Where do people sell saddles?

[Annagain]

My Albion is with Saddles Direct. I tried FB marketplace and only had people who had profiles a few days old and one photo, never with a horse, ask me "is this still available" repeatedly so assumed they were fake profiles designed to scam. I then tried ebay but there were so many on there that it was tricky to get noticed. I'll get slightly less with Saddles Direct than I would have selling it myself but it's still a decent price and a lot less hassle. They've had it a few months now and I keep track of it by searching for it on the for sale pages (it has very distinctive girth guards so it's easy to tell it apart from the others - there are usually two or three the same on there) and it's been out on trial 3 or 4 times but hasn't sold yet.

 

[Fieldlife]

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

very annoyingly the Harry Dabbs UK facebook group seems to have disappeared, as would be very useful for me now. I have advertised in the international one but it is mainly US based.

 

[Fieldlife]

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

All true. I'd be happy to sell this current saddle in any format.

I am pricing it to sell direct, and have allowed for the deflation of not selling through a company / saddler. It was £2900 new, and I am listing for £1499.

Saddles Direct priced it £700 more than I am advertising it for, but said are currently over stocked. Sheepham saddles didnt want to buy it outright, but priced it £300-400 more than I am listing it for. Third saddle seller name escapes me, but they dont sell Harry Dabbs.

It is with a saddler who I reference in my advert, but I can also collect and sell direct. Happy to drive an hour in any direction to do a direct exchange or post. My saddler isnt adding a commission either, and is happy to help me sell it.

In terms of custom fit, I quote the serial number in the advert, and all the tree, saddle, panel details. The serial number means can contact maker and get the specific saddle specification. It isnt a year old yet, one owner, in terms of any further modifications. Been used a few months.

It isnt a fashionable high end make, I think HD is popular, mainstream, durable etc. It is popular width / size etc.

Any suggestions welcomed! I have bought replacement and have been trying to sell this one since April. I did not budget for it taking this long! (I have bought and sold many secondhand mid market dressage saddles over the years, and can normally sell anything that is priced right in 3-4 months if I put the work in! I have been trying to sell this one for nearly six months.

I apologize as I am not the starter of this thread!

 

[asmp]

Another frustrating thing is that people often don’t know what they are exactly selling. I contacted Harry Dabbs about a saddle I was looking at as I knew the serial number but they couldn’t tell me what the width was when it was sold nor if it had the TreeClix system, which I thought was odd.

 

[Squeak]

For anyone thinking of selling via Ebay, it's well worth waiting until they have an offer where they don't charge or reduce the selling fee.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

All the saddles I've sold have been xwide to xxwide and they are not that common so they sell quickly plus they were well known brands for the wider type.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Some of the big saddle brands have pre loved page on their website and just charge for you to put it on there.

 

[lauragreen85]

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?

Facebook is good and the market place. there is a few horse groups you could post in

 

[Barton Bounty]

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.

Definitely try ebay!

 

[Barton Bounty]

Paying with paypal shouldnt be an issue as long as the fee is covered but never ever friends and family for someone you dont know if they ask you to do friends and family then its usually a scammer

 

[HelenBack]

Not a saddle but something else I'm selling on Facebook marketplace. Have a buyer interested and they've asked to pay via bank transfer. The item would be posted.

Usually I get people to pay via PayPal G&S but is it OK to give out bank details to a random stranger? The item would be sent using a signed for method so there's no option for them to pretend it didn't turn up.

 

[FlorrieBrown]

We have a local saddle shop who will either buy from you for a price they can reasonably make a profit on, or sell on commission which is 10% of selling price. Either way, you may well end up having to take a cut on the perceived value in order to move it on.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Not a saddle but something else I'm selling on Facebook marketplace. Have a buyer interested and they've asked to pay via bank transfer. The item would be posted.

Usually I get people to pay via PayPal G&S but is it OK to give out bank details to a random stranger? The item would be sent using a signed for method so there's no option for them to pretend it didn't turn up.

I would be wary why can't they do it through PayPal?

 

[lme]

I tend to sell my more mainstream saddles via a local saddler who carries a decent stock of second hand saddles. For a high end or specialist saddle, I'd go via a saddler who fits that brand.

 

[sbloom]

Usually I get people to pay via PayPal G&S but is it OK to give out bank details to a random stranger?

I've been reassured that the details you give for paying in are not enough for anyone to hack your account. I have to give my details to every single client no matter how long I've known them of course. Just protect PINs, passwords and security numbers on cards.

 

[SEL]

Not a saddle but something else I'm selling on Facebook marketplace. Have a buyer interested and they've asked to pay via bank transfer. The item would be posted.

