some of their gemstones really can't be beat. 

I think you're right Sherri, China has a long history of working with stone, they are about the best stone cutters in the world and have been for a long time.  I think they have better stone beads for sale than many in the USA because for many of them it hasn't gone through a middleman first...they can afford to sell the better ones at lower prices.  I'm not sure of that but I think so.  Last January and February I bought some from China and was very pleased.  Still I'd be careful of the shipping charges and of course the reputation of the seller... 

On the other hand, there are many individual artists like David who do their own work which is truly excellent and one of a kind....you can't often find that kind of thing from China...

Pam

Pam:

I think they have better stone beads for sale than many in the USA because for many of them it hasn't gone through a middleman first...they can afford to sell the better ones at lower prices.  I'm not sure of that but I think so. 

Pam I would be inclined to agree with you on this.  The middleman has to make a profit too, and if you buy directly from the Chinese vendors, it cuts the price. 

It just amazes me that so many of the Chinese vendors on eBay are willing to ship for free.  I don't know how they make any money after paying their eBay fees and such, but so far, I think I'm a convert.

Pam:

On the other hand, there are many individual artists like David who do their own work which is truly excellent and one of a kind....you can't often find that kind of thing from China...

 I agree with this also!  I always love to buy directly from American artists - I think that's one reason why I like buying directly from lampwork artists.  There's nothing better for our struggling economy than buying from our own people!  Buying lampwork from American SRA (Self-Representing Artists) artists is so much more gratifying to me than buying Chinese lampwork, which for all I know is factory-made.

But gemstones?  I repeat that I think I'm a convert and am more willing to buy directly from China.

Sherri, I have so many stone beads it's almost embarrasing so I'm not looking right now, but when I do I'm definitely going to be looking at Chinese sellers too.  As for the Chinese lampwork, some of it is pretty good at hard to turn down prices, but it still doesn't hold a candle to the one of a kind work by local artists.  You and I are in agreement on all of this. 

Pam

ps  Seen any moose lately? 

Pam:

ps  Seen any moose lately? 

 AAAH ha ha ha, I just about spewed coffee out my nose.

Pam:

ps  Seen any moose lately? 

 No moose, but over the last few days I've seen two mule deer does with tiny baby fawns with spots!  They are SO CUTE!  I wasn't able to get a picture, but as soon as I am able to, I'll take one.  Maybe they'll come out again this evening.

Back to beads........while I was camping, I made an angelskin coral and clear Swarovski AB necklace that I just love (will post pics when laptop is fixed).  I bought the 5x8mm coral beads in late June, and after I made the necklace I knew I HAD to buy more of the angelskin coral - it was only $4.50 a strand!  When I got back from camping, someone had bought all of the coral that the seller had left! 

I found a Chinese seller on eBay this morning that has similar coral beads that are slightly larger for $5.65 a strand.  I bought 3 strands.  Angelskin coral.....its such a beautiful color!  I much prefer it to the dyed dark red coral that abounds. 

Sherri S.:

Angelskin coral.....its such a beautiful color!  I much prefer it to the dyed dark red coral that abounds.

I do hope that is harvested ecologically, not by destroying living coral.  I am not a tree hugger / tree spiker / etc.  It's that there is so much dead, harvestable coral, with more dying all the time, mostly by 'carelessness/don't care', than naturally, by old age.