Tandy Leather Boise - 103

Love this place. super solid selection, great service, and prices are totally reasonable. they’ve got a huge variety of leather: different tanning methods, exotics, all kinds of shapes and colors, plus a scraps/bargain bin that’s fun to dig through. pretty much every leatherworking tool you could need is here, and they even offer in‑house leatherworking classes that are really affordable (they do fill up fast though). so glad to have this shop nearby – thank you!

I've been a customer for a long time, and my experience with this store has become very mixed. While it's convenient for certain things, there are significant drawbacks that keep me from making it my primary supplier. The main reason I still make the 45-minute drive is for last-minute emergencies or to pick up chemicals like dyes that can't be shipped in freezing weather. For that, it serves a purpose. However, the quality of their products, especially the veg-tan leather, is inconsistent. I've found that I can consistently source better quality leather online for less money. Their tool selection is also lacking; they are often missing simple, fundamental tools a leathercrafter needs. On top of that, the machinery they sell is very expensive compared to competitors like Weaver, which is especially questionable given that Tandy's is often made in China while Weaver's is made in the USA. As a maker who values "handmade" and "made in the USA," using Chinese-made tools to create my products feels contradictory. Finally, the in-store experience has declined. The current manager has an unwelcoming demeanor that makes me want to grab what I need and leave as quickly as possible, rather than browse or ask for advice. After a period of high manager turnover, the current atmosphere is unfortunately not an improvement.