Firemountain Gems Boss Bead Bag Unboxing and Review! Nov 2020

[@samanthaedwards98]

I see lots of beautiful stones, useful pieces and wonderful items to be grateful for. I see much that can be donated as well, to childrens schools and group homes. I see beads that can be used as therapeutic purposes for children and adults alike. I myself have ordered these surprise bags, knowing they are odds and ends and leftovers and have always found great use in much of what is sent.

[@thisbeadedlife]

I'm glad you liked yours

[@reginam7370]

The disc with the holes in it is a perforated beading disc and is used to sew beads on and then attach to other things like a ring finding or a bail to make a pendant.

[@thisbeadedlife]

ooh interesting!

[@sandrarobertson7135]

The last 2 times I bought the bosses bead bag they were junk but you are right, it used to be so fun!

[@thisbeadedlife]

Yes, they have changed, unfortunately.

[@sandrarobertson7135]

@@thisbeadedlife I take my big glass beads, acrylic and wood beads, like in the bag, to a local nursing home for the activity director. Just a thought.

[@zhannaclark5395]

thank you for your honesty Wendy. I canceled one of my the most expensive subscription due to very poor customer service.

[@thisbeadedlife]

Good customer service is SO important. Companies need to realize that.

[@reginam7370]

I agree with you. Last year when I order the Boss' Bead Bags I was completely disappointed. The first time I ever order these bags, about 5 years ago, it took my breath away when I poured the first one out on my bead sorting tray. There was a LOT of the faceted glass beads that you have been liking lately, a bunch of round gemstone beads, many complete clasps of all different kinds, several of the big gemstone focals that were drilled, there was even some Swarovski beads, flatbacks, and chatons. I ordered 5 bags that time and I felt like a kid at Christmastime...like I had hit the jackpot!!! However, every year since then they have gotten chintzier and chintzier. I didn't order any this time because I was so disappointed with the quality of the ones I got last year. I really like shopping FMG sales, but on these bags, I agree that they have really let us down.

[@thisbeadedlife]

I remember them being like that too!! Too bad they have gone downhill in quality so much. It used to be so much fun going through them!

[@reginam7370]

@@thisbeadedlife ~ I noticed that FMG put up a video on their KZbin channel trying to hype up the Boss' Bead Bag, but I couldn't watch it all. The bag she opened was just as sad as what we've all been getting and she (one of their jewelry designers) was trying to put together a piece of jewelry out of the bag and it wasn't going well so I just stopped watching.

[@cathycowen8070]

I ordered 2 last year and I thought it was junk. Sad, cause I order from them quite a bit. They have the best price on Swarovski in bulk even with shipping. Hopefully it will be better 😊

[@thisbeadedlife]

You might try dreamtime Creations. I've found them to have better prices on swarovski. I just ordered swarovski, alora, precosia and spark crystals from them and I'm going to do a comparison video

[@cathycowen8070]

Wendy Whitman thank you, can’t wait to watch it. Thanks again Wendy

[@jenanielson]

I cant wait to get mine, anyday now. I always get a couple when they are on sell. I hope I get the gemstones..I love to bezel around them with seed beads..trap them in..they make unique and pretty focals. You should try it. And some of the single glass beads make great accent beads to pendants , especially if your doing a fringe. I love challenges like that to find ways to use unusual things in my work. Thanks for sharing..( I will be disappointed if I get mine without all the gemstone pieces)

[@thisbeadedlife]

I hope you get them. Ive tried making bezels with seed beads and Im terrible at it lol.

[@jenanielson]

@@thisbeadedlife it does take practice...I'm excited to see what I get. You could always share...lol

[@ashleywhisman9716]

Those are called partially drilled and are intedended to use an eye hook and glue it in the hole

[@thisbeadedlife]

Yes, they sure are

[@cathycowen8070]

It’s still not for me. Thank you for showing us😊

[@thisbeadedlife]

No problem 👍

[@dominiquebaumberger3938]

Thank you Wendy for showing us those bags. I hope that de senders will understand that everything they sell even for a cheaper price, represents their business. I personally would not order those items and hesitate now to buy anything from them! By the way I still love watching your videos.👍💕

[@thisbeadedlife]

I will never order the bags again. They were a huge disappointment!

[@Nancy_S]

The website says 1 pound of ‘great stuff’! They should charge $5 all the time. Usually they are $9.50.

[@thisbeadedlife]

Yea they are definitely not worth $9.50!

[@melindawilliams1833]

I agree with you. That is not something I would look forward to getting. Waste of time and effort. Good to know. Love the other ones you get.

