My experience shopping online for horse stuff, best/worst

[little_critter]

I’m a bit annoyed with viovet at the moment. I placed an order on Tuesday and paid extra for express delivery but as yet they’ve not dispatched it despite it showing as in stock.
No doubt the delivery will be ‘express’, shame the picking and packing isn’t

 

[HG95]

Not the biggest range of things but HarryHall have the best delivery out there in my experience

 

[Kunoichi73]

I've mostly had good delivery from Harry Hall. The only time I had a delay was last year when the postal strikes were on.

I bought some boots from Edgemere's eBay store recently and they were delivered pretty quickly.

 

[Bobthecob15]

Agree. They're really good.

Eileen Douglas for rugs. Also had a good experience where the discounted Ariat riding tights I ordered had sold out on my size, so they sent me a non-discounted pair at no extra charge. Was very impressed with that.

Millbry Hill and Old Mill are both reliable.

Find GS Equestrian a bit slow to despatch.

I agree GS does take a while to post now, compared to a year ago.

Barnstaple also took ages the last time I got anything from them.

Currently faves are Chelford Farm supplies and Online for equine x

 

[tyner]

The last time I tried to order from Kramer they wouldn't ship to Northern Ireland. They would ship to Dublin (where I could have collected from a friend living there) from the EU website but couldn't accept my UK credit card to pay them on that site. So no good for me which is a pain because they do have lovely looking stuff.

I find Eileen Douglas and Hope Valley very good. There are some great recommendations in these posts. Please keep adding them

What I do find with online shopping is that the 6 3 rugs sizes are always sold out first.

I am sorry Bluewaves that is me, if its Weatherbeeta rugs you're after, I'm afraid I've bought all of them

Where in Scotland are you?

Sommervilles do online stuff now as do jetset equestrian..

I'm in Fife, the closest thing is in Milnathort but please if you have good suggestions locally I'd love to hear them.

I do think this is slightly where we feel the loss of Derby House and Robinsons. They used to have a huge range.

I was impressed with Redpost the other day, really quick delivery and accurate stock on a very specialist bit.

Viovet are a nightmare these days with delivery. Unfortunately they're often the most competitively priced so I just order well in advance.

For secondhand stuff I use facebook marketplace as well as vinted. You can get some real bargains secondhand.

Vinted is a great idea, I've not tried it.

Surely this is the same price etc as returning anything else in the UK via Royal Mail?

You are right, I don't know why I assumed otherwise.

I buy from loads - it’s all about price. Sports Direct, Horze, Kramer, Old Mill, Oakfield, Eileen, Redpost, Hope valley, Naylors, GS, Barnstaple, R&R, Old Dairy.
I have bought direct from HY equestrian and Ariat as often have some good stuff in their outlet.

Good shout about Sports Direct, I've seen some good deals there.

OP, you do realise that Kramer products in the UK are returned to their warehouse in devon, if you have an issue, so if you like their products, then it is very easy to return to them, as they have a UK base.

I did not know! Thank you so much for telling me this, I am really excited now. That is absolutely wonderful!

I agree GS does take a while to post now, compared to a year ago.

Barnstaple also took ages the last time I got anything from them.

Currently faves are Chelford Farm supplies and Online for equine x

Another bonus for Online for Equine / Just Horse Riders sometimes they are available on Amazon so thats a big selling point too!

So many good suggestions here, thanks so much.

 

[Barton Bounty]

None in fife, but look on Jet Set equestrian. They are close to me and do mail order

 

[Bobthecob15]

I’m a bit annoyed with viovet at the moment. I placed an order on Tuesday and paid extra for express delivery but as yet they’ve not dispatched it despite it showing as in stock.
No doubt the delivery will be ‘express’, shame the picking and packing isn’t

They have always taken ages with me too...never use them now

 

[catkin]

Redpost is my local tack shop but tbh I much prefer Leonard Coombe in Newton Abbot.

Leonard Coombe does mail order too. I used them in the summer for something very specific and the parcel came very quickly.

 

[Peglo]

For anything supplements/vet type stuff I use Viovet as their pricing is very competitive but do get disappointed with the delivery times as often takes a week to come!

Living in the north isles off Scotland we expect everything to take a week to come next day delivery is more like 3 days although occasionally something does turn up the next day and that is a surprise but don’t expect it next time

Great recommendations.

 

[asmp]

I ordered a pair of Mountain Horse boots from a Company named on this tread (I won’t name and shame yet) as they were the cheapest around. An email came back saying they would be sent in 16 days. That’s been and gone. Phoned them and they said they’ve yet to receive them from MH and are expecting them soon. TBH I wouldn’t have ordered from them if they weren’t in stock. They were supposed to be my birthday present from my husband but that’s also been and gone.

I did do a search here on the company before I ordered as I’d not heard of them and reviews were good

 

[Barton Bounty]

I ordered a pair of Mountain Horse boots from a Company named on this tread (I won’t name and shame yet) as they were the cheapest around. An email came back saying they would be sent in 16 days. That’s been and gone. Phoned them and they said they’ve yet to receive them from MH and are expecting them soon. TBH I wouldn’t have ordered from them if they weren’t in stock. They were supposed to be my birthday present from my husband but that’s also been and gone.

I did do a search here on the company before I ordered as I’d not heard of them and reviews were good

I have had that before where they have been a third party purchase kind of, makes you wonder on the mark up doesnt it!

But I think I also waited about 20 days and possibly the same company but the saving was considerable!

 

[AShetlandBitMeOnce]

Eileen Douglas also has an Ebay shop that you can find some absolute bargains on!

 

[Goldie's mum]

Living in the north isles off Scotland we expect everything to take a week to come next day delivery is more like 3 days although occasionally something does turn up the next day and that is a surprise but don’t expect it next time

Great recommendations.

