Mail-order leather?

[ThisIsMyFirstRodeo]

Hey all,

Cutting to the point, where do you buy your leather online? (Everyone loves a good price, but I’m looking more at quality of product and customer service…)

I just got 4 dbl shoulders through Tandy’s website in the hopes that I might get better quality directly from the warehouse than in-store (just got a couple sides that had significant flaws that weren’t obvious by looking at them). Unfortunately, it seems that they sent us the smallest and worst pieces that they had. I would have passed on all 4 in the store. 

So where do you like to buy, and just as importantly, where do you avoid?

Thanks, and may you never burn your bacon,

AZR

[Hags]

Goliger. Talk to Cheryl. 

http://www.goligerleather.us/index.htm

 

[JDFred]

Been pretty happy with panhandle leather.

[Hildebrand]

I have had good luck with Montana Leather in Billings, MT. Get on their email list, they have specials frequently on different types of leather. 
 

Todd

[tsunkasapa]

Plus one on Montana Leather. Part of that same business family is Oregon Leather. And my other go to is Mavrick Leather in Bend, Oregon. I have bought from Maker's Leather from Texas, but only at shows. That being said, I was happy with what I got from them

[JLSleather]

23 hours ago, Hags said:

Goliger. Talk to Cheryl. 

http://www.goligerleather.us/index.htm

 

This.  And this again.

And, I've done pretty well working with Matt at Wickett-Craig.  Mostly. 

But if you like the temper of H.O., then yeah- call Cheryl.

BTW - I USED TO order leather from THe Leather Factory, before is was "Tandy Leather Factory", and never got a bad piece.  Don't know if Tandy owned it back then and just didn't use the Tandy name, or if they acquired it later.  But somewhere in there, I had to ONLY buy their leather if I SAW it first.  The one up this way has a new manager now - MAN that guy was a jerk - so maybe it's better now?

[Digit]

On 2/17/2026 at 1:14 AM, ThisIsMyFirstRodeo said:

I would have passed on all 4 in the store

That's probably why they sell it online; because they have been passed on by people in the store. Online orders are harder for a customer to reject.

I only buy in Europe and mostly chrome-tan at that, so my sources wouldn't be helpful. I usually try a first (small) order and I try to order samples too if they have them. So far I've mostly bought large cuts (sides), so there's usually sufficient good quality surface to make what I want. 

[kgg]

On 2/17/2026 at 12:14 AM, ThisIsMyFirstRodeo said:

So where do you like to buy, and just as importantly, where do you avoid?

Not that this is going to be overly helpful as I'm in Canada but I have only once tried to buy leather online. My experience may differ from others but I opened the package up, examined it and promptly return it. Unless you are dealing with a very reputable company I figure you are going to get a much poorer grade of leather, probably someone's returned piece. I now only buy leather that I can eye, touch, feel and compare pieces. Yes it is slightly more costly per piece with travel (3 -4 hour drive) but at least I get decent quality. 

kgg

 

[ThisIsMyFirstRodeo]

On 2/16/2026 at 7:40 PM, Hildebrand said:

I have had good luck with Montana Leather in Billings, MT. Get on their email list, they have specials frequently on different types of leather. 
 

Todd

Do you have any commentary/observations regarding the MTL veg tan? Or you tsunkapasa?

Edited yesterday at 12:09 AM by ThisIsMyFirstRodeo

[Hildebrand]

I have gotten 2 sides of Herman Oak from them, both were "branded" sides, I think grade A/B.  I have been pleased with both, they are large sides(sold by the side not square foot) and other than the brand the leather has been very good at least to my hobbiest eyes.

Todd