I sold a saddle last year through the same shop that I purchased it from originally. I periodically checked the website and finally noticed it was gone. I then reached out to them (they didn’t notify me), but I got the check very quickly after that.
I too had a horrible experience with them.
ETA - I definitely felt some sleight of hand/game playing going on.
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You should have a consignment agreement that states in very small type their payment process.
I run Manhattan Saddlery and we have a small, but robust, consignment business! Small means I can focus on individually marketing every saddle we have and we typically sell in fewer than 6 months. I let customers know their saddle sells usually same day, and checks go in the mail within 30 days. I’d love to earn the business of some COTHers so please reach out if I can help. 
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As someone who lives right next to Manhattan Saddlery, can attest that there are always beautiful saddles out on display and I am always tempted when I go in!!
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I’m the one with the Prestige Bellagio - we’re already talking
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redwood tack bought my butet outright and it was very easy. i believe i communicated through facebook messenger
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I took the time to look at their contract on their website. It looks like they do send a check upon request, it’s just not worded that way.
Every consignment store I’ve ever used doesn’t call me when an item sells. The $ sits and I have X amount of time to check on it. It looks like their “full inventory” is tons of items, not just saddles. I’m wondering if that’s why they don’t call?
Are you talking about the Aiken Tack Exchange contract?
The saddle consignment contract uses the term automatically. I do not see anywhere that it says the person has to pay attention and call to see if their product sold.
This is such a weird format, in my opinion.
If they keep records of who owns the item, them taking the time to send a quick email or text saying the item sold uses far less of their time than fielding weekly calls from every seller asking - did my item sell yet?
This thread has been very informative that having to keep track of your stuff to get your money is not uncommon.
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On the rare occasion that I bring stuff to a consignment store, I am to the point that I won’t “consign.” I lay everything out and offer them a bulk price, take it or leave it.
That way, I have my money and they can price it however they see fit, and turn a profit on their timeframe without having to call me or me them.
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I was reading it with the mindset of most consignment stores I’ve used where your stuff sells and you have to call in for a total or something. The automatic check part, I agree with you. If you choose check option on that contract you shouldn’t have to reach out I suppose. I’d be sending them my copy showing I chose check.
I’m moving to Aiken soon and have half a farm to downsize. They were coming highly recommended so I’m trying to do my own research per se.
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It looks like the original store shown on the web site has closed and the current business address is 127 Hedge Avenue. Google Earth street view shows a building at that address with a Custom Saddlery sign on it. Custom Saddlery has listed this as their business address in the past. I am not sure how old the Google photos are. Maybe go to that new address and ask for your money in person?
I’ve consigned some stuff with a local shop and don’t get notified when it sells… when I go in, I ask if I have any credit on the books. They can look it up and let me know how much. I’ve never taken the cash/check option, so I don’t know how differently that works. I can see calling people when a big ticket item like a saddle sells, but when you have possibly hundreds of people who each consigned a bunch of smaller stuff, notifying every single person of each saddle pad or pair of breeches sold might take a significant amount of time.
They bought the old custom place and both places changed location.
Less time than having to deal with them calling you weekly to ask if their items have sold yet and then having to look it up.
While the paperwork is being done to register a consigned item has sold, you (they) send out an email saying Hey Trub, your saddle pad sold for $X on < date >. You now have a store credit of $Y.
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I wish! I’ve consigned plenty of things and never gotten a notification. You either saw your item disappear off the site (big ticket items like saddles) or you called. If you don’t contact them for a cash out or come in the store within a year, you forfeit the money. That’s multiple shops.
I guess the hassle of answering the phones is worth the number of people who just forget to cash out, or the number of locals who swing in and spend store credit every other week.
I have never called Pelham Saddlery, they just send me a check?
Maybe how you sell depends on what you sign for, different options on how to receive notifications or your money?
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I’ve not consigned with them. But I’ve consigned with several others - obviously policies vary. I was just pointing out that this method isn’t unique to Aiken
Again - to avoid this hassle, I walk in and try to bulk-sell my items to them. I walk out with cash, never having to remember what’s consigned where, or for how much.
For larger single items, this might not work, but for a tote full of smaller stuff - it truly is the more efficient way.
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My favorite story about consignment tack shops. Many years ago there was a wonderful tack shop called Old Frontier, in Grovetown, Georgia, that served as the hub of the horse world in the area. There had been a rash of thefts from barns in the area, A young guy appeared at Old Frontier with a saddle to sell, and the tack shop owner, Jewel, recognized the saddle as one she knew belonged to one of her customers.
Having great poise, Jewel took the saddle on consignment and got the guy’s contact information. She contacted the sheriff and they set up a sting. She called the saddle thief, told him the saddle was sold, and he could set up a time to come in to the tack shop for his money. Not only did the thief show up and was arrested in the store after receiving his cash , but the tack shop was packed with customers who had heard about the plan and had come to watch the arrest.
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