[@thisbeadedlife]

Yes, the others were a great deal and good quality. too bad the bead bags arent better : (

[@annjustus]

Your bag looks a lot cleaner then the bags I've gotten. Mine looked like the last of the floor sweepings with a few good pieces thrown in.

[@crystalr5090]

MOP = mother of pearl. 🙂 I think the black powder-like substance is grit from the polishing process. I've gotten the Boss' Bead bags in the past and never got anything that I would use but a friend of mine always got lots of great findings and beads in hers. Oh well.

[@thisbeadedlife]

I figured out MOP after the video lol..thanks for the info on the black powder, I hadnt figured that out! lol

[@maryzylema9699]

Looks like for $5 you got a good deal. I would be happy with that. If you cant use the stones eith no holes I'm sure you will be able to sell or donate those. Alot of people wire wrap. 💖🤗

[@thisbeadedlife]

Im donating almost all of it.

[@marykay2461]

Those big gems that only have a small hole and the hole doesn’t go all the way they you could use a screw in bale.

[@srvntlilly]

That's what I was gonna say, but I ouldn't remember what they were called. The joys of getting old.

[@thisbeadedlife]

Yes, I think Im just going to donate them. Only one or two had any hole at all.

[@middaymooncreations7939]

I have been very disappointed with several of Fire Mountains "special" assortments. I have a whole box of beads with incomplete holes, or holes that are not centered. But I do love their strung beads.

[@thisbeadedlife]

Aww thats too bad. I will never order the boss bead bag again.

[@samanthafischer1130]

The gold tube thing you thought was part of a toggle is an end for loom work. You slide the last row of beads into it and close the ends

[@thisbeadedlife]

ohhhh lol. Thank you! I dont do much loom work but I know someone who does.

[@Dancee1980]

Yeah when i first ordered them probably 10 or so years ago, they were great. Had so many awesome goodies in them. But now, the last couple of times I have ordered them, I too have been disappointed. Lots of unwanted junk! But I do get other beads from them and am almost never disappointed otherwise.

[@thisbeadedlife]

Yes, I have always been happy with the other things I have ordered from them.

[@kimbain4368]

Even for $5 it seems like a lot of just this and that that they wanted to get rid of. "Let's bundle up all this stuff that we'd otherwise throw away and call it a Grab Bag, so nobody really knows what all useless stuff we're pawning off on them." Great marketing ploy until you've gone through your customer base. Thanks for sharing.

[@thisbeadedlife]

True..lol

[@alexismarie7143]

The gold bar is part of a slide clasp. A lot of people use them on peyote bracelets 😊

[@thisbeadedlife]

Ahh thank you!!

[@lorenachamberlin1492]

I did purchase many any other things from Fire Mountain Gems, I love shopping with them and they have great sales.

[@debbieallen-pettis3725]

Thank you for sharing your purchase with us! I have often wondered if it was something worth buying and now I know! I'm truly sorry that you and all of your followers on your website spent your hard earned money on their unwanted goods! Usually if it sounds too good to be true, It Is!! Don't waste your time or money because there's Always a catch to it and you will be on the loosing end of the deal! A lesson learned the hard way!! Looking forward to your sale tomorrow! Would Love to see some mustard seed resin pieces, too! If not tomorrow maybe at a later date, Please!! Just want you to know how Thankful I am that I found your website! 😍😍

[@thisbeadedlife]

Well the thing is, it used to be great! I got some amazing boss bead bags in the past. Unfortunately, they have just ditched in their quality these last couple of years.

[@belindasorrells5183]

The only suggestion is maybe donate the wood beads to some preschools or church children’s classes that do activities for children. But like you it is not very impressive.

[@thisbeadedlife]

Yes, they went in the donate pile : )

[@kristine1028]

The last one I bought was 2 weeks ago and it was total junk. I was very disappointed and won’t order one again.

[@fredahunter7503]

I was a little disappointed, ordered 3 bags. First time order

[@thisbeadedlife]

Yes, they used to be a great deal but the past few times Ive ordered they have been junk.

[@leigh9354]

I have been very disappointed with each time I have ordered the boss bead bags. I agree that I will not take the gamble again

[@thisbeadedlife]

Lesson learned for you and me both ;)

[@amichelemaher8201]

I received my first and LAST boss bead bag. It didn't even come to close to what was shown on a FMG video. Sorry I won't order again.

[@ArcticxWind]

I feel like I paid then 20 bucks to get rid of there trash.

[@ArcticxWind]

Expensive for shipping pound of trash.

