Tandy stores...3 strikes. (rant)

[antipaladin]

I almost always purchase my leather via mail order, but on occasion I've had need to go into a Tandy leather store for a double shoulder for cartridge loops or other low end tasks. Unfortunately, most of the hides in their stores are complete and utter crap even though the prices are high. I can buy a beautiful Sedgewick bridle back for the cost of a rancid Tandy side. I actually don't mind much because it gives me the chance to get a firsthand view of what defective hides look like. (stretch marks, brands, runoff, holes, etc.) What I do mind is getting the "cold shoulder" from the staff for inadvertently "messing up" the stacks looking for the one hide out of 50 I can actually use. Maybe if they put the good ones in one place I wouldn't have to spend 2 hours looking for them....maybe I'm crazy for thinking it's poor customer service to bitch at a customer instead of saying "I've noticed you seem to be pretty picky about the quality of what you buy...why don't you call me the day before you come down and I'll pick out a few pieces for you so you don't have to waste half your day here? Maybe, heaven forbid, "Can I help you find something?" then actually LOOKING for a quality piece instead of expecting me to take the first random hide thrown on the table regardless of defects and rolling your eyes.

I know I'm shopping at the restaurant equivalent of McDonalds, but I'm not looking for Filet Mignon. I just don't want to buy a hamburger with cigarette butts in it.

In any event, I don't care how inconvenient it is to wait for mail order leather, I'm never setting foot in a Tandy store again. <rant off>

Edited February 1, 2009 by antipaladin

[Kani]

Hate to hear you had a bad experience. Our Tandy store manager is very nice. I rummage thru alot of stuff and they have never acted or done anything to make me feel that way. Matter of fact Steve goes out of his way to help.

Sounds like you had a horrible experience with the clerk. I don't think Tandy Corp. would care for people like that running their stores. Was it the manager or just a clerk. If clerk I would talk to the manager about them.

[Ian]

The guy who owns the Tandy close to where I am is a nice guy, and very helpful, but I think he knows and is embarrassed by the low quality stuff he has to sell. Tandy is cutting it's own throat and those of their franchisees by continually downgrading the quality of their products. There was a time when people had few options except for their local Tandy. With the Internet, it is no problem to find professional quality leather, hardware and supplies.

Not that they are asking my opinion, but if they did, I would suggest they carry items in two grades: craft and professional. Though, considering the prices for what they currently sell, I hate to think what they would charge for high grade stuff.

It's too bad though, because it would be nice to be able to buy locally and support a small business. However, hardware that rusts, grade C leather and Ecoflo (aghh!) keeps me away unless it's a real emergency.

[Rayban]

I almost always purchase my leather via mail order, but on occasion I've had need to go into a Tandy leather store for a double shoulder for cartridge loops or other low end tasks. Unfortunately, most of the hides in their stores are complete and utter crap even though the prices are high. I can buy a beautiful Sedgewick bridle back for the cost of a rancid Tandy side. I actually don't mind much because it gives me the chance to get a firsthand view of what defective hides look like. (stretch marks, brands, runoff, holes, etc.) What I do mind is getting the "cold shoulder" from the staff for inadvertently "messing up" the stacks looking for the one hide out of 50 I can actually use. Maybe if they put the good ones in one place I wouldn't have to spend 2 hours looking for them....maybe I'm crazy for thinking it's poor customer service to bitch at a customer instead of saying "I've noticed you seem to be pretty picky about the quality of what you buy...why don't you call me the day before you come down and I'll pick out a few pieces for you so you don't have to waste half your day

I know I'm shopping at the restaurant equivalent of McDonalds, but I'm not looking for Filet Mignon. I just don't want to buy a hamburger with cigarette butts in it.

I get nothing but helpful service at my local Tandy store...I wonder if your attitude has anything to do with it???

[BillB]

I have been very happy with the Tandy Store in Richmond, Va. The owner knows the work I do and when I call in an order they always look for and send me quality hides. To keep the record straight, I work in the 3,4,5 oz range. Even when I have gone to the store, the owner has been very help full by pulling out all the hides of the weight I am looking for and personally going through each one to find the highest quality hides for me to choose from and then worrying about the mess later. I don't know if there is a regional difference going on here since I don't know which of the tannery's Tandy is pulling from. One thing I have learned over the years is not to buy from the "On Sale" racks from ANYONE since that is usually the "Left Overs" that no one else wants. The other thing I have never looked into but have a feeling may apply is which store is Tandy owned and which Tandy store is a Franchise owned store. One final comment is in regards to any large corporation with stores/dealers: there will always be good stores and bad stores and mediocre stores whether they sell leather products or Cars or Motorcycles.

