Editorial Policy

At Tannery Talk, our craft is clarity. Our niche is leather care. We test, we learn, we teach—so your boots last longer, your bags age gracefully, and your jackets stay beautiful. The web changes fast. Leather ages slow. Trust is earned. This document lays out the standards and processes that shape every article we publish.

1. Independence and Integrity

Editorial Firewall

Our editorial team operates independently from advertising, sales, and affiliate partnerships. No sponsor or partner previews, approves, or edits our content. Period. Story ideas, product picks, and ratings are set by editors and writers based on real testing and research—not revenue.

Gift & Sample Policy

We do not accept cash gifts. We may accept review units (leather care products, dyes, brushes, conditioners, de-salters, protectants, etc.) strictly for evaluation. Samples never guarantee coverage or positive outcomes. When feasible, samples are returned; if not practical, they are donated, safely disposed of, or retained only as long-term test inventory for benchmarking—at our editors’ discretion and with no strings attached. We do not accept “press junkets” or travel perks; if unavoidable for reporting, we disclose them clearly.

Affiliate Transparency

Some articles include affiliate links. We disclose this clearly at the top of those pages (and via a site-wide disclosure). Commissions, when earned, do not change our recommendations or the price you pay. We recommend products because they test well, not because they pay well. When possible, we include non-affiliate buying options too.

2. Fact-Checking and Accuracy

Leather care deserves rigor. We verify claims, test products, and cite sources. Our process:

Primary Sourcing: We prioritize original documentation and expertise—manufacturer technical sheets, MSDS/SDS documents, direct interviews with tanneries and chemists, and recognized standards (e.g., relevant ASTM/ISO test methods when applicable).
Verification: All technical details (pH ranges, ingredients, suitability for specific leathers, cure times, colorfastness claims) are cross-checked against official documentation or direct manufacturer confirmation.
Hands-On Testing: We evaluate cleaners, conditioners, creams, and protectants on a range of leathers (veg-tan, chrome-tan, nubuck, suede, pull-up, corrected grain) and finishes, noting effects on color, hand, sheen, water-beading, residue, and longevity.
Safety & Use: We emphasize patch-testing, ventilation, and proper disposal. We flag chemicals that may conflict with certain finishes or hardware.
Updates: When products change formulas or instructions, we revisit our guidance and update time-stamps.
Correction Policy: We do not stealth edit. If a substantive error is found, we correct it and append a dated “Correction Log” at the bottom describing what changed and why.

3. Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy

Leather care needs human nuance. Feel matters. Smell matters. Patina tells a story.

Drafting & Writing: All final articles are written and approved by human editors. We do not publish pieces that are entirely generated by AI.
Assistance: We may use AI tools for outlining, grammar, or data structuring. These tools do not make editorial judgments or select “winners.”
Disclosure: If a visual, chart, or dataset incorporates AI generation, we disclose it in the caption or note.
Testing & Reviews: Product evaluations and recommendations are based on human testing and expert analysis only.

4. Conflict of Interest

Every contributor signs a conflict-of-interest statement. If a writer or editor has a financial stake in, consults for, or has a close relationship with a company or product mentioned, they recuse themselves from that assignment. We avoid covering companies in which our staff has undisclosed interests. Transparency first.

5. Review & Testing Methodology

We test like owners, not showrooms. Some products live with us for months. Others are pushed to the limit in controlled trials. Short, sharp tests reveal immediate effects; long-term trials reveal what truly lasts.

Surface Compatibility: We assess performance on multiple leather types and finishes to detect darkening, streaking, or finish disruption.
Application Experience: Ease of use, odor, drying time, residue, and buffability matter. We document them.
Performance Indicators: Cleaning efficacy, conditioning depth (feel and drape), water repellency, color migration/crocking, and long-term stability.
Repeatability: We re-run tests and cross-compare with prior results to spot batch or formula changes.
What We Don’t Do: We do not claim lab certification unless a test is run to a formal method and verified. When we reference standards, we describe them clearly.

6. Sourcing, Citations, and Safety

We cite credible sources and link to original documentation whenever possible. Leather care can involve solvents and chemicals—safety is non-negotiable. Always test in an inconspicuous area first, follow manufacturer guidance, ventilate appropriately, and protect your skin and eyes as indicated. When in doubt, contact the manufacturer or reach us for clarification.

7. Corrections, Updates, and Retractions

Minor Updates: Typos or small clarifications are fixed promptly with an “Updated” time-stamp when relevant.
Substantive Corrections: We add a “Correction Log” at the bottom of the article with the date, what changed, and why.
Retractions: If material is found to be fundamentally flawed or ethically compromised, we retract it and explain the circumstances.

8. Reader Feedback and Contact

See something we should fix? Have a product we should test? We read every note. Contact the editorial team here: https://tannerytalk.com/contact-us/. Thoughtful, specific feedback helps us serve the leather community better.

9. Community Standards

Tannery Talk is a home for enthusiasts and professionals alike—cobblers, collectors, craftspeople, restoration techs, and everyday owners. We welcome respectful, experience-driven discussion. We remove spam, harassment, and misleading claims.

Leather tells the truth over time. So do we. Thank you for trusting Tannery Talk with your leather care decisions.