Taking Money Away From The Small Guy

[jeeperaz]

I have a tandy store less than 2 miles from my house. I rarely shop there as I find just about everything they have to be of inferior quality to products availble elsewhere... at the same cost.

[Art]

Hi Flipper,

Gas up, head South, avoid the lake, about 200 miles later you will be in Curwensville, Pennsylvania, USA and the home of Wickett and Craig. They have everything you would want from vegtanland. However, they can be trusted to send you the best of whatever leather you need, finished the way you want. Want it split, they'll do it and you get the split too if you ask, one side, they'll do it, just call 1-800-TANNERY.

That is where we get our veg anymore, they are good folks.

Art

I am in the same boat. Leather suppliers in Canada are very few and far between and the prices are always brutal because they know its either buy online and pay expensive shipping plus shipping time or buy our expensive crap.

So its now come to the point that I am just waiting for my credit card and I am going to buy a few in bulk.

[whinewine]

Hi Flipper,

Gas up, head South, avoid the lake, about 200 miles later you will be in Curwensville, Pennsylvania, USA and the home of Wickett and Craig. They have everything you would want from vegtanland. However, they can be trusted to send you the best of whatever leather you need, finished the way you want. Want it split, they'll do it and you get the split too if you ask, one side, they'll do it, just call 1-800-TANNERY.

That is where we get our veg anymore, they are good folks.

Art

And let me know if/when you're coming (via pm). I live about an hour south. We could meet up (& crash at my place if you're tired).

russ

[Spinner]

Hi Flipper,

Gas up, head South, avoid the lake, about 200 miles later you will be in Curwensville, Pennsylvania, USA and the home of Wickett and Craig. They have everything you would want from vegtanland. However, they can be trusted to send you the best of whatever leather you need, finished the way you want. Want it split, they'll do it and you get the split too if you ask, one side, they'll do it, just call 1-800-TANNERY.

That is where we get our veg anymore, they are good folks.

Art

Same here. I'm in California and do mail order with W&C and have had nothing but nice leather come from them.

Gets here pretty quick too. Just tell them what grade/quality you're looking for and they'll pick it for you.

They'll even cut and then split if needed. Someone just recently made mention of ordering a side that they had cut in half and had the halves split to two different thicknesses.

[cem]

I am in the same boat. Leather suppliers in Canada are very few and far between and the prices are always brutal because they know its either buy online and pay expensive shipping plus shipping time or buy our expensive crap.

So its now come to the point that I am just waiting for my credit card and I am going to buy a few in bulk.

Same here in West Oz there are two shops and one wholesaler, the two shops lets just say I won't touch them for leather I'm not about to remortgage my house for access to their expensive offerings. The wholesaler is pretty good when they have what I want in stock otherwise it's a wait for them to get stock from Sydney and they may or may not send what I want.

The other Sydney supplier that carries Hermann Oak and Wickett & Craig which I currently want to try seems to have an adversion of wanting to sell me stuff. I've been waiting over a week for them to get back to me. I think it might be easier just to use Springfield for Hermann Oak and deal with Wickett Craig directly even if I just have to get a full side.

Edited March 2, 2011 by cem

[TexasJack]

Tandy is kinda the Walmart of leather suppliers. They have a little of everything, the quality varies from barely useful to mostly OK, and they have stores all over the place. They are what they are. There aren't many who've become millionaires making leather goods. (Any?) There probably aren't many millionaires who decide to take up leathercraft. So Tandy serves a purpose. There are places that sell better stuff and they get a premium for that. It's all part of business.

You had a bad experience with Tandy, and we all understand the frustration. I hope your next purchase works out better, whether it's from Tandy or someone else.

[BIGGUNDOCTOR]

That is why I never mail order certain items like leather, and shoes. What you need to do is find a shop that has a sales person that will work with you, that you can email a pic to or that will understand exactly what you are expecting to get. and who you can ask for each time you call. I have a Tandy down the road from me in Fabulous Las Vegas, so I can pick out what I may need,sorry that you do not have the same opportunity to do so yourself. I am actually fairly surprised that you don't have better access to leather with your location considering how many leather goods are made that way.

When I was heavy into the gun parts a number of years ago I found a company that had a salesman that hit it off with me. He would call with specials on military surplus items that they had, and he would give me the no BS answer when I asked about condition, It they were dented, or dinged he told me. I still bought alot from him because I knew exactly what I was going to get. After awhile he knew what I liked, and he would call if something came in that might interest me. Over the years we developed a good business relationship.

Don't give up, and that scrap leather has lots of uses. Try making some sandals, and use it for the soles. It could also be used for stacked handles, or utility items like ax sheaths, work cuffs, and other things that don't have to be pretty, just work.

[cem]

I know your frustration when it comes to ordering leather reddevil finally heard back from supplier which is good except they don't do smaller cuts on the Hermann Oak and Wickett & Craig (would of liked to try it first before getting full sides), I wish they had put that on their website it would of saved me some time and I could of had some on it's way from overseas by now. I think I will be doing what BIGGUNDOCTOR suggested I'm gearing up for at least a part time business by the end of the year and need to find a good supplier.

[Chief31794]

I like buying leather from Zack White, they Split it to the thickness you prescribe, sell it reasonable, and ship it very fast. I use Tandy a lot with the elite membership, however, if I want a side of leather to work with, Tom the store manager in Jacksonville, FL (150 miles away) takes my order, I then explain what I'm looking for and he goes through the piles making sure I get what I need. Great guy to work with. I still won't buy most hardware (purse closures, etc from him because the quality is non existent), I buy most of my hardware from the Ohio Travel Bag company. Great folks there as well. I've had very few bad experiences with either of them and when I do get something from Tandy that isn't right, I call Tom and he makes it right quick. I visit the store about once a month (My Mom lives in Jacksonville) and make it a point to talk with Tom and build a relationship so that I'm not just an anonymous voice on the phone. As for tools, particularly stamps, I don't like to buy from Tandy unless I see them and try them out on some scrap in the store before I purchase them to ensure they are sharp and no defects in the face. The last several stamps I have bought have been Barry King and those I don't have to go try but at $25-60 at BK vs $4.80 for elite price at Tandy you have to weigh that in. After weighing, I am buying most of my stamps (and I seldom need any as I have a large quantity) from Barry King.

Ken

Edited March 2, 2011 by Chief31794

[reddevil76]

I know your frustration when it comes to ordering leather reddevil finally heard back from supplier which is good except they don't do smaller cuts on the Hermann Oak and Wickett & Craig (would of liked to try it first before getting full sides), I wish they had put that on their website it would of saved me some time and I could of had some on it's way from overseas by now. I think I will be doing what BIGGUNDOCTOR suggested I'm gearing up for at least a part time business by the end of the year and need to find a good supplier.

When making a wallet for example, it might just need 2 sq foot of leather. But then, there will wastage, or worse, mistakes. On top of that, for the entire side, not every inch is usable, especially when the defects are in inconvenient places. With all these adding up, if we can save on shipping, we try. If it means a little wait for the supplier, it might just be worth it. Afterall, it would also be cheaper to return the leather in the event of a problem.

That said, Springfield Leather has been treating me right and I would recommend them if you do need to go overseas like me.

How much is it (approx) to ship a side from US to Oz? It cost me $155 to ship 4 light weight sides. 2 in 4-5 oz, and 2 in 3-4 oz.