Time wasters

[pistolpete]

So someone asked if she could buy my highlands saddle subject to it being fitted by a saddler. Messaged today. Can I collect now? Short notice sorry! So I whizz up and clean it then realise I hadn’t told her price. Messaged her and she said oh no that’s too much sorry! I don’t want to break rules by talking numbers but it wasn’t an expensive price! It’s a really decent make etc. People! At least it’s had a clean!

 

[Bonnie Allie]

So with you on this. Two stunning saddles for sale, one brand new at 50% off. Super clear on both - prices are firm.

So far I’ve had:
* are you open to offers (no)
* will it fit my horse? (No idea, you will need to engage a saddle fitter)
* can you save it for me, I’ll be down in 6 weeks. (Sure thing, provided you pay in full now)
* can I take it to a show this weekend to see if I like it (no)
* an xxxx saddle is sort of the same, I’ll offer you xxxxx (ignored)

 

[pistolpete]

Nightmare!

 

[Goldenstar]

I just sell all mine through an independent saddle fitter and pay her commission the saddles go with no hassle to me .

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I've sold loads through ebay and preloved if they are local I'm happy to take it so their fitter can look and I just charge fuel if they don't buy it.

 

[pistolpete]

I just sell all mine through an independent saddle fitter and pay her commission the saddles go with no hassle to me .

Think this is what I will do.

 

[Pippity]

I just sell all mine through an independent saddle fitter and pay her commission the saddles go with no hassle to me .

That's what I did with my obscure model of Albion. Unfortunately (and understandably), she doesn't handle Wintecs, so I've had one sitting in my tack room for five years, having only been used for a year brand new, because people were only willing to pay £50 or so.

 

[ElectricChampagne]

So with you on this. Two stunning saddles for sale, one brand new at 50% off. Super clear on both - prices are firm.

So far I’ve had:
* are you open to offers (no)
* will it fit my horse? (No idea, you will need to engage a saddle fitter)
* can you save it for me, I’ll be down in 6 weeks. (Sure thing, provided you pay in full now)
* can I take it to a show this weekend to see if I like it (no)
* an xxxx saddle is sort of the same, I’ll offer you xxxxx (ignored)

I was selling a few recently too, (sold horses and put one to sleep sadly so didn't need the amount I had)

Got those queries too, as well as
*Can I give you half of what you're asking and take it on trial for a week (no)
*Can I give you 100 deposit and take all the saddles (I had three) and I'll pay you for the one I like best when I get paid in over a month's time
*Will you measure the seat (already in pics)
*will you take pictures from absolutely every angle including underneath (which I did) no response
*Will you bring it to my saddle fitter over 3 hours drive to get the flocking checked and pay for it. I might buy it then (no, saddle was recently checked by my own saddle fitter)
*Can I give you asking price and collect in ten minutes,and if it doesn't fit will you give me a full refund. (No)
*Same buyer we'll if you give it to me for half what you're asking can I try it and get a full refund if it doesn't fit (eh no)
*Same buyer ok well can I try it for free then because I need it for a show in three weeks time. (No, and told buyer I'm not dealing with them again as they're a total time waster and blocked them)
*Will you dye it black. (No, It was brown)

 

[quizzie]

Saddle on eBay….got an offer of 15% of asking price…..just why would I sell you a quality saddle at a junk price so you can make a profit selling it on ?!
It’s now with a saddler to sell on commission.

 

[ElectricChampagne]

I think the saddle fitter is the only option anymore. Mine went that way and all sold

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

I've sold a few saddles either through Marketplace or FB groups.

Total PITA!! I wouldn't ever do that again.

Worst one was this woman who messed me around mega.

OK so I was selling a little treeless saddle of a certain make that is made here in Devon, and they're darned good. If you know about the brand, you know how good they are. Anyway I was selling one of theirs and she'd said "oh I'll have it", came up on a Bank Holiday. Asked her if she'd like to sit on it on the straw bales? No thanks she said, we have one at home in this make & this size and we know it fits the pony we want it for. So I said well look if for whatever reason it doesn't fit the pony then please feel free to bring it back in the condition it's in, and I'll refund you. No worries she said, we will do that, but we do know it'll fit so not to worry. Anyway so cash was exchanged, she departed a satisfied customer. Everyone happy. End of.

But it wasn't. An unbelievable SIX flippin' months later she contacted me again. About that saddle you sold me she said, well we've "just tried it on the pony today" and it doesn't fit. I repeated the above conversation to her. Ohh the size you sold me wasn't the proper size she said, it was smaller than you said, and it doesn't fit. She also said she'd been on to the people who make these saddles - these are a small home-run affair and I had a good working relationship with them - to basically have a grouse and had apparently told them I'd sold them a saddle which was the "wrong size". They'd said it was nothing to do with them what clients do with their saddles once they've sold them! Basically told her to go swing, politely of course.

