5 Must Know Top Tips for Buying a Saddle Online
In this article, we will give you our 5 must-know top tips for buying a saddle online, safely. This will help ensure you get the correct saddle, you don't get scammed, and you have a good experience when buying a saddle online.
So you need a new saddle and thanks to the wonderful internet, thousands are available to you!
Hooorray! But…. How do you buy online SAFELY!? How do you know if it will be suitable for your horse? What if it is damaged? What if the person is a scammer, takes your money, and never sends you the saddle? Where do you stand in all of this?
The thought of buying a saddle online can be overwhelming and scarey for some people. However, it shouldn't be, provided you follow The Saddle Bank's top tips to avoid being scammed. If you are unsure, always buy from a reputable company such as The Saddle Bank for peace of mind.
The Saddle Bank's must know top tips when buying a saddle online.
Photos and information of the saddle you want to buy
When buying a saddle online ask to see photos from all angles;
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- Front
- Left side
- Right side
- Back
- Panels underneath
- Girth straps both sides
- Seat
- Close up on any wear/tear/marks/damage
- Photo of the serial number if it has one
Why are they selling the saddle?
Ask the seller to confirm as much information as possible.
- How long have they had the saddle?
- Why are they selling it?
- Confirm what is included in the sale; saddle cover, stirrups, leathers, girth etc.
- When was the saddle last checked by a saddle fitter? Which saddle fitter checked it?
- When was it last reflocked? Has it had any repairs made to it?
Buying a saddle online - Payment
When buying a saddle online from an individual, ONLY ever pay by PayPal goods and services, unless you are going to collect the saddle, and pay cash upon inspection.
- Never pay by PayPal friends and family - people will request you to do so, but you have no protection.
- Sellers are charged 3.5% in fees when you pay by PayPal goods and services. That is part of selling online, and something the individual seller has to accept.
- If you do pay cash on collection, you have little come back if you later find out there is a fault with the saddle, that you did not notice upon collection.
- By paying PayPal goods and services you enable yourself some protection if you do find a fault with the saddle, or if it is delivered not as described.
Beware of scammers
There are a lot of people trying to scam people on Facebook. They use fake names, fake accounts and will send you photos of a saddle they do not own. You are particularly at risk if you put out a wanted ad. As they will find photos of what you are looking for online, and then tell you they have it. They will accept a ridiculously low price for the saddle to draw you in. If it sounds too good to be true – it probably is.
Here is our scammer checklist:
- Check their Facebook profile;
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- When was it set up? If it was set up this week, it’s likely to be a scammer.
- How many friends do they have?
- Does their profile look like a normal profile? Are their friends commenting on their posts?
- How many photos are visible on their profile?
- Ask them to take additional photos of the saddle from different angles. If they are unable to deliver on the photos they probably do not have the saddle.
- Ask them to take a photo of your name and the date on a piece of paper next to the saddle to verify that they own it. If they can’t do this, then the conversation ends here.
- Scammers are persistent. If they cannot deliver on your request, and you suspect they are a scammer, then block them.
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What about stolen goods?
In 2022, a number of saddle companies including The Saddle Bank, Sheepham Saddles and Penfolds Saddlery fell victim to a large scam and a number of saddles were stolen from a number of companies. You should avoid buying a stolen saddle as this can be reclaimed leaving you out of pocket. Most saddles have serial numbers and can be traced back to the original purchaser. If stolen it will also be registered with the police as stolen goods. If the price it exceptionally cheap - avoid it.
What if the saddle you bought doesn't fit?
When buying from an individual you are unlikely to be able to try the saddle on your horse to assess the fit. This is a risk you take, and if it doesn’t fit, you will then have to sell it on. That’s fine if you have enough money to replace and purchase another saddle in the mean time. But if you are a little tight on funds, and cannot afford to wait until the poor fitting saddle sells to buy a new one, why not purchase from a company such as The Saddle Bank who offer 5 day trials. This enables you to check the fit, ensure you are happy with the condition, and have your fitter assess the saddle during the trial period. If for any reason you are not happy, you can return it.
For full details on The Saddle Bank’s trial policy click here.
What do you get when buying from The Saddle Bank
When purchasing from The Saddle Bank, you may find yourself paying a little more than you would if you were buying from a private seller. However, you get what you pay for. When buying a saddle from The Saddle Bank, you get;
- Saddle inspection report so you know your saddle has been checked and inspected
- 6 month warranty on all secondhand saddles*
- Manufacturer's warranty on all new saddles
- Guaranteed buy back price within 9 months**
- 5 Day UK Mainland Trial
- FREE ‘Secrets of Selling your Saddle’ eBook to help you sell your old saddles
- FAST delivery worldwide
- 1 hour delivery timeslot for UK mainland clients
- Tracking information provided for overseas clients
- Option to accessorise your saddle
- Friendly customer support team to help you answer any questions and queries
You don't get this when buying from a private seller. So be aware of what you are paying for. Paying a little more for peace of mind and security is a great way to have a good nights sleep!
*6 month soundness warranty is provided on all second hand saddles. Saddles are sold sound, and we expect a saddle with an average amount of use to have many years of use. Warranty is only valid on saddles which have been well cared for, and maintained by the purchaser, and does not include accidental damage, fire, or theft. Any alterations made by a saddle fitter or owner will deem the warranty invalid as the person who has made such changes is responsible for the safety of the saddle.
**Guaranteed buy back price is offered on all saddles within 9 months of the original purchase date. The price offered is 20% less the purchase price of second hand saddles, and 35% less the purchase price of new saddles. The guaranteed buy back price is also condition dependent, and the saddle must be in a comparable condition to guarantee the price. The Guaranteed buy back price is only available to UK mainland clients.
Learn more about how saddles should fit….
If you are a horse owner or rider and would like to learn more about saddle fitting, and how the saddle can impact your horses performance and welfare, click on the image below.
