As a rank amateur when it comes to working with gold and silver, maybe I see this from a slightly different perspective. I use a lot of semi precious beads and swarovski crystal beads and am really glad that Cooksons have started selling these and other quality beads.
I am, however unlikely to buy many online, as I really need to see and feel the semiprecious ones before I buy.
BUT acrylic and lucite???????? I stopped using these years ago when I started using silver instead of cheap rubbish findings.
And I have to say when I called in to the showroom in Birmingham last week, it quite literally set my teeth on edge when they pointed out the new range of base metal findings.
If people want plastic beads and cheap tacky findings, they are not going to go to Cooksons when they can buy from overseas at a fraction of the cost.