Is this fair? FB dealer site

[stormox]

I have been a member of 'dodgy dealers and recommended sellers' on FB for 4 or 5 years. I occasionally comment with my viewpoint and a couple of weeks ago someone posted a picture of a horse asking what people thought. Apparantly she had been to see him, really liked him but wondered what other people thought as he was very quiet and his hips were sticking out and she could feel his ribs.. The picture was a horse just standing, not particularly thin, hips looked normal and I couldnt see his ribs showing.
Nearly all the comments were 'take bloods' 'he's drugged'..'he has had water withheld'.. dealer must be dodgy (no dealer was named in post). I commented that I thought he looked lovely and would blossom with a bit of TLC and good food.
This comment was deleted and I was blocked, the reason given was 'sticking up for the dealer'.
I think this was very uncalled for- all I had done was given my thoughts, as asked by the poster. This behaviour - of deleting comments the admin dont like- is going to make a very biased site!

 

[spacefaer]

Some of those fb dodgy dealer pages are either run by dealers or seem to defend them. Not quite sure what the point of them are.
There are a couple of better ones but it's hard to tell on first perusal which you've got

 

[doodle]

Don’t worry I also had issues when I said something like “did you have horse vetted?” Very very one sided sites and best not to waste time on them.

 

[AShetlandBitMeOnce]

It's not just dealer sites, it's all social media.. There is nothing you can't do without offending or upsetting someone. I would sit back and drink Gin until you have no more f*ck's to give

 

[Lipglosspukka]

I saw this post. Agree with you. The horse looked absolutely fine to me.

 

[stormox]

I just thought it was a very innocuous comment to get blocked for! I wasnt really sticking up for a dealer just commenting with my opinion!

 

[Widgeon]

I just thought it was a very innocuous comment to get blocked for! I wasnt really sticking up for a dealer just commenting with my opinion!

I'm also a member of one of those groups and the only time I've stuck my nose in was when someone started posting all sort of slander about a local dealer who in reality has a good name for a reason and is pretty decent. I agree that those groups are odd, at the end of the day a dealer is just a dealer, they are not gods and do not know everything about what they sell. The buyer needs to decide whether and how much to trust them, then vet the horse. Then if you really think they've tried to con you, get the law on them if at all possible. It's a business after all, and things do go wrong sometimes. Social media is a truly weird thing, it's like a mob!

 

[LEC]

People love a witch hunt and a lot of people were burnt at the stake in the baying for blood. Facebook is just the modern version of this.

I cannot stand dodgy dealer sites. Its so easy to just have one person be inexperienced/make a bad decision and you could be victimised. I am not saying dealers do not sometimes deserve the reputation they have but it cannot be an easy business to be in.

 

[Annagain]

I was on those groups while I was looking and I did see a few names on there advertising horses I was interested in - usually dealers I wasn't too sure about having spoken to them so it was good to see my instinct was pretty accurate. They were a necessary evil for me and I tried to take a lot of what I saw on there with a pinch of salt and form my own judgement (some of the complaints were just ridiculous) but they were some of the most toxic groups I've ever been in. One in particular was especially bad. I couldn't wait to get off them once I found Charlie

 

[ponyparty]

I saw that too, horse looks fine to me also - I was going to comment something along the lines of people being too used to seeing fat horses these days but just cannot be bothered with the aggro. I rarely comment on anything on FB any more, people are just idiots and I can't be bothered to engage with it!

 

[Scotsbadboy]

They have done you a favour. Steer well clear of those sites (and social media in general) nothing good will come of being a member of these FB pages. If you are looking to buy a horse, go in, search for said dealer, get information and then leave!

 

[ihatework]

In general those FB dealer sites just serve to highlight the stupidity of some buyers and act as a warning!

There are some obviously unscrupulous dealers out there for which a quick search on there is useful. But otherwise I have to sit on my hands so as not to make sarcastic comments and endure the wrath of jobsworth admins

 

[shortstuff99]

On one of those sites a dealer I had bought a great horse from came up after having sold a (supposedly) bad horse as it had jumped the trailer breast bar on the way home, they wanted to return it (injured).

