Announcement    Why are prices increasing? As for everyone else, the cost of supplies, shipping, taxes and cost of selling have risen. After these expenses we need make a realistic profit. Otherwise, why do it?

The cost of authentic antique, vintage, artisan, and authentic 'tribal / ethnic' rises and falls depending on many factors, such as availability, price and demand. This axiom also applies to the supplies designers purchase to use in their creations, like beads, pendants, raw materials and the tools required. The term 'wholesale' applies to a tax break registered retailors, companies and businesses might receive upon presentation of documentation and tax number. Sellers aren't obliged to offer wholesale discounts, and if they do, there's often a minimum amount the buyer must purchase to be eligible. A wholesale minimum ranges from a few hundred upward into the thousands depending on the goods .

In popular terms the word 'wholesale' is a euphemism for deep discount. Customers often assume designers and sellers purchase valuable or rare goods at steep discounts, and should pass that on to their customers. Some are even offended when this doesn't happen Today we don't purchase enough to qualify as the minimum amount is out of our budget. Also, artisans, dealers and designers can't afford granting discounts unless the customer is a frequent flyer and regularly makes high dollar purchases. Owners of brick and mortar stores, or those who travel the show circuit selling at gem and jewelry conventions, craft and art fairs have expenses to cover. Food, lodging, fuel, air travel, shipping if they crate and transport their exhibit via carrier. Entry, booth, and exhibitor fees, union fees if the booth is wired for electricity. Don't forget parking fees, insurance and food for employees. Sellers taking cards electronically pay user fees, then all electronic payments and purchases are provided to the IRA when tax time rolls around so we can pay state and federal taxes. I personally know vendors reduced to sleeping in their trucks or vans to deter break in and theft as well as save on cost. For the above reasons, the number of quality art, jewelry, gem and bead shows has dropped significantly. Some

Many shops on Etsy have been opened by both current and former brick and mortar store owners. Selling online brings in the money that helps cover all those expenses noted in the previous paragraph. Deep discounts aren't going to help when its time to pay the utilities and rental on that shop! These people work hard and love their work.

When we invest in quality beads and silver, there's expectation these items maintain and eventually increase in value. This has occurred over the past four decades, depending on the category. For example, jewelry of the Afghan Kuchi tribal style used to be more expensive, considering the material. Today, prices have plummeted because the market is flooded with inferior quality Kuchi work turned out in Pakistani and Indian workshops, and tarted up with plastic and rhinestone jewels, sharp edged tinsel - quality metal details. The more recent stuff maintains a somewhat traditional appearance, but the workmanship is cruder, bulkier, excessive.

For tribal dancers and the theater, low price and lesser quality are a bonus. Flashy and eye catching on stage, it retains a certain dramatic quality. If lost or misplaced, the item was cheap anyway, and no harm done. For collectors, though, the older Kuchi jewelry has its value, with finer details, better quality metal alloys, and vastly superior craftsmanship.

Check out the pricing on authentic antique and vintage Tibetan semi precious beads and silver. High quality antique tribal silver (from good coin silver through high grade silver). Authentic vintage and antique shell currency from Kenya, New Guinea, and locations in the western hemisphere where shell.

There are wonderful reproductions, well made traditional items still skillfully crafted, but they're expensive as well because they're quality - just not as rare as the originals. Many of these do steadily increase in value, but will never exceed that of the originals.

Time for this article to end, but I hope it helps explain what's going on behind the scenes with many (but not all) sellers online. Bead well!