How small is that Bead – Size Matters

December 11, 2012 at 2:21 pm | Beads, bluestreak beads, General & Admin

Here at Bluestreak Beads we sell over 4000 different beads and findings to our lovely customers. Most of the people who buy our crystal sparkly things are experienced jewellery makers and know exactly what they are looking for.  But everyone has to start somewhere and understanding size is one of the areas with which aspiring beaders have the most problems. It is not unusual to have items returned to us because they are smaller than the purchaser realised.  Added to that many of our more senior “silver surfer”  buyers do not work in millimetres and are unable to imagine for example the size of a little bead described as “round sterling silver spacer bead 2mm“.

The problems for us are that we can’t list the imperial measurement for everything and most beads are shown larger than life size on a website, the medium through which we sell.  So for bead newbies we suggest that you get hold of a collection of odd beads, measure them and glue or wire them on to a piece of card with the sizes written underneath until you have grasped the subtle differences between the sizes. Or just draw some circles of different sizes on a piece of paper and keep it handy when popping new beads in your online shopping basket.

In the old days when we sold our beads through a catalogue they were always depicted life size, but that just doesn’t work on a computer screen, and so we created a new and common complaint “The beads I have bought are not the right size”.

Of course we will always take back any product that you bought from us and try to find  exactly the bead you need for the job in hand.

You can buy a bead gauge to help with measuring or simply use a ruler.

New Website for Bluestreak Beads

April 22, 2012 at 8:40 am | bluestreak beads, General & Admin

Thanks to everyone who is trying out our shiny new website! It has a few new features for you, carries all of our 4,000 beady items and is just a week old. We haven’t launched it with a massive fanfare as glitches are inevitable and we want them ironed out before we shout about it too loudly. You can now create an account, this will enable you to look back at all your bead orders from now on.

In your account you can make a wishlist where you can save beads and findings that you might like to buy to in the future. Remember to subscribe to teh Newsletter to get all the news of fresh beads on the site, offers and competitions.

I will be adding lots of new beads over the next couple of weeks, there is a bit of a beady log jam as a result of the new site coming on stream.

Ordering Information & Postage Charges

March 6, 2010 at 3:36 pm | General & Admin

Delivery is now free on all orders over £40 in value.  For orders below  this value the cost is a modest £1.75. Special delivery will cost you £5.50 and will ensure that your beads are sent on the day you order them as long as you get your order in before 1pm.

Help!…How can I get my beads during the postal strike?

October 20, 2009 at 1:53 pm | bluestreak beads, General & Admin

….is the question many of our customers are asking.  Do not panic, we are now offering FREE courier delivery to all customers spending over £150.  We are also subsidising the price for customers spending smaller amounts. This is available during the postal strike periods.

Couriers are not as cheap as the royal mail but the price isn’t too painful with us helping you out with it..

here is the deal

For orders up to £75 cost is just £4.99

For orders up to £150 cost is just £3.99

I am really sorry but Highland and Island deliveries cost more (don’t they always) please call us and we will give you a subsidised price.   Cathie 01223 511662

Postal Strikes ~ Courier service now available

September 17, 2009 at 11:40 am | General & Admin

While we are not having too much trouble with the post, we want to make sure that everyone gets their lovely beads for jewellery making projects on time.  We are therefore  providing courier service as an option for your delivery, so if you need something urgently you may consider choosing it as an alternative.   We are subsidising the cost to help you out and so the charge for  most of mainland Britain is a very reasonable £6.99.  Orders need to be in by 11am to get collected on the same day.

Sadly Highlands & Islands, Northern Islands and The channel Islands cost more. Do call us if you have any queries about delivery, the number is 0845 6430713 (local rate call)  Cathie