Hello- has anyone dealt with this company before? The proprietor seems to by Sydney Bowen. Thanks
I advise you to search the archives before doing business with them.
Just check out the “similar threads” box below and you’ll find several threads. I’d look elsewhere if it were me, just from what I’ve read here on COTH. But I have no direct experience with them.
Ok thanks!
This is very disturbing. I bought what was advertised as a 2009 saddle. I noticed later it was a 2001. I contacted Danforth, and I was promised in writing a full refund. Weeks went by. Voicemails full, never responded. Finally several months later she responded on Facebook. We agreed in writing that I would receive a refund within 10 days of August 3, 2013. It is now September, and she has disappeared again. Well looks like I should have checked COTHF earlier. Guess it’s time to take it to court. This is fraud!
I would…only way to put people like that out of business is to take them on.
Hi…Has anyone contacted the Massachusett’s Office of the Attorney General Consumer Fraud Division about her?
I’m going to put this out there for everyone, please, please save yourself a giant headache and do not buy from this place. I read all the other posts but like anyone who really, really wants an expensive saddle used, I thought it wouldn’t be an issue for me! I was further convinced of this by the fact that she answered the phone, I spoke with her for a long while, and was assured over and over the saddle would go right out.:no: 2 weeks, a multi-thousand dollar charge on my credit card and no saddle. I will admit that I was immediately worried when on the phone she told me “I’m a very honest person”. The rule of if you have to tell me you are, you are not has never rung more true. I was an idiot, I know that, and realistically pretty much knew it at the time as well. There are a million ways you can justify taking a chance on one of those gorgeous saddles, mine included:
1.Maybe she was just having a rough patch in life and has turned things around, everyone can have that happen.
2.There is an actual picture of the saddle I want so surely she has it in her possession and will get it right out.
3.My experience has been different, no full voicemail, etc so go back to justification #1.:no:
Sadly, it is all a scam. There is no turning things around, just a rough patch, etc. just a plain and simple scam. So learn from me, push all the justifications out of your head that you have because you are dying to get your hands on that buttery soft leather, IT DOES NOT EXIST AND YOU WILL NEVER GET IT. The worst part is that I really needed this saddle for a very specific reason, it was not for me, and it was not so someone could look cool in the latest “in” brand, but for a very real medical / safety reason that I explained to her. She knew exactly what she was doing and the kind of limitations she would be inflicting upon someone until I could get this mess straightened out and find a replacement. She is a BAD person:mad: She lied and lied to us about sending the saddle out. We would wait a few more days to see if it showed up, it never would. And yes, we will be contacting all of the proper authorities about her.
I will add my name to the apparently long list of people who have been scammed by Sydney Bowen of Danforth Fine Used Saddles. I am embarrassed to admit it, but mad enough to say loud enough for anyone who will listen. She is a con artist and I got scammed! I contacted Sydney and explained to her that my daughter’s saddle was STOLEN from her barn, and I was trying to replace it. She wanted to be so helpful that she offered to send me 3 saddles to try out - surely at least of them would fit! She sent me 3 saddles, none that fit, and she promptly charged my credit card $10,000 [yes that’s right] and disappeared. I returned the saddles back to her as per her return policy and silence. I have proof via FedEx signature that she signed for the saddles, and in fact she posted them back out on her website for sale again. She does not return phone calls or respond to email, and is now apparently “out of the country”. I contacted the Rehoboth, MA police department and am currently working with Detective James Casey to try and bring her to justice. They have received numerous complaints against her and are familiar with her tactics. If there is anyone else out there who has been scammed by her and wants to see retribution for your loss, PLEASE contact Detective James Casey immediately: JCasey@RehobothPD.org or phone: 508-252-3733. I have posted this information at Detective Casey’s request as he is working with the District Attorney’s office to gather evidence for a probable cause hearing to bring criminal charges against her. The more plaintiff’s, the stronger the case. Please contact Detective Casey and have your voice heard and help put her out of business so she can’t continue to do this to other people!
Glad someone finally called the police instead of just gripping online :yes:
horsemom33 - Hafhalting is also involved in legal proceedings after being scammed by Sydney Bownen/Danforth.
http://www.chronofhorse.com/forum/showthread.php?433183-Danforth-Fine-Used-Saddles-Updated-Post-41!
Thank you Indy! I have sent HalfHalting a PM, and I only hope she will reply. If you know of anyone else that may have had similar dealings with her, PLEASE forward this info! She needs to be put out of business!!
I don’t understand? Are any of the buyers putting a dispute with your credit card companies? If she has several disputes surely the credit card company will kick her off being able to charge people. I put a dispute on a hotel charge and it was taken off and I won the case.
She doesn’t need to be out of business, she needs to jail for grand theft!
Definitely - I’ve been working with Officer Casey since April. Her parents don’t even call the police back. And she’s gone to Europe for 3 months. It’s a mess.
Count me in on those scammed. Except she has my Hermes Corlandus dressage saddle, Passier bridle, KK Ultra bits, Mattes 1/2 pads, Passier girths, Herm Spenger 4way stirrups, etc.
I called the police department today but am really freaking out.
I have no credit card recourse as she has my tack.
deleted
It appears that Sydney Bowen is out of the country which makes it more difficult for the people whose stuff she’s essentially stolen. Looking at her FB page, she seems to be yucking it up in France . . . and how exactly has she been funding that lifestyle?
deleted
I’m very close to getting on a plane.
I do have my copy of the contract: but per my request she never counter signed and sent back (I have emails to the above asking for her counter signature).
I am all the way across the country on the left coast (she’s in Rehoboth). Waiting to hear back from the detective working the case.
