Experiences with Sommer Saddles / Horse of Course?

[Starship]

I am having a horrendous experience trying to by a Sommer saddle from Horse of Course. First it took weeks to order since Beth was unreachable (text, voicemail, email, messages left at shop). I finally got a girl at the shop to help. Saddle was supposed to arrive end of October. I’ve followed up DAILY for 3 weeks but the saddle is still sitting in Germany. Sommer says not their problem, Horse of Course has a litany of excuses all of which I’ve refuted with facts.

In ther interest of just getting the darn thing I’ve asked them to send to my house, no stuffing or fitting - I’ll pay someone local to do it. Still no luck - it seems humanly impossible to ship a saddle for some unknown reason.

I know 2 other established customers of both who are having the same experience. Is this happening to you? What works to get the darn saddle?

Note: My name is Kristin Wagner and both Sommer and Horse of Course are aware of the issue.

[NJRider]

This is an age old issue with them, unfortunately. I like Beth. I bet she was at the US Finals last week, and is firmly tied up in Welly World. I do not know why they still have the OK store, the service is terrible and it is disconnected to Beth/Marty in FL. They have very poor communication and a lot of people have had issues with them. She is a great sales person and if you can pin her down, I believe they intend to not screw people over, but the way they run their business is terrible.

If you can get Beth’s personal cell I would call her or text her directly.

[Tanny98]

You got farther than I ever did. I remember contacting them a couple of different times with interest in some saddles they had for sale and never got a response to begin with…

[ladyj79]

Dispute the charge, get something else.

[shall]

I don’t know specifically what the deal is with Horse of Course. I sent them a saddle to sell on consignment and it took months to receive my money from a completed sale. It also took 4+ months from another vendor to deliver a custom saddle, so Horse of Course are not unique with slow delivery.

Why do companies do this, when buyer happiness with their new saddle is likely to be high?

I liked the barn owner’s Sommer Flextra.

Particulary, I like Hulsebos’s twice yearly visits to my area to check and adjust fit. My horses are going great in Hulsebos WB4 saddles that need very little refitting. I have a full Arabian and a half warmblood-Arab cross.

[Tanny98]

@shall

I don’t know specifically what the deal is with Horse of Course. I sent them a saddle to sell on consignment and it took months to receive my money from a completed sale. It also took 4+ months from another vendor to deliver a custom saddle, so Horse of Course are not unique with slow delivery.

Why do companies do this, when buyer happiness with their new saddle is likely to be high?

I liked the barn owner’s Sommer Flextra.

Particulary, I like Hulsebos’s twice yearly visits to my area to check and adjust fit. My horses are going great in Hulsebos WB4 saddles that need very little refitting. I have a full Arabian and a half warmblood-Arab cross.

I agree. I love Hulsebos’ customer service. I use them as well.