Think my saddle fitter has conned me, what do i do?

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Chesnutnutter

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Hi,

My saddle fitter came out 4 weeks ago and said my saddle was good just needed re-flocking so took it away to be done, i then had a phone call to say that the tree was twisted and its no good so i needed a new one. At the time i didnt have the £600 cash for a new monarch saddle that she was trying to sell me, i found it cheaper on two websites at £540 so told her that i would buy one online. she called me back and gave me a story about those two website getting the prices wrong and that she had spoken to the supplier who said they should not of been for sale for £540 and that it was wrong but that she could honor that price as gfs agreed to sell her one cheaper.
Basically i paid £540 on my credit card for a new saddle, when she came to fit it she said dont be scared to move it back abit as the horse needs the develop over the shoulder and that once used for a while the saddle would sit down more. I now feel that the saddle is not a good fit, it just doesn't look right on him and after 1 week the screws keep coming out under the flap where stirrup clip is so i think its the plate screw.

After being told some stories about said saddle fitter trying to get other people to buy new saddle when they where not needed i took my old saddle to a very reputable saddlers today and he stripped it down and said that there is absolutely nothing wrong with the saddle but that the flocking is extremely hard and it would just be abit harder to get soft and reflock but perfectly do-able and would cost me £85.

Now im in a dilemma!! do i contact the saddler and advise and see what she says? as its his word against hers or do i demand my money back and give her the saddle back which i dont think is a good fit anyway. after all im now in debt for £540 when i dont think i needed to be.
 
I would ask the saddler who says your saddle tree is fine to put his findings in writing and show that to your saddler. Then ask her to refund the money you paid for the new saddle, as it does not fit your horse properly. If she proves awkward, mention Trading Standards and the Sale of Goods Act, that should persuade her to refund your money.

ETA, if she disputes the findings about the tree, ask her to nominate another saddler to inspect the saddle on your premises and abide by that verdict. I would also ask your 2nd opinion saddler to be present at that inspection.
 
If you've only had the saddle for one week I think you are entitled to return it anyway. I'd take it back PDQ.
 
hi sorry just to update ive had the saddle 6 weeks now and im due to have it checked now as she said call her after 6 weeks, i think the saddler that says its fine will be happy to confirm it in a letter i just didnt know where i would stand with the situation.
 
Can you get the other fitter to check and provide in writing that the new one does not fit, plus that the other one was not twisted? I would give her the option of refunding you ( if the other fitter agrees ) and tell her you will inform Trading Standards, which you need to do in the area her business is, and then just take her to the Small Claims Court with the appropriate evidence. Selling a saddle to you on the basis the other tree is twisted is misrepresentation but I doubt the police would be interested if there is a civil solution to the matter. I doubt the saddle manufacturer would be happy that she has fitted their saddle if it doesn't fit, maybe speak to them too. but my first option would be to pursue getting my money back. Don't use her again.
 
Contact your credit card company and ask them what to do. Any issues under sale of goods where the item purchased is more than £100 and paid for on a credit card are claimable against both the seller and the credit card company.
 
The problem I have is that I've had the saddle 6 weeks obviously it's started to get marks but the saddler told me to give it a few weeks for the flocking to settle down etc. I've spoken to her this afternoon and she basically said that the monarch are a cheaper saddle so there's going to be a compromise on the fit!! She's coming out but wants to alter flocking and add straps etc to make it fit. In my eyes a new saddle shouldn't need all that doing I think the tree is the wrong shape for him. Does anyone know if i contact gfs directly they will be interested as she's slagging off their product that she was so desperate to sell to me :/
 
If the screw keeps coming out near the stirrup bars it sounds as though the saddle is faulty. I would have a word with gfs, tell them about the screw and where you bought the saddle, would also mention the 'special deal' she talked about. You might get some interesting answers or you might get a replacement saddle or they may tell you to return the saddle to the retailer - I don't know, but I think it would be a good idea to have the manufacturer in the loop.
 
Chesnutnutter said:
The problem I have is that I've had the saddle 6 weeks obviously it's started to get marks but the saddler told me to give it a few weeks for the flocking to settle down etc. I've spoken to her this afternoon and she basically said that the monarch are a cheaper saddle so there's going to be a compromise on the fit!! She's coming out but wants to alter flocking and add straps etc to make it fit. In my eyes a new saddle shouldn't need all that doing I think the tree is the wrong shape for him. Does anyone know if i contact gfs directly they will be interested as she's slagging off their product that she was so desperate to sell to me :/
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That's a corker, how ever much you pay for a saddle it should fit and if she is supposedly a saddle fitter and has compromised on the fit she is in the wrong. Write her a letter rejecting the saddle as it is not fit for purpose as it does not fit and also has faults, give her 7 days to respond and send it by recorded delivery. If she does not reply or tries to fob you off contact the credit card company and ask for a full refund.
It sounds like she was shifting her stock and not bothered about the fit. I had someone one out that tried to tell me a saddle fitted even though it was quite obvious before they girthed it up it now way fitted. When they eventually girthed it up and put the rider on the pony almost bucked the rider off it was so tight. Some of these so called fitters are ******
 
What does everyone think to this photo? I left him dirty then worked him so I could see the marks from the saddle and there seems to be a huge amount of area behind the shoulders that is still dirty and has no wear??
 
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Firstly I would never allow a saddled to take my saddle away for flocking as that should be a simple job that is done on site in my experience as it should be flocked to the horse. By this I mean flock a little try on the horse then add or shape a bit and try again.

