Saddle - would you just give up and look somewhere else?

jesterfaerie

jesterfaerie

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I ordered a saddle from my local tack shop in August, I was told it would be about a 2 week wait however I was expecting around a 5 week wait so didn't expect it to turn up so soon. 8 weeks later still no saddle, asked on here regarding the wait for Thorowgoods and was told around 8 weeks. 4 weeks later still no saddle, I was ringing up or going over constantly to check. One day I went over and was told they had one in the size I was after and took my name and number again for the saddle fitter to contact me. 4 weeks later I still haven't heard anything from the saddlery or the saddle fitter even though I have rung up, gone to the shop and left my name and number countless times as I am asked to leave it whenever I ring up or visit the shop.

I have rung them up again today and so far haven't heard anything back from the guy who deals with the saddles. I am getting rather disheartened by the whole thing as my lad has been out of work for 4 months because of this and if it now turns up I am going to struggle with money with it arriving so close to christmas, if it has turned up when it was meant to it wouldn't have been an issue at all.
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I was quoted a good price on a part exchange with another saddle to buy this new one but I am worried as it was so long ago the price may have changed but because of this I am reluctant to go somewhere else.
I am also wanting to keep it fairly local so it will not cost an arm and a leg for the call out, as I cannot travel my horse to the fitters.

Would you keep nagging until you get the saddle or would you just take your custom elsewhere?
Thanks in advance.
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I'd look elsewhere! Their customer service sounds terrible if they're not bothering to update you. Have you paid for it? I would call them, say that you want to cancel your order (tell them why, what you've told us) and find a different saddler. My usual saddler has been a total nightmare the last few times I've tried to get her out (cancelling with no notice, giving me no options on dates so that I have to take a day off work and then cancelling again on me, arranging early morning appts then cancelling at midnight the night before by text msg etc etc) so I've moved to someone else.
 
I'm afraid there isnt a huge mark up on Thorowgoods, especially if they are taking your saddle in part-ex, so I dont think you are on the priority list.

Have you got the saddler's mobile number? If so, ask for it.

Otherwise I would be tempted to go somewhere else - do you even know if this saddle will fit? if not, say to tack shop that you want him to come out with this saddle + any other second hand leather saddles they would have to fit x type horse. You might get a better response that way.
 
chestnut cob - No I haven't paid for it yet so I can understand why they are taking longer. I went to ask if they would fit one to my horse and they said they had to order one in for me, so all this is technically over a fitting. Hence why I haven't paid as I want to make sure that the saddle will fit.

CBAnglo - Yes I have tried to contact his mobile, I have left voice messages as it goes straight onto this.
I asked them to come out with other saddles but they don't have anything that I could afford or would suit me but that was right at the beginning so may be worth asking about other saddles again.
 
Phone Thorowgood directly.. I have in the past and they are fantastic so helpful and will find out where you can buy one fairly quick local to you


*edited to remove extra space lol*
 
Walk away & go elsewhere. I wouldn't use that tack shop again for anything, their customers service is non existant & bordering on rude. They have messed you about for 4 months. If they really wanted your business they would have resolved this matter months ago for you.
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I have just come back from my other local saddlery who are better all round in comparison to the other. Although they do not stock the saddle themselves they have given me the number of a saddle fitter they both recommend so just trying to contact her now.

She is coming out early next week with a selection of saddles for me to try.
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In that case I'd get someone else out and cancel your order with the other saddler. If he really wanted your business, you'd know about it.

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Although I will do the polite thing and cancel my order and explain why, I won't actually need to cancel it considering they had already received saddles in the size I have ordered and then placed them for general sale rather than let me know one has turned up in the size and style I wanted.
 
Are you still waiting for this saddle?!!! I remember months ago you ordering this as I had got mine from there too. It took 2 weeks for my saddle to be ordered and arrive for mine when i got it earlier this year but I then ordered a M2M saddle which should have been 3 weeks but it ended in a 9 week wait!!!! My boy didn't like it when it arrived anyway!! They really didn't care when 2 of us were going to cancel our £1400 order between us as we were sick of waiting!! Customer service was very poor. Your right to go elsewhere!!!!
 
plenty saddlers and fitters around would be glad of yor business. shop around good deals to be had! customer service and happiness obviously means nought with the people you are dealing with!! i can order a specific saddle and its here in 5 days max (not thorowghgood tho!!)
 
CarmaandFlin, sadly yes and I have had enough of waiting now. I too get the impression they wouldn't care if I were to cancel my order, after all they obviously aren't wanting my money in the first place! I have gone to T&T now. Although they didn't any any saddles that suited what I was after they gave a number of an independent fitter. I rang her up and she is coming early next week with a load of saddles to try. Sounds a lovely lady and happy to have my custom. I regret not doing this sooner but hoped that some sense may eventually come around to the staff at HF and actually sort out my problem with a decent amount of customer service, obviously not
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Think I may write a letter of complaint, I am really angry I have been waiting 4 months and they couldn't care less
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Hope you get sorted next week with a saddle. I have spoken to who you are having but she didn't have anything in that was suitable that I hadn't tried already!!! She was recommended to me by Moody Mares at Halifax (you can look at their secondhand saddles online as she may bring some of these). I have decided to go treeless for now as just fed up of this saddle lark!!!! Good luck and hope you get sorted.
 
Yes she did mention moody mares I am going to have another look at their selection as they hadn't any thing suitable when I last looked. Fingers crossed!
Thanks
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