Rare Earth Gallery Gems and Minerals — Local services in Bellingham

I visited the shop to track down stolen beads from my shop. The manager refused to give me the owners name, his own last name, or respond to any of my concerns. I left 3 phone messages and a lengthy e-mail detailing my request to have the beads returned. No response. I went again to the shop with the same result. I called the police and have filed a possession of stolen goods complaint. Can't recommend the way this place does business. I would expect, and certainly give, my full cooperation in an effort to deal directly with the question and to act in such a way as to discourage shoplifting and support my community of small shop owners. I have just returned from Small Claims court where Rare Earth was a no show, big surprise, so of course the judge ruled in my favor. Now begins the task of collecting either the stolen beads from them or the money they are worth. Wish me luck . This store has only stonewalled me since my first friendly visit there when they refused to give me the name of the owner and which, I find after many calls to governmental offices, is not found anywhere it should be. The owner's response is not accurate. I went to the shop after a customer told me about the Trade Beads shown to her when she asked if Rare Earth had any beads. The clerk brought a small brown cardboard box from the back room and showed me the beads. I SAW the beads myself and identified them as beads from my shop, Oasis Bead Lounge. I was completely reasonable and hopeful that I could talk with the owner and come to an agreement. Clerk refused to tell me the name of the owner (why?) and assured me he could contact me next week when he returned to town. I left my card. No problem at this point. It was only after three weeks and after leaving 3 phone messages and an e-mail sent from Rare Earth's web-site's contact information that I returned to Rare Earth with frustration at being stonewalled by a fellow shop owner. I called police who arrived, took statements and told me the police would follow up if they had contact with Rare Earth's owner. The owner did not respond to the police report nor contact me. The response from Rare Earth owner is completely false. Again, I did not base my action on information from a customer, I went myself to the gallery and viewed and identified the beads myself and attempted to talk with the clerk to no avail. I went to claims court and, due to no show from Rare Earth, received a decision in my favor. I have tried every avenue to discuss this situation with Rare Earth. They have been entirely unresponsive outside of this erroneous reply to my post. I will try again. Update: Rare Earth did not show up to small claims court and have not responded to the judgment against them. Thirty days has now past since the small claims decision and there has been no appeal so I will take the next step. It is truly disappointing, to say the least, to be met with such stonewalling by another business owner and to know that he is willing to encourage thieves by buying obviously stolen goods from someone on the street, and then to lie about it saying the beads were purchased for a private collection while offering them for sale to a potential customer. I hope you will not support this store's behavior by shopping there.

A happy update! my dispute with Rare Earth Mineral Gallery was settled this morning in a return to Small Claims Court. The beads will be returned., I met with Erik, the owner, today where he apologized for the misunderstanding and action by his employees. He was out of the country and didn't know anything about the dispute over the beads and says that his employee had mistakenly shown and offered the beads for sale which he had purchased for his private collection. I'm also sorry for the trouble this has caused him and am pleased we could resolve this without...

I vistited this store cuz normally mineral/stone shops are cheaper then crystal ones; but they have the same stuff...idk why. But this place was still just as expensive, sleep of their stuff is alright in price but I could easily get stuff cheaper else where.

On top of that, something that did bother me was that they have stuff labled as Amethyst...but it was not, among other things; idk if it was a mistake or what. But there were a lot of miss named pieces; and no one around to ask for help. So I just left because I had no one to ask. I hope they fix it though.

Other wise it's a pretty place to go look. But I wouldn't buy much, if...

I find it unfair to post a negative rating because of a store being closed due to them relocating and I also find it unfair to give a negative rating because you “thought” they had merchandise that was yours. Giving negative reviews based on those things isn’t a fair or accurate judgement from a customer review standpoint. I personally have just been in this store once. I found it lovely and the staff very helpful, friendly and professional. I would come back here again and encourage others to check it...