TracyPostling
Member
Hi Forum members,
I have fallen foul of a dodgy saddler in the Kent region and wanted to warn other people so they can hopefully avoid the situation I have ended up in.
My usual saddler was so busy that I decided to look for an alternative in my area. I purchased two new horses who were just going to be happy hackers so I thought a decent made to measure saddle might be a good alternative than a brand.
Sure enough at the chance of new business the saddler, Ian Jenkins of Minster Saddlery was out like a shot. He measured up and off he went, the first saddle appearing 6 weeks or so later. I was actually quite pleased at this point. The saddle I felt was good quality, and it fitted nicely, so far no problems.
When it came to order the second saddle the first one looked like it needed reflocking. Out he came again like a shot for a sale of a new saddle, he measured up cast a courtesy glance over the other saddle and off he went, appearing 6 weeks later with a new saddle, which again I was very pleased with.
Now the saddles are in desperate need of altering due to the horses changing shape over the Summer, I feel I have been led a merry dance and he is not at all interested in coming out to alter. I contacted him early May and he told me he was not in my area for awhile instead covering Essex and Herfordshire. I stupidly thought, oh ok, I will just wait .. a few more phone calls at 2-3 weekly gaps still resulted in him not being in my area that a few weeks ago I got so annoyed having now missed most of the Summer being stuck with saddles which do not fit I asked him curtly that surely if I paid him to be in my area then would that not mean he would be available at whatever date this may be in the future? So we booked in for the 27th July at 12.30pm. Come 1pm he had not arrived, I sent him a message asking how late he would be and he replied straight back and said we had agreed the 3rd August. Now I know for definite that is not the case. I took a day off work especially to be at home for him as I really wanted to get these saddles sorted.
So another week went by, yesterday comes and I take another day at home, this time advocating I am working from home .. the horses are in waiting and again he does not turn up. I send him a message asking how late he will be and no reply. I call 3 times, he doesn't answer. I am now guessing he is and was never interested in any alteration service I needed. Whether he had any intention of turning up I do not know. I feel really betrayed and foolish.
I am now stuck with 2 saddles which I do not want to use as they are too tight. I am really disappointed that I fell for using this company .. a warning to others .. do your research before using someone new like I did .. it will pay off in the end. These saddles were over £700 each and whilst I am still quite happy with the quality I am now stuck with 2 saddles which I do not want to use on my poor horses .. I guess I will now be only riding in the Winter when they are slimmer ..
I have fallen foul of a dodgy saddler in the Kent region and wanted to warn other people so they can hopefully avoid the situation I have ended up in.
My usual saddler was so busy that I decided to look for an alternative in my area. I purchased two new horses who were just going to be happy hackers so I thought a decent made to measure saddle might be a good alternative than a brand.
Sure enough at the chance of new business the saddler, Ian Jenkins of Minster Saddlery was out like a shot. He measured up and off he went, the first saddle appearing 6 weeks or so later. I was actually quite pleased at this point. The saddle I felt was good quality, and it fitted nicely, so far no problems.
When it came to order the second saddle the first one looked like it needed reflocking. Out he came again like a shot for a sale of a new saddle, he measured up cast a courtesy glance over the other saddle and off he went, appearing 6 weeks later with a new saddle, which again I was very pleased with.
Now the saddles are in desperate need of altering due to the horses changing shape over the Summer, I feel I have been led a merry dance and he is not at all interested in coming out to alter. I contacted him early May and he told me he was not in my area for awhile instead covering Essex and Herfordshire. I stupidly thought, oh ok, I will just wait .. a few more phone calls at 2-3 weekly gaps still resulted in him not being in my area that a few weeks ago I got so annoyed having now missed most of the Summer being stuck with saddles which do not fit I asked him curtly that surely if I paid him to be in my area then would that not mean he would be available at whatever date this may be in the future? So we booked in for the 27th July at 12.30pm. Come 1pm he had not arrived, I sent him a message asking how late he would be and he replied straight back and said we had agreed the 3rd August. Now I know for definite that is not the case. I took a day off work especially to be at home for him as I really wanted to get these saddles sorted.
So another week went by, yesterday comes and I take another day at home, this time advocating I am working from home .. the horses are in waiting and again he does not turn up. I send him a message asking how late he will be and no reply. I call 3 times, he doesn't answer. I am now guessing he is and was never interested in any alteration service I needed. Whether he had any intention of turning up I do not know. I feel really betrayed and foolish.
I am now stuck with 2 saddles which I do not want to use as they are too tight. I am really disappointed that I fell for using this company .. a warning to others .. do your research before using someone new like I did .. it will pay off in the end. These saddles were over £700 each and whilst I am still quite happy with the quality I am now stuck with 2 saddles which I do not want to use on my poor horses .. I guess I will now be only riding in the Winter when they are slimmer ..
