@StevesTrail thanks for the advice. I have bid on eBay quite a bit and it is so frustrating to watch those prices rise! I am excited to watch and learn on the auction sites.
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Hi @Turquoiseandtattoos. I’m sorry you had bad experiences with your first two purchases. Loss of stones does happen, especially when you buy older pieces. As previously stated you have no idea if it’s been flexed, dunked in water, etc. But, from a person who had the same experience with one of the more costly purchases I made when I was first collecting, don’t let it deter you from purchasing pieces you love. Sometimes if you examine, and attempt to wiggle the stones, you can tell if a stone is loose. To avoid sending your pieces away for repair, look around your area to see if there is a local jewelry who knows Native American jewelry and does repairs. I found a wonderful jeweler who is fabulous and has experience working with NA sterling/coin jewelry. It’s a nice option to sending jewelry away for repair.
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I’ve been pretty lucky on SGW, and have also lost out on a number of items to someone with deeper pockets, all part of the game I tell myself. I did bid above my comfort zone on a Navajo pearl and turquoise pendant and necklace that looked so much like one my grandmother had (and was stolen with other lovely pieces when their house was broken into many years ago). Once I received it I was amazed at how hefty the whole thing was - so feel like it was worth it, but it was definitely not my normal M.O. 
I’ve had only a couple of items that were “meh” once they came in the mail, but turned around and sold them on ebay, or used them as part of a cowgirl outfit donation for our local FFA Alumni fundraising auction, so it’s all good in the end.
I do learn a lot on this forum, and am willing to do more online learning (go down that rabbit hole) after some of our conversations and discoveries here.
I will second (third and fourth…) sending items in to Perry Null for repair work. I’ve sent 3 things in (two pair of earrings to convert and replace a stone in a watchband that had fallen out) and have been super pleased with how they all turned out.
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Speaking of regular old Goodwill - thank you to the person that donated a pair of $320 Baccarat old fashioned bar glasses that I bought for $8.00. I will be drinking in style.
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