Saddle selling dilema and advice please

lochpearl

lochpearl

Well-Known Member
Joined
10 October 2007
Messages
2,139
Visit site
Ok, long story short, I have a brand new saddle that I need to sell. The saddle fitter wrongly advised me and the saddle doesn't fit the horse it was purchased for, or my other horse. Saddle fitter has become nasty, ignored my calls and emails and is bad mouthing me saying the saddle fits. Another saddler that came to check the saddle independently has confirmed that it doesn't fit and will never fit. etc. etc.

Apart from Ebay and saddles direct, where can I sell it to get the most money for it?

I purchased it for £1100 - its a brand new Albion, so what am I likely to get for it?

Thanks.
 
I would perseint sp?? with the saddler if possable get the other saddle fitter to write a letter for you confirm it doesnt fit etc. Also phone the Master saddler Ass I think thats the one Im sure someone will have thew corret name for it!! To put in a complaint no one should except be spoken to rudely etc!! How long have you had the saddle does it come in time of the warrenty sp?? I hope you get this sortd soon. Hope there wasnt any damage done to your horse.

Who was the saddler pm if you would prefer.
 
Last edited:
Are both the saddlers members of the royal soc of master saddlers or similar? Could you grass up the dodgy saddler? Actually, probably best to threaten first and see if you can get your money back.
 
tbh the problem lies with the fact that I am local to the saddler and quite frankly cannot deal with the grief. I have spoken to the Master Saddlers Society and wasn't too impressed with their response, they weren't interested in me putting anything in writing only if I called them. I would also have to have said saddler out to the horse again only to tell me I know nothing and it does fit.

Second saddler pushed for me to report him as has saddles direct but tbh I just want to get rid and never use him again.
 
lochpearl said:
I agree AM but I just don't have the fight in me, just almost wish someone could confront him for me...........
Click to expand...

Ok. I've just sold my Albion on Ebay for nearly £400 (second hand).

Stick it on with a reserve that you can stomach and see what happens xx
 
As stessful as it seems I would not let the matter rest. You have been sold a product that doesn't fit. £11OO is too much to lose given I think you'd be lucky in this market to find anyone happy to pay even half that for a second hand saddle. Also you'll have to wait for someone who has the right fit of horse which could take a while.

Pursue either a replacement saddle that fits or a refund.
 
lochpearl said:
tbh the problem lies with the fact that I am local to the saddler and quite frankly cannot deal with the grief. I have spoken to the Master Saddlers Society and wasn't too impressed with their response, they weren't interested in me putting anything in writing only if I called them. I would also have to have said saddler out to the horse again only to tell me I know nothing and it does fit.

Second saddler pushed for me to report him as has saddles direct but tbh I just want to get rid and never use him again.
Click to expand...

I know how you feel over this as I have been in the same position. Like you didnt want the grief of it all I wantd was a happy horse back so just got another saddler out who have given me back a happy horse. I only used the saddle for two weeks and the damage in that short space was so much. I had vet out who said muscle damage caused by saddle and his reg sports massage lady was far from happy!!!


Re knowing nothing thats what I got told hum my horse normally turns his bum on me whist holding tack!!!!! Not!!!
How about asking another saddler whter they could sell it on for it??
 
So sorry hun you having this problem with your new saddle. :( Is this the saddle you have waited so long to be ready? If all else fails with the saddler I would contact Albion direct as this saddler is not doing their reputation much good! They may be able to exchange or adjust etc.

Hope Hen is still doing well and Duke back to behaving!! xx
 
lochpearl said:
Ok, long story short, I have a brand new saddle that I need to sell. The saddle fitter wrongly advised me and the saddle doesn't fit the horse it was purchased for, or my other horse. Saddle fitter has become nasty, ignored my calls and emails and is bad mouthing me saying the saddle fits. Another saddler that came to check the saddle independently has confirmed that it doesn't fit and will never fit. etc. etc.

Apart from Ebay and saddles direct, where can I sell it to get the most money for it?

I purchased it for £1100 - its a brand new Albion, so what am I likely to get for it?

Thanks.
Click to expand...

