Art BeadsReviews 53

If I could give zero stars I would! I have shopped with Artbeads for over 10 years with zero issues. I placed an order earlier this year and some of the items were faulty (missing springs in the clasps, won't close, etc). I contacted the company and they said it wasn't their problem as it had been over 30 days... crazy as I ordered 30 of these clasps and had no plans to make 30 necklaces immediately. Fast forward to my next order on June 4th; after 11 days I contacted them to see where my package was because it said it shipped and should be delivered but I had nothing. Keep in mind my address is less than 60 miles from where it was mailed from. I received no answer. I then did an online chat which was recommended because they no longer answer the phone during Covid. The online chat didn't work either, basically, it's a note that is sent/emailed to them, again no answer. I then tried another email and finally 7 days later I receive a reply saying it's not their responsibility and I should contact the USPS. I just contacted the post office and they said I could come in and fill out paperwork, but most likely it wouldn't be returned as it was a smaller envelope and not a large package. Also, why should I be responsible for the USPS error and Artbeads not having insurance for this type of issue (sounds like it's a common problem after reading the other reviews)? I also have extreme asthma and shouldn't be going to a post office to fill out paperwork and stand in line if it's not essential! I also asked all of my neighbors last week as well as this weekend if they've received anything (again not my responsibility but was hoping to recover my items). After over 10 years and no issues, I would now advise and will spread the word STAY AWAY from Artbeads, they could care less about the customer and our hard-earned money.

The fact that I only received half my order was only part of the problem. It took forever for me to find out when my order would be shipped. Now that I have received half my order, I have been unable to get anyone to respond to multiple email requests. You cannot call them. Their "chat" feature is useless, as it is unmanned and no one ever gets back with you. This was my first experience with them and I will not be ordering from them again. BEWARE!

Most of the beads I purchased, for the most part, were very pretty. They were a broader selection than I could get at my local craft store or even another site I shop on. HOWEVER, I only purchased less than 10 items and my price was well over $100. I was ok with this UNTIL I received my beads and the amount I received was literally nonexistent. I have no clue what I will be able to make with this tiny amount. It certainly wasn't worth the price I paid. So lesson learned, but I will not shop here again and do not recommend for anyone else either.

I had been ordering from Artbeads for over a year, with minimal glitches ( an order delayed for no apparent reason, items needed to finish a project out of stock, etc.) when I placed an order to make one of the owners, Cynthia's, designs and an integral part of the order was out of stock. It was sent without this chain, and I was told that I had to place another order to receive a substitute. The shipping would cost over 50% of the cost of the chain. Any decent customer service would offer to ship it free, but not Artbeads. I even wrote to the owner, detailing my plight, and was told thar their "resolution team" (which I strongly suspect is the customer service department, which may be only one person) would be in touch. A week later, I found a local source for the chain. A month later, I have not yet received a response. A shame, but there are more customer friendly online bead shops out there--- Fusion, Red Panda, Goody. And they all have markedly better customer service than Artbeads.

I placed a very simple order of two items on Dec 15 in hopes of making jewelry for my mother for Christmas. My economy shipping times were quoted as "2-8 business days." Yet, 13 days later (three days after Christmas), and, alas, still no package.

The terrible free shipping at Artbeads might have something to do with their asinine shipping method, which is to wait two whole days to fill the order (which is exactly what they did with mine), then ship it through UPS, and THEN have UPS forward it to the local post office in the customer's area, who quotes an additional 3-7 days for delivery. Funny, they mentioned NOTHING about this on their checkout or shipping page, because what customer in their right mind would be okay with this?

Right, so let's do some math. It takes Artbeads 2 days to fill an order, UPS another 5+ days to get it to the post office, and then the post office up to 7 days to ship. 2 + 5 + 7 = up to 14 days... if you're LUCKY. Am I missing something here?

Okay, so let's be fair and take off 4 days to account for 2 weekends and/or holiday shipping delays. 14 - 4 = 10 days. Hmmm, still more than 8 days, unless I've gone insane in the last 10 minutes? Although, after being subjected to their customer service, I feel like I might have. Which you can read all about below.

