Many people turn to online sources to buy wholesale or wholesale beads for their jewelry. This saves time, money and energy. However, before you order those beads online, whether it’s on a site like eBay or Etsy or in a wholesale store, you need to consider these 6 things.

Are they reputable?

There are a wide variety of online stores and twice as many vendors through sites like eBay and Etsy where you can buy beads for jewelry. However, not all are created equal. You will need to do some research before you spend your hard earned money with them. The investigation may include these things:

• Reading the reviews. Whether it’s an individual seller, auction site, online store, or wholesaler, you’ll need to see what other customers have said about them. This is one way to find out what their reputation is for providing quality and value along with any issues someone may have had with the company or product.
• Talk to other people who shop online. There’s an old customer service rule that says, if one person likes it, they’ll tell one or two people, if they hate it, they’ll tell ten. This is true. Talk to other people you know who buy their beads online. They will give you the good and the bad.

Do they carry the accounts you want?

If you are going to do several different pieces or designs, you will have to see if the store you are considering. You may want to develop a relationship with just one or two places or just order from anywhere that has the accounts you’re looking for.

If you choose to develop a relationship with just one or two, look at the selection of accounts they offer. Is it in line with the styles, colors, shapes and types you are looking for? In this case, there probably won’t be one store that has everything, but it’s imperative to look for those two or three stores that can fill a good chunk of your accounts for jewelry needs.

Are your prices reasonable?

I wouldn’t buy other products for a business without looking for the best prices, so why should it be any different for accounts? Look at prices and compare different sites. But, don’t just stick with the cheapest ones, go for the ones that have the best value in terms of service, delivery fees, and customer support as well.

Do they have the quantities you want?

Do they only carry large or small quantities? Look at the quantity that is needed for a minimum order. You may only want 20 of any given bead, but they require a 100 bead minimum order or they may not have enough of what you want. Please look at these terms as they will vary greatly when shopping for jewelry beads.

What are the delivery terms?

Is there a minimum amount before shipping is free? Do they ship to where you are? Do you have to pick them up at a store? All these things need to be considered before choosing the store.

Do you offer other supplies you need?

You may not want to have a huge list of providers. Seeing if the store or online vendor offers other supplies you need, such as string, clips, lace, or thread, will help narrow down that list.

Buying jewelry beads online is simple, but you’ll want to consider these 6 things before deciding which company to use.