Tandy & Hidecrafter?

[candyleather]

Which is the difference between Tandyleatherfactory and Hidecrafter? I need an advice, read your experiences because I want to buy a lot of new tools and I'm not sure where I must do it.

[abn]

Honestly, I don't know if there's a lot of difference between Tandy Leather Factory and Hide Crafter. I've seen both of their catalogs and my first impression is that the product lines and the prices appear similar between the two companies. Both appear to offer good customer service.

I buy from Tandy because there's a store near me that I can visit to see the products first-hand. But since you're overseas, I don't think that makes much difference to you. If you're purchasing a lot, think about joining Tandy's wholesale club for $35 per year. If you spend more than $150-200 a year with Tandy, it'll save you money.

Both companies offer their catalogs in downloadable format:

Hide Crafter

Tandy Leather Factory

There are some products that Hide Crafter offers that Tandy doesn't, and vice-versa. I don't think you can go wrong with either company.

Good luck! -Alex

[Roger]

i buy from both.

i order from tandy and get it the next day.

hide crafter carries some better quality tools including barry king tools and herman oak leather.

both have good customer service.

it just depends on what you need and how long you can wait for it.

i also buy from siegel and weaver but, it's the same game. what i need and how soon i need it. for me everyone but tandy takes 5 to 7 days to arrive

[pepin1948]

I too buy from Tandy because I can go to the store and see things myself. BUT George Hurst and the staff of HideCrafters are very friendly and George is a big supporter of 4H (a youth organization), which I volunteer with. He sent us free videos for the kids to watch and learn leatherwork. Then again, we've also gotten good deals from the folks at Tandy.

My rule of thumb is this: if I can't find it at Tandy, I buy it from HC. I keep catalogs current for both to show my customers what's available.

[Art]

In general they are quite similar. I don't buy leather from either of them anymore. I used to get calf to die for from Tandy and then it changed, probably not their fault, but I have purchased from Siegel now (last 5-6 years) and actually enjoy buying from them. Herman Oak and Wickett & Craig also provide great veg tanned and drum dyed or special finished leathers which I use heavily.

A lot of the general leatherworking "stuff" I get from Weaver Leather, just because it is convenient and about a day away UPS. The local Tandy is also good for general "stuff" and they ship from your "local" store when you order through the website. I have a reseller account and get excellent pricing from Tandy. The store managers usually know their stuff at a craft level and are very efficient at operating their stores, they get orders out fast.

I get a lot of my tools from Weaver, their "Master" line is pretty good mostly Amish made. If I want Dixon or Blanchard I go to Siegel for that, they also have C.S.O. I also get Dixon from Abbey Saddlery in Cheshire, England which may be better for you, they also carry C.S.Osborne tools.

Tandy is the biggest importer of leatherworking "stuff" from the Orient. While Siegel, Weaver, and Hidecrafter (and others) have connections, they also buy from Tandy, it is just a fact that only Tandy has enough retail power to move container loads of some things. Don't be suprised if you get something from Weaver or someone else bagged by or for Tandy.

Tandy is also active in this country in training both students and instructors, quite often at their own and total expense. They provide no cost courses, and materials, and even give away tools to instructors who they hope will go back and instruct scouts and 4-H groups. I only make it to my "local" Tandy 2 or 4 times a year, but always leave with a big bag of leather or big scraps for the scouts, no charge. This is not totally altruistic, they have a vested interest in keeping leathercrafting alive, but they step-up when asked.

This is not just a Tandy thing; others I have mentioned will ship product gratis for good causes. I have seen one leather supplier eat a next day air charge (on a side of leather and tools all first quality) for someone who couldn't get together what he needed for a class, no charge for any of it, and this person wasn't even a customer of his. They don't have to do this, because they provide a good product and excellent service at fair prices, but they do, and that is important when you decide who to spend your money with.

With Siegel, Weaver, Hidecrafter, and Tandy, service is just a fact. They will take back anything that is not satisfactory, send you a call tag, issue a refund or credit, send new product, whatever is necessary. They all make mistakes, but what is important is they take responsibility and fix them.

Again, this was probably way more than you wanted to know about the supply chain. Hope it helped.

Art

Which is the difference between Tandyleatherfactory and Hidecrafter? I need an advice, read your experiences because I want to buy a lot of new tools and I'm not sure where I must do it.

[Hoyden]

They're pretty close, but I prefer Tandy because I can go into the store.

I also like that Tandy supports the kids in our communities and has a boot at our Ren Faire. On our school day at the Faire, they do demonstrations for the kids.

I've been in when he's having a class and helped him out with the class while my kids help customers find stuff and ended up with a free tool or two or a piece of leather for the help.

[JohnK]

Which is the difference between Tandyleatherfactory and Hidecrafter? I need an advice, read your experiences because I want to buy a lot of new tools and I'm not sure where I must do it.

:biggrin: Hide Crafter Leather Co. (HCLC) has better tools at reasonable prices. All of this is relative to your experience level and intended use. TLF is upgrading the basic tools (Craftoolâ„¢) quality little by little. Third or fourth generation copies loose quality and that is being worked on.

Whereas HCLC has a growing line of Koshin-elle, Craft & Co, Barry King and Hackbarth tools. Order a catalog and try some out with fellow leathercrafters on your own projects.