BillB

[Go2Tex]

Yeah, in a pinch I've resorted to trying to find a good piece of leather at a Tandy store. It's hard, but I've never had an employee give me a hard time about looking. They usually are very helpful. It's just that they don't have much good leather and it's no bargain. You pay top dollar for it. Now, that's veg tan, tooling stuff. They have lots of other leather that is useful at times, lining, chap, splits, hair on. Like I said, in a pinch.... saves on shipping and you can touch and feel. At least you walk out knowing what you have. Plus, as long as you're there, pick up some rubber cement, try some new dye color, a few replacement blades, lace. Might as well pay for your gas in savings on shipping.

It would be nice if they would listen up here and start carrying better quality leather. I just hope the economy doesn't drive them out of business.

[antipaladin]

RE: Attitude

Actually I like to think I have a good attitude. I'm pretty much a live and let live, Zen kind of guy. I don't expect to be treated like royalty, just like a good customer. And it's not every Tandy store. Boston, Pennsylvania, several in California have all been wonderful.(still lousy leather, but nice) Probably my biggest mistake is expectations and showing some frustration about how high the prices are and the quality. When I call Siegel's, the customer service rep has often spent 30 minutes or more on a call with me, sometimes having to personally check stock for specific aspects of an order, always with a cheerful attitude. Maybe I'm just a grumpy middle aged man who wishes the world was more like the good old days when people seemed to be more polite to each other and everything wasn't so impersonal. I've gotten it out of my system now.

Edited February 1, 2009 by antipaladin

[antipaladin]

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Edited February 1, 2009 by antipaladin

[Drac]

hopefully your tandy issues didn't happen at the one in atlanta. every time I go into that one, everyone that works there is super friendly and helpful not only to me, but to everyone that comes in while I'm there. yeah, the vegtan and suede hide quality at tandy is hit or miss these days, but the service (since jimmy was put in as manager at the atlanta location) has always been really great.

[skipj]

I didn't know all Tandy stores weren't owned by Tandy! Learn something new every day.

[wildrose]

Tandy was bought by The Leather Factory a couple years back, which began to reopen the stores under the Tandy name (I suppose as it was more recognizable). There are still Leather Factory locations around too (I know of one in Harrisburg, PA) So stores are owned by Tandy Leather Factory.

I myself have had mixed experiences at stores in various locations. Most of the time, it was not the manager who was the problem. Let's face it: finding quality help can be a challenge at that pay scale. It's that way in most businesses of that sort (i.e. Michael's, AC Moore, etc etc...) There was an employee (no longer there) at the Allentown Tandy who was forever on my little guy's case for rearranging spools of lace - as if he was going to break something??? We always put stuff back where it came from, and I've been a loyal customer for many years before I had a child. I don't let the kid run rampant in the store, yet here was this young guy going "oh be careful, oh don't touch that" etc. Drove me batty. On the other hand, the manager was like "let him make towers if he wants" and "let's show him how our bearded dragon (lizard) eats crickets!"

Some people just shouldn't be in people related jobs.

As to the quality of the leather, I will totally agree it leaves alot to be desired, and is expensive. But I don't have the money for higher grade stuff.

[Art]

TLF is, in my opinion, about the same as A.C. Moore, Hobby Lobby, Michael's, JoAnn's, and others who cater to beginning crafters and hobbyists and also to a more limited extent to professional crafters. TLF does provide pricing levels to serve the beginner, crafter, and pro; I wish they had quality levels to match, but that hasn't happened yet. I think all of these companies expect pros to go to Siegel, Rio Grande, Weaver, and others for a lot of their needs, and they are happy to serve the beginner and the next level up for most of their needs. The support they provide with classes and meeting spaces are a need they fill that can't be provided by Internet suppliers. To support store structures and the employee base to back it up, you need to have higher margins than wholesalers, considerably higher. To keep prices down and margins up, they seek out better prices because that is what the customer wants. It is very important that the store be there for the leatherworking community.

When you, as a serious leatherworker, visit a TLF store, get to know the manager and deal only with them. Managers have to hire staff that might or might not have any leather OR retail experience. In other instances they have to hire family who frankly my dear, don't give a damn. Usually the manager is knowledgeable and dedicated and really wants you to get what you need.

Support your local leather shop as best you can.

Art

I almost always purchase my leather via mail order, but on occasion I've had need to go into a Tandy leather store for a double shoulder for cartridge loops or other low end tasks. Unfortunately, most of the hides in their stores are complete and utter crap even though the prices are high. I can buy a beautiful Sedgewick bridle back for the cost of a rancid Tandy side. I actually don't mind much because it gives me the chance to get a firsthand view of what defective hides look like. (stretch marks, brands, runoff, holes, etc.) What I do mind is getting the "cold shoulder" from the staff for inadvertently "messing up" the stacks looking for the one hide out of 50 I can actually use. Maybe if they put the good ones in one place I wouldn't have to spend 2 hours looking for them....maybe I'm crazy for thinking it's poor customer service to bitch at a customer instead of saying "I've noticed you seem to be pretty picky about the quality of what you buy...why don't you call me the day before you come down and I'll pick out a few pieces for you so you don't have to waste half your day here? Maybe, heaven forbid, "Can I help you find something?" then actually LOOKING for a quality piece instead of expecting me to take the first random hide thrown on the table regardless of defects and rolling your eyes.

