frustrations of selling saddles privately!

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sodapop

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I have advertised a barefoot london saddle that spent 15 minutes on a horse for over £200 less than it's price new. It still has all the tags on and doesn't look like it has been out of it's wrapping. I am getting frustrated by people asking me if I will accept £50 or more less than my asking price or asking me what else I will include in the sale. There are older saddles in worse condition out there for not much less so why do people seem to think I am expecting too much money for mine? Am I being unreasonable?
 
the thing I found worked best was a horsey car boot sale at a show - that way people can try the saddle on their horse there and then and also often have their instructor there or whoever.
 
Tell them you will only take £x lower than asking if you put it up by the same amount! I would also try putting it in local feedstores so people can try it on the horse so they know it fits as ebay is getting to be a joke with people trying to get refunds now :(
 
I have a jaguar saddle that my current horses' previous owner bought BRAND NEW for her (cost just over the 2000 mark) its now too small for my horse, been ridden in for 6th months, had it advertised at 400 and people have been asking if I would accept 150 for it. I know times are hard, but this is just a fraction of the price! Can't believe it!
 
That's why, when I bought a new saddle recently, I asked my saddler to take my old one in part exchange. She said that I could have got more for it if I sold it privately but I didn't want the hassle. I'd bought it second hand from her nearly 5 years ago, and received £200 less for it when I part exchanged it, but that suited me fine.
 
I think it's the same no matter what you are selling privately, just stick to your guns and wait for the right buyer to come along.

If your saddle is brand new still with tags tho can you not send it back to the shop you bought it from?
 
I sold one through ebay, for a fraction of its true worth, in pristine condition, and the woman who bought it (who said she was a professional saddle fitter!) started a dispute with ebay saying it was not the saddle model in the advert - I sent her the paperwork to prove it and she said it was another Black Country saddle (one they don't even make) to ebay, who took the money back from me, gave it to her and then I had to wait nearly three weeks for the saddle! I think she bought it for a client, it did not fit, and she decided to get the money back that way.... outrageous!
Saddle now tucked away, as I cannot face selling it to someone like that again - I did eventually get it back, but it cost me in fees, postage etc to the tune of around £50 and a lot of grief :-(
 
Selling anything second hand gets this kind of hassle. I only take payments by non-refundable means, only use places where its free to advertise, and don't respond to any enquiries unless its someone wanting to view the item or asking where to send payment. I probably miss a few genuine buyers this way but it beats wasting my time sending endless info, most of which is in the advert anyway, to people who then don't buy.
 
I have a lovely Sandringham for sale, worth £450 but knocked down to £250 then to £225, nothing seems to be selling at the moment. Either that or ridiculous offers for a saddle in excellent condition!
 
I think that the main problem is that buyers take a chance on the fit (unless they live close by and can take it for a trial - not all sellers are willing for that to happen) So buyers are looking for bargains.
Tack shops near me will let you try secondhand saddles with a credit card/deposit. This means that you have the saddle(s) for up to a week - time for a saddle fitter/ knowledgeable friend/you to assess it thoroughly with no pressure to buy. I have bought all my saddles secondhand through tack shops, and would be concerned about an ebay purchase or local private advert in case the fit was wrong.
 
I have bought saddles on ebay, when they have been the changeable T4 which was exactly what I want. Both have been fab. Sadly we have 2 saddles at home, one of which hasn't been used for nearly 4 years and cost £1800, which we can't get rid of. Specialist saddle, hard to come by in this country, but still no joy. Maybe it will fit a future horse one day!
 
I sell mine on preloved and haven't had many issues really. I expect knocking down a bit and I expect them to be on a while until they are what someone is looking for.

The only thing that does annoy me is people asking me if my saddles will fit their horses. I have no flipping idea!!! Firstly, i've never seen their horses and secondly, that is not my problem, surely it is up to them to know what they need before looking for it second hand? :confused:
 
Where are you all advertising them? I never see anything on eBay or the usuals. I've ordered a saddle from my fitter and its been sooo long I'm considering finding one second hand if I can, since I know the one I want (kent and masters cob) I'd happily pay 500 (costs 725 New) but if you've not had a fitting it is a bit of a risk so I guess it is always helpful if you can provide some means of trying it, it probably is easier selling to a saddle fitter as at least you have some sort of backup it isn't broken!

It's just a lot of money to spend on something that won't necessarily fit.
 
BouncyPants said:
I sold one through ebay, for a fraction of its true worth, in pristine condition, and the woman who bought it (who said she was a professional saddle fitter!) started a dispute with ebay saying it was not the saddle model in the advert - I sent her the paperwork to prove it and she said it was another Black Country saddle (one they don't even make) to ebay, who took the money back from me, gave it to her and then I had to wait nearly three weeks for the saddle! I think she bought it for a client, it did not fit, and she decided to get the money back that way.... outrageous!
Saddle now tucked away, as I cannot face selling it to someone like that again - I did eventually get it back, but it cost me in fees, postage etc to the tune of around £50 and a lot of grief :-(
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I had exact same thing on ebay, sold a 'used' saddle, which had been checked by my saddler so knew 100% sound, buyer set up dispute without contacting me, stating 'misaligned flocking', wtf, it was a used saddle, needed re-flocking to adjust fit!! Also said completely unusable :mad: They left me completely unnecessary neg feedback. Sold to someone else a few weeks later, who was chuffed to bits with it :) Unfortunately lost money on it
 
I know the feeling, I've got a gorgeous brand new Jeffries jumping saddle, it is a massive bargain and I can't get any interest!
 
chestnutmarelover said:
I had exact same thing on ebay, sold a 'used' saddle, which had been checked by my saddler so knew 100% sound, buyer set up dispute without contacting me, stating 'misaligned flocking', wtf, it was a used saddle, needed re-flocking to adjust fit!! Also said completely unusable :mad: They left me completely unnecessary neg feedback. Sold to someone else a few weeks later, who was chuffed to bits with it :) Unfortunately lost money on it
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Wonder if it was the same woman?!
 
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