I received my parcel this morniing. It came in a beautiful red box woth a ribbon on the top, which I suppose you could use for any thing that you make.

Overall I am disappointed.

There were 7 packets of beads and 1 MOP pendant. On pricing everything up on their site (except for the pendant things) I would have not paid the amount that the Club kit costs, nor would I have paid as much p&p. I suppose the cost of the box came into it, but I would rather have had beads than the box.

I feel a bit ripped off and yes, I have paid for the colour matching knowledge etc, but the ladies at BM are usually so generous over the phone when you want to match up something that I don't feel that this is the way to go.

Maybe I will feel differently when I start to make something and see how the beads all go together, but my initial reaction is not "Wahey!!!"

Has anyone else taken the plunge, or have I now put you all off?

You should contact them and explain how you feel, Amy - this is a new venture for the BM and I'm sure they will take feedback on board - it might help to improve things in the future.

corinne is a sweetie amy and if you phone her and tell her what you told us-or e mail her then i am sure she will take it on board- i wouldnt want the box and i really joined for the 10% off everything and the special projects-couldnt find anything that actually told you what beads you were getting so you cant price them up before you buy
it will have to be something really special to get me to pay £15 i must admit

I replied to the post below, then found this - doh!

I didn't think it was bad value for money really, but then I am not sure how much the pendant would cost on its own. I always suffer from not having "quite" the right shape or colour to go with my choices of beads so from that point of view I thought having the hard work done there would help me & as I said in the other post Jill's choice of colours are usually great.

I agree about the box though, it is very pretty but if I continue to purchase the kits I am not sure I will keep wanting more boxes.
Wonder if they give a discount for refills

As I picked the kit up I didn't pay postage & I did intend to visit anyway.(I just love their shop & can & do spend hours there given a chance).

But I am sure Lynn is right Jill will want constructive criticism to get her project off the ground & I always find Helen & Corinne really helpful too.

Vickie

I have just been and added my two penneth in the Forum on the site.
If you don't say anything then no one is going to realise what we think.

I have sent an email to BM. Becuase I was disappointed I asked someone else to read it first, (thanks Nemeton ) as I didn't want to come across as a whinger, and you can give the wrong impressiom when you are a bit emotional about something.

I agree with Vickie about the boxes, I didn't think of that when I wrote. How many bright pink boxes can a girl want?

I will let you all know what happens. I hope they take it in the spirit it was intended.

Sorry to be dim, but is the bead club £20 per month then?

Carol XXX

Carol -the club is £20 to join and then you pay for special packs if you want them - but the membership gives you 10% off every time you order.

Di

Thought I'd get stuck in - and then I got stuck in some more because I can't bear seeing lampies, albeit lovely ones, imported from the US when there are all those fab beadmakers over here, and put up on the website with no maker's name either!

I saw your comment Lynn and I agree they do look lovely but I think you have a fair point.

Di

Constructive criticism is always useful. I've deliberated over whether or not to join the BM club and would like to see a greater indication of the special projects etc before committing. The 10% discount is tantalising but it's the members' special packs/offers that would be of more interest. If only I knew what they might contain........

I have had a reply from BM.
This is part of their email

we have had a couple of people say that they would like to know more info on what beads are in the pack so we shall try to address that next time
you wouldn't though have got the beads any cheaper by buying them separately, and the p/p is our standard cost. the pack works out at just under £18, and we have sold it for £15. the pendant is £5, it is handcut and etched, and then coloured and polished, and we think they are all lovely.
i don't know about the box, it's an interesting point. i am trying to supply my customers with something special and pretty and thought the box was perfect. we then had a problem sourcing packaging to put the box in so slipped up there! maybe if you think the box is unnecessary you should post it on the forum and see what other people think?

Don't really know what to think now.