I know I'm shopping at the restaurant equivalent of McDonalds, but I'm not looking for Filet Mignon. I just don't want to buy a hamburger with cigarette butts in it.

In any event, I don't care how inconvenient it is to wait for mail order leather, I'm never setting foot in a Tandy store again. <rant off>

[whinewine]

I know the manager of the Atlanta store; first met him when he was the Pittsburgh PA manager when I was just starting back into leatherwork right after retiring from the Department of Corrections. Jimmy Walthrop is a fantastic individual who always went out of his way to give my son & me the absolute best service (and, the most honest advice!!) whenever we would stop & shop. I have nothing but the highest regard for him! He has always treated us with respect & professionalism. He's one of the 'old school' guys- you don't find those rare gems too often anymore.

(Drac: next time you stop, tell Jimmy that Russ from Altoona says "hi!")

[Johanna]

I know Jimmy Waldrep from Pgh. too, and my "old guild", the Georgia Leathercrafters, has said nothing but good things about him since he went to Atlanta. I'm a veteran store manager of JoAnn's and Tandy. Good help is hard to find. Some people can teach, some people can sell. It it hard to find both of those qualities in the same person. Without Tandy stores to serve as point-of-contacts for leather guilds, all the guilds suffered when the stores closed in the late 90s. If there is something you wish would change in your local leather store, Tandy or not, talk to the manager. The managers know you can buy your stuff from anyone, and they will go out of their way to make sure you want to call on them.

Johanna

[TrooperChuck]

I've only ever been to one TLF store, the one in Spokane, WA. It's a 100 miles drive for me, so I only go there every month or two. But, EVERY time I go there the folks who work there are polite, helpful, and fun to chat with.

Like others have already mentioned, my biggest gripe with TLF is the quality of the stuff they sell. The saddle skirting is usually marginal quality and some of their tools are, well... crap.

I'm going to start ording more stuff from other companies, but I think I'll always find a reason to go to the TLF store. If nothing else, the business I do there helps keep a few local people employed.

[MADMAX22]

Im in a similer position to Trooperchuck in that I have to drive about 45min to get to my nearest tandy. Ive shopped exclusivley with them for the past year for the one main reason was that I could pick out my leather. And the sale prices on the leather are pretty good. However if you look at the regular (wholesale price) its not any better then weaver/WandC/or the others.

Lately I have been very disapointed in leather quality to the point that my last two trips I didnt by any tooling leather. Ive got Wand C on the way and will see how I like there leather.

Ive also got some tools that I need to return to tandy. I like some of there stuff but Im beginning to realize that the crafttool stamps arent worth spending the money on. I found some older ones on ebay and they are so much better then there newer stuff. I have started taking files to them and what not trying to get some definition.

I personally think the sales staff at both the tacohma store and the seattle store are outstanding and ready to help, and never minded when I scoured thru there leather or came up to the counter with $500 dollars worth of stuff to buy with 2 adds and the online sales printed out. Also if it wasnt for tandy I wouldnt have gotten into the leather working like I have been. Went in to get some stuff to do a motorcycle seat and the next thing ya know Im finding leatherworker.net and making all kinds of stuff.

[antipaladin]

I'm not going to put the specific store name down...it wasn't a manager and like people have mentioned, good help can be hard to find and you have to work with the raw material you're given (people and leather). Maybe I'll mention it in a productive way the next time I'm desperate enough to have to go in. I think a previous poster's suggestion to deal directly with the manager of the store is very good one.

I have to agree with people's assessment of the Atlanta store manager...very nice guy. Always a cheerful word for the customers.

Edited February 1, 2009 by antipaladin

[Ian]

If nothing else, the business I do there helps keep a few local people employed.

I'm huge on buying locally - my New Years resolution as a matter of fact. I swiotched from my mega bank to the local credit union, switched to a local insurance company, stopped grocery shopping at the foreign owned supermarket and buy from local meat, bakery and vegetable shops.

However you have to get the best stuff you can, so if my local hardware and feed store doesn't have what I want, I have to hit the big box.

I understand Tandy's pricing (LF buys at wholesale, doubles the price to sell to franchisees and they in turn double it to sell retail), but there is no way to make a profit when a veg tanned belt blank is 18 bucks and the belt buckles are 4 times Weaver's price. I feel badly for the East Hartford franchisee - I've been in there and was told by the clerk that I was the only customer that had been in there all day. He has been in business long enough to know that what he's selling isn't grade 1, but a franchisee has to sell what the parent company offers. It's not his fault at all. I just wish Tandy would see that their business will dwindle to nothing if they continue on this trend. Because, what a shame if the last national leather retail shop went under. So, I do try to get a few things to justify the half hour drive, but often I wander around and honestly can't find anything I want.