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Variations by mail order ??

pugdog
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Feb 22, 2003, 12:30 PM

Post #1 of 4 (1718 views)
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Variations by mail order ??	Can't Post

Speaking of Firemountain (last message I wrote), on p 138 of their current catalog supplement, they have some gemstone strands for sale. What caught my eye was the variation in the crysoprase beads... from so what, to dynamite. That seems to be a "big" risk in mail order.

Same for the "scarabs" they have on the bottom of the page. Sold by the strand, you can get large tiger eye scarabs, or tiny snoflake obsidian ones... the range is awesome -- and like spinning the lottery.

How many people buy by mail order?

Do you prefer to see what you are getting, and wait for shows or photos of the exact strands?

Does the variation in the strands affect your decision to use it?
PUGDOG's Rock & Bead Shop
Pittsburgh, PA 15217

Sewhaha
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Mar 11, 2003, 7:42 AM

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Re: [pugdog] Variations by mail order ?? [In reply to]	Can't Post

Always by mail order - have found that it is best to call directly to the company and make a request - seems as if people are willing to work with you....I have had several small disasters when buying random variations...but it can also foster creativity or add a trip to the post office.

Celticlady
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Nov 16, 2003, 9:46 AM

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Re: Variations by mail order ?? [In reply to]	Can't Post

I'm new to stone beads, and although I've seen some that I like in bead magazines, I've never found out what stones they are, so I've not been able to buy any... I've had to settle for random strands, which isn't bad since you don't know what your getting, that can make the mail order like christmas when you get it. I have mail ordered most of what I have, since the local bead store doesn't supply what I want Unsure

I'm hoping to go to a bead show this coming weekend so I can have a look at a whole lot of vendors in one place and hopefully learn a lot (and I hope get a lot of beads while I'm there! Sly

)

Mail order is ok, but some times you bypass something nice because the picture doesn't do it justice.

Odette

pugdog
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Nov 20, 2003, 4:28 PM

Post #4 of 4 (1657 views)
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Re: [Celticlady] Variations by mail order ?? [In reply to]	Can't Post

Well, maybe we can let you know what they are -- if you have the issue.

Mail order is risky. Ebay is buyer beware. Some people do well, others do very badly, and some lose their shorts (both buyers and sellers -- have _seen_ the listing fees???)

I'm actually working on software that encompasses the best of the auction experience, and less of the negative (like sniping -- personally I hate it. I do it, because I have to, but I hate it.).

Bead, gem and mineral shows, etc are a good place to find stones. You at least see what you are getting, and if you like the stones, the price (high or low) shouldn't matter too much. Sure, you get more experience as you go along, but still, often, your first buys are your most favorite.

What area are you in?
PUGDOG's Rock & Bead Shop
Pittsburgh, PA 15217

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