I said how I had bought a lovely horse from them and just got accused of being the dealer and/or a cronie, when I wasn't either I was a happy customer!

 

[stormox]

On one of those sites a dealer I had bought a great horse from came up after having sold a (supposedly) bad horse as it had jumped the trailer breast bar on the way home, they wanted to return it (injured).

I said how I had bought a lovely horse from them and just got accused of being the dealer and/or a cronie, when I wasn't either I was a happy customer!

I remember that post! Totally ridiculous they said it had stringhalt. If it had had stringhalt they would have noticed it on viewing!

 

[shortstuff99]

I remember that post! Totally ridiculous they said it had stringhalt. If it had had stringhalt they would have noticed it on viewing!

Yep! They're pretty good dealers too, but sell rough and ready horses, if you're not good at producing a horse then you probably think you've been miss sold rather then lacking experience.

 

[ponyparty]

OMG I saw that one too! I must be more of a FB lurker than I thought... Think that might have been the one I "unfollowed" the group after (although will stay a member so I can keep an eye out if ever I'm in the market for a horse again).

 

[stormox]

Thanks guys you have cheered me up no end. I was feeling like Id been expelled from school!! However, seriously it is so easy to ruin a persons reputation I really think these sites should show both sides of the story and not block people who say things admin doesnt like.

 

[zandp]

Our local dodgiest dealer is a member on that group and a couple of other dodgy dealer groups on fbook

 

[Kaylum]

Which page was it?

 

[stormox]

Which page was it?

It was called ' dodgy dealers and recommended sellers'

 

[Kaylum]

It was called ' dodgy dealers and recommended sellers'

Aww I dont know that page. I dont see the point of having pages that people cant comment on but there again there are a lot things I see on facebook like terrible fitting tack and i want to say something but just dont.

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

I am on a "Dodgy Dealer" FB site. Seems to me that a lot of the alleged "dodgy dealers" actually lurk on there!

There was a post a few years now about a woman in my area, people were seeking opinions of her. Having viewed a horse at her yard recently I commented - and gave my honest opinion of my & my friend's experience, i.e. horse was standing in a barn ungroomed and filthy, it was clearly lame on one side as when she'd ridden it she did twice as many circles on the good side thinking we wouldn't notice! AND - I'd been contacted by another person (local to me) who'd also gone to see the horse later that day, asking me if the horse had been in the school. Yes I'd said, it had. They then said the seller had told them "the horse had done nothing, it hadn't been ridden at all that day", but they could clearly see sand from the arena around its feet as she'd been too bone idle to groom it!!

So - when the opinion was invited - I said all this. The woman then sent me a flaming-hot PM ranting and raving at me and calling me a liar. I told her in words of one syllable that she was lucky I'd not contacted one of the welfare societies, and to jog on.

 

[onemoretime]

I am on a "Dodgy Dealer" FB site. Seems to me that a lot of the alleged "dodgy dealers" actually lurk on there!

There was a post a few years now about a woman in my area, people were seeking opinions of her. Having viewed a horse at her yard recently I commented - and gave my honest opinion of my & my friend's experience, i.e. horse was standing in a barn ungroomed and filthy, it was clearly lame on one side as when she'd ridden it she did twice as many circles on the good side thinking we wouldn't notice! AND - I'd been contacted by another person (local to me) who'd also gone to see the horse later that day, asking me if the horse had been in the school. Yes I'd said, it had. They then said the seller had told them "the horse had done nothing, it hadn't been ridden at all that day", but they could clearly see sand from the arena around its feet as she'd been too bone idle to groom it!!

So - when the opinion was invited - I said all this. The woman then sent me a flaming-hot PM ranting and raving at me and calling me a liar. I told her in words of one syllable that she was lucky I'd not contacted one of the welfare societies, and to jog on.

Good for you for going back at her. Poor horse sounds a sad case. There are quite a lot of dodgy dealers around the country unfortunately.

