Where do people sell saddles?

[Hanno Verian]

Where do people sell saddles now, I have an excellent condition Equipe Emorio Special Dressage Saddle, I’ve previously sold them via eBay but I must admit the 12% fee and 4% for having a reserve price (whether it sells or not) is making me think twice. Plus there are a number on there with a huge price range from £350 to £1500, I fully appreciate that there are a lot of chancers who think that because they paid £2k ten years ago then it must obviously be worth £1500 + and likewise people selling battered saddles for a minimum.
What do people consider a decent price for a well looked after saddle that’s been used but without damage?
I’ve also got a Fairfax Short Dressage Girth and Flexon Safeon stirrups, Harry Dabbs dressage leathers would I be better off selling them separately or as a job lot with the saddle?
What do people think, I could get my local saddlery to sell it for me, obviously for a commission, but it could take months?

 

[HelenBack]

I've got a barely used Albion saddle that I've been trying to sell. I've had it on both Ebay and Facebook with no interest whatsoever, even when I dropped the price quite a bit. The online saddle banks offered to sell it but their commission was ridiculous. I've given in and put it in with my local saddler who will "only" charge 15% commission. He's already warned to expect to lose quite a bit on it though, but I figured getting some money would at least be better than the nothing I was getting trying to sell it myself. At least he knows lots of people and has a lot of reach in the local community.

In contrast I've just sold an older Thorowgood saddle and had loads of interest in that. I think people just don't want to/ can't afford to pay for the more expensive saddles any more .

 

[asmp]

We bought a Harry Dabbs saddle this week from FB. It hadn’t been on long but happened to be what we had been looking for. I think a lot of it is luck - if someone is looking for what you are selling. Same with bits of Wow saddles we’ve been looking for - some bits go really quickly (usually because they are a good price) and others you see for months.

 

[SO1]

I think there are plenty of people who want to buy second hand but don't feel knowledgeable enough to do so without getting one via a saddle fitter and most saddle fitters in my experience only want to sell new ones.

Can you find a fitter who specialises in this make and see if they are willing to sell it although may not be worth their while as more profits if they can persuade clients to buy new.

 

[Prancerpoos]

I have sold 3 on eBay

 

[santas_spotty_pony]

I sold one on facebook this week but it had been on there quite a while. Got another one to sell still but it isn’t a well known brand so I might struggle with that one a bit more. I sold another couple to my local saddle fitter who gave me a slightly lower price but as they were sat there gathering dust it was better than nothing. I have another two I could sell which are well known brands but both hold sentimental value to me so I don’t want to sell them… and also hope they might fit a future horse..!

 

[w1bbler]

I had a good experience with sheepham saddles, they sold my saddle for more than I had advertised it on f/book, which meant after the commission I got about what I originally wanted. I got fed up with idiot messages on f/ book, more than once people haggling over price & then disappearing once a price was agreed.
Sent it to sheepham & about 3 months later money arrived in my bank account, no hassle

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Most of mine sold on ebay or preloved.

 

[Barton Bounty]

Mine sold really quick on ebay. I currently have three spare just keeping them for the ever changing Orbi
Just bought an Albion @HelenBack what are you selling?

 

[McGrools]

I would use eBay. It has more protection from fraud.
I have just bought one via eBay. I knew exactly what size make model I was after and the price I wanted to pay.
I think it is a lot down to luck. That what you are selling is what someone is looking for x

 

[HelenBack]

Mine sold really quick on ebay. I currently have three spare just keeping them for the ever changing Orbi
Just bought an Albion @HelenBack what are you selling?

It's a K2 jump. Might you be looking? I can PM you details if so.

 

[HorseMaid]

I think for anything high value eBay is your safest bet. I've got two saddles for sale currently, on both FB and eBay - if I sell through FB I'll only accept cash on collection or a bank transfer, so far I've had messages from 3 scammers wanting to collect and pay with PayPal. I feel mush safer selling through eBay despite the fee!

 

[Barton Bounty]

It's a K2 jump. Might you be looking? I can PM you details if so.

I was, just bought a k2 adjusta gp

 

[HelenBack]

I was, just bought a k2 adjusta gp

Oh well if you decide you want something a bit more forward cut let me know

 

[greasedweasel]

Have you tried the saddle bank? I might have got more for mine privately but it was quick and entirely stress free.

 

[Lucky Snowball]

Sheepham sold one for me, no problem so I left three more for 12 months. Lots of times they went on trial but no one bought them.

 

[Fieldlife]

I’m trying to sell a Harry Dabbs dressage saddle, popular tree, size and width, nearly new. Have on FB groups, FB market place, eBay, preloved, etc. no interest.

Listing at 60% new price, happy to post / drive an hour in any direction to exchange in person. I live centrally. Good photos, serial number in advert.

I’ve had zero interest. I normally manage to sell my spare saddles. Not sure what to do.

The various saddle selling companies either don’t sell HD or say are over stocked.

 

[94lunagem]

I’ve used Saddles Direct twice. They didn’t want to buy them off me but sold them for me for commission. Got a bit less than selling myself on eBay, I don’t have FB etc, and I couldn’t be bothered with dealing with people/time wasters/those wanting to try it myself.

Edited to add, both took about 6 months but that wasn’t a problem to me.

