Postage options for a saddle?

PinkRoses

PinkRoses

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Hi all,

I’m about to list a couple of saddles on ebay but just wondering what postage options people usually use to send saddles? Royal Mail 24h up to 20kg is coming up as an option but I’m trying to work out if a saddle will fit in a 61x46x46 box.

I’ve recently got a new pony so I need to shift 3 saddles to fund a new saddle purchase 😂
 
PinkRoses said:
Hi all,

I’m about to list a couple of saddles on ebay but just wondering what postage options people usually use to send saddles? Royal Mail 24h up to 20kg is coming up as an option but I’m trying to work out if a saddle will fit in a 61x46x46 box.

I’ve recently got a new pony so I need to shift 3 saddles to fund a new saddle purchase
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If the saddle isn't too wide (ie XW+ type fitting) then it may well fit in 46cm, some of mine fit into 40cm. FedEx have some of the cheapest insurance which can really help bring the price down. Headline prices cheaper elsewhere but not if you want insurance, I use both Parcelforce (won't be Royal Mail) and DPD if I'm not needing too much insurance.

This might be useful https://www.facebook.com/groups/164...415&hoisted_section_header_type=recently_seen (old FB account I no longer have access to)
 
Thankyou for the help everyone, it seems like parcelforce is the winner :)


If anyone has any tips for estimating width of a saddle I’d be grateful! One of them I haven’t used since 2013 and I no longer have the invoice for it. I have the mind of a goldfish so I don’t remember the width. I don’t want to advertise it incorrectly 🥲
 
If you get one of those bendy stick things used for tracing withers, then you can fit it to the inside of the saddle, draw around it on a piece of paper once shaped, and measure the resultant outline. Or just run a tape measure across from one D ring to the other.
 
I always use parcel force as well normally cost is no more than £22 and never had an issue and I've sold quite a few.

Getting a big enough box is the hard bit I ended up taping 2 together on a few occasions as couldn't find one big enough, mine were x wide saddles though so need a bigger box.
 
PinkRoses said:
Thankyou for the help everyone, it seems like parcelforce is the winner :)


If anyone has any tips for estimating width of a saddle I’d be grateful! One of them I haven’t used since 2013 and I no longer have the invoice for it. I have the mind of a goldfish so I don’t remember the width. I don’t want to advertise it incorrectly 🥲
Click to expand...
I have stood them on their front then placed a tape measure across the part that would sit on the horse and took a photo.

If it is a well known brand and has a serial number you can contact them and they will tell you.

D ring width is normally not a good representation of the true width of the saddle.
 
If you go on the Thorowgood website there's a saddle measuring section - you can print off a pdf width guide, fold the paper to whatever width you think it is and use it to measure your saddle width. Also, the width may be stamped on the stirrup bar anyway or in the flap. D to d measurements are notoriously unreliable.

Postage wise I always use parcelforce and drop it off at my local post office. I don't go over board on padding (it is a saddle after all not china) - just wrap in a layer or two of bubble wrap and put it in a strong box which the saddle fills i.e not a box so big that there's tonnes of space around it!
 
Another vote for Parcelforce. I posted my old GP a few weeks ago, it was about £19 including insurance to £250. Cost goes up the higher the insurance but I’ve always found them good, this was collected and tracked, next day delivery.
 
I've been receiving saddles in the post for 15 years, Parcelforce is no better or worse than any others and have been known to leave boxes of brand new saddles in front gardens.

So much is down to the individual driver at the other end, when sending. If you have a goodie then you're all set, but there are plenty that have high turnover of staff or just unhelpful drivers.
 
Pinkvboots said:
I have stood them on their front then placed a tape measure across the part that would sit on the horse and took a photo.

If it is a well known brand and has a serial number you can contact them and they will tell you.

D ring width is normally not a good representation of the true width of the saddle.
Click to expand...

Thankyou, I’ve taken pictures showing a measuring tape measuring d to d and the seat so I will remeasure with your suggestion :)

It’s made by a local saddler who I purchased it from secondhand. I did call them yesterday but unfortunately the serial number & my purchase history predate their records. They only keep records for 6/7 years so I’m a few years out!
 
HorseMaid said:
If you go on the Thorowgood website there's a saddle measuring section - you can print off a pdf width guide, fold the paper to whatever width you think it is and use it to measure your saddle width. Also, the width may be stamped on the stirrup bar anyway or in the flap. D to d measurements are notoriously unreliable.

Postage wise I always use parcelforce and drop it off at my local post office. I don't go over board on padding (it is a saddle after all not china) - just wrap in a layer or two of bubble wrap and put it in a strong box which the saddle fills i.e not a box so big that there's tonnes of space around it!
Click to expand...
Brilliant, this is really helpful Thankyou!
 
sbloom said:
Only ever put an approximate width unless you know it for sure. This may help you https://stephaniebloomsaddlefitter.co.uk/blog-and-resources/tips-for-selling-a-used-saddle
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That is my worry. Two of them have serial numbers that provide seat size and width. One I bought from new so I am confident in its width and size and the other I bought off a friend who bought it from new so again I am confident in the width and seat size. It’s just one of them I’m really struggling with. I’m worried if I don’t provide some sort of information I won’t be able to sell it, but equally don’t want to advertise it wrong!

Thankyou this is really helpful :)

I have taken a picture measuring the seat but I did take one measuring d to d so might delete that one! I will take one of the spine being measured.
 
Sorry another silly question (numbers aren’t my strong point). What measurement would you consider this to be?

I’ve measured from the nail head to the centre of the cantle.
 

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