Waiting for a saddle to be made...Rant.

[planete]

I faced the fact I was not going to find a suitable second hand saddle for my wide short backed cob and ordered a saddle through a Master Saddler at the beginning of August. I am still waiting. I have emailed the makers, no reply. I paid the 25% deposit when ordering and am now losing patience. I am old, I ride a green tank of a pony practically bareback and I might well be too feeble in six months time to be able to ride at all. The saddle maker is highly reputable and makes top quality saddles but I am now riding an increasingly fit pony who needs to be doing some proper work and I cannot bring him on any further without a saddle. Has anybody succeeded in hurrying the delivery of a saddle?

I am fully aware of the difficulties faced by manufacturers but they will have had my money for six months now and I am wondering if there is any way I can obtain either the ordered saddle soon or get one quicker somewhere else after getting a refund of my deposit?

 

[I'm Dun]

Second hand one?

 

[sbloom]

I'll refer you to this:

https://www.facebook.com/adayinthelifeofasaddlefitter/posts/444282920640551

However, 6 months is a long time, and I find it utterly appalling how terrible communications are. I occasionally miss ONE email from someone, but am effusive in my apologies. It seems that my suppliers, and yours, don't give a stuff. I know we're all busy, and there's so much advice to do the whole important/urgent grid thing on your to do list, but dismissing customer communications as not important and not urgent, when they have your money is WRONG. If they are SMS rope them in to get your refund pdq.

There are plenty of companies with shorter wait times than that including cob/native specialists!

 

[planete]

I'll refer you to this

https://www.facebook.com/adayinthelifeofasaddlefitter/posts/444282920640551

- however, 6 months is a long time, and I find it utterly appalling how terrible communications are. I occasionally miss ONE email from someone, but am effusive in my apologies. It seems that my suppliers, and yours, don't give a stuff. I know we're all busy, and there's so much advice to do the whole important/urgent grid thing on your to do list, but dismissing customer communications as not important and not urgent, when they have your money is WRONG. If they are SMS rope them in to get your refund pdq.

There are plenty of companies with shorter wait times than that including cob/native specialists!

Thanks sbloom. I am sorry for the manufacturers but no reply did provoke a bit of a strop!

 

[AmyMay]

Thanks sbloom. I am sorry for the manufacturers but no reply did provoke a bit of a strop!

I’d feel exactly the same.

 

[CanteringCarrot]

6 months is the norm here. Closer to 9 months at the moment. This is for German saddles. The lack of service/a reply isn't alright though.

You'd have to speak with them though. That will determine the way forward. Idk if there is a way out, depends what you signed/agreed to.

 

[MereChristmas]

This is not a grumble or complaint just my story so far.

I need a ‘ new ‘ saddle. The saddle I have no longer fits my pony and cannot be adjusted.

I tried to book appointments for a fitting and was quoted 6 weeks wait.

I found some one whose wait time was much shorter. She hasn’t a second hand saddle left to sell and as stated above new ones are taking ages to be made. She has changed her methods and now comes out, assesses your horse and suggests what you should try. She will return and fit or reject the saddle.

I am waiting for a delivery from a ‘ try and buy ‘ saddle shop. The saddler will return and fit or reject said saddle.

I have everything crossed for a happy outcome. I am too old for bareback round the woods and I have already wasted nearly 3 months of my remaining riding years last winter when a saddle was stuck at a saddlers because of lockdown.

Good luck planete. I hope you get your saddle soon.

 

[The Xmas Furry]

OP, what timescales were they quoting when you placed the order?

I was quoted 15 to 18 weeks back in January, however a couple of vet bills came in while I was deciding when to place my order, so I went no further then.
Spoke to them again in Sept, timescale approx 12 weeks.

Pulled myself together recently and got her out with various types of that maker 3 weeks ago (had to wait 4 weeks before she could come out), placed order that day and have been quoted approx 8 weeks. Been updated yesterday by email that tree is now complete, expectation is that saddle should be ready in 4 to 5 weeks.

 

[planete]

OP, what timescales were they quoting when you placed the order?

I was quoted 15 to 18 weeks back in January, however a couple of vet bills came in while I was deciding when to place my order, so I went no further then.
Spoke to them again in Sept, timescale approx 12 weeks.

Pulled myself together recently and got her out with various types of that maker 3 weeks ago (had to wait 4 weeks before she could come out), placed order that day and have been quoted approx 8 weeks. Been updated yesterday by email that tree is now complete, expectation is that saddle should be ready in 4 to 5 weeks.

I was told 16 weeks originally.

 

[scats]

I ordered a saddle in May, paid half (over 1k) upon ordering and then heard nothing. It finally arrived in September but couldn’t get fitted until October due to various reasons.

I was quoted 6 weeks when I ordered, which I thought was a bit optimistic.

 

[The Xmas Furry]

I was told 16 weeks originally.

So you're about 19/20 weeks from order placement (early Aug?) and no contact from saddler, even to give revised date estimate?
Tried phoning? Using a different number to call?
I'd be naffed off too if no communication. I think we all understand when illness etc strikes and delays items, but it's the lack of contact that usually annoys folk the most.

 

[Wheresthehoofpick]

I have sent you a private message

 

[mavandkaz]

Had my saddler out a few weeks ago - he has been waiting for saddles (British made) for nearly 8 months! Was expecting them in that week.
He also has a 12ish week waitlist for fittings.

 

[planete]

So you're about 19/20 weeks from order placement (early Aug?) and no contact from saddler, even to give revised date estimate?
Tried phoning? Using a different number to call?
I'd be naffed off too if no communication. I think we all understand when illness etc strikes and delays items, but it's the lack of contact that usually annoys folk the most.

Yep. I suppose it could be here next week or in six months' time for all I know. I will give it one last try before throwing my toys out.

 

[Baywonder]

Unfortunately I am not surprised by these waiting times for new saddles. The trade has gone absolutely bonkers!

My DH has been working 7 days a week since lord knows when to keep his customers happy, and he always aims to have his saddles made within 4 weeks. If he can't do that for any reason he always lets his customers know. It is common courtesy after all, and I know honesty is really appreciated, rather than being fobbed off with any old excuse.

I hope you manage to get this sorted soon OP.

 

[Sossigpoker]

I wonder if a public naming and shaming might at least illicit a response from them?

 

[Dave's Mam]

I think the massive shortfall in a lot of the customer dissatisfaction in so many businesses, equine & non, is the lack of feedback & update.
A call or an email to update, & apologise can make the whole experience so much better.

 

[katastrophykat]

I think I hit lucky- I ordered two from Fiona Cork, she measured up on 16th September and they arrived last week, on time (she said 8 weeks) on budget and we’ll fitted. I’d highly recommend.