Great Bead Selection, Great Prices and Much More: Fusion Beads Online Store
Written: Jun 30 '06
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My cousin has her own home-based bead jewelry business. She goes to fairs, flea markets, home shows and other events and sets up a stand with her best friend, and they peddle their bead jewelry. I knew about her business before I actually saw it. My boyfriend and I visited a flea market a few years ago and finally got to see her jewelry. Using Swarovski crystals and sterling silver beads, her jewelry really caught my eye. I purchased a few bracelets and a few pairs of earrings from her over the course of several months, dropping $100 in a very short time. I learned very quickly that if I wanted this type of jewelry without paying a very high price (my cousin doesn't give discounts to family members!), I would have to learn how to make this type of jewelry myself. I went online in search of Swarovski crystals, sterling silver beads and other jewelry components because my cousin told me that these items can be purchased online for less than brick and mortar stores. One of the best online stores I've come across so far is FusionBeads.com.
What This Online Store Offers:
FusionBeads.com offers everything you need to make bead jewelry and other beaded items. Some of the items they offer are: various shapes and sizes of Swarovski crystals and Swarovski pearls, glass beads, lampwork glass beads, cubic zirconia beads, handmade art beads, seed beads, semi-precious beads, sterling silver beads, pearls, natural beads, sterling silver findings, gold findings, buttons, plated findings, charms and chains. They also have a nice selection of books and tools.
Navigating the Site:
You are required to set up an account with FusionBeads.com in order to purchase from the site. Once you register at the site, you can just login by entering your email and password each time you return. However, you do not need to be logged in to your account if you want to add items to your online shopping cart. Once you start the checkout process, you will be asked to either login if you are a returning customer or register with the site if you are a new customer.
The home page for FusionBeads.com is pretty simple but has a professional look on a white background. Along the left side of the page is a listing of most of the items they offer.
The top of the home page lists several other options: Inspiration, which gives ideas for making new jewelry pieces and also offers the opportunity to purchase everything right then that is needed to make that piece. Beading Reference is like a beading encyclopedia. It explains jewelry components, tools, wire, lists birthstones and shows several different beading techniques. Color Ideas shows color ideas and also offers the opportunity to purchase items in a color scheme in one place. This is particularly helpful to those who are new to beading. Gift Ideas shows item available for purchase for the beading enthusiast or for anyone who likes handmade jewelry. New lists new items available for purchase on the site, and 50% Off lists items that are on sale for 50% off at the present time.
Shopping At FusionBeads.com:
Shopping at FusionBeads.com is easy. For example, if you are looking for 4 mm Swarovski crystal cube beads, you would first click on Swarovski Crystal Beads, which is clearly listed along the left side of the home page. That would take you to a page that shows and lists all of the Swarovski crystal beads they offer, listed by type, then by size. You would then click on the type and size you are looking for, then choose your color and quantity from there.
The selection at FusionBeads.com is really extensive. For example, I shop mainly for Swarovski crystal and silver beads. The selection of sizes, shapes and colors of Swarovski crystals is unmatched by any other site I've found online. In the Swarovski 4 mm bicone crystal bead, they offer well over 100 colors and finishes. This is a selection that you will simply not find in any craft store.
You will not see the "out of stock" note next to a whole lot of the items on this site, but I do see it on approximately 10% of the Swarovski crystals that I browse on the site. If I could take charge of one thing at FusionBeads.com, I would keep more items in stock. It's not fun when I go to the site wanting to order 50 beads in a certain color, only to find out that this item is not in stock.
Entering an item into your online shipping cart is simple. Once you find an item you like, just type in the quantity in the small white box to the right of the item's picture, then click on "Add". The site will add that quantity (as long as it is in stock) to your online shopping cart as long as that quantity is available. If you select a quantity that is more than the site has available for shipment, the site will let you add that quantity to your cart, but you will get an error message when you proceed to checkout. A message will pop up and tell you that you have selected a quantity that exceeds the quantity in the warehouse, and it lists the quantity that they do have in stock. You will then be taken back to your cart automatically and can adjust the quantity accordingly.
