As a new visitor, staff was friendly and helpful. They have a very large selection of seed beads, great findings, crystals, chains, some stampings, and sequins. Not as much variety of natural stones, but that was not what I was there for. Overall, found what I needed and then some! Including some really cute mood beads and glow in the dark seed beads.Im not sure why people are so picky for location. Overall pretty easy to get to and park during the day on a Thursday. Not the greatest street, not the worst. A lot of SF is dealing with this, dont let it stop you from visiting.

I was there about 2 years ago. Yes, the neighborhood is a little sketchy. And yes, they had a good size selection. What I remember most was the very unfriendly and not particularly helpful staff. I was looking for beads and findings that were little different. Something with character, things I would not find at Joanns but left buying nothing. Overall not a bad place but probably will not be back.

I made an online order for a value of 70 dollars the 20th of September and I only received an automatic email of confirmation. I wrote them to ask for the tracking number with no reply. I have written more than 6 emails during one month. I also wrote on Instagram and Etsy and I don´t get a reply. Of course, I haven´t received my order and today is 22th of October. I wan´t my money back but how I´m. going to do it if they don´t reply? This is the worst experience buying online in all my life and I´m an experienced buyer. Never buy in this site.

I had been having difficulty finding a particular color of bead that I I use to accent a product that I make. General Bead had them in stock. I placed an internet order. There was ample communication and the beads arrived very quickly. Ill definitely order from them again!

I will always love this store! The last of what was SFs Garment District from the 80s and 90s. May it live on and remain steadfast forever. I loathe shopping online for beads and things that I didnt even know I needed for my craft unless I saw a sample in person! Online stores seem to be for those in the know who already know what they need not beginners, frugal DIYers, and aspiring artists like me and my friends.

Appalling online customer service. Don’t bother asking specific questions because they do not bother to reply at all.

Amazingly fast shipping and beautiful selections. Only critique is that the website is a bit hard to navigate and there were some noticeable scratches in a couple of the stones I bought. I just received my order today, so I havent reached out for possible resolution for the damaged stones.

Placed an order value of $185 over 2 weeks ago and still havent heard a thing, apart from the automatically generated order confirmation. Very, very disappointed with the service and response.

Always an amazingly creative experience!

Not sure, but I have several friends who frequent the place and they say that the people that own the place are great

I have submitted an order on General Bead website on 19/01/2021, after one week of silence and send them email with inquiries with no answer. Then after sending them messages on all social platforms - Facebook, Etsy, Instagram I received an email saying they are out of stock and they expect to ship in a couple of weeks. Today is 23/02/2021 and I have already asked to cancel my order and return my money but no answer from General Bead. Dont buy online from them - terrible customer service -- there are plenty good sellers on Etsy.

I hope General Bead treats their brick and mortar store customers and Easy customer better than they treat their Ebay customers. I purchased five Swarovski Rhinestone Flower Connectors from them on Ebay. General Bead’s listings clearly state, “$3.75 standard shipping and $.20 each additional item.” Instead of honoring their combined shipping policy, General Bead is trying to charge me $8.10 shipping for five little connectors in a 3 ounce package! I sent numerous requests for a revised invoice with the corrected combined shipping cost with NO RESPONSE! I sent numerous requests for a cancellation of the order due to General Bead’s NON-RESPONSE! I called Ebay and filed a complaint against this seller. In order to avoid this seller from filing a “non-paying bidder” claim and ruining my Ebay account I have had since 1999, I paid for this junk from this terrible business.Amazingly, the day after I pay, I receive a notification from Ebay that General Bead has generated a shipping label! GENERAL BEAD IGNORED ALL MY COMBINED SHIPPING REVISED INVOICE REQUESTS AND CANCELLATION REQUESTS! NO COMMUNICATION WHATSOEVER!A REVIEW OF GENERAL BEAD’S EBAY REVIEWS SHOWS A CLEAR HISTORY OF THIS PRACTICE! NO COMMUNICATION AND NO RESPONSE TO BUYER’S REVISED INVOICE REQUESTS WHEN GENERAL BEAD LISTINGS CLEARLY STATE THAT THEY OFFER COMBINED SHIPPING!WELL, I HOPE GENERAL BEAD LIKES THE COMPLAINTS I’M FILING AGAINST THEM WITH THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU FOR FALSE ADVERTISEMENT AND POOR CUSTOMER SERVICE!

I placed an order on April 3rd, and had not gotten a shipping update. I waited a few days and sent an email, on the 8th, inquiring if maybe something was out of stock, and that is why my order had not been completed, to no avail. I received no email response, which is pretty hard to overlook, and honestly sketchy. If you are going to order beads online, get them from another shop.

Great selection. Staff was a little unfriendly.

Do not mail order with these folks.Ordered a number of items online. They wrote to say one was out of stock. I replied to the email immediately asking if it came in another color. No response.A week later they sent the order. Packing slip and online shipping confirmation states that the out of stock item was shipped, but it’s not in the bag. I emailed again asking when I would get the missing item. No response.I finally call them, they say they never got my emails and they’d refunded the money. No refund received. After pouring over my bank statement, Noticed they’d actually backed out the charge and recharged me less money. In the end I’m not out cash, but not worth buying from them again.Update 08/21/2018: someone from the store has reached out to try and win back my business. I much appreciate their efforts.

