mike1967 Report post Posted February 15, 2021 Anyone on here done business with the company Osborne Leather Tools? I’ve been trying to contact them about an order I put in a week ago, but they haven’t responded to email & the phone number goes to a fax machine. Mike Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cumberland Highpower Report post Posted February 28, 2021 I've done some business in 2020 with them. To be honest I'd almost not be surprised if they tank and go under. CSO's quality seems to be taking endless nosedives. 20 years ago I noticed quality wasn't what it was in the past. now days in 2021 I notice it's not what it was in 2001..... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
OLESKIVER Report post Posted March 1, 2021 I get an order from them almost every week. they have wonderful customer service. dominick is a great guy. have you tried calling this no.? 1-973-483-3232 that is their phone no. not fax. i never have trouble getting ahold of them. hope this helps. If they go under it will be the end of a 190 yr. tradition. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kgg Report post Posted March 1, 2021 They maybe in lockdown. kgg Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mike1967 Report post Posted March 1, 2021 I got in touch with them & they are taking care of order. I believe they were a little behind on shipping because of COVID. Thank you for replies. Mike Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jcuk Report post Posted March 3, 2021 On 2/28/2021 at 11:24 PM, Cumberland Highpower said: I've done some business in 2020 with them. To be honest I'd almost not be surprised if they tank and go under. CSO's quality seems to be taking endless nosedives. 20 years ago I noticed quality wasn't what it was in the past. now days in 2021 I notice it's not what it was in 2001..... Hope they don't go under, i do agree their quality has dipped but think its because they are competing with cheap tools from the far east and yes i do know they are not all cheap and nasty from there, but i will pass on them myself from one certain country who seem to be flooding the market with copies of copies. Seen it happen here with Dixons their quality dipped towards the end too trying to compete with cheap imports, but their older tools will last a life time and some, that also may have had something to with their down fall too their tools lasting so long so no no need to replace them. JCUK Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cumberland Highpower Report post Posted March 4, 2021 jcuk you're right on all points. I would really hate to see them go under or stop making leather tools....It's a tough market these days and overall less demand for leatherworking tools I guess... Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sbrownn Report post Posted March 4, 2021 On 2/28/2021 at 4:24 PM, Cumberland Highpower said: I've done some business in 2020 with them. To be honest I'd almost not be surprised if they tank and go under. CSO's quality seems to be taking endless nosedives. 20 years ago I noticed quality wasn't what it was in the past. now days in 2021 I notice it's not what it was in 2001..... No kidding. I bought a strap punch a few years back that was surprisingly dull and poorly finished. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ButtonLady Report post Posted March 19, 2021 (edited) 3 hours ago, coxdenis32 said: It seems to me that they changed their mail and local address or did not set up a redirect of their site. I collaborated with this company in 2018. As a wholesale manufacturer, Osborne is really not set up for retail sales. They established a couple of retail websites a few years ago, but the sites are not well maintained (and prices tend to be higher than list). Edited March 19, 2021 by ButtonLady Forgot a word... (duh) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dave Richardson Report post Posted March 19, 2021 Funny this post came up. Yesterday I was making leashes and the handle on my Osborne oval punch broke off, looks like the weld broke on both sides, I have used this punch only a few times. I called Osborne in NJ to ask about warranty , the person answering the phone spoke such broken english I literally could not understand her/him. She/he said someone would call me back with an answer ,and Im still waiting for that call back. I have CS Osborne draw gauge's 50+ years old I would not part with, but this CS Osborne 151 punch is JUNK ! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
