• What is Beadworks Online return policy?

Please go to Returns

• How long will my order take to be shipped?

We usually ship orders within 4 days of receiving them, although this may be slightly longer during holiday periods. Orders containing semi-precious items may take one or two days longer.

• How long does delivery take?

Within the U.K.
Delivery is usually made during the working day following the day of despatch. However, to the remoter areas of the U.K., delivery may take place on the second working day after the day of despatch. This affects addresses in Northern Ireland, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, Scilly Isles, BFPO and the Scottish Highlands and Islands.

Continental Europe & Eire
Delivery is generally made on the third to fifth working day after the day of despatch. Delivery to European islands takes 1 or 2 working days longer. Parcels to non-E.U. countries may involve delays at local Customs.

Rest of the World
Generally delivery is made the between the seventh and the tenth working day after the day of despatch. The actual time will depend on the geographical location and the local Customs.

All Customers – N.B. InterLink and other carriers generally do not deliver on Saturdays or Sundays. However, some carriers do have a Saturday delivery service, for an additional fee, but you must opt for this service when you place your order. Also, most carriers require a signature upon delivery of consignments. Therefore, to avoid delays, it is essential that you arrange for someone to be available to take delivery of the consignment at the expected time, and to sign for it. If the carrier is unable to deliver, you may be required to travel to the local depot for collection in person. If you require a faster, or different, delivery service than our standard methods, please say so with your order (in Customer’s Comments). This may be more expensive than normal methods.

• How much will shipping and handling cost?

Costs depend on three factors - destination, weight and speed. We always try to use the most economical service to deliver within the times mentioned above. Please go to Shipping Chart to see the normal charges for different destinations and weights.

In the case of destinations beyond the U.K., the costs quoted are provisional. In the likely event that this provisional amount is higher than the actual costs, we will charge the lower amount. If the provisional amount is lower than the actual cost, we will notify you prior to despatch, so that you may opt for a cheaper service.

• How can I become a Wholesale customer?

Beadworks wholesales to the trade only, that is, only to bona fide re-sellers of beads and/or beaded products.
We are direct importers from the Czech Republic and other European countries, Japan, China, India, U.S.A. and many other sources. Many of our designs are exclusive to Beadworks.
We welcome enquiries for wholesale quantities from trade buyers These quantities are in general at least twice the quantities shown in the Retail Discount column of our catalogue price list.

For wholesale price information, please send us (by fax or post, NOT by email) copies of documents which indicate that you are a manufacturer, or a retailer (or other re-seller) of beads and/or beaded products. Such documents include sales brochures, advertising materials, VAT registration certificate etc.

FAX to: (44) (0) 20 8478 6248 or
POST to: Beadworks, 16 Redbridge Enterprise Centre, Thompson Close, Ilford IG1 1TY, Essex, U.K.

Once your wholesale account has been set up, you will have online access to wholesale prices and quantities. You will then be able to order in retail and/or wholesale quantities.
Not every online product is available for wholesale, for example Books.
It is not possible to make wholesale purchases from the Bead Shop, Covent Garden. However, see below for collecting online orders from the Bead Shop.
We are experienced in supplying manufacturers of jewellery, clothing and accessories, retail stores, theatrical costumiers and set designers, as well as special beads for corporate or organizational promotion.
For further wholesale information, please contact us by telephone (44) 20 8553 3240 weekdays 9.00am to 5pm London Time, or by email

We do not accept orders by telephone, nor personal visitors.

MERCHANDISE

• What happens if I order an item which is out of stock?

Please re-order it at a later date. We do not back order unless requested
Generally, if we are out of stock of an item at the time of your order, the item will be flagged as out of stock and you will be unable to order it. If this happens, you should browse for a suitable alternative. Despite this precaution, we may go out of stock of your ordered item between the time of your order and the time it is processed.
We make every attempt to remain in stock of all our products, but the nature of bead production and sourcing causes occasional shortages. We will ship partial orders unless you instruct us otherwise.

• Are all your products available at the Bead Shop, Covent Garden

Virtually all products which are available online are also available to personal shoppers to the Bead Shop (but not in wholesale quantities). However, there are some exceptions to this. To make space for new products, other products have to be discontinued in the Bead Shop, while still continuing for online customers.

• Why are some Bead Shop products not available online?

Some Bead Shop products are not available online. There are a number of reasons for this. For example, new products are generally first tested in the Bead Shop before being added to our online range. This process may take several months. Or, the Bead Shop may have made an opportunist purchase of items with limited availability at a special price. This is especially true of some semi-precious beads. It is thus always worth paying a personal visit to the Bead Shop to see different products.

