Leather Trivia >> Leather Pricing

Leather Price Comparisons

When doing a leather price comparison, do it two-tiered. Use the price guides that are available online and visit a local supplier. If you are not sure where to start, you can find them in the yellow pages. The Internet is so easy to shop that many people forget that there is a brick and mortar store down the street or at least in the same city or town that carries the same merchandise.

This is your reality check. Be sure to factor in shipping and tax if applicable when you are comparing prices. Also, you might have questions regarding problems with returns. If you have questions after your purchase, make sure the Internet merchant offers some customer service or support.

The Internet is an excellent marketplace. Just be clear on what your needs are and use the same caution as you would when buying something in a store.

Internet buying guides for leather prices you should check out:

* www.shopping.com
* www.bizrate.com
* www.nextag.com
* www.pricegrabber.com
* www.mysimon.com
* www.dealtime.com

Canadian Buying

Buying from Canada provides you with two great benefits when buying leather and leather merchandise. The first is the price conversion and the second is the tariff. Added to that is the fact that when you buy uncut leather from Canada, you pay no tariff, although finished leather products do contain tariffs. Regardless, the leather price is cheaper.

Because of the Nafta Agreement (Trade Agreement), Canada has access to leathers far cheaper than America. Therefore, when buying from Canada, you as the consumer enjoy the benefits of a lower price without sacrificing quality.

The Trade Agreement was created because Canada supports developing consistent, predictable, and transparent rules that relate to trade in goods. This tariff helps reduce unnecessary costs for those in the trading community. Other benefits include eliminating disguised trade barriers and upholding disciplines that are valued by Canadians.

Canadians believe that eliminating the tariff period for goods that are covered under the Agreement should not exceed 10 years and that the majority of tariffs should be eliminated altogether and quickly. The goal of Canada is to facilitate trade, not put up obstacles and barriers.

European Buying

You might also check for online price comparison services in Europe. Tandy Leather Pricing guidelines has this say about buying leather: “Buying leather can be much easier if you understand what the different types of leather are used for, how different leathers are tanned and how skins are sold.” If you still have questions, please call us at 888-890-1611.

Standard Cut / Sizing / Weight

To give you an idea of type of leather and standard sizing, consider the following:

Back

The side with the belly cut off, usually 15 to 18 square feet

Belly

The lower part of a side, usually 4 to 8 square feet

Kip

The skin of a large calf, usually 9 to 17 square feet

Split

The under-section of a piece of leather that has been split into two or more thicknesses and usually embossed with a design and finished or created into suede

Suede Split

Leather that has been sanded to produce a nap

Grain

The epidermis or outer layer of animal skins

Full Grain

Leather that is just as it was when taken off the animal where only the hair has been removed while the grain or epidermis is left on

Top Grain

Top grain leather has often been sanded to remove scars and then sprayed or pasted to "cover up" the work. Top grain is not the same as "Full Grain" leather.

Thickness / Weight

Leather is usually measured in terms of ounces. One ounce equals 1/64th of an inch thickness. Thus, a weight of 7 to 8 ounces means the leather is 7/64th to 8/64th of an inch thickness. In an effort to create uniform thickness, the wet hides are run through a splitting machine.

Remember that each animal is different so it is common for there to be a slight variation in thickness, which is why leathers are usually shown with a range of thickness, such as, 4 to 5 ounces, 6 to 7 ounces, etc.

So when looking at leather prices consider all the variables involved.

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