Tandy's Wholesale Club: Doing The Math

[HellfireJack]

@DFWLeather, It's only gouging if they do it on purpose. If there's an issue with the system it's called an error so just walk back into Tandy with your receipt and show them the error and get your refund and then take your own advice and "grow out of them" and stop shopping there. Problem solved.

Any yes their pricing system is automated but there can be issues with it. I renewed my gold account and noticed it completely dropped my gold level pricing and was charging retail prices. I double checked that it wasn't working on their website and emailed them and it was fixed within an hour. I'm willing to bet if you post your receipts here we'll find a similar issue which can be just as easily resolved.

[Pounder]

Tandy must offer different policies at different locations, I was told by the manager at the local store they do not offer free tools anymore. I have a business account with Tandy I do not receive the same sale flyers as membership participants such as the "Skiver", if they publish that anymore. When I contacted Tandy I was told to continue recieveing it I had to buy a membership, which did not seem quite kosher but they are a profit business. It just seems when you drop over $2k a year with them they might do a little better than what they offer everyone else. Just my opinion and I do have other suppliers.

[Chief31794]

Tandy must offer different policies at different locations, I was told by the manager at the local store they do not offer free tools anymore. I have a business account with Tandy I do not receive the same sale flyers as membership participants such as the "Skiver", if they publish that anymore. When I contacted Tandy I was told to continue recieveing it I had to buy a membership, which did not seem quite kosher but they are a profit business. It just seems when you drop over $2k a year with them they might do a little better than what they offer everyone else. Just my opinion and I do have other suppliers.

I checked with our local manager and he said that they had discontinued the "free tool per month" some time ago. The deals and bargains you get are what comes in the flyers. What is little know is that each Tandy Manager has the ability to discount an item as a "Manager's Special", my guy works with me and usually gives me at least one each trip. You can't get them with Web Orders but you can in the store, depending on the store manager.

Chief

[DFWLeather]

Mr. Tandy Member, it does not have to be intentional to be gouging, it can also be negligent. And as I stated earlier, the good leather is usually pretty good and meets my needs well. And I am working on growing out of them (hence the comment I made about sourcing leather elsewhere) so thanks for your MBA advice.

I have noticed inconsistent pricing when going store to store. So there is apparently human input on their so-called automated system, otherwise it would be the same pricing wherever you go. Know the pricing, if you can ahead of your visit.

Just an observation but I have also experienced different pricing on hides "often" when shopping at a store as opposed to their warehouse stores, for the exact product. For example, I bought 5 buffalo hides from the warehouse and needed two more, so headed to a local store (about ten minutes closer but with limited stock), the price was $3 more per sqft. When I asked why, he had no clue why they were selling it so cheap. So much for the system, eh? He had to call them to confirm, then changed the price for "me" on the two hides. So, caveat emptor.

So, my thoughts and advice is simple; be sure prices are marked, be certain you get the appropriate pricing for everything you buy, and also be certain you are not charged tax (if appropriate--half the time they try to charge me tax), and be sure discounts are availble for what you are buying.

Finding a place where you can see and feel the leather is important to me, at least until I'm satisfied with the quality. Then I don't mind ordering online. The problem I'm finding is that online pricing is every bit as high, or higher, than Tandy's best product, though more limited now I as I mentioned before. So finding quality whisky or distressed brown in 8-9oz for less than $7 a sqft is a challenge.

That's why I think visiting market center would be so useful. I wonder what they have available now in terms of quality etc. I'll try to get up there in the next couple of weeks and share.

Edited November 24, 2012 by DFWLeather

[DFWLeather]

I checked with our local manager and he said that they had discontinued the "free tool per month" some time ago. The deals and bargains you get are what comes in the flyers. What is little know is that each Tandy Manager has the ability to discount an item as a "Manager's Special", my guy works with me and usually gives me at least one each trip. You can't get them with Web Orders but you can in the store, depending on the store manager.

Chief

If I can give you my tool per month promotion, you can have it. I don't use many of their tools anymore.

Edited November 24, 2012 by DFWLeather

[Pounder]

I checked with our local manager and he said that they had discontinued the "free tool per month" some time ago. The deals and bargains you get are what comes in the flyers. What is little know is that each Tandy Manager has the ability to discount an item as a "Manager's Special", my guy works with me and usually gives me at least one each trip. You can't get them with Web Orders but you can in the store, depending on the store manager.

Chief

Thanks Cheif, I will discuss this with the local Tandy Manager. Anything to help the bottom line.

[HellfireJack]

No, price gouging is pretty much always on purpose. You can't really accuse people of wrong doing on "accident". It doesn't work like that. Either the prices are fair or they're intentionally unfair. There are laws against price gouging. You might have a case here. All we have to do is prove Sandy had an effect on the leather market. If they're stealing from you then you can take them to court or at least complain and get your discount faster. I personally don't think they're illegally profiteering off of one guy in Texas but who knows right? Maybe it's just a single store that's gone rogue?

Post your receipts and give us the store name and we'll get you straightened out. Why anyone would accept price gouging (illegal in many states by the way) and still shop with a company is honestly beyond me.

I personally haven't gotten the wrong pricing apart from the one issue I mentioned which was fixed within an hour of me noticing it. Unless of course you count the time the manager noticed my gold price was higher than his store special and happily changed it to his price instead.

There is literally no case of incorrect pricing that can't be dealt with through a simple phone call or email. You're advice seems a tad over the top. You may as well tell them to check that their wallets are still in their pockets when they leave the store.

[Ash]

@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.

Thank you... the problem is that I'm a online customer, since I'm from Italy where no TLF stores are available... so what to do?

[jhinaz]

I just received a Tandy 'Members Only Specials' mailer that contains a coupon for one free stamping tool.....expires 1/15/13. - John

[Sylvia]

I just received a Tandy 'Members Only Specials' mailer that contains a coupon for one free stamping tool.....expires 1/15/13. - John

Same here. Free Craftool Stamping tool, does not include Craftool Pro Tools. Offer expires 1/15/31. So far I've seen them about every 3rd month. With Free $5 and $10 at Leathercraftlibrary.com in between. For those of you who have their managers say they won't honor the free tool... I would be tossing a walleyed fit.