So you have your money back, and there is a saddle sitting at Adam Ellis’s shop with your name on it. I would be asking Adam if he would be willing to sell me that saddle that is sitting there with my name on it. If he would then I get my saddle and Adam gets his money for the work he has already done. I also would not do any business with her ever again and would let everyone know how bad it was. But that is just me.
[QUOTE=Eleanor;7924634]
So you have your money back, and there is a saddle sitting at Adam Ellis’s shop with your name on it. I would be asking Adam if he would be willing to sell me that saddle that is sitting there with my name on it. If he would then I get my saddle and Adam gets his money for the work he has already done. I also would not do any business with her ever again and would let everyone know how bad it was. But that is just me.[/QUOTE]
This I agree with! Dealing with her, again, seems downright idiotic and until now I would have thought you had common sense. Deal with the maker. You get a saddle right away and no more lies and drama.
[QUOTE=emilia;7924591]
OP, I thank you for opening this thread, though I am worried sick over my order and money possibly lost.[/QUOTE]
ARGH crap, you are all right. I just can’t do business with her. Especially after some more light shed. I had contacted another saddle seller I know she works with and asked if he was having trouble (Patrick Saddlery). He said that he had also put a hold on Colleens account.
She just said all the right things on the phone and made me feel like it wasn’t really her fault and she was going to fix it. Plus she went on about how my horse was going to be hard to fit, yata ya… and she has ‘le perfect tree for him’. BUT NO. He has fit pretty darn well in any saddle I’ve stuck him in and they custom part was more for me!
sigh Anyone have some saddle companies to recommend? Reputable ones at that!
Dearest, Emilia- I don’t think you’re getting your saddle either!
[QUOTE=Eleanor;7924634]
there is a saddle sitting at Adam Ellis’s shop with your name on it. [/QUOTE]
The sad part about that is he wouldn’t even begin making my saddle because of her account standing, so I’ve literally been waiting five months for nothing. AND being lied to that my saddle is in progress. WOW thank you all for helping me come to my senses! I just get so tired of being deceived I hardly even notice anymore!
I read adam’s message as saying he had the ORDER for her saddle, but had not started work on it. He was waiting to get paid.
With that said, I would NOT give her another chance. And this is a woman I did buy a saddle from 4 years ago without incidence, BUT it was an off the peg, in stock saddle.
Call Annette Gavin at Hastilow USA. She is extremely reliable, and fit my horse properly when the saddle Colleen sold me did not work and turned my mare into a bucking bronc.
So, did Discover card “eat the loss”? As in, she has spent the money, Discover paid out but is not going after her?
Sure she would be happy.
[QUOTE=Chall;7924682]
So, did Discover card “eat the loss”? As in, she has spent the money, Discover paid out but is not going after her?
Sure she would be happy.[/QUOTE]
Technically I’m only on day two of the reimbursement and they said it would take three days. But I believe they will give me my money back- even if she doesn’t have it- and they take on the issue of getting the hardcore money. However they said there is the possibility that she can said she delivered on the item and I would have to dispute it etc… Crossing fingers that that does not happen. But she has already admitted to me she hasn’t delivered. On top of the police now being mildly involved in the situation.
What a christmas! Hope you all have a good one tomorrow!
Does Patrick Saddlery make Kent and Masters or yet another saddle?
I tried to contact Kent and Masters directly, but they were already closed for holidays. They list C.M. as one of their US dealers on their website.
I would also recommend Hastilow. I have just gotten a pad from them- an easy transaction, super quick delivery.
[QUOTE=emilia;7924696]
Does Patrick Saddlery make Kent and Masters or yet another saddle?
I tried to contact Kent and Masters directly, but they were already closed for holidays. They list C.M. as one of their US dealers on their website.
I would also recommend Hastilow. I have just gotten a pad from them- an easy transaction, super quick delivery.[/QUOTE]
I think Kent and Masters is their own company. Although sad to say, but if two of her accounts are on hold and she was telling me the person who she would be having make my saddle if I tried to order another (which I’m not!) was someone new she was working with… I think she just hasn’t screwed him over yet.
Did you already pay for some of your saddle? Have you tried calling her?
I hate to be nosy but I would love to know how your situation is doing and HONESTLY I hope yours goes better than mine!
Ha, ha, Obiwan, I wrote C.M. several times and never heard back until today- I view it as a damage control.
Of course, I already paid for some of my saddle. She came with glowing recommendations from someone, to whom she delivered this Fall. That’s how I know that some orders were fulfilled.
We will see. My order “has been placed,” but so was yours! It is apparently not about the placing the order, it is about, whether the maker is getting paid (and thus delivering the product) and that I don’t know and won’t know until after holidays.
Anyway, thank you again for coming forward and educating us all. I hope, your CC company will come through and you will find peace with at least having your funds recovered.
Wow, that’s grim.
Run away!
It sounds like Adam has the measurements for your saddle. If you trust this lady’s ability to measure, contact him directly about building that saddle to those measurements?
You’d be on your own if it doesn’t fit, though.
[QUOTE=Simkie;7924749]
Wow, that’s grim.
Run away!
