Anyone else getting sick and tired of paying premium prices and being sent scuffed up lower grade hides?

[Handstitched]

I know its not possible for everyone, but  I much prefer to pick my hides up directly from my supplier, even though its 2-3hrs drive  to the busy  ' big smoke' .  I'll be getting some on Friday .  I let them know what I need ,  I'll let them know before my arrival, they'll have the hides rolled out for me to pick & choose when I arrive .  "  Yep, I'll have that that that  & that" . Rarely have I rejected one. After buying from the same supplier for many years, I have a good rapport  with my supplier, that helps. 

HS

[SpruceMoose]

Too bad Hermann Oaks' only Canadian distributor was a bad experience. They were very nice over the phone, answered my questions, i even stated i was a new customer and have been having difficulty with quality and wanted the best money can buy, they (the owner actually) recommended a certain grade and assured that they send out quality. Received scuffed up damaged product, sent photos politely inquiring if this was what they considered quality for the grade(did not ask to return as for holiday orders it was needed immediately) they stated that it was high quality and is what is to be expected for said grade. 

Disappointed in their customer service and quality especially as a mom and pop shop. 

Trying to work around long burnished drag and scuff marks that travel almost the length of the hide is a nuisance for a 500 dollar hide, 

Another company off of my possible supplier list. 

 

 

[Burkhardt]

10 hours ago, SpruceMoose said:

Received scuffed up damaged product, sent photos

Could you post the photos?

[SpruceMoose]

11 hours ago, Burkhardt said:

Could you post the photos?

Maybe I'm crazy and my expectations are too high, I was going to buy straight a/b grade but the company owner suggested the a/b branded grade and assured me it was fantastic and it was the exact same quality as a/b hermann oak just with a  brand, But to me this is utility grade with numerous huge drag marks from handling, there's a bunch vertical as well but they blend in with the fat marks, hard to photograph. Dye doesn't hide burnished in markings and scuffs from man handling. 500.00. 

(Note: I am not talking about the brand or the fat marks, this i obviously do not mind as it's part of leather, i buy about 6-10 sides a year over the past decade, but just the quality is getting worse or my luck as well, i just want to pay good money for good leather and am tired of companies saying what's pictured here is the best grade you can buy)

 

Edited November 15, 2023 by SpruceMoose
added photo

[fredk]

Why not send it back as unacceptable ?

Do that a few times and they'll get the message

[kgg]

1 hour ago, SpruceMoose said:

Note: I am not talking about the brand or the fat marks, this i obviously do not mind as it's part of leather, i buy about 6-10 sides a year over the past decade, but just the quality is getting worse or my luck as well, i just want to pay good money for good leather and am tired of companies saying what's pictured here is the best grade you can buy

I would have sent it back.

kgg

[chuck123wapati]

2 minutes ago, fredk said:

Why not send it back as unacceptable ?

Do that a few times and they'll get the message

they will just sell it to some other person more ignorant of the quality. they don't care and that is the problem  i ranted about this a while back on a post then when I emailed and told them that they actually said I may be banned from buying from them lol. Then I had to explain who the customer was with the money and who wanted to sell and who was really banned form the process.

[SpruceMoose]

40 minutes ago, fredk said:

Why not send it back as unacceptable ?

Do that a few times and they'll get the message

I normally would have sent it back but i am in a christmas order time crunch. Plus they do not accept returns for any reason so it would have been a battle.

 

Good to know i'm not just overly expectant. Just a shame, thought the only official canadian HO distributor would have a better judgment of quality/grade

[kgg]

32 minutes ago, chuck123wapati said:

told them that they actually said I may be banned from buying from them lol. Then I had to explain who the customer was with the money and who wanted to sell and who was really banned form the process.

And they wonder why people buy imported stuff from not so environmentally protective countries. What a shame.

kgg

[fredk]

2 minutes ago, SpruceMoose said:

. . . Plus they do not accept returns for any reason so it would have been a battle.

A lot of firms say that but it means nothing, You have consumer rights. I doubt that they vary much. You have the right to expect goods of merchantable quality. As for getting your money back; how did you pay? I prefer credit card. Then I can cancel the payment, even months later. The credit card company is your insurance