Usually I get people to pay via PayPal G&S but is it OK to give out bank details to a random stranger? The item would be sent using a signed for method so there's no option for them to pretend it didn't turn up.

I've sold a saddle via bank transfer.

I did leave it 48 hours before getting the courier to pick it up just in case it was recalled but no issue

 

[Fastasflames]

ive had a nightmare with ebay! Sold a lovely saddle and after a week the buyer opened a return case, claiming a twisted tree. I had to refund AND pay the 40 odd quid return postage Ive had 2 saddle fitters (sms) check the saddle over and its absolutely fine.

 

[HelenBack]

I've been reassured that the details you give for paying in are not enough for anyone to hack your account. I have to give my details to every single client no matter how long I've known them of course. Just protect PINs, passwords and security numbers on cards.

I've sold a saddle via bank transfer.

I did leave it 48 hours before getting the courier to pick it up just in case it was recalled but no issue

Thanks both. I did wonder about it given how many professionals do have to give out their bank details to obtain payment. I suppose it was just the fact that I didn't know this person at all but as you say sbloom, you don't really know a lot of the people you give your details to. I read mixed opinions online but the consensus did seem to be that sort code and account number alone can't be used for that much. So I've gone ahead with the transaction and hopefully everything will be okay.

 

[Boulty]

Watching with interest as if I can find something I like to replace it I’m probably going to be trying to sell my Stuben Scout in near future. Think it’s going to be fun as it’s not a common / run of the mill model and I’ve no idea what to price it as can’t find another for sale 2nd hand in the UK. (There’s probably not a lot of them about tbf).

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

We used to have a really handy little second-hand tack shop within striking distance to us here.

Sadly they've moved away and now they're just that little bit too far out of our easy travelling distance. It isn't a case of "popping-in" whilst we're at the agricultural outlet up the road, it would mean a special journey now.

A huge loss.

She sold a few saddles for me and I was glad for her to do it. You had to factor-in commission (20%) and listing fee (can't remember what it was now, about £20?) and price your item accordingly, but you didn't get the hassle of packing the darn thing up to send off if you'd sold a saddle on Ebay, only to have to pay their commission AND run the risk of it being damaged in transit.

OR the alternative was to put something on Marketplace. I did this a few years ago with a treeless saddle. Woman came, about an hour's journey away. Wanted it coz it was apparently exactly the same as what they'd got. I asked her more than once if she'd like to sit in it, she declined. Paid cash & disappeared. Said she'd try it on the pony when she got back and I said OK any problems return it & I'll refund you. Didn't hear anything from her. Not till about six-months (if not more than that) later when I got a text basically saying she was wanting her money back as she'd tried it on the pony just today and it didn't fit - and griping that I'd sold her a saddle which wasn't the correct fit. I told her to jog on. Reminded her that I'd offered her more than once the opportunity to sit in the saddle whilst she was here and she'd declined. She then went to the manufacturers of these particular treeless saddles who are based in Devon, and groused to them about me refusing to refund her because I'd mis-described the size of the saddle! You couldn't make it up. Apparently they told her (more politely than me) to jog on as well. So after that episode I am very chary of selling things on market-place.

 

[Fieldlife]

Watching with interest as if I can find something I like to replace it I’m probably going to be trying to sell my Stuben Scout in near future. Think it’s going to be fun as it’s not a common / run of the mill model and I’ve no idea what to price it as can’t find another for sale 2nd hand in the UK. (There’s probably not a lot of them about tbf).

Generally I think if not selling with a saddler, looking at 50-60% of new price, when selling second hand. More if a new popular model and not many secondhand. Less if no one has heard of the model. You might be better trying to sell through a saddler specialising in selling Stubben's? I know of one that operates in Surrey. Sure lots though.

 

[Boulty]

Generally I think if not selling with a saddler, looking at 50-60% of new price, when selling second hand. More if a new popular model and not many secondhand. Less if no one has heard of the model. You might be better trying to sell through a saddler specialising in selling Stubben's? I know of one that operates in Surrey. Sure lots though.

Tbf if I could get about half of what I paid (2nd hand from saddler who sadly doesn’t carry the brand anymore) I’d be happy as it would fund a good chunk of the replacement.

 

[monte1]

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 .

Hi I am looking for an Albion K2 Jump m/w or wide on adjusta tree 17.5 don't care what colour and age as long as sound, as my budget isn't huge

 

[Equi]

Are we allowed to post wanted ads? Lol I’m looking a specific saddle second hand with not much luck

 

[splashgirl45]

You should be able to post in the regional groups but they don’t get many people on there , I’ve seen a few posts saying what is wanted and they haven’t been taken down so why not try on here