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Posted

Not an Austin Alternative but just something to think about.

If you are paying $14.60 sq.ft for Austin Leather that must mean you are not getting the Elite Pricing. Elite pricing is $124.00 that would be about $9.5 sq.ft. (The shoulder I got was 12.9 sq.ft.) Every couple of months, they drop it to $99 each for everyone so you have to watch for it and when it goes on sale grab a few sides. (I usually find out about it being on sale from being on their email list) Also, you can get the Elite Membership free by providing them a copy of your EIN number which you can get online free and print out within minutes. Take it to Tandy and boom you get the Elite pricing. I am an Elite member and that is how I got mine.

The Austin shoulder is 8 to 9 oz and has like a pebble grain to it, and so far all the suggestions noted above have either been 4 to 5 oz or have a smooth finish so I just a thought I would put this out there just in case you really want to stick with the Austin.

Karina

"The only man who makes no mistake, is the man who does nothing." Theodore Roosevelt

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Posted

@plowboy - I don't suppose I could convince you to take a picture? The picture on Springfield looks like it's generic. What happens when you scratch it? Does it rub out, blend in, or what?


@Karina - I dare say you go to the same Tandy I do. Heh. Thank you for the EIN number tip - I've been paying $35.00 a year to get the mid grade pricing. My best price for Austin has always been $110 on sale. However, there hasn't been a sale in a while. Fortunately, I have convinced my extremely kindly customer to let me use Bridle leather instead.

As for sticking with Austin, I'm trying to up my prices, because I'm getting as much business as I can handle in my two-hour-a-day work segments. But I don't feel like I can up my prices without upping the quality of leather. I love Austin, but it does tend to scratch, and once it does, the only thing you can hope for is for it to get all scratched up so it blends in. (Also, it must be admitted, I'm getting really tired of making the same bag with the same leather.)

@Joe - Thanks, they even have some thicker chromexel! Granted, it looks a little rough, but the W&C Bridle looks gorgeous. I'm getting some, as soon as I sell another bag and am in cash again. For a week.

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Posted

@Karina - I dare say you go to the same Tandy I do. Heh. Thank you for the EIN number tip - I've been paying $35.00 a year to get the mid grade pricing. My best price for Austin has always been $110 on sale. However, there hasn't been a sale in a while. Fortunately, I have convinced my extremely kindly customer to let me use Bridle leather instead.

I am in Fayetteville and although the Lithia Springs store is closer, I feel the Tandy in Norcorss gets the better leather. (Could be that my mind is just playing tricks on me with this thinking :) )

I just got in a side of bridle leather last week, that's some good stuff, I am sure your customer will love it.

Karina

"The only man who makes no mistake, is the man who does nothing." Theodore Roosevelt

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Posted

No, you're definitely right. Also, the manager of the Norcross Tandy will put damaged or dirty hides on sale, which is a great deal more reasonable than expecting you to pay full price for a damaged hide. I think he acts with more freedom because he's been in the business for a while. The Lithia Springs manager is very nice, too, but his employees don't really know much about leather, yet.

I'm exactly in the middle between the two.

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Posted (edited)

Monica,I only have my phone camera and it takes horrible pictures. I can try it later today. Scratches rub out and blend in when i went to the store last week every piece i looked at was nice. Honestly it looks a lot better than the picture.The belts I made 5 months ago look great still.

Edited by plowboy73
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Posted

Thank you for letting me badger you - I've been wanting to try it for two months, but I couldn't afford to shell out for it (even though it's not super expensive) without some confirmation from someone.

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Posted

LOL, thanks, that's one of the nicest things anyone has ever said. I think I've been able to get it fairly clean because I started using pre-dyed leathers, and my construction is very uncomplicated. We'll see if I can transfer the clean look to something a little harder in the future.

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