K&M / Thorowgood lead times

[LilyB92]

Hello all

I am absolutely at my whit's end and need some advice or just straight talking to.

I ordered a saddle at the beginning of March - the company I ordered from said I was lucky as she had one coming in that a client had cancelled.

I have since been waiting (3 months now). After a lot of sob stories and me actually contacting Fairfax/ Thorowgood the saddle eventually arrived today and it is the WRONG shape. I am sending the saddle back and getting a refund as I just do not want to work with the shop anymore as I just expect better service or at least some sort of update.

My poor horse has been long reined for the last few months which she needed but I am honestly worried she will get so bored of it if we need to wait another 3 months (or more).

Apparently the delay is due to COVID back logs? Is there anyone here that has some advice or knows of a saddler that may be able to assist me in getting a saddle sooner. I have mailed Thorowgood again telling them about this latest update and hopefully they can also help as they have been great.

 

[Widgeon]

I was talking to one of our local saddlers about TG / K&M order times a few weeks ago, and she said she wasn't expecting things to start settling down until October. So it is definitely true that there is a big backlog of orders. She sells TG/ K&M and she said that at the moment, they were only "allowing" her to have 2.5 saddles per month to sell - you couldn't make that up! So I think if you want to order a new one you may just have to wait. There are plenty around second hand though, they're just quite pricey at the moment.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Maybe try and get a cheap second hand one for now? There are places that rent them monthly? Whenever I have ordered a new one the saddler has lent me one until it's made.

 

[LilyB92]

I was talking to one of our local saddlers about TG / K&M order times a few weeks ago, and she said she wasn't expecting things to start settling down until October. So it is definitely true that there is a big backlog of orders. She sells TG/ K&M and she said that at the moment, they were only "allowing" her to have 2.5 saddles per month to sell - you couldn't make that up! So I think if you want to order a new one you may just have to wait. There are plenty around second hand though, they're just quite pricey at the moment.

I know! Absolutely insane right now. Unfortunately the one I am looking for seems to be near impossible to find 2nd hand (have seen 2 I think) - 16.5'' standard whither compact GP.

 

[LilyB92]

Maybe try and get a cheap second hand one for now? There are places that rent them monthly? Whenever I have ordered a new one the saddler has lent me one until it's made.

I have contacted the original fitter that came out now and hopefully she can help me get something or somewhere until I get mine!

 

[sbloom]

We are having awful challenges in the industry. The two companies I fit for have kept delivery schedules within a reasonable timeframe, one is unaltered but there is a backlog for the other, capacity is limited for both which will eventually add to the backlog unless things change.

I'm having to take stock that I would normally be selling and turn the saddles into demos. A lack of communication is the killer for a customer, but we often lack information which makes it harder. The industry is notorious for poor comms, from top to bottom (ie the suppliers to our workshop are really bad), but, as an example, we currently have a huge quantity of small metal components stuck in a container somewhere at sea (or on a dock somewhere), and this will be affecting a number of workshops/brands.

 

[Renvers]

I tried to buy a T4 when they were introduced several years ago and had a 12 week lead time then.

I have recently had a made to measure from Farringtons and it took 4 weeks which was apparently the same as pre-Covid lead times.

 

[TPO]

My saddle fitter recently posted that there is a minimum of a 12wk backlog for a new saddle due to covid/brexit.

She was asking for understanding so I imagine shes had it in the neck from some people.

Worth contacting places like Sheepham saddles or the saddle bank? You'll pay more than a private 2nd hand sale but at least you can return saddles after a trial.

Having said that the price of 2nd hand saddles have shot up due to the delay with new saddles so you might be as well waiting for a new one?

Have you joined all the FB k&m pages? They are fairly busy with second hand saddles

 

[Kizzy2004]

I have a T8 16.5 compact in black which I will be selling when my new saddle is delivered, hopefully in 2 weeks if you’re still waiting and interested in 2nd hand.

You could try David Dyer saddlery, they usually have a good stock of new saddles.

 

[LilyB92]

My saddle fitter recently posted that there is a minimum of a 12wk backlog for a new saddle due to covid/brexit.

She was asking for understanding so I imagine shes had it in the neck from some people.

Worth contacting places like Sheepham saddles or the saddle bank? You'll pay more than a private 2nd hand sale but at least you can return saddles after a trial.

Having said that the price of 2nd hand saddles have shot up due to the delay with new saddles so you might be as well waiting for a new one?

Have you joined all the FB k&m pages? They are fairly busy with second hand saddles

Hello - yes I think I am a member of all the possible groups ? have posted a few ads looking for a compact 16.5 but people mostly just comment with different shapes which won’t work unfortunately ?

 

[LilyB92]

I have a T8 16.5 compact in black which I will be selling when my new saddle is delivered, hopefully in 2 weeks if you’re still waiting and interested in 2nd hand.

You could try David Dyer saddlery, they usually have a good stock of new saddles.

I am going to contact them tomorrow ? they are first on my list!

I will pop you a message as if I don’t come right will definitely be interested in yours. Thank you!

 

[TPO]

Just spotted this 16.5" on fb

https://www.facebook.com/groups/865...68654696604550/?sale_post_id=2168654696604550

 

[1523679]

My fitter told me back in October that there was a 14-16 week lead time for K&M due to Covid. That was for a 16” Pony Club-type saddle.

I can’t imagine that their lead times will have done anything but extend since then.

 

[Widgeon]

I know! Absolutely insane right now. Unfortunately the one I am looking for seems to be near impossible to find 2nd hand (have seen 2 I think) - 16.5'' standard whither compact GP.

I just sold a 17" standard wither compact (MGC) T4 - I'm sure I've seen a smaller one for sale on the FB group. Are you on some FB groups? If you know exactly what you want they're the best way of finding something. If there's nothing immediately obvious you can always put a post up in case someone has the right thing lurking in their tack room, that's how I found the saddle I've just bought.

 

[tiahatti]

I was told by my saddler long before covid that lead times were so long with Thorowgood. I managed to get what I wanted second hand and the saddler made a couple of adjustments to it.