Leather - Quality - Price

[Red Cent]

It is so depressing reading through all of the posts about changing leather suppliers.

[nrk]

what's this about?

any message?))

[Troy I]

I agree Red...I started with W&C and have stayed with them for close to 5 years now...they have always treated me fair...and don't ever give me the runaround...some people have complained that they were shut down in July, but this happens every year, for maintenance, which is a nessaary business practice. 

Yes sometimes you might get a hide with some marks, but this is the nature of the business...not every hide is perfect...I dare say that there are few, if any, leather workers that have turned out a project without any mistakes.  Filling orders at a tannery is the same...mistakes happen...if it is essential to have that perfect hide, then go to the place of purchase and pick it out yourself.

I make a trip once or twice a year to Curwensville, PA to get my hides..at first I would go and spend hours picking out the ones I wanted...now...when I arrive they have all my hides wrapped and ready to go, I take them site unseen and I have yet to be disappointed with their selection.

Also, you get what you pay for..if you purchased tannery run, it is hit or miss--that is the risk you take for a lower price.

Sorry for the ramblings.

[Red Cent]

I like the ramblings.

NRK, just commenting on the trials and tribulations of our members and wanting to find that employee that will diligently search for the best hides they have to fill our order. AIn't gonna happen unless you pay the piper. A month or so back, I attempted to order from W&C. Annual shutdown. Ordered from another supplier I have used (shoulda known better) and was a little disappointed. Recently tried to order from W&C and was told 4-5 week. Catching up from shutdown. Cannot wait. Repeat scenario.

The local Tandy manager is a wheeler and dealer. And I leave with the feeling I have left money on the table. At least I can feel and touch.

Just talkin' and bi..............complaining. Got to keep it to myself from now on.

 

[JLSleather]

Well, I have certainly had not-so-wonderful things to say about some suppliers of leather and leather-stuff.  But I'm really not the sit-n-whine type... whatever I said was intended for teh benefit of other leather people.

Here's the POINT, tho.. leather is sold by GRADE -- whether that's A, B, C  or 1, 2, 3... whatever.  And those grades come with descriptions.  

So I'm not asking anyone to go through a bunch of hides to find me the "pretty" ones -- just sell me leather out of the pile for the grade I paid for.  If I can't tell the difference between what you call A and what you call C, then AT LEAST one of us is confused.  Either I don't know what I'm looking at (sure, okay) or those hides don't belong in that "A" pile.

I've never objected to paying the "A" price IF AND ONLY IF I'm getting the "A" leather.  So if I get less-than-acceptable leather, you're getting it back.  Once, or even twice, could happen.  But 3 times?  Now we're just playing 'mail tag', and I'd like to think I could be doing something better than calling to order leather, wait, view leather, call to complain, return leather .. repeat....

But, 'suppliers' don't "get a pass" because they're a business and "things happen".  I can't see me ever telling a customer ..

• Yes, I know that holster is hard to get the gun out....you just need to learn how to use it differently, 
• true, that belt could have been 1" longer.  Or you could hit the gym occasionally.
• I agree that what I sent doesn't look like the picture, but hey-- they can't all be 10's !

I say I can't see ME saying that, because there ARE some who do just that.  Oh, those wrinkles?  That adds charm and character to the project.  Oh, that blotchy dye? That's 'rustic' - I meant to do that.  Separated grain layer? Call it a "zombie" project.

For me, KEEP your wrinkles -- I don't want 'charming' leather.   If you can't send me the "A" I'm paying for, then have the spine to say that.

 

[bikermutt07]

5 hours ago, JLSleather said:

Well, I have certainly had not-so-wonderful things to say about some suppliers of leather and leather-stuff.  But I'm really not the sit-n-whine type... whatever I said was intended for teh benefit of other leather people.

Here's the POINT, tho.. leather is sold by GRADE -- whether that's A, B, C  or 1, 2, 3... whatever.  And those grades come with descriptions.  

So I'm not asking anyone to go through a bunch of hides to find me the "pretty" ones -- just sell me leather out of the pile for the grade I paid for.  If I can't tell the difference between what you call A and what you call C, then AT LEAST one of us is confused.  Either I don't know what I'm looking at (sure, okay) or those hides don't belong in that "A" pile.

I've never objected to paying the "A" price IF AND ONLY IF I'm getting the "A" leather.  So if I get less-than-acceptable leather, you're getting it back.  Once, or even twice, could happen.  But 3 times?  Now we're just playing 'mail tag', and I'd like to think I could be doing something better than calling to order leather, wait, view leather, call to complain, return leather .. repeat....

But, 'suppliers' don't "get a pass" because they're a business and "things happen".  I can't see me ever telling a customer ..

• Yes, I know that holster is hard to get the gun out....you just need to learn how to use it differently, 
• true, that belt could have been 1" longer.  Or you could hit the gym occasionally.
• I agree that what I sent doesn't look like the picture, but hey-- they can't all be 10's !

I say I can't see ME saying that, because there ARE some who do just that.  Oh, those wrinkles?  That adds charm and character to the project.  Oh, that blotchy dye? That's 'rustic' - I meant to do that.  Separated grain layer? Call it a "zombie" project.

For me, KEEP your wrinkles -- I don't want 'charming' leather.   If you can't send me the "A" I'm paying for, then have the spine to say that.

 

This sounds like years of experience talking.

[CaptQuirk]

I got the August sales flyer from Tandy, and they had veg bellies for $20 each. I jumped on it. Got them in and found what was more like 1 1/2 bellies. One was nice, the other looked like it was torn, not cut, and about half as big as the other. Springfield was awesome for a while, when they offered a "flat rate" shipping. Now that is gone, and it costs an arm and a leg to order. At least Tandy had an outlet in Atlanta,, saving a lot of time and some shipping. Not much, but it is something. Don't know where else to go.

[Michael Sheldon]

$20 for bellies is NOT a great price. That's around $3-$4/square. Weaver sells strap bellies for $2.67 a square, Wicket and Craig for $13 each.

Heck, even my wholesale price on Tandy's bellies is $15, which is still way too high IMO, given Tandy's consistency and quality.

Tandy sells their "economy tooling sides" for $119 (5/6 oz), which comes out to around $4.70 a square, and that will be more usable square.

 

[CaptQuirk]

Yes, a side would be cheaper by square foot, but I have no room to store anything yet. Only doing a few small pieces here and there, it doesn't make sense to buy a big piece, spend a lot, and have the unused get ruined.Being a retail customer, I pay more up front, up to $30 for a belly, plus shipping. Shipping is what really hurts. But, thanks for mentioning Weavers, I'll look into them.

[Big Sioux Saddlery]

 

Yes, a side would be cheaper by square foot, but I have no room to store anything yet. Only doing a few small pieces here and there, it doesn't make sense to buy a big piece, spend a lot, and have the unused get ruined.Being a retail customer, I pay more up front, up to $30 for a belly, plus shipping. Shipping is what really hurts. But, thanks for mentioning Weavers, I'll look into them.

What kind of bellies you buying? If you're paying up to $30 per belly, maybe ya want to buy some from me Seriously, check out Wickett and Craig. I don't know about their bellies, but on sides they have no minimum. Better leather, less money.