TVvoodoo's Straplab

Gotta think outside the box every now and then.
I thought that shipping packages labeled as Birthday gifts might prove to be a way to get around that tariff nonsense.

I looked into it. NOPE
Any gift, Birthday or Christmas, valued at $100 or higher is subjected to a tariff or duty.

THIS IS WHY WE CAN'T HAVE NICE THINGS!
 
Got some last minute customs completed... it's funny who dudes will finally make a decision when it comes down to crunch time!
This red sparkle "cafe" vinyl is headed southward to grace Motor's patriot strat... I'll let him drop a photo when the pairing is completed.

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Amigos, I spent the whole weekend cleaning up a few customs, and boxing up a small sudden influx of last-minute orders of Well-Hung clientele,
(most of the loyal repeat warriors) trying to get one, two or more last grabs in before I fully and completely shut down service to the USA TOMORROW NIGHT.
A couple of TTR members also jumped in, and i am SOOOOO GRATEFUL! I'll wait for them to show off what they got

Sammie in the UK is getting this Sunflower #7 (it's going on an LP), for looks like a honeyburst, or faded teaburst to me... It'll be just fine.
He wanted a very dark brown, and that yellowy orange to pop off it

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Casey down in Pasadena is getting this No Prisoners/Mid-Evil/Dark Shadows mashup for his Strandberg.
One of the shortest straps I've ever made, minimum 31" - but it took a helluva long time!

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And... photos came in this morning from Patrick in Ontario... of his Wine red combo completed

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Nailed that one pretty good! Kinda looks like glowing hellfire, I tell you whut!

Ok, once again... Last Call for US business. Late TOMORROW 'Mericans won't see my listings on reverb, and even if you contact me outside of reverb, I can't help you. Even if you choose to pay me the extra money for extra 35% tear riff costs, I have no ability to submit to the proper authorities, and will be barred from Canada Post to send packages across the border. I will not send as a gift. thats mail fraud and a felony apparently, I don't look good in orange. Only way is, if you drop by the StrapLab in person, we might be able to work something out LOL!

To reiterate, I will not be selling off my tools or my significant leather and fabric stocks. Maybe our betters can agree on something that doesn't cripple thousands of businesses and I will be able to ship southward again someday. Maybe not. I will continue to post here, and keep building for at least the next month though, we have some valued international members here, and you can argue with me all you like, but I think Jethro belongs on that list too.
 
OK Well! That was frickin' WILD my brothers. The last couple days has been an absolute whirlwind of action, I'm bushed, but so very thankful, I keep getting overwhelmed with emotion, really.

From all corners, this community, other communities, dudes who I hadn't talked to for years - a whole bunch of W-H warriors answered the call. The results of the last two days.

Yesterday's mail run"

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Then, today's mail run on top of that.

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I know when the reverb feedbacks come in, I'm going get all emotional again and again. You guys.

I'm a small-time artisan. Don't sell a whole lot of product: fewer quality items, at a higher price. If you know, you know. A Well-Hung strap is crafted different, 100% by me, no line of machines or a sewing floor, etc.

So, all those packages What went out in the last two days is almost two months' typical sales for me. So, if you're reading this and contributed, please understand how grateful, I am. The mind-blowing customer support will helped buy me another couple months of time to figure things out, and will not be forgotten. Those of you who came in just the past couple/few days, are now on a GOLDEN LIST for future kingly treatments, once this is all worked out. Boy after some research last night, the artisan world is completely topsy-turvy right now, post offices of entire nations are not shipping small goods to one particular country. I learned there are approx 46,000 small businesses in Canada alone, in a similar situation to mine. How many more internationally?

Anyway, I haven't had time to build anything today. I went in to remove USA as a destination on all my listings until I can confidently price my stuff and facilitate a sale.
That was quite a chore.

You know, it's hilarious, I had people throwing all kinds of ideas at me.

* is duty and tariffs payable on used goods? Just call it second-hand stuff
* one generous stateside Warrior offered up his garage as a USA shipping depot, and his wife to pack and clerk outgoing shipments for me - HOW AMAZING IS THAT!

