They have a great selection of beads. They carry a better selection than the typical craft stores. I don’t have to wait for a mail order and get personal service.
Debbie M.
Place rating: 2 San Jose, CA
Yesterday I stopped into Bead N Things to find a small item. I’d been there a few times before for beads, etc. probably spent $ 150 over the first few visits. They were out of the item I was looking for– I asked the lady when they’d be getting more in…“not for a while”… I then asked if she knew where I could get some– where they order from! «I can’t tell you that– I’d get fired!» was her response. My husband also runs a retail store. He and his employees go above and beyond to find their customers what they need– especially when they don’t have the item they are looking for readily available. It’s called customer service– those customers remember the people who helped them out– and they come back because of it! I won’t be returning to this store– which is too bad! They have a good selection.
Michelle D.
Place rating: 5 Mountain View, CA
This is a huge bead store with an amazing variety of charms! These guys are friendly and professional and the prices are very reasonable:)
Laura W.
Place rating: 5 Sunnyvale, CA
I popped in here today to pick up a couple of things. I was helped by a wonderful young lady that was so patient and kind. This is the standard helpfulness that I’ve always gotten from the shop. I highly recommend it.
Tracy P.
Place rating: 5 Mount Hood Parkdale, OR
Their gemstone bead selection is gorgeous and unique with unbelievably low prices! The only other place I can buy beads so inexpensively is on eBay. Added bonus: the ladies were really fun to talk to :)
V V.
Place rating: 1 Sunnyvale, CA
The collection of beads and other jewelry making items are not bad, pricing is not too high nor low. The reason I am giving a low rating is because of the very bad customer service. The older lady is really rude. I’ll never be going there again!
Carolyn K.
Place rating: 3 San Jose, CA
I am specifically looking for octagon shaped beads/crystals for a DIY chandelier. They have mostly the very small beads and seed beads for jewelry. Not much selection for larger pendants either w or w/o crystal. Beads in case ran about 2 $ each, on the floor area most 4 mm or 6 mm were 1.75 each. 2 mm and very small about .75 cents each, For my specific need would like to have at least 50 larger beads, 4 mm or 6 mm would have cost around $ 40.00. Much more cost for the beads than my entire project.
Diane V.
Place rating: 5 Campbell, CA
As a sea glass jewelry maker, I came here last week to pick up some chain by the foot, clasps, and jump rings. They not only had a wonderful selection, but they were also very helpful and kind. They also had recycled tumbled glass with pre-drilled holes that looked wonderful(but right now I am sticking with ‘naturally tumbled’ glass). I hope this place sticks around for a long time because it’s definitely my go-to place for chain-by-the-foot and other supplies! 5 stars for the supplies and 6 stars for the customer service!
Yvonne L.
Place rating: 3 Campbell, CA
They have a great selection, but it’s hard to navigate as someone new to jewelry and beading. I needed a lot of help finding basics because, obviously, I really had no idea what I was looking for. I definitely want to support local businesses, though, so since I was recommended this place by my jewelry teacher, I came here rather than a chain craft store like Michaels or Joann’s. I do have to say that as great/overwhelming as the selection was, I was very unimpressed with the customer service. The two people who were working when I came during my visit seemed very gruff and cold, and they didn’t warm up until I mentioned that I was taking jewelry classes with someone that they knew from the community. They were also very obstinate about closing up shop on time — they shooed everyone out within seconds of closing! I want to give this place another shot, but my first visit definitely felt less than lukewarm.
Ellen R.
Place rating: 5 Gilroy, CA
This place is as good as it gets! I was trying to match a vintage Swarovski necklace that I paid a bundle for had remembered seeing this place MANY years before. There were soooo patient as I asked to see EVERY Swarovski crystal in the case. It was slow so I was able to walk out with a completed bracelet for less than ½ the cost it would have been if I had purchased it with my necklace. Highly recommend this place — and their sense of humor and willingness to help stands out the most! I’ll definitely be back!
Nikki M.
Place rating: 5 Milpitas, CA
Love this store! It’s the last of a dying breed! Wonderful selection of beads, sold individually or in vials(seed beads). The ladies that work there are very sweet and knowledgable. They also have chain, clasps, and all kinds of other stuff… Including my hard to find«roundel» Swarovski crystal beads. Now that I started a jewelry shop on Etsy… I practically live at this store. Lol
Selina S.
Place rating: 5 Campbell, CA
Love this store! I recently started beading again and found this store nearby on Unilocal.This store is great. They have an awesome selection of beads and gemstones. I’ve been here twice. It’s not cheap since some single beads are over 60 cents. I will still come back because the quality is outstanding. Everyone there is so nice as well. Been here twice now and will soon be heading back over there.
