Tandy Leather Factory.. Has Anyone Noticed That They're Faking Their Loyalty Anymore?

[electrathon]

I'm not sure if this is true at all locations, but I was told by staff at the local Tandy that they would provide Elite-level pricing if you could provide a resale certificate - without having to pay the $150 annual fee. Couldn't find any confirmation online, but it may be something to look into.

It is true.

[Studio-N]

The new plan to try to mask their high pricing for the 2014 catalog is to convert all the leathers from being sold by the sq. foot to selling it by single price.

So a double shoulder like their 9052-02 will be like $133 (retail). Problem is their sizes are so inconsistent, you might get a 12 foot shoulder for the $133 ($11.08 sq.ft) or an

11 foot shoulder for that same $90 ($12). They are really counting on their customers not doing the math.

They have already started selling them by the piece as 'specials'. and they no longer list an 'average' square footage.

Corporate greed reins supreme at the evil empire.

[NVLeatherWorx]

Hide House is also a source for HO veg-tan and for me is a day trip which allows me to walk into their warehouse and hand select my hides. Not to mention, being a registered business I get the bottom line pricing. I also get the same support from SLC and have no problem having it shipped to me. I do use my local Tandy store for small, last minute things and haven't used a kit in over 30 years. I have been designing my own products and templates for a long time and can't see any reason to stop. Take the Top Notch wallet kit for example, Tandy sells it for about $20.00, the back is cheap veg-tan, the linings are hard as a rock, the lace is the cheapest and thinnest 3/32" I have ever seen, and the parts never fit together. When I make that exact same thing from my own Premium stocks, my cost is under $5.00, only the best piece finds itself as the back, my lining leathers are clean, soft, and consistent, my lace is Premium Calf that actually comes in at 3/32", and all of my parts fit right the first time without any risk of having to reshape them.

When Tandy quit being a Leathercrafters supply depot, they lost their following and the respect of even the hobbiests in the market.

[Wishful]

Sadly, Tandy is like most establishments these days. If you develop a relationship with some one there you do a little better but the corporate mentality makes it hard to get good, knowledgable service

[Studio-N]

Sadly, Tandy is like most establishments these days. If you develop a relationship with some one there you do a little better but the corporate mentality makes it hard to get good, knowledgable service

that and they don't really care if their employees and managers even know leatherwork. Only that they sell and up-sell you. That's why they have replaced the majority of the older 'expensive' managers. It's amazing how many past customers still come to me for advice vs. the store.

Edited August 6, 2013 by Studio-N

[jbossartcustomgunleather]

^{I am fortunate that the managers and employees at my local tandy are like friends, I never buy much, but when I need something they are the best. With the business pricing everything is reasonable, but few things are of sufficient quality for my purpose. That being said, my leather comes from WIckett and craig, and and most of my tools and supplies come from weaver leather. I find weavers prices are quite good for the quality. Usually when I go to Tandy it is for dye, hardware, etc.}

[St8LineGunsmith]

^{I am fortunate that the managers and employees at my local tandy are like friends, I never buy much, but when I need something they are the best. With the business pricing everything is reasonable, but few things are of sufficient quality for my purpose. That being said, my leather comes from WIckett and craig, and and most of my tools and supplies come from weaver leather. I find weavers prices are quite good for the quality. Usually when I go to Tandy it is for dye, hardware, etc.}

ya I have developed a friendship with the guys who work at my local TLF also for I an there just about every saturday and I will buy sale items andmiscelaneous items but my major purchases come from Springfield.

[craftsman827]

I wish I was experienced(skilled) enough, and had enough to do, to make the cost of purchasing GOOD tools and stamps from someone other than Tandy... BUT, Tandy has put the brakes on my desire for Leathercrafting period, thanks to them becoming Corporate Pigs, instead of a Profitable Company still LOYAL to people in the craft!! I did some leatherwork as a young man.. but once out of High School, Girls and Drinking made it not so cool.. So didn't get back into it until 20 years later.. Found the new store in my city that they opened after the old one had been closed years before. I became a Wholesale Club member (GOLD), as it was a nice way to save some money..

WELL... Tandy "obviously wasn't making enough money this way, so they stopped the initial Wholesale Club, and came up with the "Elite".. Gold Membership was/is $35.00 a year... When they started the "?Elite?" level, they essentially just increased the PRICE of Gold Membership Benefits/Savings and gave it a different name.. charging $150.00 a year for the "SAME" (or sometimes worse) discounts as they had been giving the Original GOLD Members... then, the $35.00 a year Gold Members got shafted, and now had to pay MORE for the same items than they/we had been paying in the past?

I contacted Tandy Corporate numerous times after their change... whenever a new SKIVER came out... asking them why as a GOLD member I was having to pay MORE than in previous years??? At first they told me I wasn't/Gold members weren't paying more... then when I cited examples, they told me that "their" costs had increased.. When I showed them 30 items that had been the same price for 2 years, but now cost Gold members more than it had in the past, and that now, to get 25 of those 30 at or near the price we had been able to, I/We had to pay the $150.00 a year and become an "?Elite?" member?!?!

They took the information I gave them, and this is what they did.. they told me "Sorry, that's how it's going to be.. If you don't like the NEW Wholesale Club Memberships, you can get your Membership Refunded...

Am I the ONLY person that has seen this/been impacted by this??? I guess what makes this worse for me, is I am disabled and unemployed now, and there's a snowballs chance in hell I can afford they regular sales prices, and I can't afford their $150.00 a year so I can get the benefit of pay affordable prices... I've asked if they would/could be willing in offering Military/Veteran or Disabled Membership Discounts, but Local Store Manager sent me to Corporate again, and when I got ahold of Corporate to ask, they chose to NOT return my messages(which were sincere and pleasant).., and on after 3 weeks of calling 1 time only each week, I was told that the decision for something like that was up to the Store manager??? So?? ANY HELPFUL RECOMMENDATIONS/IDEAS???? THEY WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED!!!

Thanks!! John

Why don't you get a tax ID # from the IRS ? You can apply on line. Once you have it you can get wholesale prices from tandy, which is very competive. I just received my order today. Got a beautiful side of 8/9 oz. 23 sq. ft. for $161.73.It was oak leaf, there middle line. The side was VERY CLEAN.

[craftsman827]

But if you say something on TV or in an interview it must be true...

I like Springfield a fair amount. At the very least they carry kydex, and other things that modern holster makers need. Not stuck in the cowboy reproduction/flintlock era

WHAT IS KYDEX ???? Don't sound like leather. Can you carve it, tool it, DYE IT ???

[Rayban]

WHAT IS KYDEX ???? Don't sound like leather. Can you carve it, tool it, DYE IT ???

Kydex is a plastic...heat it up and wrap it around a knife/ gun, etc.....drill holes, add some rivets and presto...you're tack-ti-cool.