Hi,

 I have a set of pearls that I bought at a craft show a few years ago. The seller strung them on wire with three crimp beads on either side. The clasp is magnetic and is pretty strongly so. Over time, with all the pulling on it, the wire let go from the crimp.

 I went to my local bead store and asked about re-stringing on silk with knots. I've never done anything like it before, and I was told that I could buy the silk, some bead tips and a new clasp and then re-string them at home. She advised that since they weren't her pearls, she didn't want me to restring them in her store at her available workspace.

I can understand that she wouldn't want people with bags of beads from Michaels to come into her store and work, but I did buy the components at her shop. I just would have liked the chance to learn how to do it properly from someone who knows how.

 Is this typical policy at bead stores?

Not at all! She just missed a great opportunity. You could have so much fun re-stringing these that you'd want to learn more, make more pieces and become a regular customer! The local stores near me love to help people (sometimes a small fee involved) and have them work in the store.

Because she helped you select the supplies you needed, she would know the finished product was made with your pearls.

I understand that a concern of LBS owners is that people claim they brought their own beads in, but may in fact be stealing. Often, you can show your beads to one of the store's employees before you begin any work so they can make a note of what you brought in with you, versus what you need to pay for at the end of a project that has come from store stock.

Wow, that seemed almost rude. The main reason I like going to my LBS is there is always people there willing to help you. Hopefully you have a selection of LBS to choose from, I would hate to have to be stuck with that one.

 Hi and thanks for both your replies. This LBS is one of the very few in my area (three total) and when I went back there to get some crimp covers I couldn't believe my ears when she said she won't carry them or even a crimp plier. Her reasoning: she didn't need them 10 or more years ago, so she doesn't need to now. Not only that, but she feels its a money-grabbing gimmick.

I really want to support local LBS, but I am starting to wonder!

What ridiculous reasoning!  She's really not being a smart businessperson here.  I might try to explain to her, tactfully, why crimp pliers and crimp covers are useful (for example bead tips are not appropriate for bracelets!), and if she still disagrees, I would probably not frequent the store as often.

 Listening to customer wishes and requests and learning about new techniques and products is one of the ways any business keeps up with changes. I think your store is missing out.

On the other hand, not allowing you to use there customer work space seems odd. If they have a space for that (not all stores do) and there was room at that work space is not a very friendly policy.  I don't know what problems the store may have with tool theft or other issues. There might be issues that have forced them to adopt such a policy. We just had a wall hanging in our showroom restroom vandalized by a customer who cut off all the Swarovski crystals from the hanging. A few things like that could make a store owner bitter.

Just my 

Ow Russ that sucks. I'm sorry.

I know of one bead store that had people come in with latte's often and one woman was stealing sterling beads in hers. Policy quickly changed.

When I sold jewelry full time I started to get bitter that rings would get stolen. I would be swamped with a gaggle of girls and pooof they would be gone.

I strated to get growly and then decided that my booth fee plus 5 rings was what I paid to get in a show so when the rings didn't disappear it was a good day <grin>.

Szarka