saddle fitting etiquette???

ncarter

ncarter

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Hi,

I had a saddler come out to try some saddles for my pony but she brought the wrong selection for his size. I did try an exselle saddle that I liked though.
We agreed that she would come back with some more to try when she gets more in stock.

The price for the exselle one I liked was £950, but I have seen it on the internet in the sale at £820.

Is it bad etiquette to tell the saddler this and ask if I can buy this one from the internet and just pay her for fitting it?
I have not paid her anything yet (she came to me on the way to see a friend so it was not out of her way)

Not sure where they make thier margins and I do not want to p*** people off, but also I do not want to be paying an extra £130 just to be polite! :confused:

I also don't want to buy it and not get it fitted correctly as the whole point of getting a new saddle is that it fits the pony.

Advise anyone please?????
 
If my saddle fitter fits saddles you have from elsewhere she charges £50, if you get it from her she doesn't charge to fit and includes the first check/adjustment free as the flocking on new saddles can pack down more.
If the one on the internet has postage on top then you need to think carefully on how much you will save.

It's different if it was a second hand one as you would save more and they are not likely to need reflocking unless the horse changes shape.
 
Tricky one. I believe they make their money from saddle sales and repairs.

You don't tend to find freelance saddle fitters that simply come out to you and advise on the fit of your saddle, they are generally in the business of selling/repairing saddles.

Can you in fact do a recognised saddle fitting course if you are not a saddler??


I would be tempted to mention the fact that you can get the saddle so much cheaper via the internet and try and work out a compromise
 
criso said:
If my saddle fitter fits saddles you have from elsewhere she charges £50, if you get it from her she doesn't charge to fit and includes the first check/adjustment free as the flocking on new saddles can pack down more.
If the one on the internet has postage on top then you need to think carefully on how much you will save.

It's different if it was a second hand one as you would save more and they are not likely to need reflocking unless the horse changes shape.
Click to expand...

The £820 is a delivered price
The saddle fitter would charge me £950 plus £45 fitting for the one from her.

If I bought the one from the internet, would a saddle fitter come out just to fit / adjust a saddle that I had bought from elsewhere?
 
I have found if you call a saddler out to find you a saddle your horse is always a funny shape and will require some expensive saddle, and no wintec & thorogood won't fit but if you have already bought a saddle then they manage to fit it to the horse no problem.
Yes, many saddlers will come and fit the saddle if you have bought it already.
 
You don't get unless you ask.

However I'm a bit confused, did she come to do a saddle fitting service on your horse or someone elses, but just happened to try a few on yours while you were about, otherwise I can't see why she didn't charge you or why she brought a wrong selection of saddles, they usually bring a selection that are more suited to your horses shape and size, as well as your own requirements :confused:

Therefore if she's coming back to actually see if this make/model of saddle fits in the correct size, a fitting, then she's bound to charge extra for coming out, usually fittings range from £50.00 to £75.00 depending on milage also.

If she comes to fit the saddle and it fits, there is nothing stopping you from saying, ok well thank you very much, you don't have to buy it.

Or you could discuss this with her over the phone and say that you have seen the saddles for less else where, if the saddle fits are you prepaired to match the price?

I've done it before, rang a saddler up and said their cheaper else where but I'd rather buy from you and support my local saddler etc....it worked! :D
 
My saddler openly told me I might be able to find his recommended saddle cheaper online and that if I did to let him know + link. If he can't match the price he'll come back to fit it for £50.
 
My saddler (master saddler) sold me a second hand saddle a year ago, since then Saffy has changed shape and I asked her about the Bates Caprilli saddles as they have changable gullets. She couldn't match the internet price but eventually I bought a second hand Kent and Masters saddle and she was quite happy to come out and check the fit for me. Cost £45 and she also checked my other horses second hand saddle that she sold us in June while she was there.
And she didn't say that either of them needed adjusting or changing, and asked me let her know how Saffy was going in the new saddle. I texted her to say that all was well and she texted back. So I am very pleased with the service!
 
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