The Tandy here in Calgary must be run diferently than the ones in the US. This one has such a large inventory of pretty much every leather you could imagine for the hobbyist. They are EXTREMELY helpful and VERY Friendly. Granted, they do only stock the cheap tools and stamps, but that's because they are catering to the hobbyist.
I also only had to produce a business card for them to give me wholesale pricing, no tax number or business licence.
The only leather I don't buy from them is "High End" garment leather in which I make my vests from, this I get from another supplier across town. They also only needed a business card as proof for wholesale pricing.
I've also thought that it would be great to work for Tandy, just to be able to meet and communicate with others that do leatherwork.
Oh, Johanna, that Rube Goldberg contraption is actually still used today to check the accuracy of the laser machines that determine the sq. footage of leather hides. It is the most accurate of all the machines ever built to do this task. Just a laser machine is quicker.
Ken