question about buying beads/findings

Fire Mtn Gems was the first mail order I used for beading since San Diego has some good bead shops. I have found their service to be great, their prices good and competitive. I usually buy when I can buy lots of stuff to save on shipping. There were few things I did not buy because their lot sizes were just too big for me so I went elsewhere and was not as happy with the quality. They answer emails and confirm orders fast. Everything is nicely packaged and quickly received. I have been happy with them.

Their catalog has lots of nice examples of what you can do with their items. I have cut some of them out and placed them in my "dream" folders for future reference. Their web page is quite good too. Overall, I have been happy with them but I know some folks on this group would not agree with me.

I have the catalogs from Rio Grande and their stuff is quite nice, not sure on the prices but have not yet ordered from them yet. I had to pay $25 for the catalogs and am somewhat anxious to use the $25 "gift certificate" they give when they send the catalogs.

I think that Fire Mtn Gems has a bad selection for tools/pliers, etc. I wanted to buy something in between the cheapies and Lindstroms and they did not have it. I will try Rio Grande for those items I think.

Fire Mtn has a good selection of storage stuff too.

Good luck in your experiences with them.

Cathy in Sunny San Diego

I have been ordering from them and Rio Grande. I like FireMtn quite a bit. Very helpful over the phone and via email. I had been using them for over a year and have not had any problems. I use Rio Grande for more gold, gems. But i find FireMtn to be great for beads, silver, other findings.

I order from them a lot too. I have found them to be very helpful, and respond to my questions promptly. I feel the same about the pliers, etc. They do have great sales and specials on some gemstones, and beads too. I have bought from the for several years, and am never unhappy with the result. They also have assortable pricing, and so I can get discounts even if I buy several different things, instead of buying large amounts of the same thing.

When I want better prices on silver, and have a minimum of 100.00, sometimes I buy from Halsteadbead.com I also get good service from them.

Off topic, but curious. how much do you have to make to have enough items for a craft show? I have been thinking of trying, but just don't know how much to have, and of what. Saturday, I am going to help a friend man her booth at one, so I would have an idea of how it all works:) Cyndi

Cyndi,

I've not done a craft show yet. This will be my first. I have no idea how much to have on hand. As much as I can get done, I guess, between now and then. I also plan to have photographs of all my bigger, better pieces and sets, so if I sell out I can take orders for them. I hope you will either post here, or e-mail me privately to let me know how your experience at your friend's craft table works out. I'd be very interested to hear about your experience.

Jean

Well, as things worked out, I didn't end up doing the craft show. My husband had decided he needed to go to Dallas, Tx , and then, we didn't even end up going! He got an eye infection, and so we will probably go next weekend. But I am going to try to go to a few, and get a sense of how things go. Let me know about your experiences! I liked your email address, though:) Cyndi