We're an island off the left hand side.
Royal Mail "Next day" is about 3 days here too. Couriers deliver to a depot on the mainland & then mark it as "delivered". The onward journey to here only happens Tuesdays or Fridays and not at all in poor weather. Neither RM nor courier come right to the house. They deliver to a shed where the tarmac stops & we go down in 4WD to collect.
You get used to it!
Good = Chelford farm, Weatherbeeta/Dublin, Hyperdrug, Amazon.

 

[DressageCob]

I always check justhorseriders.com first - it’s always cheaper and usually arrives next day or day after. Really good customer service.

I saw someone link them on Facebook but I assumed it was a nonsense website because of the errant apostrophes. I thought it might be like the equine onesie girl and not professional.
Turns out I'm just a judgmental cow

 

[Sealine]

Viovet used to be great but these days they are awful. I ordered quite a few things as a friend and I did a joint order. When I hadn't received the order two weeks later I phoned to chase and they told me there was one item on the order out of stock and they were waiting for the whole order before despatch and they had no idea when it would come in. I cancelled the out of stock item but still waited two days before they despatched the order. I used to like Viovet as they are only a couple of miles from me and I could pick up and return parcels in person but they stopped this in Covid. They told me I can't hand deliver a return parcel and it must be sent by post which is ridiculous.

I've always found Decathlon efficient even when buying non Decathlon brands e.g. Weatherbeeta. Harry Hall are also very good.

 

[equinerebel]

I miss derby house a lot

If I have to buy new, Redpost is my current favourite.

 

[eggs]

I ordered some items that were non-urgent from VioVet last week in the expectation that they would take a while to arrive so knock me down with a feather when the whole order arrived two days later !

 

[Barton Bounty]

Poo poo equiflair saddlery!

 

[Jambarissa]

For clothing check house of fraiser. I think it's Robinson/sports direct but any HOF discount days apply. Had some great bargains.

In general Iike Griggs, although no longer free returns. And Old Mill.

 

[Belmont]

I recently had a poor experience with GS equestrian. Took them a week just to dispatch 2 items, thankfully they came within 48 hours and arrived the day I needed the items for a show. Won't use them again!
Haven't used E D for a few years. When I did, I'd ordered 2 rugs, got the delivered email but no sign of them anywhere. I hunted high and low, checked with neighbours etc. They kindly sent out replacements. About 6 months later, a grumpy neighbour knocks on my door with the original parcel, saying they were in his locked shed and only just discovered when he returned from travelling. How the delivery driver got them in the shed remains a mystery! But ED kindly let me keep them.

 

[tyner]

These are all so helpful but wow it's sad how normalized the bad experiences and terrible customer service is.

Another annoying thing is when a retailer has a online store and an eBay shop and they have different stock options, pricing and shipping costs.
Old Mill Saddlery I'm looking at you

 

[Sanversera]

Barnstaple Equestrian I find to be good. Viovet took ages to deliver last time I used them.

 

[JoA]

I too miss Robinsons and Derby House. Had a massive clear out of an old cupboard a couple of months ago of all my endurance mags, maps etc and found a 2008 Robinsons catalogue. Brought back memories for me and several friends

 

[webble]

I too miss Robinsons and Derby House. Had a massive clear out of an old cupboard a couple of months ago of all my endurance mags, maps etc and found a 2008 Robinsons catalogue. Brought back memories for me and several friends

It used to be such nice day out, Derby House cafe was a real treat and then Robinsons for a few bargains

 

[Bobthecob15]

Eileen Douglas also has an Ebay shop that you can find some absolute bargains on!

yep agree with this!!

 

[GoldenWillow]

I've probably used most of those over the years. I agree that whilst Viovet used to be good I've also had longer delivery times and the odd problem the last couple of years. Something to note is that under the photo of the item on website there is this message in small faint writing "Images are for illustration purposes only. Packaging may change from time to time and images on our website may or may not be updated." Which, as I discovered, if you order a wheelbarrow and it comes with noticeable annoying differences to the one pictured and the one you thought you were buying they quote it to you and you have to return at your own, considerable in the case of a wheelbarrow, cost. I have used them much less and only if there is a decent saving by using them.

I have had fantastic service from The Drillshed in the past. There was a warranty problem, they were great and sorted it out very quickly.

I find my local agri stores are competitively priced but obviously do have limited stock.

 

[leflynn]

If you like horse direct their actual shop is local to me (Houghton Country), they are super helpful and will order in so give them a buzz is my advice. I use amazon a lot if I need things quickly and get supplements on subscription so they are cheaper. Have used Hope Valley only as they are cheap, not had the greatest service from them tbh. Country and stable are pretty good and they have an ebay outlet too with some good bargains. LOVE treehouse - always great service and very quick too, prices are often very competitive and they sometimes have good discount codes

 

[Surbie]

Not the biggest range of things but HarryHall have the best delivery out there in my experience

Also fantastic customer service. I returned some stuff but forgot to put the returns form in. It took a while, but they found the package and refunded.

 

[Barton Bounty]

Fairly disappointed this last 10 days to say the least…..

Firstly by equiflair saddlery….. purchased a jacket that they are STILL ADVERTISING AVAILABLE and they do not have any stock of it…..still awaiting a refund 3-5 days.

Hope Valley then advertise the same Mountain Horse Juno softshell jacket and so I order it on Wednesday and they also take my money and email me last night to say they also do not have any stock of the jacket but low and behold are still advertising stock!!! I had ordered quite a lot of other stuff so I dont want any of it now , just rather have my money back.
Another 3-5 days for a refund
GET A GRIP COMPANIES SERIOUSLY

 

[Kunoichi73]

That's ridiculous, BB. Really annoying and frustrating!