[@thisbeadedlife]

lol I agree! I felt the same way!

[@brendanelson9635]

I have ordered this in the early days of my beading adventures, there are lots of findings I didn't know what they were. Still don't. But thanks for sharing this describing some mystery contents, I now know!

[@lorenachamberlin1492]

I purchased one an it was just broken or cracked rocks and metals that were not paired. Maybe I was just unlucky my first time.

[@thisbeadedlife]

Mine have been that way the last few times Ive ordered.

[@deniseharchuk885]

My bag was horrible. It's the first time I ordered. There were broken components cracked stones half of a clasp...way too many wood beads. I know it's leftover stuff, but there too many broken pieces in it.

[@thisbeadedlife]

I agree.

[@CandyOh1]

I love the Boss Bead Bag! I’ve been happy with the 2 I’ve gotten.

[@thisbeadedlife]

Glad you had a good experience : )

[@mariam3947]

Wendy, paperweight comes to mind with the giant, heavy stone. I have purchased assorted gem stone bags, I've gotten broken arrowheads, 10 butterflies-1, they put a gemstone rose in place of 1 butterfly, but it was cracked. I don't dare get the boss's bead bag as much as I like a treasure hunt... because the description says, some wood, some acrylic, ect. and I picture my luck. I'm surprised you actually got a real gift and not a pin or a pen that says firemountaingems. My order was $215.00 & my gift was a pen. I like the gifts you give me a million times better!!! P.s. they also warn that you may get broken pieces in the mixed lots!! How's that for a 'waiver'. Dissapointed

[@rhondagarrison8190]

Your bag was better compared to mine most of my stuff was broken, chipped and what appeared to be polished rocks etc. I emailed them and the response I received was very insulting and I responded back explaining grab bags I had bought from other bead suppliers and what theirs consisted of. They did refund my money for the bag which was nice after their insulting email, however I now have a bad taste in my mouth for how they do business and I more than likely will never order anything from them again.

[@thisbeadedlife]

oh wow, thats awful. Customer service is so important.

[@krisbreed7473]

I also ordered 2 of the bags this time. Last time I’ll be doing that unless, like you said, they put out a statement that they’ve improved them. I didn’t find a whole lot I would even use

[@thisbeadedlife]

Yea, I was pretty disappointed!

[@debbienay5530]

I was not happy with my bag

[@dswportland]

I received my bead bag same time as you. Mine looked like a combo of what you received. Just like you, I was expecting usable pieces and a few hidden treasures. I wasn't expecting to find a lot of useful items but I thought I'd get $5 in value. Not the case. The big gemstone pieces were heavy and had only one hole. As I looked more closely at the smaller glass beads, I noticed most were scratched or shopworn. I had parts of clasps which made them useless. I pulled out a few beads and some lobster clasps to keep, Everything else went directly into the trash. Not worth $5 to me. I won't order it again. I have ordered a miscellaneous packet of gemstones from an Ebay seller and felt like it was worth what I paid. I'd order that again if I decide I 'm interested in a grab bag. Thanks for sharing this video. I feel better knowing that I wasn't the only one left wondering about the value of this "bargain."

[@amandascott-burton9285]

Hi Wendy, loved those millefiore bead strands...great value too. However, I would not buy the $5 Boss Bead Bags...full of rubbishy pieces I wouldn't use. Even the gemstones look very poor quality. Take care, Amanda xox

[@thisbeadedlife]

I agree. I will never buy them again unless they change their quality.

[@carolmoore8584]

I ordered 5 bags last year and received 5 pounds of garbage. No matching or coordinating beads. I wasted $25 + shipping. I won't order again.

[@thisbeadedlife]

I feel your pain!

[@realgirl2704]

It looks like a lot of beads that you you would never buy all put into one bag. ☹️

[@thisbeadedlife]

Yes, exactly!

[@diannemozzetti9991]

Nope. Not a fan of this, at all. Good review! 👍🏻 I wouldn’t waste money on it. That’s just me. Not into a lot of the unboxings I’ve seen by other people and not just you. I appreciate you doing these videos.

[@thisbeadedlife]

Thanks, I hate to say negative things about any company but they really need to step it up on these bags.

[@Hannahs.360]

Maybe this is not your bead style. I find it looks good.

[@thisbeadedlife]

no, kids wooden beads arent my style. I dont do much kids jewelry.

[@gretchenscholtz9766]

U sound too picky,and with the amount of generations u got in that bag alone if u sold them u would more than pay for the $5.00 that u spent on that bag

[@thisbeadedlife]

Generations? What are you talking about??!