This is written for buyers who may not have much experience in purchasing glass beads on the internet, particularly on eBay.

Of the thousands of beads listed this will help you to distinguish quality beads in a few easy steps.  Also I mention a few tips on inspecting purchases and dealing with sellers.

What type of glass bead is best for you?

   >There are many types of glass available, usually the most inexpensive raw glass is soft glass (brand names: Lauscha, Moretti, Murano, Effetre, Bullseye, Satake, etc.) Soft glass beads are very popular and are quite often inexpensive,  this is partly due to the ingredients of the glass. Soft glass (aka soda-lime) is available in a large range of colors, and widely distributed.

   >Borosilicate glass is sometimes referred to as "hard glass" due to it's superior durability when compared to other glasses. It is more resistant to  cracking from thermal shock, borosilicate is manufactured under the brand names Pyrex, Simax, Northstar, Momka's, Glass Alchemy, Schott, and Precision. Borosilicate glass is abreviated as "boro" and many beadmakers use that term in their listing titles. Many colors in boro are called "striking" because they undergo a chemical reaction that changes the color of the surface. Boro beads are also very popular, especially the striking colors, when the glass is worked properly the end result is a rich, smooth base color with a slight haziness.

    >If you are very gentle with your jewelry, soft glass beads should hold up okay. If you tend to "beat up" your jewelry, boro beads will be a safer bet.

Acronyms in Listings

   >SRA stands for self-representing artist, basically a guarantee that you are buying artisan lampwork and not mass produced beads.

   >BHV stands for bead hive, a forum on eBay.

   >BBMB is a collector's club for beads on eBay.

   >BOFB stands for Bounties of Beads, another collector's club on eBay.

   >LE stands for Lampwork, etc. which is a lampworkers forum.

   >4WC refers to the website wetcanvas.

   >EBSQ is an online gallery for self-representing artists.

   Those are the only acronyms I can think of that are being used in listing titles. A lot of sellers use their usernames, which consist of initials.

 The Location of the Item

   >The item's location is possibly the easiest way to distinguish between quality, handmade, artisan lampwork and factory produced glass beads. A seller who lists an exact location (like Minneapolis, MN) is very likely to be a legitimate seller.

   > A seller who lists their item's location as "Fast Shipping, United States" is most likely selling mass produced, factory made beads. Unwillingness to disclose an exact location usually indicates the item is being drop shipped from a US location, but the beads were probably made in a sweat shop. It is completely within reason to send the seller a message asking for the exact location where it was made and where it ships from.

 Read the Description Thoroughly

   > It is necessary that you are informed of the exact size of the bead(s).  Some sellers do not use accurate measuring tools, or simply estimate the size. If the photos do not show a coin or something for size reference,  you should definately ask the seller if their measurement is accurate.

   > The seller should also list the size of the hole, this may be worded "mandrel size used..." or "the loop measures..."

   > Sellers that don't disclose the brand name of glass which was used may not want to give the companies free advertising, it is also reasonable to ask the brand of glass used.

 Clean Beads

   > When glass beads are made they are made on mandrels coated with a ceramic paste called bead release. The bead release makes it possible for the finished bead to slide off the mandrel easily. Bead release is also known to cause damage to the lungs when the dust is inhaled. It can also irritate skin, eyes and mouth (kids have been known to put jewelry in their mouths). This is why it is EXTREMELY important to only purchase beads that have been thoroughly cleaned. Beads are cleaned by soaking the bead in water and drilling the holes with a diamond finish drill bit.

   > Bead release contains silica, an agent known to cause cancer. Is that something you want around your neck?

   > Lampwork that is mass-produced in factories are generally not cleaned, it is a lengthy process to clean beads properly.

 Kiln Annealed Beads

   > When glass is worked in the molten state, the molecules in the glass are moving very quickly. After the bead is finished, the temperature needs to be controlled so the movement within the glass can slow at a rate that won't cause the glass to crack.

   > When beads are annealed in a kiln they are more durable, the best way to increase the durability is using a digitally controlled kiln.

   > In factory settings, the cost of purchasing and maintaining a large kiln can decrease profits. Usually ceramic fiber blankets are used to sandwich beads so they can cool more slowly. Other means of cooling the glass is using vermiculite or diatomaceous earth, none of these processes increase the durability of the product when compared to digitally controlled kiln annealing.

 Receiving the Beads

   > When you receive your beads, first check the packaging for obvious signs of damage.

   > Also check the labels. For instance, if you live in US and the item's location was listed as US and the package has customs labels on it, it is
 obvious that the seller misrepresented the items location and that violates eBay's listing policies. eBay should be contacted and you are entitled to a refund.

   > Are any beads broken? If so, contact the seller and they should offer a replacement. Most legitimate lampworkers offer a replacement free of charge, if they request that you return the damaged bead(s) they should refund the shipping costs. Do not expect this service if you purchase  factory produced beads, unless the terms and conditions state that they replace beads broken during shipping for free.

   > Are the beads cleaned? There should be no sharpness around the holes either (over time it can cut stringing material).

   > Are the colors true to the photo? In most cases (especially with boro beads) you will be pleasantly surprised to find the colors are brighter and more brilliant than they were in the photos.

 If you Aren't Satisfied

   > In most cases, lampwork artists want their customers to feel satisfied with their purchase. This is not true for mass produced lampwork, as they have your money and that is that.

   > Did the photos in the listing match the beads? Get a second opinion also. If the beads were photographed in the sun the color might be a
different shade, some sellers just use flatbed scanners.

  >Contact the lampworker prior to leaving feedback.
 
Feedback for Beads

   >If you are not pleased with the overall transaction, inform the seller before you leave negative feedback.

   >Don't comment on what your expectations are/were. For example, the pendant that you won was titled "Rose Swirl Pendant" and when you     receive it, your opinion is that the colors were too muted. If you feel that way, contact the artist and convey your feelings. It isn't necessary to leave feedback to say "colors are too muted" when the photos, title and description were in no way misleading. It would be justified, in this          case, if the title was "Bright Rose"