COLLECTION OF ORDERS

• Can I collect my order?

By prior arrangement orders may be collected, but only from the Bead Shop, Covent Garden (not from Ilford). For retail orders there is a handling charge of 5% for this service, but no shipping charge. Please allow at least seven days notice. There is no charge for collecting wholesale orders from the Bead Shop, but they must be paid for in advance..

PRICES

• Why is the invoiced price different to the price at which I ordered?

The prices prevailing at the time of the invoice are those which are charged on your invoice. Prices may change, upwards or downwards, between the time you order and the time we invoice. This might be because of exchange rate differences, supplier's price changes or, in the case of sterling items, the world price of silver. We will notify you in advance if the price increase is more than 10%, when you may cancel your order without penalty, should you so choose.

• Do you add Value Added Tax to my order?

All our prices are exclusive of VAT. We add VAT to all orders except those which are sent either to (i) addresses outside the E.U. or (ii) customers within the E.U. (except the U.K.) who have a valid local VAT number. There is no VAT on books or catalogues.

Note: We are obliged by law to levy VAT on the shipping charge, except on orders sent to addresses in (i) and (ii) above.

• Is there a discount for large orders or for large quantities?

There is no extra discount available for retail customers. Wholesale prices may be subject to further discount by special arrangement.

• Why are some prices different to those in the Bead Shop?

Generally, the respective prices are either identical or else only slightly different. There are three main reasons for wider differences. First, the multiplicity of products and the loose bead display format in the Bead Shop require that its pricing should be much more simplified than the rather precise online price structure. There is thus a good deal of rounding up and down of Bead Shop prices, while online prices can be more precise. Much of this is attributable to the fact that VAT is included in all Bead Shop prices (where applicable), while online prices are before VAT. Second, price changes are not always made at the same time in the two locations. Third, the prices of items to be discontinued in the Bead Shop are discounted (while stocks there last); online prices will not be affected, if the items are to continue indefinitely to online customers.

PAYMENT

• What forms of payment do you accept?

We accept Visa, MasterCard, Solo, Delta & Maestro. For authorised wholesale business customers, we also accept cheques drawn in sterling on any U.K. branch of any bank. We no longer accept personal cheques for online orders.

Note: Wholesale customers overseas may pay by wire transfer, but only by prior arrangement. All bank costs are for the customer’s account.

• Can I open a credit account?

Except for some wholesale customers, all retail and wholesale orders are to be paid for at the time of despatch.

• How do I Claim for Damage or Loss in Transit?

All shipments are insured, except for small value orders (£25 or less) sent by regular post, which are at the customer’s risk, unless insurance has been requested at the time of order.

Claims for loss in transit and/or non-arrival must be made to us and to the carrier in writing within seven days of the expected delivery date.

EXPORTS

• Do you ship orders to other countries?

We ship orders to countries all around the world except to (i) U.S.A., which is handled by Beadworks U.S.A. and (ii)  certain countries which are either not served by our regular carriers or which are not covered by our insurance.

Very Important Note for export Customers:

Customs duty is the responsibility of the customer and you should check with your relevant government department about customs duty rates and possible clearing fees, if you are in any doubt. International shipments can only be made on acceptance of the following terms:

I understand that this order may be examined by the customs authorities of the country to which these goods are being shipped. I also understand that duty, taxes and/or clearing charges may be assessed and charged to me by the shipper in addition to the amount authorized above.

I agree that all and any such charges are solely my responsibility and that in the case of any queries and/or disputed charges, I will communicate directly with the carrier and/or customs. Beadworks accepts no responsibility for delay, loss or financial liability due to the actions of the customs authorities or the carrier. Once items are delivered to the carrier, they are considered sold and all queries concerning shipments should be made directly to the carrier.

Should a international package be refused, the customer will still be responsible for ALL duties and taxes associated with that order.

COPYRIGHT & PRODUCT IMAGES

• Can I use the Beadworks name?

“Beadworks” is a trade name of JRM Beads Ltd. in the U.K. and by Westcroft Beadworks Inc. in U.S.A. It may be used in the U.K. solely by our authorised licensees. Any unauthorised  use of this trademark is subject to the full force of trademark infringement laws and penalties. Kindly note that the placement of any words before and/or after our trademark does not mitigate the infringement.

• The page says the beads are life size. But they do not measure life size. Why not?

Our beads are sized to display at life size on a standard monitor with a resolution of 1024 x 768. Your monitor may be set at a different resolution. When size is critical, refer to the measurement at the bottom left of the bead picture.

• Am I allowed to print web pages?

