Here's one way to look at it - if you want a bead for a design idea you have, or maybe you just think the bead is really cool, and you are not sure what it is, or how much it's "worth", then if it's a modest purchase (say $20 or less) just go for it. It is annoying to find out later that your $20 bead can be bought elsewhere for 50 cents, but then, you have received $19.50 worth of education along with the bead. So the next time, you will know more and do better. That's how all of us have arrived where we are today in the bead collecting world.

I myself just decided to buy some beads I was not familiar with and ended up overpaying by a factor of two. It was a good lesson though!

Credit for this idea is due to "Just Fred" who has been an invaluable source of bead info and advice for the last 5 years.