How to sell my saddle

[grandprixer1]

Hi all. I’m hoping this is allowed if I don’t include details about my saddle, I’m not advertising it here but trying to figure out how to not get scammed. I’m selling a higher end saddle so there’s decent money at stake.

I posted it all over Facebook and in tack trader groups, and I’ve had a couple messages so far. A few have asked about a trial. Is there a safe way to trial a saddle with someone far away?

Should I do local trial only, unless I have mutual friends vouch? Is shipping a saddle safe?

Other things to know about selling a saddle online?

[NaturallyHappy]

I’ve sold several high end saddles through HighLine Tack. Susy manages the trials, takes care of the shipping, and takes a fairly low commission for the efforts. I have no insight as to how to do it privately. I hope this helps somehow.

[atr]

I’ve just sold 4 saddles online. The most expensive was about $2.5K, and I had to ship that one and I gave a trial. Two others went locally, but were found through my facebook ads, the last one was relatively inexpensive and went without a trial.

My protocol is Paypal only, no other fancy forms of payment. Money upfront cleared to my bank account before shipped. I always include shipping cost in the price (expect it to be expensive–around $200. Unless a light saddle like a Wintec Isabell, in which case $130ish, packed and shipped by UPS store because I have a damaged shoulder and just couldn’t deal with it.) Insure the package. Pack it well, or spring for the UPS store to do it for you.

I will give a trial period of a week from time of arrival, but I take lots of pictures and video before it goes out, with the serial number. Return insured shipping is not included in the price.

I always go check out the facebook profile of a buyer to see if they are real. They have to have actual posts that include horses in them. I only deal with buyers whose messages come in via marketplace, not some rando instagram account that wants to pay by venmo or something when you’ve specified paypal only in the ad. Just don’t waste your time replying to anyone you think is fishy.

More than anything, I wanted these saddles sold and out of my house. I’ve lost 2 horses in the past year and looking at their unused tack made me sad, so I priced them reasonably. If someone was prepared to come pick them up from me, I took the cost of shipping off the price.

It’s always a bit of a gamble, but at some point, you have to trust (but verify!)

[clanter]

I would post an ad telling people to Stop asking to buy my whatever it is as it Not For Sale… we have sold a few horses that way.

Often people want what they can not have.

[js]

What about selling it on consignment? There are a few tack shops that specialize in selling high end saddles and the commission with some is low. Highlinetack.com is a good example.

[Mander]

@atr

I always include shipping cost in the price (expect it to be expensive–around $200.

This was mentioned in another thread about shipping saddles, but check out pirateship.com for shipping. It gives you access to the discounted rates that the various shipping providers normally only offer to businesses that have an account with them. It’s free and 100% legit - I’ve used it several times already and it was so convenient. Print the label at home and drop it off.

[Jo]

@js

There are a few tack shops that specialize in selling high end saddles and the commission with some is low. Highlinetack.com is a good example

Highline also buys outright which is what I did for my senior BO who wanted her saddle gone. It was an excellent transaction!

[ake987]

At least five of my friends and myself have had great success with Sally at Everything Equine. She sold my Schleese a few hours after posting it.

[LovieBird]

Another vote for Highline Tack.

[anon68314200]

@NaturallyHappy

I’ve sold several high end saddles through HighLine Tack. Susy manages the trials, takes care of the shipping, and takes a fairly low commission for the efforts. I have no insight as to how to do it privately. I hope this helps somehow.

I agree Highline/Fineline. Sold 1 saddle with them have a second one listed also.

[js]

And they do trades! I traded in a saddle for one they had; they are very nice to work with.

[JenEM]

A few folks from my barn and I have used Sam’s Saddles to sell, too. So much easier than dealing with trials, shipping, etc myself. I think they’re pretty much exclusively on FB.

[SonnysMom]

I have bought and sold a few saddles with Aiken Tack Exchange. Both dressage and jump. She gets them sold quickly. One jump saddle I had sat at Pelham for 11 months, then advertised on FB with no luck. Aiken Tack Exchange sold it in less than a month.

[Spyder]

I have sold at least 10, probably more, on eBay, some for $2k+ and bought lots of them while trying to find perfect saddles for me & specific horse, including saddles from Germany and UK. Take great pictures of everything, show measurements everywhere, close-ups of any and all ‘warts’ and say ‘no trials.’ I only took or paid with PayPal. PayPal protects buyer as well as seller.