Saddle bought on eBay wrong size

[exracehorse]

I bought a saddle. Albion jump saddle legend. Advertised as a 17.5 medium wide. Which my horse is. Have a dressage saddle by this make abs know that’s what I want. When it arrived it was obviously larger in the front of the gullet. Rung Albion up with serial number and was advised it’s actually a Wide. Therefore won’t fit. Corrected seller. She said always a risk when buying second hand saddles. Appreciate.. yes .. that’s not seller fault. But if it’s advertised as a certain size and it’s not. Then surely that’s her fault and she should take it back. If I ordered a pair of size 7 shoes and they were an 8 when they arrived.. I would be in my right to return ?

 

[MissTyc]

I should think so. It's been incorrectly advertised, that's not a "risk", it's just incorrect.
A risk would be if it arrived, was a medium-wide but still didn't fit for some reason because the tree was a bit difference than your other saddle or something.
If paid via Paypal, you should be able to start a return whether the seller wants it or not. I would get the screenshot of the advert and made sure you have something in writing from Albion re the reference number. Seller's fault for not making that phone call herself. Now she knows.

 

[AShetlandBitMeOnce]

It is seller fault, she could have called Albion to check before she sold it. I would usually be saying buyer beware, but in this case she has mis-sold the saddle as inproperly described.
Raise a case through Ebay for a full refund, but be prepared to need to re-package the saddle abd return (at her cost). I would take a hundred photos of every angle of the saddle and packing before you send it, and also seek to get the size in writing from Albion. Ebay usually side with the buyer on things which can be frustrating but in this case is super useful as you will win.

 

[exracehorse]

Advert. And serial number

 

[Polos Mum]

Buying second hand is different. You can try opening a case with paypal but might be time consuming.

maybe easier to pop it back on ebay yourself - wider is likely to have more appeal as more horses are wide than med wide.

In future maybe worth checking the serial number before you bid.

 

[AShetlandBitMeOnce]

Buying second hand is different. You can try opening a case with paypal but might be time consuming.

maybe easier to pop it back on ebay yourself - wider is likely to have more appeal as more horses are wide than med wide.

In future maybe worth checking the serial number before you bid.

I don't think it's time consuming at all, they have to reply within 4 working days otherwise you are automatically granted the win and a full refund. Ebay's customer service on things like this is much better than it used to be.

 

[teddypops]

Just do a claim through eBay as the item is not described. Seller will have to pay for return and refund you. It is the sellers fault that they didn’t double check the size of the saddle before sending.

 

[sbloom]

There is a chance it's been widened without the seller realising, Albion is likely to only have the original width on file. I would see what ebay/Paypal says and would recommend anyone buying a used saddle to always get photos of the front, not just the pommel, to at least half way down, so you can see the width, and work with a fitter if you're not sure what the right width looks like.

https://stephaniebloomsaddlefitter.co.uk/blog/tips-for-selling-a-used-saddle

 

[AandK]

The stamp in the picture says W. I would raise a return case with eBay stating item is not as described, seller is trying to pull a fast one saying this is the risk with second hand saddles... You have the picture and info from Albion to back you up.

 

[exracehorse]

Buying second hand is different. You can try opening a case with paypal but might be time consuming.

maybe easier to pop it back on ebay yourself - wider is likely to have more appeal as more horses are wide than med wide.

In future maybe worth checking the serial number before you bid.

. There was no number in the advert.. That’s a photo that I took of the serial number stamped underneath. I knew it was too wide when I examined the saddle.

 

[MereChristmas]

Use the ebay ‘ not as described’ return system. If the advert said ‘medium wide’ and the saddle is stamped ‘wide’ and Albion say it was wide then it is up to the seller to make sure their description is correct.

If the saddle has been widened or made more narrow then it is up to the seller to put this in the advert too.

The description is what you base your decision to buy upon.

If you wanted a pair of jeans size 12 and size 14 was sent you would ask for a return, surely?

 

[exracehorse]

The stamp in the picture says W. I would raise a return case with eBay stating item is not as described, seller is trying to pull a fast one saying this is the risk with second hand saddles... You have the picture and info from Albion to back you up.

can you see a W on the photo ? It’s so worn on the leather. I can only see the serial number.

 

[criso]

can you see a W on the photo ? It’s so worn on the leather. I can only see the serial number.

Looking at the photo, if I'm looking at the right place, there is what looks like a W but something in front that could have been an M but is very worn.

 

[sbloom]

Looking at the photo, if I'm looking at the right place, there is what looks like a W but something in front that could have been an M but is very worn.

Yes sadly these stamps do wear away on many older saddles, I do think there's a case here but buyers need to ask for more photos and be more sure of what they want and what it will look like, to save this hassle.

 

[AandK]

can you see a W on the photo ? It’s so worn on the leather. I can only see the serial number.

Yes. Above the serial number is England (assuming it once said Made in England) and above that it is stamped W 171/2, fairly clear to me. I'm on a laptop though, so seeing a bigger image than if you were on a phone.

ETA image showing where I see the W 171/2

 

[teddypops]

Yes sadly these stamps do wear away on many older saddles, I do think there's a case here but buyers need to ask for more photos and be more sure of what they want and what it will look like, to save this hassle.

The seller should be the one to list the item correctly

 

[criso]

Yes. Above the serial number is England (assuming it once said Made in England) and above that it is stamped W 171/2, fairly clear to me. I'm on a laptop though, so seeing a bigger image than if you were on a phone.

