Saddle Fitter - Swap/Part Ex - Costs?

[bluepegasus]

Sorry it's a bit of a dumb one, but I've only ever had the saddler fitter out and bought a saddle outright for quite a bit of money (IMHO). I am currently on a tight budget but have a decent saddle to swap/part-ex.
Please could someone tell me what happens if you have a saddle to swap/part-ex?
My current saddle is very nice and probably worth around £250+, but I would like it checking/fitting.
If it doesn't fit what happens then?
Can I part-ex it for another?
How much is another likely to be from a saddler?
Do saddlers carry a large stock of second hand saddles?
Is there such a thing as a straight swap, saddle for saddle?
If it doesn't fit and the saddler doesn't have one to fit or one I can afford (or if current ones is ok) do I just pay a call-out? Approx how much?

Sorry for all the dumb questions but I just want to informed before I leap

 

[be positive]

These are questions that are best asked directly because every saddler will probably come up with a different answer, if it can be adjusted it fit that is the easiest and cheapest solution.
If not then the saddler may consider a p ex but not all will, it will depend on the make and how easily they feel it can be sold on.
Not all carry a selection, large or otherwise, call and find out before arranging a visit.
You are unlikely to get a straight swap for a saddle valued around £250, most will not have stock at this value.
You should only pay for the call out if no real work is done, budget upwards of £40 but again ask when booking.

 

[cold_feet]

I had to smile at this, as I’ve only ever done as you describe, but I’m about to buy one outright. My experiences:

Sorry it's a bit of a dumb one, but I've only ever had the saddler fitter out and bought a saddle outright for quite a bit of money (IMHO). I am currently on a tight budget but have a decent saddle to swap/part-ex.
Please could someone tell me what happens if you have a saddle to swap/part-ex?
My current saddle is very nice and probably worth around £250+, but I would like it checking/fitting.
If it doesn't fit what happens then? Trade it in for another
Can I part-ex it for another? yes most saddlers will, but you won’t get close to market value, the saddler will want to make a profit when it’s sold on
How much is another likely to be from a saddler? very
Do saddlers carry a large stock of second hand saddles? most do
Is there such a thing as a straight swap, saddle for saddle? unlikely, but I guess not impossible if of similar value (allowing for a loss on yours)
If it doesn't fit and the saddler doesn't have one to fit or one I can afford (or if current ones is ok) do I just pay a call-out? Approx how much? probably, I think I paid around £75 for a call out, several years ago.

Sorry for all the dumb questions but I just want to informed before I leap

 

[mariew]

I think it depends on the saddler, some stack second hand, some don't. You need to ask them really.

If it's an attractive brand that is easy to resell they will probably take it on under market value (if they do second hands). If it's an awkward brand that's lesser known, then they may not even want to buy it from you. Same applies to part-exing, in effect they buy yours and you'd pay the difference of the new one.

Likely you'll have to pay call out regardless, unless you buy a brand new saddle. You'll only know by asking the saddler Very few around where i am do second hand saddles, and if they do, they only only stock a couple of brands. The choice might be bigger near you, hopefully!

In the future, if/when i need a new saddle i am going down the second hand first and "is this an easy to resell brand/type" route, rather than getting exactly what i want, as long as it fits the horse of course. I have lost a fortune on buying new saddles and then not being able to resell for anything but a fraction of the new price.

 

[bluepegasus]

Thanks, I was hoping to not have to ask the saddler everything (for fear of looking like a wally) but looks like I will have to.
I've got an Albion Legend K2 GP, which looking on Ebay seem to be going to quite a lot more than I paid for it!!

 

[Wheels]

Sorry it's a bit of a dumb one, but I've only ever had the saddler fitter out and bought a saddle outright for quite a bit of money (IMHO). I am currently on a tight budget but have a decent saddle to swap/part-ex.
Please could someone tell me what happens if you have a saddle to swap/part-ex?
My current saddle is very nice and probably worth around £250+, but I would like it checking/fitting.
If it doesn't fit what happens then?

Then you need a different saddle!

Can I part-ex it for another?

Some fitters will part ex any saddle, some will only part ex brands that they sell themselves, some will take the saddle and sell on your behalf but would not take the cost of your new saddle, you would get a partial refund later, some will not p ex at all so that is a particular question for your fitter

How much is another likely to be from a saddler?

anywhere from about £250 to £5k depending on brand, style, condition


Do saddlers carry a large stock of second hand saddles?

Some do, others not so much

Is there such a thing as a straight swap, saddle for saddle?

There is but saddle fitters are running a business and I would imagine that if you did get a straight swap that you would end up with a saddle that is worth less than your current one. You will probably receive less for a p ex saddle than you would get selling it privately so that is also an option but if you decide to do that on ebay or similar don't forget the 10% fee and the other 3.something % fee for paypal

If it doesn't fit and the saddler doesn't have one to fit or one I can afford (or if current ones is ok) do I just pay a call-out? Approx how much?

some won't charge, up to about £100 depending

Sorry for all the dumb questions but I just want to informed before I leap

 

[Leo Walker]

Thanks, I was hoping to not have to ask the saddler everything (for fear of looking like a wally) but looks like I will have to.
I've got an Albion Legend K2 GP, which looking on Ebay seem to be going to quite a lot more than I paid for it!!