Such a cool store! I came here to buy glass beads for fly tying. They had such an excellent selection of colors, it was a little overwhelming. They even had really small sizes perfect for size 20 and smaller hooks.

They have great varieties of beads, colors, sizes, thread, reasonable rates. Everything you need its here! Love this gem of a store ❤️!

I stopped in to look around while I was visiting from Oregon. The store reminded me of how SF used to be when I lived there in the 80s. Fantastic beads & stuff and great staff too. all over happy feeling!

Very helpful staff and friendly. Good variety of things for beading. Pricing reasonable. Sort of off the beaten path. Better to park on 7th or 8th. Limited parking on their street

The selection at this store is mind boggling. The staff are extremely helpful with lots of excellent information. Even the way the store is decorated is amazing. I highly recommend General Bead.

I originally discovered General Bead in 1994 when I lived in San Francisco because I needed dream catcher supplies and a friend mentioned this place. The way it was decorated and all of the jewelry supplies and very low cost, I wrote up the supply list stood on the flower and then I met Hazel and I absolutely loved her, we started talking and I made a comment about her ring and how cool it was she wrote a couple of step by step instructions for the Peyote stitch and my life has never been the same, and after I met Beverley, practiced religiously after 23 years I am in process of writing my own DIY bead needle weaving book that will be published by the end of 2018 and I owe a debt of gratitude to my hippie bead store and the two amazing women that was there to bounce ideas off of. Thanks

This place is the place for all kinds of beads and I am going to go back due to me not buying enough beads so see yall soon

If you want beads (or jewelry making items) in the Bay Area, you go to General Bead, it is that simple. They have the widest selection I have seen, and prices are solid. As an artist I feel General Bead really helps me to maximize my craft. Staff is very knowledgeable and helpful, I certainly will be back!

This place is great. No matter what project you have in mind... they probably have the item that will work!They have a lot of vintage stuff too.All kinds of findings to make jewelry. Including: sterling siver wire, gold filled wire, stones, beads, ear wires, flat back glass, clasps, fancy sew-on fringe, sequins, just to name a few.The selection is the best ever.Bead stores in SF have come and now they are all gone. At least, this one still remains .I always call ahead to make sure they have the things i need, before trecking on two buses to get there. I always find other things that inspire my creativity, too.Be sure and bring your reading glasses, because you will have to write down the item numbers, and after that, they will pull the item out of the back.This place is the biggest secret in the South of Market area. Pass the word. They also have a web site .The family that owns this store, always appreciates when you purchase something. They have a love for their store and all the findings they have collected over many years . It is great to be appreciated as a customer!

We got to the location where I would have spent a few hundred for my business. There was no way we were parking in that alley. There was a guy and gal shooting up right there on the street in view, three passed out guys and a couple of dudes hanging out that were watching us way too close. I’m from the city, so I know what to look out for but, this was ridiculous. You’ll get my business when you move. Sorry.

Quaint, understated but very complete with varieties and options. a good ole reliable place for any and all kind of beading/accessorizing needs.

HUGE selection of seed beads! While I wish they had dreamcatcher supplies, like hoops and sinew, this place has a great selection overall

I use to go to this place and shop a lot when the two very colourful girls and their boy friend use to work here, they had a great passion for beads and colour, this also was reflected in their dress and hair colors..They made this place an Only In SF experience, it was a true dream to go in here and it was a natural high.I would buy hundreds of dollars worth of seed beads for delicate hand made work that today no one really can understand. ...Trendy fashion has replaced hand made couture thanks to the disposal would of the Gypsy Klan of the Kardashians.The store now is just a run of the mill business waiting to be run over by Amazon, there is no passion in the folks who work here, there are no good finds to be found. Its very predictable.Maybe one day soon we will all wake up and realize we are all in Kansas and no matter how many times we click our heel the heart that made SF what it was a world renowned destination will be no more😡😢😤

So happy to have stumbled upon this hidden gem. So much to see, very unique collection, and friendly staff. 10/10 would stumble upon again.

I love it. It is so organized. I can always get what I need.

Loved my experience at General Bead! Staff was so helpful and knowledgeable, selection is by far the best that I have seen in the Bay Area. Will certainly be back, even though I have to travel 2+ hours just to get to the store.

This has been my go to place for beads and Swarovski crystals for years

I love this place, the people are very helpful and dog friendly.

I’ve found some amazing things there

I can spend hours in this place. I love their products and their awesome staff.

Great bead shop, a lot of different products and colors. I like being able to pick out what I want from the wall, but it does take a while to check out because everything needs to be fetched from the back and weighed/packaged.

Little gem store in the middle of nowhere. Found it by accident, great place.

I told them that I would like to move in!

Great selection of beads and jewelry supplies

The best in beads 📿

Priscilla obviously did not want to be there and was not helpful, although the other guy was super cool and friendly

Very nice.

Amazing Store

Honestly disappointed. I used to shop here fairly often but havent been able to go in person due to the pandemic as well as work and service used to be great. Unfortunately, in terms of online ordering - dont waste your time. I really wanted to support a local business especially given the current conditions and the estimate that orders would be fulfilled 3-5 days after confirmation. It took a month. If I had known, I would have prepared to purchase a few findings to tide me over first. After 2 weeks of no update in the shipping, I even sent an email and to this date, no reply. The lack of communication is very disappointing. While I would like to support a local business, Im not sure I will order again unless the service improves. A simple email regarding the estimated shipping would have sufficed.

All the girls are so nice