 

[shamrock2021]

Them groups are actually against Facebook rules because they are hate pages. I don’t think it’s right for someone to blame a dealer for their own mistakes and inexperienced. If the dealer is truly doggy than yes they should be named and shamed. A lot of the causes are not the dealer fault it the buyers being to inexperienced when buying horses. Sorry for going on this rant I have seen genuine people get slated online because someone buys a horse to much for there riding abilities.

 

[Red-1]

Them groups are actually against Facebook rules because they are hate pages. I don’t think it’s right for someone to blame a dealer for their own mistakes and inexperienced. If the dealer is truly doggy than yes they should be named and shamed. A lot of the causes are not the dealer fault it the buyers being to inexperienced when buying horses. Sorry for going on this rant I have seen genuine people get slated online because someone buys a horse to much for there riding abilities.

I think there is a place for them. Saved me a trip down to Wicklow, Essex one day anyway . I don't consider myself inexperienced, but the advert was excellent and the horse looked good in the photos, all looked very professional. Happily, before viewing, I did due diligence with research and was able to cancel the booking shortly after calling. The young lady was non too polite but it was a saving of time and petrol.

I too have seen what I *think* are genuine people be slated. But, people are stating their experience, and then it is up to the reader to make their minds up as to whether it is the buyer or seller at fault. With a dealer, they are supposed to sell as 'fit for purpose' so shouldn't sell without being satisfied that the purchasers are experienced enough for the horse and have sufficient back-up/facilities etc. I'm not saying that is right or wrong, but it is the law.

They do need careful moderating though and people need to be careful as they could be committing libel and could be held to account. I also think it is correct for there to be a right to reply.

Conversely, I have seen people asking about 2 dealers I know, and they had glowing reviews on one of the groups. I had been to one of the dealers and had called him out on lies, and the other a groom told me about some of the lies. So, not foolproof.

If it is against FB rules, then yes, they should be shut down. I will miss them though, next time I am looking!

 

[stormox]

Them groups are actually against Facebook rules because they are hate pages. I don’t think it’s right for someone to blame a dealer for their own mistakes and inexperienced. If the dealer is truly doggy than yes they should be named and shamed. A lot of the causes are not the dealer fault it the buyers being to inexperienced when buying horses. Sorry for going on this rant I have seen genuine people get slated online because someone buys a horse to much for there riding abilities.

I dont think they are 'hate pages' as its called 'dodgy dealers and recommended sellers' so I take that as meaning they want unbiased opinions.
It also sometimes assumes the buyer has the same rights as if they are returning an electric kettle. Which doesnt work as an electric kettle is the same wherever it goes whilst a horse has a temperament and feelings.

 

[ester]

Is it a secret group as nothing comes up if you search facebook for it?

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

Good for you for going back at her. Poor horse sounds a sad case. There are quite a lot of dodgy dealers around the country unfortunately.

I haven't seen her name around for a good while now: there used to be a regular stream from her on FB with horses that she'd allegedly "found" for people - but hopefully she has now gone out of business.

It was a lovely mare I'd gone to see; the sweetest little Welsh D with similar bloodlines to my old gal - it really broke my heart to leave her there tbh, poor mare deserved better.

 

[The Xmas Furry]

Conversely, I have seen people asking about 2 dealers I know, and they had glowing reviews on one of the groups. I had been to one of the dealers and had called him out on lies, and the other a groom told me about some of the lies. So, not foolproof.

If it is against FB rules, then yes, they should be shut down. I will miss them though, next time I am looking!

There are people outside my area that I've seen asking about a particular dealer on these Facebook pages. There is absolutely no negative feed back, all gushingly enthusiastic posts from past purchasers and young locals.
However, I'd not recco this dealer to most, except to the purchaser who really has their head screwed on well, is extremely knowledgeable and is going to get vetted whatever the selling price.
I refuse to even accompany purchasers there now, though there is the odd good one, the bulk are there for one reason only. Truth gets lost in the eagerness to punt onwards.....