Tandy's Wholesale Club: Doing The Math

[DFWLeather]

I have the elite. Just watch the receipts closely. Many times I see where they don't always give you the discount on all items. So as you shop, look closely at what is discounted and what is not. Further, make sure you get the discounted price. You'll rarely be "undercharged". Been my experience...

[Ash]

hi, I'm a Gold Member for 3 years, but I've never got any free stamp or similar!!! How did you get them?

thanks a lot

[Sylvia]

Ash, those fliers you see in the mail? there's often a coupon for 1 free stamp. Sometimes it's one for $5 off leathercraft library ($10 for elite and businesses) . Never toss those flyers without looking really closely at them.

[JLSleather]

I'm not a fan of Tandy tools (don't be naive, some of the tools you buy elsewhere came from Tandy), but I get wholesale pricing just for having a registered business in Iowa (no membership fee). I buy quite a bit of leather there, but only if I can get there to pick it out myself. There Royal Meadow 3/4 oz is nearly flawless in a 22-25 foot side, carves well, and dyes just as nicely. It's a bit more 'blonde' than the 'russet' color you get lots of places, but I LIKE the pale color (lets me get more color combinations).

Dyes, finishes, adhesives, and most linings I get from S-T Leather out of St Louis.

[Ash]

Ash, those fliers you see in the mail? there's often a coupon for 1 free stamp. Sometimes it's one for $5 off leathercraft library ($10 for elite and businesses) . Never toss those flyers without looking really closely at them.

Hi, I've got only the 5$ for the leathercraft library, never heard about free stamps... I will look at flyers better! Thank you

[Wishful]

used to be you woule get a tool every issue now that they have the leathercraft library you get a discount on the site and they alternate that with a free something now. Like lace or a tool or whathave you

[ramrod]

I have the elite. Just watch the receipts closely. Many times I see where they don't always give you the discount on all items. So as you shop, look closely at what is discounted and what is not. Further, make sure you get the discounted price. You'll rarely be "undercharged". Been my experience...

i agree with this. i always feel like i've been the victim of a bait and switch type of ploy. also, their leather sale prices sometimes are the same for everyone - not just the club members. i feel that if i've paid $150 for a membership, i should ALWAYS get better pricing than anyone walking in off of the street.

[DFWLeather]

I'll put it this way, I've never been "undercharged", but have been overcharged 2 out of 3 visits. Last time, I bought two hides and received the approrpriate discount, but then they overcharged me on everything else. I was in a hurry as my wife was waiting on me and I was watching the pricier items. Well, my bad. They gouged me on the less expensive pieces. I just hate to feel like I always have to check on them. Why can't they just charge you the right price instead of some creative formula that has nothing marked. It's like going on a car lot and there are no prices. They adjust them as they see fit. Very frustrating. From the moment you walk in, be on guard.

[NVLeatherWorx]

@Ash: all you have to do is go into the store and you can ask about your free tool. It is one tool per month and you must be a member of their wholesale club. You may substitute the tool for a craftaid template as well. The free tool also applies to their 2-D and 3-D stamps.

@DFWLeather: I have done business with Tandy for decades and have never had an issue with being overcharged on items as the pricing is automatically linked to the account status of the purchaser. These things are also monitored within their accounting system. Not to say that there may not be some staff members who don't know any better, as we see them everywhere we go.

I am a business customer of Tandy as well as Zack White and Springfield. Any member of the Tandy wholesale club (all levels, including business) get the same pricing from Springfield. This applies only to those items that are sold in their shops that are the same source (snaps, stamps, etc.), this does not apply to everything though.

For the average hobby crafter who is active in making things, Tandy is the best bet as it is most likely easily accessible and it is best to at least get the Gold. If you decide to branch out and grow (turn it into a business venture) then you need to look at the business licensing, business membership (which is not only the lowest pricing available, but tax exempt also), and establishing multiple sources. I source my materials from 5 different suppliers, with each one of them being the niche in a certain category.

[DFWLeather]

I would post the receipts, to show that the system is not automated. However, I'm glad you don't have problems. Where I live, I've seen four teams of people come and go over the years, manager and all. Turnover is a problem for Tandy, always has been. They always seem to hire very nice folks though.

Business licensing may save you up to $2-3 a foot off of leather, and a percent of other products--not all, like you say. Please list your five other sources, I'm sure we'd all like to know about them.

Tandy is a "good" source for just about everything you would need to work with leather. Grow out of them if you can.