I'm exploring other ideas, will have the time to do that. I will also keep building and showing, I've got a couple of guitar shows coming up. Lots of stuff I build hangs in the store for months, and cool stuff too! I'm confident maybe his can all be worked out perhaps hopefully before the holiday season, New American guitarists may once again join the Well-Hung Warrior Tribe with the legion of others.

But man, right now? Sheer chaos out there!
 
I learned there are approx 46,000 small businesses in Canada alone, in a similar situation to mine.
Holy crap!

Hang in there, Brad! Sooner (hopefully) rather than later all of this tareeef nonsense will get sorted out and you'll back to doing what you do better than any other strap maker north or south of the border!
 
Ok, things are rolling again... lots of bad news lately, not getting better, but not worse either LOL!

Some good news happens (most of the time) when I get a customer feedback, like Dougie and Patrick, both in Ontario

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During the rush last weekend I noted a fun strap I call "Strap With No Name" sold out, and it's not too often
I make a few and they just blast off the shelf. So, whattaya gonna do but make moar?

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These are still the same patch leather sent to me by the self-described handsome and somewhat loveable TGP rascal @Motorhed but I'm quickly running out.

Six in my reverb store right now. If you happen to be in the land of the free/home of the brave, my entire stock must invisible and unavailable to you, due to reasons.
Hopefully only for the short term. Lucky you, I'll keep posting here, and hopefully you don't suffer the hyper-intense GAS pains of unobtanium gear, when even just
last week you had the entire world easily available at your fingertips LOL!
 
Dragon about to ROAR!!! At least Groovey managed to escape the Tariff Duty madnesses... will everyone else?
Like I just told Fitz just a minute ago, last thing i need is a bunch of angry 'mericans on my ass. His made it through too.

Howdy fellers, how's it hangin'?

Here's what's coming to the store soon, once I get all the nicey-nice photos done...

A couple of bitchin' new SwaggerMen! One in nasty black, on in supahot "patina mahogany."
If you are familiar with these you will know they are kind of rare in my store, kind of sought after.
I own two of these myself I will NEVER sell, a couple of my absolute favourites.
These are 3" wide conversions of a hard to find fashion belt, set up to adjust with a back buckle.
They are super comfy, and look like they've been time-machined direct from 1974

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Got some nice guitar pics in over the weekend, we were camping... Snapped this fun sunset shot... all purply-durply as it is...

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Speaking of purple, Casey in Cali got his custom mashup strap on Saturday and he and his doggo seem pleased...

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"I got the strap in the mail today (Saturday). Thanks for the cool swag as well. I'm extremely happy with the strap. I think the match is great, and even without breaking in the leather it already feels very comfortable. ... I've gotta say that this strap is pretty amazing. I was expecting it to be a higher quality version of other good padded straps that I have, but the comfort is on a different level. Straps have always been a necessary annoyance to me. With this one I prefer to keep it on when I'm sitting rather than play the guitar without it. Awesome work!

I hope you're able to open up shop again.... for what it's worth I think you could raise your prices to account for whatever extra crapwork you have to do to export to the US."

- Casey

I'm toying with that very idea. it's not so much the extra work, but the additional costs to my US customers. I simply cannot absorb them, and it puts my wares in a competitively disadvantageous position, price-wise, though certainly not quality-wise.

Also received this photo in from Adam over in in West Virginy

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"I received my "the villain" strap today (Friday). This is the villain on my Brent Mason Tele. Your straps are impeccable! This is only my second Well-Hung strap, but I'll never buy one from any other maker. I understand why you had to stop shipping to America, but I'm sorry you had to. The quality and the look /appeal of your straps are superior to any I've ever had. They are a bargain for the workmanship you receive. Thank you sir." - Adam N

Awwww Shucks! So nice to hear!

New in the store probably tomorrow (Except for 'Mericans, who can't see all the things), some new "Tarnished" straps which I haven't made for a couple years now.
two silvers and one crazy metallic purple too, just because. I just have to complete tail straps for these first thing tomorrow.

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Happy National Coconut Day. Yes, it's real.
 
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