The Bead Shop — Local services in New Orleans

Recently saw The Bead Shop on TikTok and was so excited to try it out. I don’t live in NOLA and so this was a must on my list and had been talking about it all weekend. Granted, I came within an hour and a half of them closing, plenty of time to make a small piece. I came in with the intention of making a bracelet with my boyfriend. Scanned the QR code in the front, and it said “no appointments available,” so I searched for several minutes trying to find an available staff member. Once I did the staff member tried to explain the process, but seemed newly hired. She then remembered the beading room was booked for a private event and informed me I should come back another day to which I told her I could not because I do not live in Louisiana. She then gave me a bead board and told me I could string it myself at home or I could have them string it “If there was time” for an additional $12. I tried finding staff a few times to ask additional questions but they all seemed to be having side conversations with one another behind the counter and it was difficult to get their attention, so I just decided to build a necklace instead as that was more simple (so I thought). I continued to walk around and a staff member asked how I was doing at one point and I said very overwhelmed and she laughed and walked away. The only one who was kind of helpful was the young woman who was working on someone else’s necklace in the back room as she heard us talking about wanting silver charms for my necklace and she directed us to the correct aisle in the store. After I brought up the necklace to the counter with my charms and chain she informed me if I wanted them to put the charms on it would be $15 to which I was confused for 2 small charms. So I told her my boyfriend and I would do them. They directed us how to put the charms on the necklace. After they saw us struggling for about 5 minutes and the new worker asked if we needed help and we said yes, she said “for an additional $2 we will put each charm on for you.” At this point I was ready to leave the store and not buy anything but my boyfriend insisted on finishing the necklace for me because he knew how badly I wanted to visit and we already drove an additional 30 minutes out of our way from where we were staying at our hotel. I will say their prices are pretty reasonable and if you already know how to build your own jewelry yeah probably go here, but if you’re looking for someone to actually help you, don’t waste your time. Anyway, here’s the necklace we finished; it’s cute and I like it so I guess...

The worst customer service ever... left 2 bracelets to be fixed they are silver beads made in South America. Spoke to 3 or 4 different people they called said they are ready went to pick up ....one was done or sized the wrong....with a wrong cord.. which they are suppose to be the experts not me.. the other was not even started or started wrong .. left then the person that actually does the fixing called....super rude wouldn't let me speak .. oh my all I wanted was my bracelets to be fix I didn't think it was that difficult being that they are the experts .. well then I get an email from the owner saying they don't want to do business with me they have me in a recording being rude to her employee .. is this even legal to record your customers??? Wow I wonder if she only hear one said of that recording ... why do they have to record you ....have they had issues with other customers??? Be careful with this business they are not customer oriented ...very...

Too expensive! One example is the price you pay for one charm you can buy a bulk of charms for that price depending on what kind of charms. I felt extremely uncomfortable looking around in the store. I have been shopping there for 2 years for certain things and I never felt uncomfortable. I noticed they hired new people and my experience with them was very uncomfortable not once but twice. I felt as if I was being watch every step I took and I even caught one of them watching me and she put her head down once I saw her doing that. I started to put everything I picked up back but I didn't. I paid $54 for two string of gold plated beads, 1 saints helmet charm, a stamped charm that says 504, and 1 string of replica pearl beads. After spending lots of money in that store for years I won't be shopping there anymore in life just because of the ridiculous prices for simple things and how I felt when going into the store the energy was overwhelmingly not...