I’m looking for a new source for silver chains. I used to get pretty
good prices from Fire Mountain Gems but was just about to place an
order with them and noticed their prices on chains has doubled. I
know the price of silver has gone up but it hasn’t doubled.
I’m looking for 2mm rope chains, 18" and 20", in quantities of a
dozen.
Rio Grande has them. 2.1mm 18" #632-343/18 packages of 2 $10.97 each
package for 5-9 packages. 20" #632-343/20 packages of 2 $11.75 each
package for 5-9 packages.
I’m not sure what your time frame reference is for the statement
"silver has gone up but it hasn’t doubled." In my world, silver
market prices have gone up from a fairly steady and consistent
$5.50/oz to $14.00/oz in about one year. That’s only a 254%
increase!!! That’s not doubled…it’s pushing triple!!! If silver
in your part of the world is less than $11.00/oz, I’d sure like to
rent or borrow a dump truck, cash in the portfolio, sell a few loved
ones, beg on the street corner and get up there to load up on the
bargain.
When you say that silver is up, but it hasn’t doubled in price, that
isn’t strictly accurate; depends on what time period you’re talking
about. Regardless, Fire Mountain may be a good source for some
things, but silver chain sure ain’t one of them. Call Azur Global
Imports at (800) 447-4583 or www.azur1com
Great service, shipping, & selection, and unless you’re buying major
quantity, I doubt you’ll be able to get better prices anywhere else,
either. No affiliation, just a satisfied customer.
I just bought silver coin frames from Rio out of a three year old
catalog. The price in the catalog was $4.63 each. I fully expected
it to be considerably more now, but was stunned when it came in at
$21. each. Silver is definitely up!
The last time I ordered for Fire Mountain Gems was 6 months ago the
chains I selected were $8. The silver market was around $13. Now the
chains are $16 and the silver market is at $14. A 100% increase in
the price of their chains when the silver market increased 20%.
I know time flies when you are having fun but silver has not been
in the $5/oz range since January 2004 when it broke into the 6$/oz
territory.
You’re totally correct. Time, at this point in my life and the
involvement with my passion, has been pushed time up into the mach 2
speed range. I just got very used to a fairly steady $5.50 silver
market for what seemed like a very long time. Thanks for heading me
toward the 21st century and the unpalatable prospect of $15.00+
silver.
Coment: I, for one, have been a little surprised that I haven’t
heard a lot of resistence or experienced a slow down in business
because ot the huge increase in metal costs. Back in the 'ole days,
it
seemed like there was a lot of moaning and down time if silver went
up even $.50 Have we all been desensitized to price increases by what
we now have to pay at the gas pump?
If you are looking for a good wholesale source of chain, both
finished and unfinished, try metaliferous. If you go to the website
they have the whole catalog online. I have ordered from them for
years with good prices and consistant quality.
I use bluemud.com, fast reasonable shipping, good prices (18" snake
chain from 6.84 to $ 5.13 depending on your discount level, even
cheaper in the 10-packs ), good quality, sometimes they run out of
some items but worth checking.
I, for one, have been a little surprised that I haven’t heard a lot
of resistence or experienced a slow down in business because ot the
huge increase in metal costs. Back in the 'ole days, it seemed like
there was a lot of moaning and down time if silver went up even $.50
Have we all been desensitized to price increases by what we now have
to pay at the pump?
Are they desensitized or just plain stunned? As to the outrageous
price of silver, I’m not whining, I’m fuming! Fortunately, before
the meteoric rise in prices, I had laid in a good supply of silver,
and I have resolved to use every single bit of it until the prices
come back down. This may sound a bit theatrical, but it makes for an
interesting challenge. Which will come down first: my supply of
silver or its price?
I wouldn’t hold my breath waiting on metal prices to come down
anytime soon. A number of factors are at play here. A few of the
biggies are 1) Price is going up due to the fact that the US $ is
being beat to death by the Euro $. That scenario is likely to
continue for some time. 2) Prec. metal prices have been linked to
petroleum & other energy prices, which are destined to continue on an
upward scale. 3) Platinum & rhodium prices are being killed by supply
problems in Russia. Russia has placed serious limitations on how much
can be exported for over 4 months now. Be sure to checkout kitco.com.
Its a precious metals market & news site-loaded with reports,
analysis, uptodate market prices, etc…
A 100% increase in the price of their chains when the silver
market increased 20%.
I am not an apologist for any of these folks, but a possible
explanation is the “straw that broke the camel’s back”. Sometimes
suppliers hold the price, hoping the inflation will pass, then
finally have to raise it dramatically.
I just bought hammers from Rio that I need for students. The price
for one item is the same as last year. However, last year they
offered me a $10-per-hammer discount at the quantity I needed, and
this year could only offer $6 off because of metals price increases.
It seems silly, maybe, not to have raised the base price, but it
often happens that way.
If, on the other hand, your items have been keeping pace with
increases, then shot up-- that’s gouging!
If, on the other hand, your items have been keeping pace with
increases, then shot up-- that's gouging!
I had ordered chains from Fire Mountain Gems (FMG) in the past and
found their price fluctuated with the silver market. Then bang they
doubled. Thanks to the good folks of Orchid I now have some good
alternate sources. The only problem is that FMG carried a 2mm
sterling foxtail chain that a good seller and I haven’t been able to
find sterling foxtail from any other source. But 2mm snake chain at
the good prices I found (thanks again Orchid) are better
replacements.