It sounds like Adam has the measurements for your saddle. If you trust this lady’s ability to measure, contact him directly about building that saddle to those measurements?
You’d be on your own if it doesn’t fit, though.[/QUOTE]
This is what I would do. Contact him and see if he will make the saddle for you if you pay him direct.
[QUOTE=TBROCKS;7924579]
Wow.
You had to jump through hoops to get your money back, outed her on a bulletin board for her shady business practices, and CALLED THE POLICE on her, and you’re using her for another saddle? I’m just…wow.[/QUOTE]
Ditto.
ETA: read through to the end…I’m glad you changed your mind, OP.
This is all really sad to hear …I personally think she is a wonderful saddle person. My barn has bought Many saddles from her and NEVER had an issue. We have gotten a Patrick this summer and 2 of Adams saddles this summer. And love a them. I have never had a problem getting her to call me back. A few months ago I did want her to come out but she was very busy traveling and doing saddle things . Usually when I text she gets me fit in to the schedule withen a week and we are a pretty good drive for her. It’s awful that you have had a such a hard time …
[QUOTE=eventing78;7925036]
This is all really sad to hear …I personally think she is a wonderful saddle person. My barn has bought Many saddles from her and NEVER had an issue. We have gotten a Patrick this summer and 2 of Adams saddles this summer. And love a them. I have never had a problem getting her to call me back. A few months ago I did want her to come out but she was very busy traveling and doing saddle things . Usually when I text she gets me fit in to the schedule withen a week and we are a pretty good drive for her. It’s awful that you have had a such a hard time …[/QUOTE]
I agree with you completely. She came to me with RAVING reviews. Over 50% of the saddles in the barn were sold by her. I adored the saddles I tried with her, riding in one of her demo dressage saddles (for tree purposes) almost had me switching to the dark side!
I got calls back within 24 hours when I checked for updates, but that fact of the matter; something is currently wrong.
I was told all summer & fall long that my saddle was ‘next in line’, ‘in the works’, ‘probably next shipment’, ‘the next shipment’ and the list goes on. Come to find out that when I contacted the saddle maker, none of that was true. Her account is in bad standing, he has not started my saddle and many others. When contacting Patrick saddlery, he said that her account there and all orders from here are on hold.
I wish I didn’t have issues with my order, I genuinely like Colleen, I think she is very good at what she does. However something has changed and I don’t think her business is operating quite like it was. I had to call the police and then she called me back not five minutes later!
I sincerely hope whatever is amiss can be repaired with her business, but I’m not going to be sticking around waiting for a saddle that was never coming. I was lied to and it is not alright.
[QUOTE=Obiwan;7924543]
WHOO!
So, after a call to the the credit card company who said I’d have a refund in 3 days (bless discover card) and the police (who called the saddler, who then promptly called me back, finally!), the situation may finally be underhand. She is a very good saddle fitter and seems knows a lot which is why I chose her originally.
She offered to come out to the barn and have another look at my horse, remeasure, and have another saddle ordered from a different saddle maker. Of which I wouldn’t pay her a cent until my finished saddle is in my grubby-little-snot-hands. This is because I’m told it’s really a problem with Adam.
I accepted this offer. I kinda figured it wouldn’t hurt.
Am I crazy, or just assume the best of people, when will my bad life choices stop![/QUOTE]
I don’t know about this. You’ve just had a really bad experience to the point you had to call the police. It’s not just about money, it’s about actually getting the service and goods you want.
If it were me I’d decline the offer and find somebody else. Saddle fitting is not a “black art” and there are lots of folks who know how to do it correctly.
G.
[QUOTE=Obiwan;7924695]
Technically I’m only on day two of the reimbursement and they said it would take three days. But I believe they will give me my money back- even if she doesn’t have it- and they take on the issue of getting the hardcore money. However they said there is the possibility that she can said she delivered on the item and I would have to dispute it etc… Crossing fingers that that does not happen. But she has already admitted to me she hasn’t delivered. On top of the police now being mildly involved in the situation.
What a christmas! Hope you all have a good one tomorrow![/QUOTE]
I imagine it would be hard for her to claim that if the actual maker says he didn’t even start making the saddle!
[QUOTE=eventing78;7925036]
This is all really sad to hear …I personally think she is a wonderful saddle person. My barn has bought Many saddles from her and NEVER had an issue. We have gotten a Patrick this summer and 2 of Adams saddles this summer. And love a them. I have never had a problem getting her to call me back. A few months ago I did want her to come out but she was very busy traveling and doing saddle things . Usually when I text she gets me fit in to the schedule withen a week and we are a pretty good drive for her. It’s awful that you have had a such a hard time …[/QUOTE]
Hmmmmm holiday houseguest?
[QUOTE=findeight;7925388]
Hmmmmm holiday houseguest?[/QUOTE]
I see this reference constantly, what what does it even mean! 
If you can work with Patrick Saddlery directly via mail and email I would. I have a really difficult to fit horse and he sent me a beautiful saddle that works for me and my horse. I love it, Finnegan loves it. Great quality. You should be able to do your own wither tracings and pictures.
Patrick is great to work with.
