Working for Tandy

[Cecil]

I started leatherworking again earlier this year after a 40 year break. I have noticed a lot of Tandy bashing which surprised me. I have noticed the quality of there figure carving stamps is not what it was.

Be that as it may, the craft would not be where it is were it not for Tandy. The person that tought me in 1062 and everyone I have known since then that does or has ever done leatherwork, until I joined this forum, got started using Tandy tools and materials.

I can't work but, I would be interested in teaching at a Tandy Store.

Edited January 17, 2008 by Cecil

[Michael Sheldon]

I use Tandy for odds and ends, mostly conchos. My primary materials however, I get elsewhere.

My biggest gripe with Tandy is quality. The quality of their goods is not up to other suppliers, and even at business pricing, they're usually more expensive as well.

As for the craftool stamps? After having acquired some custom stamps, and a few of the Hidecrafter high-end stamps, I'll never buy another craftool again. Quite frankly, the quality is garbage.

It's really too bad, because I like my local Tandy store manager, he's a great guy.

[electrathon]

I think Tandy is the Wal-Mart of the leather world.

[Beaverslayer]

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

[rdb]

The "Pinwheel" is still a standard leather measuring machine. Lasers are replacing them in new tanneries, but all the old tried and true places, won't spend for the "upgrade". Why fix something that ain't broke.

[Studio-N]

I liked working for Tandy, but I learned quickly to keep my mouth shut at IFoLG shows about it.

Ditto. I've expanded that to mostly keeping my mouth shut on internet boards. Yes, I work for TLF and that's all I'm saying.

peace.

[wildrose]

I wanted to vote, but kept getting an error....I have never worked for Tandy but would in a heartbeat if it was close enough and they had an opening. Because mine is the second income, pay wouldn't matter as much. I think they would like me for my customer service, retail experience, teaching experience, and knowledge of their stock.

[wolvenstien]

The person that tought me in 1062 and everyone I have known since.......

Cecil, you are older than dirt.... Keep on toolin!

I think Tandy is the Wal-Mart of the leather world.

That is a very strong statement..... not saying you are wrong, just that it is a strong statement.

[abn]

But then you would have to deal with customers like me.

**shudder** That fact alone will prevent me from ever working at Tandy! ^_^

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.

There are good Tandys in the U.S., too! My local Tandy (the Richmond, Va. store) is well-run by very personable people who know my name and are eager to help me out. I deal exclusively with Tandy by choice. I've always been able to find top-quality leather, as long as I visit the store and look through everything to find what I want. I will definitely concede that for the money, Hidecrafters offers better stamps, and that's the only non-Tandy stuff I have in my shop. I consider myself a serious hobbyist, and Tandy suits me just fine.

I wish folks would stop apologizing for working for a good company!

Alex

Edited January 18, 2008 by abn

[BillB]

I would like to add a different point of view and that is the decline in any and all Hand Craft Hobbies whether it be leather craft, wood burning, plastic or metal model building or electronics for that matter. If you look at what happened to Tandy, and I remember the store in Baltimore, Md in the 1970s and all the supplies, kits, tools, etc. they had compared to what they have now and look at the other "hobby" industries over the last 30 years in the US and you will find that they have all declined. Since I work in the electronics industry I look around and wonder what happened to Heath Kit, or the Radio Shack kits where you could build your own radio, then later you own computer from the basic components, e.g. chips, resistors, capacitors. Go to a Radio Shack store today and almost all of their piece parts are gone and will never come back. We have grown into a "must have it now, it must be cheap, I will throw it away in less than a year because there is a new model" society.

Quality is an interesting issue when you are trying to stay in business in a very small niche market. I recently received my Uncles tools set from the 1940s and 1950s. There is one crafttool that I now have three versions of the same bevel. You can see how the tool head has grown in size over the years. I will keep three because of that size variation. Other than size, the only real difference is in the quality of the chrome plating with the 2000 version being the worst. I don't blame Tandy for that since I also ran into the same problem in restoring my wife's 1959 Triumph TR3A Roadster. To find good chrome plating today means first finding a company that still does chrome plating on metal and not on plastic. Very similar to the problem we now have with finding a tanning company in the US.

I better stop my rambling now but want to sum this all up, in MY OPINION and it is CLOUDED with my experience, If you look at what is happening to basic manufacturing industries in the US, and how we have devalued people that work with their hands (except sports figures) we are slowly losing them to foreign countries and what is left are the assembly plants, and service jobs. Time to climb down from the soap box.

Thank all of you for letting me ramble on.