The purpose of my guide is to warn buyers about cheap Chinese metal beads which many bead sellers choose to describe as Tibetan Silver.

Also to make it clear to these sellers that they are actually breaking the law by describing them  as containing more silver than they contain and by not notifying their customers of potential hazzards concerning these Zinc/lead/amalagam beads.

During the past few weeks I have trawled ebay and located many, many, bead sellers (some will have listings advertised on this very page) who blatantly make false or inacurate claims for these beads such as :

"Contain at least 20% silver", 'lead free', and  a few even went as far as to list the beads within their 'silver' category!

Most refused to consider that they were misleading buyers in any way by calling their beads 'Tibetan Silver' because that is the name that their Chinese suppliers give to these base metal beads. Perhaps the sellers and buyer should be interested in the: Sale of Goods Act 1979

This law applies to contracts made between traders and consumers and gives three conditions:

1) Goods must be as described

2) Any description you give for the goods you are selling must be accurate.

3) Goods must be of satisfactory quality. This means that when bought they must be safe.

The act states that anyone who, in the course of trade or business (on ebay or off!) wrongly describes any goods, or supplies, or offers to supply any goods which have been falsely described is guilty of an offence.

You will be liable even if you do not realise that the goods are wrongly described. Also, in many circumstances, you will be liable for the actions of your employees too.

The act defines what is meant by trade description. It includes: Quantity, size, gauge, method of manufacture, composition (what the goods are made of) etc....

Trading standards have powers to make test purchases, enter premises to inspect goods and ask you to produce books and documents relating to your business as evidence.

Further to this though, and more importantly is the health and safely issue regarding 'Tibetan Silver' beads.When this random sample was tested for lead, they came back with a positive reading!

Many of you will be aware of how dangerous lead is, easpecially to young children. Who can forget the recent tragedy in the US regarding a Reebok charm bracelet which was manufactured in China and contained 99% lead. The child who ingested it sadly died of lead poisoning! 

Children are particularly vulnerable to the effects of toxic chemicals. They put things in their mouths, they have small bodies so that the amount produces a bigger effective dose and their brains are still developing so neurotoxins like lead have greater effect.

The moral of the tale must be:

Don't buy these beads if you have young children or are pregnant.

Don't buy beads from non reputable sellers who are not prepared to research their products contents in order to sell a safe product to you. (Telling you that their Chinese supplier told them this or that does not count at trading standards so sellers beware!)

Do ask sellers questions and, if you are not completely satisfied with their answers do not buy from them. Real Tibetan Silver is purer than sterling silver and would be very expensive unlike their cheap counterparts.

If you think you have been misled by a seller, report them to trading standards.

Home testing kits for lead can be bought online from Abotex Enterprises Ltd if you need to check your purchases for yourselves or your local trading standards will be able to test metals for you if you feel the product may have been misrepresented.

Thank you for reading this report.

Bead happily and safely!