One thing to keep in mind is that a lot of the beads come in lots of 10, 20, 50, etc. For example, the Swarovski 4 mm crystal beads come in different quantity lots - the bicone shape come in lots of 50, and the 4mm cube shape come in lots of 10. So if you are looking to buy just one 6 mm Swarovski crystal bead on this site, you will not be able to. The quantities offered in the lots are reasonable, as the average bead bracelet takes quite a few smaller beads to make an average 7" or 8" bracelet. (Note: ArtBeads.com is a website that offers individual Swarovski crystal beads, if you are looking for smaller quantities.)
While you are shopping at FusionBeads.com, if an item is already out of stock, you will see that listed next to the item clearly. You will have the option to be emailed when the item is back in stock.
Once you are ready to complete your purchase and checkout, just follow the simple prompts. The checkout process is quick and easy and takes just a few minutes. Once your order is received by FusionBeads.com, you will receive an email summary of your order within a very short time.
Other Site Features:
If you are shopping at FusionBeads.com and come across items you want to purchase at a later date or want someone to purchase for you, you can add them to your wish list, which the site stores in your account for you. Someone visiting the site to view your wish list would be able to search for your wish list using your email address. You also have the option to keep your wish list private so that no one can see it but you.
The site lists two ways to contact customer service. You can reach them by phone during a six-hour timeframe on weekdays, or via email.
The FAQ area of the site lists answers questions to 30 commonly-asked product, site and order questions.
Prices:
The bead prices at FusionBeads.com are very competitive. As I stated earlier, I shop mainly for Swarovski crystals and silver beads and spacers. The price per bead and per spacer is a lot lower than any craft brick and mortar store I have visited, even during 50% off sales. The prices of beading books and tools are about average and are about the same as comparable items in craft stores.
Payment Methods:
FusionBeads.com accepts the following credit cards: Visa, Mastercard, Discover and American Express. They do not accept PayPal.
Packaging, Shipping and Receiving My Order:
Shipping on orders shipped to areas in the U.S. that are over $25 is free. Your items will be sent via USPS First Class mail. If your order totals less than $25, you will be charged a reasonable shipping charge, depending on the weight of the item. Today I tried a mock order for purposes of this review and ordered $21 worth of beads, and my shipping charge for USPS First Class mail was $1.95. Not bad. You also have the option of choosing other shipping methods (USPS Priority Mail, overnight, etc.) when ordering, but these are at an additional charge.
Shipping is lightning-fast at FusionBeads.com. The last time I ordered, I ordered on a Friday. Very soon after I placed my order, I got an email confirming my order, and within two hours after that email was received, I got another email stating that my order was shipped. I live in Ohio, and FusionBeads is in Washington state. When I got home from work on Monday, my order was in my mailbox. Now that is lightning-fast. I couldn't have been more pleased.
My order was neatly packaged in a well-sealed, padded envelope. Each small lot of beads and spacers was packaged in small, resealable ziploc-type bags with a laser-printed sticker on the outside that lists the item, color and/or finish and the quantity. My order was accurate, and there was a copy of my order included in the package. This order listing shows details of the order, but does not include your credit card number.
Final Thoughts:
Overall, FusionBeads.com is a wonderful site. The site is easy to navigate, it's easy to add items to the online cart, the selection is unrivaled, order accuracy is excellent and the shipping is very fast. I will continue to shop with FusionBeads.com and hope that the "out of stock" notice is one that I see a lot less from now on. I have not yet had to contact their customer service department for anything, but should I need to in the future, I will update this review to include my experience.
Recommended:
Yes
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About the Author
Member: Stacey
Location: Northeast Ohio
Reviews written: 1122
Trusted by: 491 members
About Me: Sick of my neighbors already, and they just moved in a few weeks ago.
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