ETA image showing where I see the W 171/2View attachment 79113

I was looking at something else. Just below, but above the 2, slightly left of where you highlighted is something that could be interpreted as a W, then there is a worn mark just before it. I can see the W you mean though.

I actually find it easier on a phone as I can pinch to zoom right in but I'm sure you've got a better view in real life in real life where you can change the angle of the light and look at it from different angles to be sure.

 

[Sugar Plum]

Ebay are very good about their returns. This is the reason why buyers use them rather than any of the other private sellers or preloved etc

 

[exracehorse]

I’ve informed eBay that I wish for a refund. As incorrectly advertised. A wide is not suitable. Seller asked for serial number which I sent. She rung Albion who comformed the width. Seller said I could have the saddle altered to a MW. I’m not going down that route. Extra expense plus it would be harder to sell on as it’s been messed with and the altered size would not match the serial stamp. Hopefully it will all go smoothly and I’ll be refunded.

 

[AandK]

I was looking at something else. Just below, but above the 2, slightly left of where you highlighted is something that could be interpreted as a W, then there is a worn mark just before it. I can see the W you mean though.

I actually find it easier on a phone as I can pinch to zoom right in but I'm sure you've got a better view in real life in real life where you can change the angle of the light and look at it from different angles to be sure.

I have an Albion and have had others, and the width is always stamped next to the seat size in the place I have highlighted. I don't think there is any doubt this is a W, unless the seller has proof it has been adjusted to a MW.

 

[ester]

And even if they had they should have mentioned it.

I'd say this was about as clear cut as it can get for not as described.

 

[criso]

I have an Albion and have had others, and the width is always stamped next to the seat size in the place I have highlighted. I don't think there is any doubt this is a W, unless the seller has proof it has been adjusted to a MW.

.
No it's a W but the M of MW might have worn off as it does look very worn. However Albion have confirmed the size is W.

 

[Hepsibah]

I bought a saddle. Albion jump saddle legend. Advertised as a 17.5 medium wide. Which my horse is. Have a dressage saddle by this make abs know that’s what I want. When it arrived it was obviously larger in the front of the gullet. Rung Albion up with serial number and was advised it’s actually a Wide. Therefore won’t fit. Corrected seller. She said always a risk when buying second hand saddles. Appreciate.. yes .. that’s not seller fault. But if it’s advertised as a certain size and it’s not. Then surely that’s her fault and she should take it back. If I ordered a pair of size 7 shoes and they were an 8 when they arrived.. I would be in my right to return ?

File a significantly not as described case against the seller. Be prepared to return it tracked when ebay tell you to then when it shows as delivered ebay will refund the purchase price and original postage.

 

[sbloom]

The seller should be the one to list the item correctly

Saddles are complicated, arm yourself with as much information as possible to avoid getting into this situation. I agree there is a case here but no-one wants to be in this position do they? If a fitter recommended this model then I'd hope they'd check photos for a customer, I certainly do as I've charged for the advice service (and it's a lot of work for the small charge!). Not apportioning blame, trying to help others avoid getting into the same situation.

Also, how many people have saddles that don't measure quite what they're supposed to, the width has been completely rubbed out, it's changed hands several times and what it actually was to begin with has been lost in the mists of time...buying anything second hand from a private vendor is a minefield (you can at least expect most commercial sellers to know what they are selling). Arm yourselves, that is all.

 

[hock]

eBay and saddles, yuck. Someone somewhere won an auction of mine for an ideal Jessica that had the stamp of the sellers name not ideal. Complained and I agreed to take it back, never sent the saddle back but somehow we still had to refund her. I will never understand how this happened. We tried contacting her direct and we we’re ignored. Makes me savage just thinking about it.

 

[Lipglosspukka]

You have an independent report from the maker of the saddle confirming it's not as described.

It's an easy win.

 

[sbloom]

eBay and saddles, yuck. Someone somewhere won an auction of mine for an ideal Jessica that had the stamp of the sellers name not ideal. Complained and I agreed to take it back, never sent the saddle back but somehow we still had to refund her. I will never understand how this happened. We tried contacting her direct and we we’re ignored. Makes me savage just thinking about it.

What did the nailheads say? I would 100% agree that if the nailheads aren't Ideal then the saddle is worth less, even if you know it's made by Ideal. There has been a thread on here about someone being told they were ordering an Ideal and it came completely rebadged, and I was 100% telling her not to pay the same as she would for an Ideal, or send it back as it's not what she ordered. An Ideal badge and the stamp of a maker on the flap is a trickier one. Basically know what you have, advertise it with all facts disclosed, and they can't send it back.

 

[hock]

I honestly can’t remember now but I do agree with you. I originally bought it off eBay as the right saddle too but it fitted at the time so didn’t really occur to me to look at it. I also once bought a very cheap fairfax that was meant to be 18” and was stamped 17” but that’s another story. Thinking about it I’m pretty sore the pins were blank so most likely a rip off of the ideal. No more eBay buys for me. Probably.

 

[nikkimariet]

Absolutely. Open a dispute if the seller isn’t willing to take it back.

I bought a jump saddle a year ago off eBay that should have been MW 17”. It was an 18” W… Seller was actually very difficult and denied it was wrong even though the serial number was proof enough. Plus it was a plastic tree and foam panels not a traditional tree with proper flocking.

She then did try and say she hadn’t received it as a return until I found her on fb selling the very same saddle (with the correct measurements noted this time!).

Got my money back in about 30 minutes after submitting some screen shots!

 

[exracehorse]

Seller has agreed to take it back after eBay stepped in. It was returned today. And tracked. Let’s hope I get my money back. Had to pay 19 pounds return though