Anyway, she wanted her money back. Said "saddle doesn't fit". Was persistent. I told her to go do one. Reminded her of the fact I'd asked her if she wanted to sit in it, and had even offered to refund her if they'd put it on the pony when they'd got home to check the fit.

Didn't have the money anyway, as had spent it on a vets bill (like you do).

IF and I say if I was selling a saddle again then I'd bloomin' well either get someone to witness the conversation, get them to sign that they'd been refused (and declined) a chance to sit in the saddle PLUS refund if it didn't fit (which is being ultra generous), OR get my hatcam out and record the conversation.

Bleddi woman!

What I have done more recently with the couple saddles I've had here is take them to a local second hand tack shop. Yes you pay 20% commission AND a "listing fee", but you know what? When the perishing thing is gone, its gone, and you don't get this sort of hassle.

 

[Lady Jane]

The only one I was guilty off is asking could I pay in full and return for full refund if it didin't fit - but it was arranged so my saddle fitter was coming the day after I collected it and he had suggested that model of saddle foor my horse. It fitted fine anyway. She was close enough that I could drive there and view the condition so that wouldn't be an issue and no postage was involved

 

[Cortez]

I am convinced that most people are mad, or intellectually incompetent, or both. I’ve never been as messed around with anything as with saddles. Now I just send them to an auction with a sensible reserve and let the market decide.

 

[Upthecreek]

I have used the Saddle Bank a few times and they are good to deal with and it’s always gone smoothly. Probably get a bit less than selling privately, but life is too short to be messed around by people asking ridiculous questions and expecting to get something for practically nothing.

 

[AShetlandBitMeOnce]

I took a punt and bought a saddle from Ebay as it was about 50% of what I think they could have listed it for - she had advertised it as a M/W 17.5inch and when my saddler took a look at it to see if it fit, it was actually a custom template 18inch... I wasn't that impressed but that's the risk you take, and in a happy turn of events, it fits him like a glove! (for now).

 

[Kaylum]

People are always asking me to find things for them and save them and never turn up to collect them. I save them for a week and if they don't collect they go back into stock.

 

[Flame_]

So someone asked if she could buy my highlands saddle subject to it being fitted by a saddler. Messaged today. Can I collect now? Short notice sorry! So I whizz up and clean it then realise I hadn’t told her price. Messaged her and she said oh no that’s too much sorry! I don’t want to break rules by talking numbers but it wasn’t an expensive price! It’s a really decent make etc. People! At least it’s had a clean!

I actually don't think that's time wasting. All questions were fair, all plans may have been genuine, it sounds like there was an unknown discrepancy between your valuation of the saddle and her assumption of the ballpark it would be in.
It wouldn't have happened if either you'd stated the price in the advert or one of you had thought to confirm it before discussing other bits of the trade.
Until any money changed hands she hadn't committed to anything, IMO most people labelled timewasters really are not it's just the process of buying and trying and selling (or not) taking place.

 

[I'm Dun]

I actually don't think that's time wasting. All questions were fair, all plans may have been genuine, it sounds like there was an unknown discrepancy between your valuation of the saddle and her assumption of the ballpark it would be in.
It wouldn't have happened if either you'd stated the price in the advert or one of you had thought to confirm it before discussing other bits of the trade.
Until any money changed hands she hadn't committed to anything, IMO most people labelled timewasters really are not it's just the process of buying and trying and selling (or not) taking place.

If the price was on the ad there would have been no issue. I never get why people don't put a price on.

 

[Pippity]

If the price was on the ad there would have been no issue. I never get why people don't put a price on.

I work on the principle that if I have to ask the price, I can't afford it.

 

[Lucky Snowball]

This was odd - I had a saddle advertised on facebook. Message asking if it was still for sale - yes. Can I come immediately, where are you - told her. It was late and dark so when I heard a car outside I went outside with a torch and the saddle. Lovely young lady passed the money out the window and asked that I put the saddle in the boot. She didn't even look at it. I have heard nothing since.

 

[pistolpete]

This was odd - I had a saddle advertised on facebook. Message asking if it was still for sale - yes. Can I come immediately, where are you - told her. It was late and dark so when I heard a car outside I went outside with a torch and the saddle. Lovely young lady passed the money out the window and asked that I put the saddle in the boot. She didn't even look at it. I have heard nothing since.

You’re well named Lucky Snowball! How odd but brilliant!