Selling a Saddle - ADVICE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE

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XxCoriexX

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I am currently selling my jump saddle and have had a few people ask if they can try to saddle on their horse before they buy it. Do you think it is ok to let them take the saddle home to try it on their horse? I wouldnt mind if i knew them or we had friends in common but we dont. This person is a complete stranger.....what have you done in the past?
 
Is it a known brand/style?

I wouldn't let it go without some sort of payment in case they either don't return it, or they break it. But I also think it depends whether it is proving tricky to sell or not.
 
ester said:
I'd say no at this stage then.
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Me too, but it's tricky....I bought a 2nd hand saddle from a lovely dealer but she had the money up front and refunded it the day I took the saddle back as she was fairly local (I was given 15 day trial). A deposit seems the minimum requirement - will you need to post the saddle as that's quite costly?
 
most tack shops seem to allow trying on of saddles but you have to purchase the saddle first and as long as it is in the same condition they will refund. as a private person i wouldnt be happy letting a saddle go to a stranger....i would worry that the person could just disappear with the saddle so you would lose everything.....my advice is also no...
 
I would only do it with payment upfront, to be returned within 7 days of unsuitable in same condition. Make them sign a receipt with that on it, one for you one for them. Have loads of photos and videos of saddle before it leaves. Local only, not posted.

But I'd only do that if struggling to sell.
 
Payment in full before you release the saddle, take lots of photos of the condition of the saddle from every angle including underside of the panels and under the flaps / girth straps and only refund on return once you have checked the condition

Agree with max 7 days trial
 
I"be done it before with an Equipe Emporio I had on Preloved. I did think it was a bit of a cheek that people asked as it was a standard +1 size and neither of them bought it as it didn't fit their horse however both did return it in good condition. I did finally sell it to someone who was happy to buy it without trying it first.

Would I do it again? Probably not.
 
No. I would offer to take it to them to try for fuel money while I am there to watch them try it or them to bring their horse to me. Or meet at a show. Kent and Masters seem to get snapped up if priced right so I wouldn't worry.
 
My feelings would be that IF someone wants to take it away and try the saddle out, then I would require FULL and UP FRONT payment in CASH, BEFORE the saddle goes to them.

I'd also take some photo's of the saddle and what condition it is in, and print it out (2 copies). They sign both copies to say that this is the condition the saddle was in when they took it and if it does not fit you will refund them cash.

However: beware, because someone unscrupulous could easily use this as an excuse to get a saddle for a specific event where they need it just for the day and have no intention of purchasing it - especially if it is a known make of saddle with a specific fit - and you could then find that your lovely saddle has been taken out for a day's hunting in all the muck and rain, and comes back to you ruined!

Having said that, if they want to have the saddle to try on their horse and/or have their saddle-fitter out, I can see where they'd be coming from, in which case my conditions would be as follows (and this is what I've done in the past when I've sold the odd saddle):-

- saddle is sold in the condition which can be seen in the photographs and upon buyer viewing and buyer will sign to that effect

- if the saddle is used in the rain then a waterproof saddle-cover (which the seller will supply) must be used to as to prevent any marking

- the saddle must NOT be cleaned at all before return (esp important if you've got a suede seat which someone can ruin!!)

- the buyer may try the saddle on their horse and/or get their own saddle fitter out, upon payment of the FULL PURCHASE PRICE being paid in cash before the saddle is parted with by the seller

- the saddle MUST be returned within TWENTY FOUR HOURS (or say 48 hrs if they're coming from a distance - but no more) if not suitable. Sorry but no refunds can be given after that time.

- if the saddle needs to be returned for any reason the full purchase price MINUS TWENTY POUNDS - or figure of your choice - will be refunded in cash (this should stop timewasters)

- (if taking the saddle out to someone locally, I'd add the following) [the seller will bring the saddle out to the seller's yard if the distance is less than 10 miles]. And finally I'd add: it is the buyer's responsibility to check the fit of the saddle as being suitable for their horse and themselves and to engage such professional assistance as is necessary in so doing.
 
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