would you buy a saddle off ebay??

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el_Snowflakes

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Hi all,

Just wondered how many of you would purchase a saddle off ebay? I bought my GP saddle brand new (fitted) from a master saddler. I would love a dressage saddle but couldnt afford to pay what i paid for my GP. I noticed there are alot of bargains on ebay but is it not a bit hit or miss regarding fit iff you buy this way??
 
In short, NO! Unless you want to sell it, buy another, sell it and so on. You have to ride in a saddle to see if it fits and you cant do that on ebay!
 
I have bought three off ebay, one I had to re sell as when they said narrow, it was extreme [Stubben seigfried].
The others were a wintec. as new and half price, and a 20 year old jeffries in really good condition, it was the best one, £208 plus £10 p^p. I waited three weeks to get it, having bid for another good make but not won.
I would buy if I thought it was a bargain and I knew what I was buying, if it is as described but does not fit just re sell it,
There are no saddlers round here who sell second hand stuff.
Don't buy any rubbish and look at the vendor in detail, also have a little chit chat with them, I assume you are confident using ebay, there are forums to help you out.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/IDEAL-JES..._Wear_Equipment&hash=item1e676243fa#ht_500wt_
be wary of a quantum saddle as I think there are problems
 
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Hi

I have bought 2 - a wintec to be used for backing baby in as new condition for £120 and a new unused lovett and Rickett for £300. Dont know if either will fit but I feel I got them at a price I could re-sell if necessary.

I am sworn off buying saddles now :)
 
I have bought three saddles over the last 7 years. Two were no good and didn't fit (the chance you take) and my Keiffer Dressage Saddle I bought from Ebay has been the best bargain buy ever and fits my horse a treat. It's a gamble in other words...
 
Yes. Bought a beautiful albion a few years ago. Saddler told me exactly what to get, and checked and fitted it once it arrived.
 
yes, but only a VERY trusted make which i happen to know is adjustable. i've bought three Barrie Swain saddles on ebay, all bargains. the GP was bought as a backing saddle, was very reasonable for such a quality saddle, and i had it checked by a Master Saddler who pronounced it absolutely fine and a good fit. result! the other two are dressage, one for me, one for a friend.
i would never buy a make i didn't know was adjustable though.
 
Yes :)

My current saddle was via ebay and I'm hoping to be the highest bidder on one over the weekend :)

Both these saddles are treeless, both are makes I've researched and have come to an educated guess that they will fit, my current saddle fits me and my horse very well and I love it, the saddle still on ebay will hopefully fit as well.

And if it doesn't, it'll go back on ebay ;).
 
Hiya

I've bought four saddles on Ebay now, and yes, the first three didn't fit, but I've sold three of them all on at a profit (one double what I paid for it!) and the fourth fitted, I got a saddler out to check it once it arrived and adjust the gullet width but they agreed that it was a good fit.

So it's a bit of trial and error, but if you can spot a decent make, and know what the value should be then go for it, that way if it isn't right you can sell it on and not lose money on it
 
Yes, I bought my wintec (changable gullet) from eBay. Fairly good condition for £51 plus about £15 postage. By fluke it had the correct sized gullet in it (the lady that I bought it from didn't even know if it was adjustable), got my saddler out to re-flock and double check it fitted. Win!
 
Yes and have sold them on, only making a loss of £50 on one and a profit of £400 on another.

I recently bought a Kieffer jumping saddle for £300. It is a second hand, current model, RRP £1400. It has cost me £150 to have it refitted to my horse, but even at £450 total cost, it is a cheap, good quality saddle which fits my horse and he is confortable in.

If you know what you are looking for, Ebay can be great. Do your research before you bid.
 
Yep! Bargain £55, fits perfectly, had the saddler out to check it over and he also agrees. Best bargain I ever got! Yet more expensive then the actual horse!
 
Only if knew what make, model and fit and even then it may not be right, may need adjusting or a re-flocking.

Bent trees, un even girth straps, dodgy flocking are things you need to check too, like with any second saddle no matter where you purchase it.
 
I bought my Black Country Kur from ebay it was £425 with the postage not bad for a hardly used saddle that cost about £1400 new

and then I bought Safe Ride Jumping saddle a great bargain at £205 and it must have been placed on a horse once, it had not a mark on it and no marks at all on the girth straps even had still got the saddle makers wax, it is gorgeous and with slight adjustment from saddler is perfect!

I haven't bought any that didn't fit, but I may have just been very lucky!
 
I have bought 3, all new and all reputable makes. Maybe I was lucky, but all 3 fit and I saved £hundreds. :D Very happy with my purchases and would definitely buy again.
 
Yes I bought a saddle off ebay very successfully. but only with close consultation with my saddle fitter - I emailed the ebay link to my saddle fitter who confirmed that it should be possible to adjust it to fit my horse. I was really nervous about it, but when the saddle arrived it was reaslly nice, my saddle fitter sent it away to have the tree altered, and adjusted it to fit my horse perfectly when it came back. I don't think I would be confident enough to do it without professional advice though.
 
Yes I have bought svearl Albion saddles knowing what I wanted width wise and size. They are all fab. You do have to sort the wheat from the chaff a bit and most folk will answer your questions and post lots of pictures.
 
Have been very lucky with saddles I have bought of ebay,will only buy if I know can sell on/part ex if they dont fit. I have a saddler that I really trust and he has given me good advice on what to look out for. The only one I got 'wrong',as in an expensive saddle that didn't fit, I part ex'd for a profit:)
 
I've bought six off ebay in the past 7 years. A couple haven't fitted so went back on ebay and i've never made a loss. All have been named saddles and checked by saddlers for safety and fitting. Best bargains have been a almost brand new Ideal Grandee for £300 and a GFS event saddle for £106! Both were immaculate! always worth a go if you have a good idea what your buying
 
E Bay is fantastic as long as you know the make and width of saddle that suits your horse and have a saddler that can make minor adjustments to the flocking if necessary - I have even bought bargain saddles just to re-sell at a profit - My best bargain was an Ideal H & C for £187 they are £900 new! and that was 4 years ago and its still in daily use and like new - did get caught once with a counterfeit saddle but had it verified by a master saddler and paypal refunded my money
 
I bought an £80 synthetic thoroughgood off ebay and it's brilliant, has the fsh inserts so can adjust size. I would but similar again. I wouldn't buy an expensive saddle though incase it didn't fit. Friend of mine bought a £1k saddle off ebay, horse who was previously 100% has started being a madam, she blames winter but I know I'd be checking saddle before anything else.
 
el_Snowflakes said:
Hi all,

Just wondered how many of you would purchase a saddle off ebay? I bought my GP saddle brand new (fitted) from a master saddler. I would love a dressage saddle but couldnt afford to pay what i paid for my GP. I noticed there are alot of bargains on ebay but is it not a bit hit or miss regarding fit iff you buy this way??
Click to expand...

Yes, have bought two on ebay, first was a bates elevation and second was a gfs show saddle... Both were as described and I was very happy with them.
 
Yes with huge savings, 2k off one and 1k off another, both brand new with tags, fit horses perfectly, got a bargain dressage saddle for £100, used for 5 yrs. Just bought another dressage saddle complete bargain, but not quite the right fit for my boy, have sold it at a profit.
 
Most of mine have come from Ebay, ive had some real bargains from there, just make sure you buy well known makes, dont go for cheap rubbish. Ive got 2 to put on there at the moment, but not sure if its worth it yet as most people are still poor after Christmas lol.
 
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