Mark, a late reply but based on recent experiences. I've not bought any upholstery supplies, whether that be Leather or otherwise, EXCEPT for carpets, for some four to five years now. I just recently lodged an enquiry with a very well known supplier in California, namely GAHH, and the news is not good. The quality of their leather kits is beyond reproach - well, as well as just about anyone else's, but ever since the Covid 19 pandemic, prices have absolutely skyrocketed - I would say by close enough to 40%. This unfortunately, is an almost world wide trend, unless you go to parts of Asia, but one needs to have some really good and trustworthy contacts to make that work.
The market in the States is a well controlled and closely knit market. Bashing your heads against the "Invisibles" is just about a fruitless exercise. Luckily enough, at this stage, I need not pursue an Interior, save for carpets, for the 6.9 customer. Replacement of the upholstery in his car is badly needed as the leather is rock hard, but the client is hopeful that a new coat of leather paint will be of sufficient restoration to save the purchase of a new set of front and rear upholstery. I have not yet tried to convince the owner that "it ain't gonna work" - for some valid reasons.
I did purchase a new set of carpets on his behalf, again at the quite extraordinary cost, but he really had no choice. It is only when you see new against old, that you realize just how shabby the old stuff looks. The carpet material is hard and unyielding, and even if one cleans it professionally, it really is just a waste of time and effort, and MONEY. More to come. Regards Styria