All images and text on our website are copyright. They may not be reproduced for commercial use without our express permission. We grant you a limited one-time right to print our web pages for personal reference. The compilation of all content on this site is the exclusive property of Beadworks and is protected by copyright law. All software on this site is the property of Beadworks or its suppliers and is protected by copyright law.

As for the beads themselves, some are our original bead designs and are copyrighted by both Beadworks and by the respective makers. Copies of any such copyright-protected beads may not be made for commercial use without permission. If you are thinking of copying a bead design from our published range, please contact us to enquire about the copyright status. We will be happy to inform you whether that particular design is copyright-protected or has passed into the public domain.

• Do your beads always look exactly like the pictures online?

We strive for the best possible reproduction, but online images can be affected by the display settings and quality of your own monitor (see above).

Please also note that many of our beads are hand-made, so pattern and size may vary slightly from batch to batch. While our makers try to keep such variation to a minimum, the differences inherent in hand-crafted beads are part of their charm. Even in semi-manufactured beads such as pressed glass and seed beads, the precise size and shape are dependent on the original material. Glass rods from the manufacturer sometimes vary from batch to batch, which can cause colour variation in the beads. 
If you are making a project which is very sensitive to changes in hue, try to order from the same batch.  If you place an order for the same bead many months later and the batch has changed, there may be some variation. Therefore, if you are ordering beads for a project where an exact match is essential, we suggest you order a test quantity first.

Gemstones - Natural Variation

Gemstones are, by nature, variable. Sometimes, as in the case of black onyx, the variation is very small and uniformity is valued. In other stones, such as ocean or leopard jasper, the natural variation is a critical part of attractiveness of the bead and it is extremely unlikely that one bead is ever going to look exactly like another. Due to our close monitoring, in-depth knowledge and deep appreciation of gemstone products, our quality is generally of high standard. Where there are degrees of quality, it will be indicated in the price.
Many gemstones are enhanced to change their colour or surface polish or to increase stability. Modern enhancement practices have given jewellery designers a greatly increased choice of attractive and durable gemstones. We will supply these enhanced stones when it is considered generally acceptable practice for that specific stone. Good practice dictates that enhanced stones should be offered when the changes caused by heat treatment, dying, irradiation, stabilization and other enhancement practices are as permanent as the nature of the stone permits.
Please note that some gemstones and all pearls, whether natural, cultured or enhanced, can undergo changes caused by sunlight, heat, acids and other chemicals.
You should care for your gemstone jewellery by storing it away from direct sunlight in non-reactive wrapping.

WEBSITE FAQ’S

• What do I need to do in order to shop on the Beadworks UK website?

Shopping on the Beadworks UK website is easy! In order to shop you must have access to a computer that is capable of accessing the World Wide Web. You will also need a Web Browser to access the pages. Currently, this website supports Microsoft Internet Explorer version 5.0 and higher, Netscape Navigator version 6.0 and higher, Mozilla version 1.02 and higher, and Opera version 5.02 and higher. Other web browsing software may also work, but has not been tested with our website. Cookies are required to be enabled on your Web Browser in order for you to place an order. Learn how to Enable Cookies. In addition to the technical requirements and a valid credit card, you will also need to have an account set up on our website. By setting up an account, you are able to receive special promotions via email, re-order past ordered items easily, view your order history and status, and more! To set up a New Account account we will need to collect personal information from you such as your name, address, phone number, and email address. View our Privacy Policy to find out exactly how we use your information. Once your account is created and your computer meets the minimum requirements, you will be able to make purchases quickly and easily without ever leaving home.

• I added several items to my cart, left the computer for awhile and came back. All my items are gone. Help!

Our online website uses "Session Variables" to keep track of items you choose, who you are, and information about our store. The Web Server has limitations as to how long it can store information in Session Variables. If you add items to your cart and leave the room for longer than 20 minutes, it is likely that your Session Variables will be cleared, meaning that all the items in the cart have also been lost. If you were logged in when you left, you will have to log in again when you return because like items, user information is also stored in Session Variables.

• I keep getting sent to an error page, what did I do wrong?

There are many types of computers, and with the many types of computers comes many types of software, and with many types of software comes many possible configurations and settings. Because of that wide spectrum of possibility, some computers have problems when accessing various parts of our website. We have done our best to eliminate all the glitches from the online store, yet occasionally we come accross a configuration that was not anticipated. If you continue to receive an error message, please help us out and let us know so we can correct the problem. Include as much information as you can about what you were doing before the error occurred, whether you were logged in or not, whether or not you had items in your cart, and what you were trying to do when the error occurred. We want all of our customers to have the same access to our website and by communicating your technical issues to us, we can make that happen.