 

[Barton Bounty]

Oh well if you decide you want something a bit more forward cut let me know

The lady I bought it from usually only deals with jump saddles, if you want her details, im happy to share.

 

[Hanno Verian]

I’m trying to sell a Harry Dabbs dressage saddle, popular tree, size and width, nearly new. Have on FB groups, FB market place, eBay, preloved, etc. no interest.

Listing at 60% new price, happy to post / drive an hour in any direction to exchange in person. I live centrally. Good photos, serial number in advert.

I’ve had zero interest. I normally manage to sell my spare saddles. Not sure what to do.

The various saddle selling companies either don’t sell HD or say are over stocked.

Out of interest how much where you asking?

 

[Hanno Verian]

I think for anything high value eBay is your safest bet. I've got two saddles for sale currently, on both FB and eBay - if I sell through FB I'll only accept cash on collection or a bank transfer, so far I've had messages from 3 scammers wanting to collect and pay with PayPal. I feel mush safer selling through eBay despite the fee!

Why is paying through PayPal a risk in those circumstances?

 

[Fieldlife]

Out of interest how much where you asking?

asking £1499, was £2900 virtually new. I bought saddle before this, similar model second hand for £2.5k so not sure why I’ve not sold this one!

 

[Fieldlife]

Why is paying through PayPal a risk in those circumstances?

It isn’t really if use goods and services option. There is a slight risk might get a charge back but unlikely I think.

I’d accept PayPal goods and services as a seller, though I’d prefer the buyer to cover the fee.

I’ve sold saddles in past where people have bank transferred / posted cheque, then I’ve posted saddle once had funds! All worked out and it was buyers idea!

 

[nutjob]

Why is paying through PayPal a risk in those circumstances?

One scam is that they collect the saddle then claim a refund via paypal as they say they never received it. Paypal goods and services will refund them unless you can prove they have the item. You can usually tell it's a scam if they are sending their cousin/BIL/Great Uncle Jack etc and they apparently don't have access to cash for whatever reason.

 

[canteron]

I sold through my saddler. Though I only got paid when it was sold (which was quick) price was ok.

 

[criso]

People seem to want adjustable so thorowgood, Kent and Masters, Wintec can sell quicker. Plus is it a popular size?

For more expensive saddles I'd try saddlers that specialise in that sort. People are nervous of spending a lot on eBay or Facebook.

I've sold different saddles to different saddlers depending on what market they aim at. Reckon to get 50% of what it's worth if they buy outright and 25% commission if they sell on your behalf.

 

[Fieldlife]

People seem to want adjustable so thorowgood, Kent and Masters, Wintec can sell quicker. Plus is it a popular size?

For more expensive saddles I'd try saddlers that specialise in that sort. People are nervous of spending a lot on eBay or Facebook.

I've sold different saddles to different saddlers depending on what market they aim at. Reckon to get 50% of what it's worth if they buy outright and 25% commission if they sell on your behalf.

My Harry Dabbs is with a saddler that specialises in selling and fitting this brand. My adverts say can buy through her and have fitted, or I can drive an hour to meet them, or I can post.

Mine is MW, black and 17.5 inch - so I'd say that is fairly popular size.

Just so frustrating!

 

[humblepie]

I’ve got a couple I can’t sell. One is unpopular I think as medium narrow and the other is a lovely GP Jefferies but again saddlers not interested as 18”. I used it on a 16.2 ex racehorse so it’s not huge. Very frustrating as just taking up space. Haven’t tried eBay as never sold on it but may have to. Gave one saddle to charity last year so that may end up happening with these.

 

[Foxglove]

There are certain brands of saddle that are always going to sell and the cost of which will remain static - Wintecs, Thoroughgoods, older Albions and Ideals for example. These will all usually fall into the £600 or less category and people are usually willing to take a punt on them fitting or at least being “fittable” and will buy via FB, EBay etc. They also have the benefit of being resellable if they get it wrong

I think the difficulty comes with the much higher value saddles. Many of these (appreciate not all and perhaps not necessarily the ones being discussed in this thread) will have an element of custom to them, which means despite being a specific model they may not actually be “factory fit”. Therefore people just do not want to take the risk of spending £000s and the saddle not fitting. In addition a second hand saddle will always have a ceiling price whether commission is being added or not. Therefore if an individual is trying to sell their saddle for £2000 on FB because that’s what’s it’s “worth” and a third party seller - saddle bank, Sheepham, etc - is selling it for the same price give or take a £100 or so, the potential purchaser is going to go with the latter for security and peace of mind for both fit and payment options.

The second difficulty with some of the higher value brands, again not necessarily the ones mentioned here is they can go in and out of fashion, especially the more dressagey brands. This leads to the market being flooded and oversaturated and again seeks to bring the price down. Often third party sellers won’t touch these brands even on commission which leaves people feeling utterly deflated in having spent a huge amount of money on a saddle with limited options of reselling

I have bought and sold many saddles, both new and second hand and if I wanted to maximise the sale for something worth a reasonable amount I would always place it with a third party seller and suck up the commission, but I appreciate that not everyone takes that approach

 

[Landcruiser]

I just bought one on FB, it was advertised in a group especially for the brand. Very happy with the whole experience.