Tandy Manchester closing in June only online remaining

[chrisash]

Just read on Leatherworkwer uk that guy has received a email from Tandy to say they are closing the shop in June and will only operate online sales after that

[bikermutt07]

Well that timing couldn't be worse....

Our local manager told me awhile back that the new CEO was about to make some big changes in the pricing. She said they were going to get rid of the the membership levels and cut pricing across the board to start being competitive.

At least in Canada and the states. Sorry for your loss.

[Discus49]

They closed the Australian branch in March (just after I renewed my Elite membership!).  There were a few bargains to get rid of stock.  Now we have to go through Texas and pay freight from the US  The prices have gone up (so much for being "Competitive").  I've moved my buying to Birdsall in Sydney and Leffler.  Much better prices and cheap postage.

 

Tandy has always had tickets on itself.  I hope they lose all overseas business.

[fredk]

ach, bummer.

I do get regular emails from them, I've not received an email about it yet tho. 

[zuludog]

That's a shame, but come to think of it I haven't had any marketing info from them for a while, either by email or post

I am only an hour's bus ride from them, and it was convenient to call in and buy things in person; I have always found their staff to be pleasant and helpful

It would not affect me so much as I have by now acquired just about all the tools that I need, but I'll stock up with things like dyes, leather, and other consumables soon

It is also a blow for Manchester. I was brought up in that area, around Beswick, Gorton, and Openshaw. It was a major engineering district, with companies like Dresser, Churchill, Massey, and countless others. It was a bit scruffy, but active, and lived up to the saying 'where there's muck there's brass'. Now like many towns and cities all those traditional industries have closed, and it has become  very run down. The Tandy shop was part of an attempt to bring new life to the area

[zuludog]

Right, I've made a couple of phone calls -

Tandy will be closing all their European stores soon, apart from one in Spain. Any orders for Europe will be supplied from that store. The Manchester store will close sometime at the end of May or early June. They will be having a closing down sale

At the moment Tandy M/cr store has an informal drop in workshop session on Wednesday afternoons. That will also close, but it is hoped that the tutor for that session will try to form a leatherworking club in the near future. I will post more information about that as I get it

There is another supplier of Tandy products in Britain. They are an agent for Tandy, and will be unaffected by the closure of Tandy M/cr; they also have their own products. They can supply Online, or by calling in person at their shop in the Peak District - 

www.identityleathercraft.com          tel 01629 - 581403 

[fredk]

I sent an email to Tandy, Manchester and just got a reply saying the store closes at the beginning of June.
I'm waiting now for a confirmation answer of where items will come from as I was just about to place a very big order. I don't want to end up paying customs charges.

[fredk]

I received this from Tandy, Manchester a short time ago

quote

Hi Fred,

Unfortunately, we do not have any control over the online orders. 
However if any unforeseen charges are incurred, we will do our utmost on behalf of our customers in the UK to rectify these immediately.

All orders are being shipped from our main warehouse in the US. Orders were originally to be shipped from Spain, but would incur a 6 day transit time. We have been doing our best to negotiate as little impact as possible and put forward the opinions that this wait would be unacceptable to our UK customers. Tandy Leather have made the decision to transfer all online orders to the USA whilst doing their best to retain the online service and standard set up by us here in the UK. 

Regards,
Pipa. 

end quote

A; if the orders are shipped out of the US I cannot see how that is quicker than from Spain 

B: if an order comes from the US, how will into-UK customs charges be dealt with

C: Thinking an order would come from Spain I placed and order,  [before getting the above message] value just shy of £500. It better not attract customs charges!

[mikesc]

A; if the orders are shipped out of the US I cannot see how that is quicker than from Spain...etc

I'm guessing that they are thinking when Brexit happens,anything coming from Spain will take at least 7 days transport by road including the time to get through UK customs ..I import stuff from the UK ( Wales and the Manchester area and Cornwall and the South East ) currently takes 4 to 7 days by road, I'm anticipating 7 to 10 days after Brexit, and the queues are going to be longer for goods incoming to UK than for those leaving...There will be customs duties ( imposed by UK ) to pay for leather from Spain as the UK has tanneries..Likewise there will be Customs duties on leather ( imposed by UK ) incoming from USA for the same reasons..plus you'll pay VAT on the leather+ the customs duty+ the transport and handling costs..


Just a thought, but depending on what the border situation is "post Brexit", it might be better for you, if you have friends or family in Eire, and if Eire would be being supplied by Spain,to use an Eire delivery address when ordering from Spain? Might get you the goods faster ( there are direct shipping lines between the EU and Eire that do not go through the UK ), and you could drive across and pick up your stuff and avoid Customs duties.?

Edited April 25, 2019 by mikesc

[penguineer]

They might be wondering "if" and "what" and "when" Brexit happens.

Arrangements for shipping from the USA to UK are less likely to change regardless of what happens with Brexit.  (even if you aren't doing it now you can at least figure out what the arrangements are)

Shipping from Spain to UK after Brexit will be ??? 

I guess if you're a business you would be looking for a bit of certainty.......

Cheers!