OMG that is exactly what happened to me. I wonder if it's the same saddler. Initials MW by any chance??
I had a hard job trying to sell it for anywhere near the price I paid. I wasn't prepared to lose so much money, so I've been keeping it, as I knew I'd be getting another horse at some point. If it does not fit my new horse I will be part exchanging it with my new, trusted and far more diligent saddler!
 
S, no that saddle never came for Henry and he is back in the original Albion he had. this one I ordered for Duke a few months ago, I wasn't offered a tree change which in hindsight I'm pleased I didn't as wouldn't have a saddle for Hen now either. Saddle came in 4 weeks, he didn't fit the saddle just plonked it on and said it would settle. I rode in it once and that was it. It certainly didn't fit and he was very unhappy in it. Carried on using my Jeffries which does fit, until we could get another saddler to check. She said it no way fitted and wouldn't ever fit as the tree was not the correct shape. So unless they use a completely different tree - not a K2 tree it'll never be right.

Hen doing well and Duke getting there lol! How's your leg and Flin?? xxx
 
Misinterpreted said:
OMG that is exactly what happened to me. I wonder if it's the same saddler. Initials MW by any chance??
I had a hard job trying to sell it for anywhere near the price I paid. I wasn't prepared to lose so much money, so I've been keeping it, as I knew I'd be getting another horse at some point. If it does not fit my new horse I will be part exchanging it with my new, trusted and far more diligent saddler!
Click to expand...

No MG this time lol! think I know who you are talking about tho!

I have now reported it to the Master Saddlers and they are getting the liaison officer involved, so watch this space...........................
 
No his initials are MG, I guess I will just have to wait it out now and see what the liaison officer comes up with, problem is, it normally takes months for a visit and he is always a few hour late!!
 
Laura1812 said:
Phone trading standards - it was sold and is not fit for puropse
Click to expand...

Yes, I'm sorry to say that the Master Saddlers Association or whatever they are called won't be any help at all. Tell the saddler that under the Sale Of Goods Act the saddle has to be fit for purpose and this isn't as it doesn't fit your horse. Give them x hours or days to refund them and tell them if not you will be involving Trading Standards.

We had to do this a few years ago and got our money back within 3 days. Don't back down, why let someone rob you of hard earned cash.
 
Ring trading standards.

I did this when I bought a car from a dealership that was not what they said it was. They gave me all sorts of bits to quote at them (exerpts from the relevant laws). It worked and they bought the car back from me the next day!

If you are really nervous about confronting the saddler then maybe contact the CAB. They have also helped me out by making telephone calls on my behalf and they told the other party that they would be providing me with free legal representation as they were so confident I'd win) - got my cheque in the post within a week!
 
ISHmad said:
Yes, I'm sorry to say that the Master Saddlers Association or whatever they are called won't be any help at all. Tell the saddler that under the Sale Of Goods Act the saddle has to be fit for purpose and this isn't as it doesn't fit your horse. Give them x hours or days to refund them and tell them if not you will be involving Trading Standards.

We had to do this a few years ago and got our money back within 3 days. Don't back down, why let someone rob you of hard earned cash.
Click to expand...

I tend to agree with this after the phonecall I have just had. I will await to see what the saddler says when he calls me, which I have now been advised is the next step as he is now aware of this problem! Updates soon .......................
 
Very much the same situation for me.

Bought a new saddle from a fitter / retailer for £1300 (initials TD) - he recommended the saddle for my horse, assured me it fit. Long story short, had loads of behavioral problems with the horse, dangerous behavior under saddle - bucking, broncing, head tossing, refusal to take a contact, bolting, refusal to be mounted, bolting when being mounted. The horse had a massive negative personality change under saddle.

