I’m sorry you’ve had a run of bad luck. I’m curious though as to how many different people you talked to? Maybe there was a misunderstanding about the defect or what you were wanting resolved? It is quite possible to have happen, if speaking with different service reps. I’ve never had any issues with them & I buy all my horse wear and several other products from them(have for well over 10 years). Best of luck with this.
Three times I talked with one specific rep (each one week apart). And then last week, to confirm they had received the returned halter, and understood the issues, a different rep. And today an additional rep.
I feel badly as well, since I have two blankets from them and liked the quality very much, and suggested this company for others wanting to buy blankets.
well, I sent an e mail and they responded to that. I offered to either send it back, or donate it to a rescue, and they said that would be fine. So I’ll send it along to Lori with Pooh’s flysheet. She’ll be able to rig something re the nameplate issue, I know. She can use it or sell it, whatever.
As soon as I can get back to the barn I will measure Ted’s current halter and order, but thanks to everyone’s input, I know exactly what to get. Thanks for all the help!
I hope you get it all sorted out! Buying tack is supposed to be therapeutic, not stressful.
I’ve not had bad luck with the quality of things from Schneiders, but they’re the only place I’ve ordered from that’s charged me additional shipping for back-ordered items. I find that an odd practice and I’m very careful to only order things they have in stock.
[QUOTE=DressageGeek “Ribbon Ho”;3067684]
After all the to-do - I decided to order from Schneider’s. When I called up, the rep, Sherri, very nicely suggested I get a different style, which she said was much nicer. I thanked her for her help. I received the halter within the week.
I was very disappointed. The crown piece, on one side, was cracked and discolored - for a brand new halter? C’mon. And the way the name plate was attached was unsafe - they had very roughly beveled the edges, so all he had to do was rub his cheek with the halter on and he would cut his cheek.
I called up, was instructed to return the halter, they would pay for shipping. Because of construction issues in town, UPS is unaccessible, and so I made a special trip to FedEx to send it FedEx Ground, literally right before I left town for business.
I called 5 days later to make sure that they had received the halter, with my return slip, and that they understood my concerns. I was assured there was no problem.
Imagine my surprise when on Saturday, I came home to find a package in a padded envelope. It was a replacement crownpiece. For a halter I no longer had. And my concern was that if it had been raining or snowing, the piece would have been ruined - which is why EVERY shipment I’ve had from ANY place, including Schneider’s, goes to the university.
I called up, upset, got Sherri on the phone. She was very nice, assured me over and over she would “make it right.” She gave me her extension, told me that the halter would be due in Tuesday, that she wasn’t sure what they had done, but to call her directly and let her know and she would fix it. She also offered to give me a reduction in the price. I appreciated that.
I received the halter today. Minus the crownpiece. With NOTHING done to the nameplate. This is a halter I simply do not want to use, since it is going to cut up my horse’s cheeks. I called Sherri.
This time she was not as accommodating. Her ONLY offer was for me to find someone to “pop” off the name plate and she would send me another one that would be “real easy to attach.” For a brand new, $50 halter. I refused. I told her I did not want the halter, she was short on the phone, and I asked her why I should ever want to do business with them again.
I called up and asked to speak with a manager. I explained the situation again, was assured they would get me in touch with a manager, I was directed to a voice mail, and that was at least a half hour ago, maybe more.
I came in today because I had to teach, I’m on 3 different meds for this bronchitis. You can imagine how happy this made me feel. It was to be a special 10th anniversary present to myself and Ted. I am going to make one last special trip to Fed Ex and send back this halter and if I don’t get an immediate reimbursement for the halter and for both FedEx shipments I will have my Discover Card settle the dispute as I refuse to pay any money for this.
So - I’m ordering from Quillan’s. Won’t EVER order from SS Tack again.[/QUOTE]
I’m sorry you had a bad experience with SS Tack. I’ve bought horse supplies (blankets, halters, etc.) from them for years and have always been very pleased with the product and their service. I can appreciate you being frustrated, but they are usually very good. Hopefully, Quillan’s will do better.
I’m not sure the problem these days is shoddy customer service. I think sometimes it is that people are unwilling to work with companies. I can’t tell you how many blankets I’ve had ripped. From Horseware, Horseloverz, Weatherbeeta, it happens. Most companies have a 29.95 fee you pay and you ship it back washed. They have to look at them. There is a difference between a slight tear and a horse’s buddy ripping the blanket from him. I’ve had friend’s complain cause their BREAKAWAY halters broke. Come on! Horses will be horses. I know the point of this was defective merchandise, but I’ve found sometiems you just have to be patient and kind and that gets you a lot further then yelling. Learned from experience. People are also human and make mistakes, even people that work for tack companies.