Secondly if a saddled was doing to take my saddle away, I would do the same as a car agree on bumps, scratches and anything else taking pics too. Then if they find further damage its one them.

Thirdly, you should be able to see a twisted tree yourself and I would have asked to see the saddle before buying another. To check a twisted tree place the front on smooth ground and look down from the cantor to the front, your eye should naturally find the centre and you can then see if the back or front is twisted over. I have done this on my own saddle when fitter said it was twisted which it was.

Those are point to learn from. For now I would say you want a full refund of all the work she has done. She will be having the saddle back for the price you paid. I too would get the company involved, im sure they would find this interesting and if she is a retailer for them then this must stop. As others have said get things in writing.

Also in the future I would only use a freelance saddle fitter when looking at second hand and don't let them tempt you into buying. For new saddles use a fitter from the company who makes the saddles. They are much more likely to carry all the equipment and you have the back up of the Manufacturer.

For my last two saddles from the same company I have never even been asked for them to be taken away, the fitter brings everything for flocking, size adjustments, fittings the lot. I wish you all the best.
 
Dirt patterns aren't very useful, but dirt present means there is a little movement, acceptable round the edges, but that looks to be across the whole of the front and lower edges of the saddle.

Okay, you bought a new saddle from her, in the last year, at your home or livery yard? If she didn't hand you terms and conditions you have LOTS of rights, if she had you have a 7 day trial and if there are any issues (advice for anyone else) then put it in writing in that time frame and you have the right to send it back withini 14 days of purchase. If you have no Ts and Cs then consult the CAB who operate trading standards and you should be able to get a refund though they may deduct for wear and tear.

If you'd like to post more photos to have the fit assessed, there are much more useful ones to post (no pad, fully girthed up, then again with pad if it's a thick pad used deliberately):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tk0s4nNYNtw
 
Temple bar has just raised a very good point!! I was actually expecting her to reflock it when she was here, the reason she took it away I am unsure of! Prehaps it was because of the fact that the original flocking was so hard? I've just added some more pictures to the album
 
old hand said:
Can you get the other fitter to check and provide in writing that the new one does not fit, plus that the other one was not twisted? I would give her the option of refunding you ( if the other fitter agrees ) and tell her you will inform Trading Standards, which you need to do in the area her business is, and then just take her to the Small Claims Court with the appropriate evidence. Selling a saddle to you on the basis the other tree is twisted is misrepresentation but I doubt the police would be interested if there is a civil solution to the matter. I doubt the saddle manufacturer would be happy that she has fitted their saddle if it doesn't fit, maybe speak to them too. but my first option would be to pursue getting my money back. Don't use her again.
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I agree with this really play on the fact that the old one was not broken, try and get another saddle fitter to back up the fact its fine in writing if you can.
 
Lizzie66 said:
Contact your credit card company and ask them what to do. Any issues under sale of goods where the item purchased is more than £100 and paid for on a credit card are claimable against both the seller and the credit card company.
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Definitely this they'll be able to reclaim the money for you.
 
Chesnutnutter said:
Temple bar has just raised a very good point!! I was actually expecting her to reflock it when she was here, the reason she took it away I am unsure of! Prehaps it was because of the fact that the original flocking was so hard? I've just added some more pictures to the album
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I have no idea how to view photos in your album, sorry :-s

Using your credit card company is a good option but legally you have a very strong case if, as I said, she has not given you full Ts&Cs stating what your legal rights are.

For a full strip flock the saddle should be taken away, it's not good to do it on site, but any other minor reflock can be done onsite, if there is enough time (dropping the panel to do a major adjustment can take an hour). I always try to allow enough time but it can mean you have a much less profitable day (and please bear in mind if you're self employed profits mean you can eat!!) and can end up waiting around a lot between fittings.
 
I have added the pics above sbloom,

mine had a full strip reflock recently and was taken away, he did an excellent job and his workshop is nice to nosey in too!

Surely re. the twisted tree it isn't his word against hers if you still have the tree and it is obviously not twisted?
 
Chesnutnutter said:
Temple bar has just raised a very good point!! I was actually expecting her to reflock it when she was here, the reason she took it away I am unsure of! Prehaps it was because of the fact that the original flocking was so hard? I've just added some more pictures to the album
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It is perfectly normal to take a saddle away for a full reflock. It's only a bit of rebalancing flocking that would be done on site.
 
Contact the society of master saddle fitters.
Also, today ring your credit card company. You can claim as the goods are not fit for purpose and the retailer isn't helping you.
Under the consumer credit act.
 
Spottyappy said:
Contact the society of master saddle fitters.
Also, today ring your credit card company. You can claim as the goods are not fit for purpose and the retailer isn't helping you.
Under the consumer credit act.
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hi i was wondering if i could contact the society of master saddles as after all she has completely lied and i know of at least two others who have had a similar experience of said person
 
Where in the UK are you? I hear so many bad things about saddlers I never know who to call out. Had one recently that was very good. Seemed to be anyway. She takes saddles for full flocking to make sure its even they in stitch both sides.
 
Chesnutnutter said:
hi i was wondering if i could contact the society of master saddles as after all she has completely lied and i know of at least two others who have had a similar experience of said person
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Yes, do contact them.
I had a bad experience with a saddle fitter and though they only act as intermediary, their intervention got my money returned plus physio fees for the damage caused to the horse, by the saddler, to be rectified.
 
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