Told concerns to original saddler, he came out at my expense, and said "nothing wrong with it" and was very dismissive, barely even looked at saddle, his time spent was less than 5 minutes. Problems with horse continued. The saddle obviously did not fit horse - it was too tight around the shoulder and wither. Horse was very difficult to ride. Had everything checked - teeth, feet, full exam by senior vet, full set of xrays, equine osteopath assessment - result: nothing wrong physically with the horse. Had another saddler come to assess to saddle and give second opinion at my expense, he confirmed the saddle does not fit, and said there was nothing that could be done to retrofit a badly fitted saddle, he said the horse needed a different saddle. I immediately stopped using the saddle, and have been borrowing one from someone at the yard - and the horse has completely transformed with this other saddle - easy and relaxed when being mounted, willingly takes a contact, no more bucking, broncing, bolting, napping or spooking. He is an absolute angel now, a delight to ride. And to think I was going to sell him because I thought he was too much for me - when all the time it was the saddle :((

Rang the original saddler to politely explain the issues, and to ask how to find a way forward, he was very agressive, shouting, belligerent, refused to do anything, denied there was a problem. Sent a registered letter requesting money back or legal action will be taken - it has been ignored.

Have advised Trading Standards, they have logged the problem, and will use it to ensure other consumers are protected.

Spoke to a third saddler, who said to contact Society of Master Saddlers in the first case.

Lodged complaint with SMS last week. They contacted the second saddler who had assessed the saddle, and confirmed it did not fit the horse, and should never have been on my horse's back.

Phoned SMS today for an update, and they say it will be passed to their Liaison officer. Will keep you all posted on the outcome. It's always handy to know how other people have faired with these problems.
 
The society of master saddlers were useless when I contacted them about a saddle. Just weren't interested at all.

Luckily a saddler was willing to part ex the saddle and it turned out alright for me as he did me a great deal. But it was only because he felt sorry for me.

Don't care about saddlers being "Master Saddlers" now as the society won't back you up IME. I go for saddlers with good reputations whose work looks good.
 
Comment about Society of Master Saddlers - I agree wholeheartedly, they are useless.
After lots of chasing, they finally came back to essentially say "no comment", and "we will record it on the member's record". That's it. Not even a slap on wrist for dodgy and unprofessional saddler. Advised me to take legal action, which I am already doing.

Is there such a thing as a trustworthy saddler? In my experience they just want to get you to part with loads of cash, and they do a terrible job at the "service" they are meant to be providing. I really don't trust any of them. At all.
It is a conflict of interest:
you want a saddle for as cheap as possible that fits you and your horse. You rely on them for their advice.
They want to sell the most expensive saddle they have in the van, and conveniently ONLY that the most expensive one will fit your horse (or they have forgotten to bring the other ones, and it will cost you extra for them to come back again). Whether it fits the horse or not, they want to make a sale.

Also, I can't understand why I should pay them to come to sell me a saddle? If they want to make a sale, surely they need they need to at least make the effort to visit and provide a sales pitch? I don't know any other business in which the buyer is responsible for paying for a sales pitch for someone to sell them something.

Anyway, rant over.

Well, almost....

So last week I bought a saddle off ebay, paid the seller a deposit as requested to hold it until my saddle sold. The seller took my funds, confirmed they were received. Then relisted the saddle again at same price. It is wrong on many levels, and has been reported to ebay and paypal. Seller now refusing to refund my money, despite not going through with sale of saddle to me.

Why is it that anything to do with saddles is so stressy and expensive??
 
Gosh this is an old post lol!! I guess I didn't update!! I did speak to the Society of Master Saddlers and whilst they are pretty useless they did actually speak to the saddler, the saddler called me, was not very nice on the phone but agreed for me to take the saddle back in and he did give me a full refund. Apparently according to the Liasion officer the saddler had been a fabulous member of their society for many years and never once had a problem with him. I assume when he then spoke to the saddler, the saddler decided that he didn't want to get a bad name so offered the refund.

I would say that you should still pursue this if you can or at least tell as many people you know in the area what happened so that they don't make the same mistake.

As to the ebay problem, make sure you keep all your correspondence as evidence!!

What saddle are you looking for btw?
 
You should write to the saddler and tell them you are taking them to the small claims court and give them 7 days to respond to you. Get the court proceedings arranged quickly so they will get the official letter from the court, it might focus their attention on you. If you do still need to sell the saddle. As it's an albion, it should sell "well". I would try it on somewhere like the BD web site, it is a free advert and make sure you explain it is brand new. I would think you should get £800 odd for it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top