When I contacted online customer service about this, I was cursed with a rep named "Michelle", whose chat responses were so apathetic and boilerplate that at one point I stopped to ask if I was, indeed, chatting with a live human being and not a robot. Apparently, I was. Silly me for expecting a customer service representative to, you know, provide customer service.

In a futile attempt to offer a solution, I suggested that they cancel my order and overnight me a new shipment, to make up for their error. Well, Michelle was having none of that, and she told me that I'd have to wait until DEC 30th before they could begin to look into sending out a replacement. Oh, and that I should wait a little longer, as my order "might" arrive next week. Might.

Even better, after I explained in very plain and clear language how long my shipping had taken so far, she sent me a link to their shipping page, which she probably intended to prove some kind of point. And guess what? THE SHIPPING PAGE ALSO SHOWS 2-8 BUSINESS DAYS.

I... I... just... can't with this place.

Moral? If you want a simple two-item, $12 order to arrive in a timely fashion, be prepared to shop someplace else.

Artbeads used to be so reputable, but now their service is simply awful, perhaps because of a new manager or owner? (Whomever it is, they should quit or be fired. Immediately.) Whatever the case, it doesn't matter, as I will never shop here again.

I have placed 4 orders with Artbeads within the past couple of months, for beads and other supplies, and THREE of the 4 orders were filled incorrectly. A cheaper pliers instead of a side cutter, smaller lapis beads than ordered (and worse, incorrectly labeled). The latest (and last) order was shorted a couple strands of TWO different bead types.
Artbeads did eventually fix the orders, but 3 out of 4?! I'm done with them! Not only did it delay projects, but then I had the added hassle of having to write them to explain their mistakes, plus make special trips to the Post Office for the returns.
Their canned apology email sounds hollow after 3 times... (The last time, I was told "We do ask that you please keep the item(s) you received in error as a gift"... but I was SHORTED merchandise on the last order! Anybody home? Insulting.).
I ordered online for convenience; they were anything but. Their selection and prices were okay; but their website is painfully slow at refreshing; they just don't seem up to the task of running a business.

I shop at Artbeads.com frequently but when they have a sale you'll notice they are low on many items, usually the stuff I want. Also, if you sign in, add items to your basket and leave it for a few minutes to resume shopping later everything is removed from your basket even though you had signed in. This can be very frustrating since now you have to try and remember what was in the basket. They are also very hard to reach by telephone, which wasn't the case last year.

I would give zero stars if I could! What happened? Artbeads was my go to site - no more! Terrible customer service! No response to emails and you can't get through on the phone! I finally got a live person to speak with about checking the color of a product before it was sent as I always did in the past but the girl in Washington couldn't check any longer because their warehouse is in another state! She said she would send the warehouse an email and that my account would be documented and to go ahead and place my order. I ordered and thought I'd add a note to my order just to be safe but there is no note section when ordering. I followed up with an email to the 'support' address (with no response) and guess what I received - the wrong color! So frustrating! Again today I'm trying to call and getting that silly recording! Of course they're overwhelmed - with complaints I'm sure! Soon they'll have all the time in the world to answer the phone because there won't be any customers! This was such a good company - so very sad!

I have been trying to place an order for several days. The site won't place the order and keeps asking for info I have already put in for the order. I have called and keep getting a silly phone prompt. I have tried on line chat... no response. I tried to use the email and can't get through. What happened to these people? There is no service, the site is confusing, and I'll be in the old folks home before I get anything ordered. Not happy.

Ordered items and it took forever almost two weeks for the order to arrive because it took 8 days just for my order to ship. The tracking information in the account doesn't make any sense and doesn't tell who the carrier is. The new website it horrible and ever since they relocated their warehouse their customer service has gone down the toilet. Seems like they do not care for their customers or their employees for that matter. On top of it I returned items and got a confirmation that it was refunded but nothing ever showed in my PayPal account although I was told it was. Do they even know what is going on there anymore? Seems like a whole bunch of BS. I am going to report them to the BBB and I will not be shopping there anymore.