I so agree with this! I just had to send in my turnout(from sstack) because dimwit horse just HAD to go thru the one and only tree in his paddock instead of around it.:mad: Tore a huge hole in the turnout. Called Schneiders told them what happened & that I’d be sending it in w/ the service fee $$. Guess what arrived today. A brand new blankie for dimwitted horse(who is now grounded from playing with trees). It’s been less than a week since I shipped out the torn one too.:yes:
SIXTY?!?! Ans you arent riding because of that?!? I walked outside in a t shirt over a very thin long sleeve shirt and said wow its beautiful outside. Went home the whether was on 45 degrees. You dont live somewhere cold do you?
RiddleMeThis - She’s very sick with bronchitis or something.
I’m glad others have had good experiences with SS Tack. I still can’t believe they wouldn’t replace a couple metal buckles within 14 days of delivery of the blankets… but whatever. I personally won’t shop there anymore.
[QUOTE=2foals;3069896]
Buying tack is supposed to be therapeutic, not stressful.[/QUOTE]
Another one for The Quotable COTH!
It’s not even about the “right and wrong” of the situation- just knowing that somewhere like Dover will take the product back no questions asked is enough to make one shop elsewhere.
I had been considering buying a “Big Fella” blanket for my “big fella.” KNowing they offer NO warranty has changed my mind 
Anyone who does any customer service work knows that every now and then there is one sale that just is not going to go right despite best efforts on both ends. There comes a time when you just say, “I’m sorry. Let’s start all over again.” The customer either agrees to that or goes to another vendor. And that’s a fact.
To the OP, I’m sorry you went through this and I hope your halter from Qullin’s is perfect in every way. But I’m one of the group that has never had any problems with Schneider’s, and Schneider’s continues to be the first one I go to for any horse-related items.
Hope you feel better soon. 
I also liked Schneider’s, which is why I went with them in the first place. And when the halter arrived and was defective, I was confident that they would make it right. They had quite a few opportunities in which to do so. To be told that the best they could do, at the end, was have ME replace the nameplate, at MY expense, I felt was over the top.
If they had said, whoops! we screwed up again. Send it back, this time we’ll send the right halter this time, not defective, I would have still been a Schneider’s customer.
And thanks for the get well wishes. I went on prednisone for asthma, we didn’t know if it was that or bronchitis, or both, at the time. Alas, the bad thing about prednisone, which is good for asthma, is that it suppresses your immune response. So now I have bronchitis, with asthma complications, and flu. So I am feeling very, very sorry for myself!!! However, I have now fully rationalized spending $$ on a very nice anniversary halter, once I get to measure his old one, and get my voice back. So all will resolve well.
Meanwhile, Ted must be counting the days until his next Peep hit. It’s been a long long time for him.
Walsh halters
I’ve been very happy with the quality of Walsh halters. They have several styles and you can get them in 3/4" or 1", in chestnut or black. (Black looks so sharp on a bay.) Some are now available in havanna. Here’s a link:
http://www.walshharness.com/newhalters.cfm
There’s a link at the top of their page to locate dealers that carry them.
Oh please go cry a river-
Today has not been my dad so please excuse my crankyness-BUT- you are not God and crap happens. Sometimes things get mixed up, not everything is made perfect, and yes your going to get a voicemail in situations such as this in some cases.
We order all our horse’s blankets from Schneiders and quite a bit of their other small things too-and we’ve never had an issue and we continue to love them. Its a nameplate- and defected halter- yes it cost $50.00- and yes they made ( what i think) was an honest effort to try and accomidate your issue. Sorry things didnt work out for you- maybe someone on the halter fixing end didnt know or understand about the nameplate issue and only realized the leather issue.
Why do you prefer these over Quillins? Their “dress halter” looks exactly like my Quillin sale halter except mine has a triple stitched noseband which Central Kentucky Tack’s doesn’t have. Prices are almost identical.
Geek, I’m another one who has never had a problem with Schneiders, and I’m surprised that you did. :no:
Here’s hoping that your Quillan’s purchase goes smoothly. :yes:
Hardly trashing anyone. Stating facts is more like it. Further, why should anyone have to to to the extent the OP did just for a stupid halter and nameplate? Time is valuable…no one is compensating her for her time wasted over such an easy task. My dog could do a better job delivering the promised item in the promised condition…satisfactory. That is why we buy things. If we wanted them all f-ed up, we would jimmy rig crap in our garage…not pay someone else to take up your time with something they messed up and refuse to make right, because of oversight! Give me a break…You clearly cannot comprehend what the OP is saying.
I bought blankets from them and they were out of the color I wanted on one size. The woman placing my order asked me very sarcastically “is color really that big of a deal”. Well duh, yes! I probably don’t buy blankets but every 15 years and I wanted what I wanted! It’s not like I am getting any kind of discount for buying a color I don’t like. Well I got the color I didn’t like because I had a shivering horse, but I won’t forget that comment. I thought she was a bit nervy for saying that!
I worked for State line tack when they first started up and I dealt with problems the old fashion way; customer is always right and bend over backwards to make them happy. If you can’t make them happy give them a refund and maybe even throw them a trinket so they don’t bad mouth you! Only time you might squabble is with big ticket items like someone trying to return a saddle that was beat up. Different mind set these days!