keplerts Report post Posted March 20, 2021 The old CS Osborne tools were very well made. Their stuff now is basically junk. No attention to quality or craftsmanship. It is sad, really. If you want quality punches and tools at a fair price, check out Weaver Leather Supply. I have many of their tools and for the money they really are well made and sharp. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ButtonLady Report post Posted March 23, 2021 On 3/19/2021 at 3:43 PM, Dave Richardson said: I called Osborne in NJ to ask about warranty , the person answering the phone spoke such broken english I literally could not understand her/him. She/he said someone would call me back with an answer ,and Im still waiting for that call back. Osborne is in the middle of an emergency shutdown due to a Covid outbreak in the factory. Calls are being routed to Massasoit Tackband in Massachusetts, one of their recent acquisitions. They don't normally answer phones, and yes... many of their employees are immigrants with limited English. They're doing the best they can. Please understand this is a highly unusual situation. I can't speak to your other concerns, but I can explain this one. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sbrownn Report post Posted March 23, 2021 3 hours ago, ButtonLady said: Osborne is in the middle of an emergency shutdown due to a Covid outbreak in the factory. Calls are being routed to Massasoit Tackband in Massachusetts, one of their recent acquisitions. They don't normally answer phones, and yes... many of their employees are immigrants with limited English. They're doing the best they can. Please understand this is a highly unusual situation. I can't speak to your other concerns, but I can explain this one. The pandemic doesn't explain the lousy tools I got from them four years ago. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ButtonLady Report post Posted March 24, 2021 54 minutes ago, sbrownn said: The pandemic doesn't explain the lousy tools I got from them four years ago. Absolutely not! When they have returned to full operation, definitely contact them regarding their guarantee: We will replace, free of charge, any tool which may prove unsatisfactory in performance if sent for inspection, freight prepaid. Tools which are known to have given reasonable service, or have been misused, or damaged, will not be considered defective. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sbrownn Report post Posted March 24, 2021 14 hours ago, ButtonLady said: Absolutely not! When they have returned to full operation, definitely contact them regarding their guarantee: We will replace, free of charge, any tool which may prove unsatisfactory in performance if sent for inspection, freight prepaid. Tools which are known to have given reasonable service, or have been misused, or damaged, will not be considered defective. It's easier to just sharpen them myself. It's difficult to buy a truly "sharp" tool from anyone anymore. Most of the tools I have purchased with the exception of Terry Knipscheild's knives, aren't even as sharp as an X-Acto blade when they arrive. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ButtonLady Report post Posted March 24, 2021 3 hours ago, sbrownn said: It's easier to just sharpen them myself. I don't know much (actually nothing) about leather knives, but I do know Osborne's round button cutters are not honed to a sharp edge at the factory. We send ours out to Bob McBride, literally the only guy we trust: www.bobbymactheknife.com We are not affiliated in any way, we don't get a discount for referrals... we just love the work he does (and pay the same rate as everyone else). Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jcuk Report post Posted March 24, 2021 19 hours ago, ButtonLady said: Absolutely not! When they have returned to full operation, definitely contact them regarding their guarantee: We will replace, free of charge, any tool which may prove unsatisfactory in performance if sent for inspection, freight prepaid. Tools which are known to have given reasonable service, or have been misused, or damaged, will not be considered defective. 4 hours ago, sbrownn said: It's easier to just sharpen them myself. It's difficult to buy a truly "sharp" tool from anyone anymore. Most of the tools I have purchased with the exception of Terry Knipscheild's knives, aren't even as sharp as an X-Acto blade when they arrive. My first Round knife was a Osborne really liked it sadly got damaged so asked some if they could repair it came back worse so i contacted the place i got it from 25 years before ( H Webber & sons ) to see if i could get a replacement handle to fix it myself, they asked what had happened i told them they said send it back they will send a new one even though the fault was caused by me trusting someone else to fix it for me, great after sales sadly the replacement was nowhere near as good as the old one. I can get it sharp but won't hold that edge for long. Which led me to as my better half for a nice Christmas present a Texas Rosebud knife from Terry Knipschield what a knife - had it 4 years and it's never been near a stone in that time. But do hope Osborne can get their quality to what it once was so they don't go the same way as Dixons. JCUK Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sbrownn Report post Posted March 25, 2021 My guess is that Osborne won't rejuvenate their quality and has already lost their customer base. I wonder who owns Osborne now? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ButtonLady Report post Posted March 25, 2021 34 minutes ago, sbrownn said: I wonder who owns Osborne now? Osborne is still a private company owned by the Osborne family. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sbrownn Report post Posted March 25, 2021 12 hours ago, ButtonLady said: Osborne is still a private company owned by the Osborne family. Thanks Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
