If you're just getting started, it doesn't make sense to pay $9 per tool...because you'll get a LOT of tools before it's over. I have hundreds. Yes, Tandy may have some quality issues at times, but the fact is, they're the very reason a lot of people get into leather work at all...they make it easy and affordable.

I've been doing leather work for about 3 years now, and I've had very few problems with Tandy or their tools. And, I've never had a problem trading a tool in if I did have a problem with it. In my opinion, for the money, you'd be hard pressed to beat 'em. After you learn what you're doing, you might want to "upgrade" to better tools...but I personally haven't had a need to as of yet.