Adrian M.
Place rating: 1 Fremont, CA
Dont advertise hours you dont plan on working. Posted hours till 7pm. Showed up at 630 and store was closed. Women inside ignored me like they didnt want my business.
Elaine L.
Place rating: 5 San Jose, CA
After exhausting the options at Michael’s, I popped over to Beads N Things. I was doing some repair work on a vintage craft item and needed shiny green beads in a specific size. What I needed wasn’t immediately evident so I asked for some assistance — both women working in the store helped me find the closest bead for my needs — not perfect, but a close enough match and I can’t fault anyone for not stocking items from 1973 in their store. Great service, especially considering my total bill was sixty cents! Need beads? Come here.
Whitney S.
Place rating: 5 San Jose, CA
This place is great! I’ve been a repeat customer for years. The ladies here are extremely friendly and helpful. They wreally know what they are talking about. I don’t feel like I’m getting ripped off when I shop here for jewelry making supplies like I do at larger places like Michaels or other bead shops. The selection is good and I always end up leaving with way more that I went in for.
Jessica B.
Place rating: 5 Walnut Creek, CA
With internet shopping becoming more and more popular, sadly, small businesses like these are suffering. In the past 6 months, three bead stores in the bay area have closed their doors. Fortunately, Beads N Things is thriving and I was thrilled to discover them! I wandered in one day in search of a tool so I could learn how to wire wrap. I explained to Nancy, the store’s owner, what I was trying to do and she said there was an easier way than what I was describing(darn you YouTube for stearing me down the more complicated path!). 10 minutes later, I’m a wire-wrapping master! Nancy and her husband Don, who have owned the store for more than 30 years, clearly have a passion for the business and their customers. The store is clean, the prices are definitely reasonable(certainly comparable to online prices) and they are both very knowledgable about all things beading. I don’t know why anyone would shop online with a gem like this available at our fingertips. Especially when it comes to high quality beads, nothing compares to being able to see and touch them before purchasing. They have easily earned a customer for life and I would definitely recommend them to anyone who enjoys beading.
Ilene K.
Place rating: 4 San Jose, CA
Great selection, nice staff, good location if you live in the south bay, and the bling factor that brings out the little girl in any woman at any level of maturity. Today was the first time I’d ventured into the small but well organized, well lit store. Clearly Beads N Things is a well established store with well established customers. Generally that’s a great thing to walk into with a warm greeting and a nod to a new and hopefully newly loyal customer. However, the greeting didn’t come and I fumbled around until I found the«bead caddies» to hold the handful I’d already grabbed to buy. After about 30 minutes, I began to peer into the cases where the crystals and more upscale pieces are found. It took some time to get a notice from the ladies behind the counter because they were helping their first-name basis clients first. The experience from there recovered, the ladies were helpful and offered assistance on what I needed. Subsequently, and not surprisingly, I went over budget on my new beading hobby when I’d only set out to augment what I had in store for holiday gifts and ornaments. I’ll be back. I do wish they had a better web site and a better selection of some cooler sterling pieces. But on the whole, I wholly recommend Beads N Things.
Amanda L.
Place rating: 5 San Jose, CA
This is by far the best bead store I’ve been to in the South Bay. They have a large selection and pretty reasonable prices, considering most bead stores are a little over-priced. This is a good place to go if you’re looking to buy individual beads or charms, as some other stores only sell their beads in bulk. And if you’re looking for some unique little charms, this is the place to go! I have literally spent hours looking through all the charms, the best finds I’ve had so far were an ice cream cone and a beaver charm! Some people have had negative comments about the staff there, but I’ve never had any issues with them. The only negative I can think of is that they close a little early for me, but as long as you know the hours ahead of time that’s easy to work around.
Evangelina B.
Place rating: 5 San Jose, CA
What a hidden gem! I came here a few weeks ago to purchase some Swarovski crystals. The staff is super nice here and they offer great selections on colors! Their prices are very competitive too! I only wish they were closer to my house, but whatcha gunna do? **I highly recommend!**
Ivana Y.
Place rating: 4 Cupertino, CA
For the times you only need a few individual beads and findings here and there, Beads N Things has a pretty good selection at what I consider reasonable prices. Granted, these beads are more for the hobbyist and most likely not for really hardcore jewelry designers that work with semi-precious stones – I can’t really deign to comment on the availability of those items at this store. But you’ll find wood, plastic, acrylic, glass and metal beads and findings here, as well as Swarovski crystal beads. Simply gorgeous! Me? I made a few simple dangling earrings for practice for the low low cost of $ 3/pair, not to mention the satisfaction of knowing that you created the piece. Kris(sp?) was especially friendly and helpful during my visit to the store. I highly recommend Beads N Things!