HideCrafters

[Rawhide]

  CitizenKate said:

I've been trying to call them for two days to place an order, and nobody is answering the phone. The recorded message says, "We're currently assisting other customers... leave a message and we'll get back to you..." Sent them an email... no response in two days.

Has anyone been able to get through to them recently?

Kate

Kate,

I visited HC today and the store was open, but the electricity was out. I didn't asked what happened or anything, but it was business as usual. One thing I did notice is that the phone did not ring. It could have been associated with the power being out. Ron also said that he had to close the store early (on a day previous to today, not sure if it was yesterday or the day before) because it gets dark sooner with the standard time, and you can't see anything in the store.

Hope this helps,

Marlon

[CitizenKate]

Ah, the power's out... that might explain it. I'll just try them again Monday, then. Thanks for the info.

Kate

[indypbear]

To ALL questioning Hidecrafter aka HideCo-

1) The power shut down was a power company problem in transition to the new company. They will be back in the saddle soon so be patient with them. Leave Ron a message and the nature of the call (order, etc.) and he will call you back as soon as humanly possible. Just a little bump in the road!

2) Ownership is SX Industries in MA, Silver Creek Leather Co. in IN and Teneria (Thorobred Leather) in KY. and are legally HideCo. dba Hidecrafter Leather Co. but will still go as Hidecrafter Leather Co. Wait until the new catalog comes out and see how it is titled.

3) Tell Ron Stuhlman what you are interested in for supplies and suppliers. They did drop Gomph-Hackbarth tools (Ellis Barnes) but have Barry King and also a line of better less expensive tools (Craft & Co, Kyoshin elle) who are good Japanese manufacturers.

Indy

[Billy P]

Just a quick question about the new revamped Hidecrafters, does anyone know if they will still be carrying the Pro-Series line of tools? I have a few and am pretty happy with the impressions they make and the price was goo too. Anyway just wondering, and thanks to any and all that know and will reply. Regards to All, Billy P

[CitizenKate]

Billy,

I just got a flyer from Hidecrafter advertising an expanded line in their "Pro Crafters Tool Collection", which I was very happy to see! I have some tools from that line and they are very good quality for the price.

On the other hand, I was a tiny bit disappointed when I ordered a few of the new ones. Two of them were chrome plated, not stainless, like the ones I bought previously from that line, and the other two were some other kind of dark-colored coated metal. They all (including the chrome plated ones) are clearly better quality than their low-end line of stamping tools, but not quite as good as the ones I purchased two years ago.

Kate

[bruce johnson]

Kate,

I bought some of the early SS ones and found them to be amazingly like some I have from another maker. Good stamps to start with and a value. Regarding the dark ones...I had several. They look really nice, and give a decent impression. Nice prices too. I bent them. I broke them, some just snapped. A friend who gave me his freebie from a LCSJ subscription prize as an example. Phone calls revealed no problems with them. Emails ditto. Finally after a few more and photo of them in their stages of manglement, I was told they did have some problems. The explanation was that they were not for professional use. Apparently a guy who stamps a lot with a 16 and 24 oz maul will damage them, and an amateur won't. My wife damaged one, so maybe that explanation is a bit off too. These are the only stamps I have ever had fail. Finally (after they saw I had a photo to share with their name clearly in focus), they told me to box up what I had left and ship them back for credit. Make sure you have duplicate backups. Nothing more frustrating than to get about halfway down a belt and have to either toss it or finish it with a stamp with a jagged 2" shank. Hopefully everyone else's mileage is better.

[ryan]

I placed an order with HC about a month ago and only got a couple of the items I ordered. One item was a quart of antique paste which arrived frozen. I called them and they sent me a new one right away. I haven't gotten after them on the rest of my items as I am aware of the changes they are making. I just hope they continue to carry the same conchos and videos as they have some very unique items and would hate to lose them!

Ryan

[Roger]

sounds to me like i won't bother with them anymore.

[Gremlin]

I hope they do stick around. I placed an order Jan 4/08 and was told it would be about a week before the tools arrived in their shop because they were out of stock. However, I was told the same thing mid Dec/07 when I started making enquires. I'm in the process of improving the quality of my tools and they are the only other place I know of besides Tandy and Ebay.

[CitizenKate]

If they were designed for amateurs and hobbyists, then why do they call it the "Pro Crafters Tool Collection"? Even my cheapest stamps will hold up to steady pounding with my 21oz maul. I will take this up with them next time I call.

I do hope they stay around and get back into the game, and if they do, I'll continue ordering from them, but I don't know if they'll ever be the same again... :mellow:

Kate

  bruce johnson said:

...Regarding the dark ones...I had several. They look really nice, and give a decent impression. Nice prices too. I bent them. I broke them, some just snapped. A friend who gave me his freebie from a LCSJ subscription prize as an example. Phone calls revealed no problems with them. Emails ditto. Finally after a few more and photo of them in their stages of manglement, I was told they did have some problems. The explanation was that they were not for professional use. Apparently a guy who stamps a lot with a 16 and 24 oz maul will damage them, and an amateur won't. My wife damaged one, so maybe that explanation is a bit off too.