Selling saddles - trials?

FestiveFuzz

FestiveFuzz

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So I'm in the process of selling a couple of saddles. My WOW seems to have sold without a hitch after my initial fears about the older styles not being in demand and I'd thought my dressage saddle would be the same.

I had a lady organise to come view it at the weekend, which was absolutely fine as its in great condition and was recently checked by my saddler. However she's since messaged me saying she's been advised to actually try it on her horse and ride in it before buying...all things I would expect if I were buying from an actual saddler, but eBay not so much.

She lives nearly 2 hours away so taking the saddle to her isn't a viable option, and I'm reluctant to go to such effort only for her to potentially say it's not suitable. I also don't like the idea of her taking the saddle to try on as I don't know her from Adam and would have no guarantee of ever seeing the saddle again. I did consider asking for the full sale price and agreeing to refund if it doesn't fit but again that seems to be a bit of a hassle with no guarantee it'll be returned in the same condition it went in. The only other thing I could think of was traveling the horse up but a 4 hour round trip to try a saddle seemed pretty excessive.

I've basically explained all of the above to her and have gone on to say IMO people buying online will either know what will fit their horse as they've been advised to look for a certain type by their saddler (saddle in question has an adjustable gullet so slightly flexible in terms of fit) or just buy knowing they may have to resell if it doesn't fit.

But it got me thinking, what do others do in this situation?
 
When the saddle's been posted to me, I've accepted that that's it and the saddle is now mine.

However, if I've been picking it up from someone nearby, I've always asked if they'd be okay with me taking it for a couple of days to try on my horse. I've always left the full cost of the saddle with them in cash, and we've swapped receipts. I'm also careful to take a lot of photos of the saddle before it leaves their premises, and suggested the seller does the same, so if it does come back with any damage we can be absolutely certain who had possession of the saddle at the time. Nobody's ever had a problem with this. (I must come over as very honest, because quite a few people have been happy for me to take the saddle without leaving any money with them at all!)
 
Depends on how much interest there is in the saddle. If lots then I wouldn't go to the effort but on most secondhand saddles the market is rubbish, so then I would make the effort. I wouldn't however do it through eBay.
I'd offer the purchaser a written guarentee of full refund if the saddle is returned in good condition within X days. The collection/return of saddle is at buyers expense
 
I am quite cynical and have never let a saddle go on trial for nothing unless it has gone to someone I know.

If I don't know them they must come and get it from me and pay the full amount - if they bring it back after a couple of weeks and it is clean/as it was when they took it away I am quite happy to return the money. Always make sure to take a tonne of photos before I give a saddle to anyone just incase. BUT I have only done this with saddles of lower value and I would be loathe to do it with something that I wanted more than a couple of hundred quid for.
 
I completely agree with you. For friends or friends of friends i have allowed them to try the saddle locally before comitting but not so much strangers off the internet.

When i was looking for my dressage saddle i had my saddler out who tried the one i wanted on, i then went to look online for one. I bought one from about 100 miles away and paid via pay pal once i got there and had looked it over and check it was ok, if i had got home and it hadn't fitted i would have had to sell on again. To me that's fair - if you are buying online, you have to accept some risk
 
When I sold my Equipe Emporio (which I thought would be an easy saddle to sell!) via Preloved the first person lived a couple of hundred miles away and wanted to try it first. I had a couple of conversations with her and also googled her and then posted it to her - at her expense. Unfortunately her saddler thought it didn't fit so she posted it back to me, again at her expense. The second person was local and came to collect the saddle and left me the cash amount. Again it didn't fit so she returned it to me. Third person turned up with the cash and took the saddle. Normally I wouldn't want to send a saddle out on trial but I did need to get shot of that one as I needed the money for my new saddle (same model just in a wider fit).
 
Nope, if you are buying of preloved/ebay and therefore likely getting a cheaper deal you accept you are buying a saddle that may not fit despite best efforts and you may need to sell it on.
I've done it once, the dressage version of my GP, sent a template to the seller and she kindly took pics of it with the saddle so I went for it and it was fine with a reflock. My saddle wouldn't be going anywhere without me, and I'd bet she will just decide it's not quite right anyway!
 
I will offer a trial for a week but they have to pay the full price. If the saddle doesn't fit, and is returned undamaged I will buy it back off them.
 
That is not how ebay works. It is a buyers risk, buying unseen, which is why I only buy when there is a very detailed description. I have never bought a saddle this way, but might if I wanted an exact replacement.
So I would say no, if it is a lovely saddle and doesn't fit her horse, she has the option of selling it on. She could always travel to you with her horse if she wants but that is the only trial I would permit in these circumstances.
 
It was up for £750 but I said I was willing to take an offer as I've just bought my new saddle and kinda want it gone now, though not in any real rush.

We're knee deep in home renovations at the moment so I'm kinda reluctant to add on any additional stresses which I think combined with the buyers low feedback number (all positive but less than 20) has made me think it'll be more hassle than it's worth.
 
You're quite right - don't let her borrow it. If she breaks it you get to carry the can! Sensible approach.
 
I'm trying to sell a brand new unused pretty basic GP and so far i've been strunged along for 2 weeks for their horse to suddenly have a vet bill :rolleyes: yeah right

To a couple people ask will it fit this or that and all I want to do is say to them I don't have a clue shouldn't you have a general idea of what fits your horse before you waste my time asking me if it will, then those who want me to travel up to an hour for them to try it on :rolleyes:

Between Ebay, Preloved and Facebook I'm about ready to keep the damn thing in hopes it fit something even though I don't actually want it and could really do with the money for winter hay.

The only good thing out of it so far is I met a lovely lady with an Appy aswell :)
 
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