It depends on the age. The older ones are a different shape and much less desirable and consequently cheaper. The newer ones are very desirable though and worth at least double what you paid.

 

[oldie48]

I have used the same saddler for nearly 20 years and I've bought new saddles and second hand saddles. I've bought a new saddle and traded in a saddle I've bought from him and on occasion a saddle that came with a horse. I just try to be very honest about my situation and what I can afford so he knows what to bring with him. My last two horses came in a poor condition, he altered a saddle I had to fit with a view to changing it once the horse has been in work for a while and he has sold me a second hand saddle for me to use as a stop gap on another horse which he bought back from me (at the same price) against a new saddle. Saddlers like all of us have to be able to make a living or they won't exist and tbh I would never buy a saddle off ebay, I want an assurance that I am using a saddle that fits properly and a second hand saddle needs fitting just like a new one does.

 

[vmac66]

Depends on the saddler. I have done a straight swop and also part exchanged. Luckily there are a couple of saddlers that only sell secondhand saddles in the area.

 

[Leo Walker]

Buying off ebay doesnt meant you dont get them fitted. My saddler comes out, tells me what makes and models of saddles will work and then comes back to fit it when I have it.

 

[sbloom]

Buying off ebay doesnt meant you dont get them fitted. My saddler comes out, tells me what makes and models of saddles will work and then comes back to fit it when I have it.

Though as you say about the K2 you do need to be VERY exact in what you purchase. I see people having been advised to get a "16.5 open head brand X GP" and I think more info is needed, the fitter needs to be very specific and unless the vendor is helpful sometimes it's very difficult to find out if what they have is exactly what they need.

And yes, the answers are all bang on, it will depend, but a swap will only, if the fitter is to make a living (and very few are making more than a living!) give you a saddle of lesser value. If anyone runs their own business then they know about return on investment, and the fact that time is money; it's no easier to sell a used saddle, just as much work, yet we're expected to make less profit from them.

 

[flying_high]

Personally (unless my saddler has someone interested in one of my old saddles, or has a second hand model in stock to suit), I have always taken advice and purchased second hand – via ebay / facebook / preloved (always collecting in person, with a list of things to check e.g. tree etc, paying cash on inspection). You do want to research what you are buying, and know the value on saddles direct / new / ebay / preloved of what you are buying, and whether you can easily resell. And know the age, model, serial number, condition, size, width etc. etc.

I have always had second hand saddles checked and fitted to the horses, and only bought on recommendation from professionals.

When I need to sell on, I advertise, normally at about the same or slightly more than I bought for, show all details, measurements, models, serial numbers, good clear photos, and list ebay, preloved, facebook, and state happy to post insured at buyer cost, or to drive an hour in their direction to do a direct handover.

IME saddlers can take a very long time to turn second hand stock over, and normally charge 1/3 commission on sales price for their time. Putting the legwork into sourcing and selling my own second hand means hours of my time, but speeds up the process.

 

[bluepegasus]

Buying off ebay doesnt meant you dont get them fitted. My saddler comes out, tells me what makes and models of saddles will work and then comes back to fit it when I have it.

Sorry being dumb again... so does that mean you can't ride until you've sourced another saddle? Which in my case would be weeks and weeks, as I'd struggle to find time to get the saddler out during the week.
And presumably you then pay two call-out fees to your saddler too?
And what if the saddle they've recommended doesn't fit after all that? You've presumably got to sell it and start again.
Sorry it just sounds like a nightmare to me and something I am dreading having to do.

 

[sbloom]

The profit or commission rate is not just to cover time, it's got to cover all overheads too. Not many business people in any field would choose to hold products with a lower profit margin over those with a higher profit margin (effectively return on investment) if they sell at the same rate and, as you say, second hand saddles can take a long time to sell, it costs money to hold the stock, each sale even costs roughly the same in terms of time, travel etc so it's much harder to make a living fitting used saddles.

None of us as far as I know are making an easy living (well actually make that most of us!), let alone wealthy, just the facts of the business.

 

[sbloom]

Sorry being dumb again... so does that mean you can't ride until you've sourced another saddle? Which in my case would be weeks and weeks, as I'd struggle to find time to get the saddler out during the week.
And presumably you then pay two call-out fees to your saddler too?
And what if the saddle they've recommended doesn't fit after all that? You've presumably got to sell it and start again.
Sorry it just sounds like a nightmare to me and something I am dreading having to do.

Mostly recommendations are accurate but yes, you need to pay two callouts. Still cheaper than going new, often by a lot of money. More difficult if you are limited in the times you can get the fitter out, I do understand, but as per the "working full time" post, there are so many things you need to attend for horses that only being able to do weekends limits a lot of things. Not easy :-s