MAJOR THUMBS DOWN TO SCHNEIDER'S SADDLERY

[DressageGeek_Ribbon]

I guess I am living in a different world. I think a TWENTY dollar leather halter is cheap. Not that they don’t hold up, mind you - we have one now (from Equiteric, as a matter of fact, won last Christmas on the eBay auction). In fact, it cost me under $15 with shipping, though it goes for about $23 on their site. I guess, since I am a geek, I was thinking that a halter that cost twice as much as the twenty dollar halter (and Schneider’s sells one of those too) would at least be nicer, not necessarily twice as nice, but nicer.

DMK, I guess you are saying, because Schneider’s sells $20 halters, and $50 halters, that their service must be lacking, unless you are buying a blanket, in which case the customer can still screw up and they’ll stand by their goods. But if you buy one of their “cheaper” items you get poorer quality service to go with the cheaper price?

Gee. I wish these companies would put a red star or asterisk or something next to all those items they consider “cheap” enough that poor quality service comes along with it, so you’d know.

I guess if this is what happens when you buy the $50 leather halter, I wonder what happens when you buy the $20 leather halter? Do they send a mini size halter in nylon, and if you complain they report you to the Feds? And if you buy the $70 halter they send it packed in caviar for cushioning?

[DMK]

What I’m saying is the day you solve the price, quality and service equation is the day I imagine a $50 halter won’t even be a speck on your financial horizon.

As for leather halter expectations, yes, I consider a $50 leather halter probably to be a knockoff of a nicer halter or one hell of a bargain. When I order the baseline halter from Quillins that I consider a turnout halter, it’s $45, and that has a single ply crown and noseband. When I order their full blown halter that I consider a good everyday halter but nicer than one I want to leave hanging on a fence in the elements, it’s a $65 halter. That same quality of halter from Walsh or North Run is an $85 halter at a retail store. So call me silly, but a $50 halter with a nameplate is either a very good bargain for the quality or just a mediocre halter. Your original post certainly indicated you were happy with the halter, just not whoever put on the nameplate and the crownpiece, which was replaced.

[TackShopGal]

Just curious - has anyone forwarded this thread to Schneider’s ? I’m sure Don or Stan Schneider would like to see it.

[DressageGeek_Ribbon]

@DMK;3074036

Your original post certainly indicated you were happy with the halter, just not whoever put on the nameplate and the crownpiece, which was replaced.

Here is where you are incorrect. While they sent a new crownpiece, I am not certain it is actually the right size, although I will admit it is not cracked and discolored, like the original one. It is not clear that the new crownpiece actually is of the same make. They NEVER fixed the nameplate, and after agreeing that they would do so - TWICE - they then went back on their word.

It is a CUSTOMER SERVICE issue that is the problem here. Had I received from the beginning, that same halter with a new, as opposed to used, crownpiece, and a nameplate that had been attached appropriately, I would never have posted this thread about the poor CUSTOMER SERVICE.

PS at our local tack store, the nice quality Walsh’s are …$50. Actually, less. $40 something and change.

However, this is certainly one way you can tell I may be a Dressage Geek, but I am not a Dressage Diva, because to me, $50 IS enough money to spend on a halter, thank you.

[TackShopGal]

[QUOTE=DressageGeek “Ribbon Ho”;3074070]
PS at our local tack store, the nice quality Walsh’s are …$50. Actually, less. $40 something and change.

IS enough money to spend on a halter, thank you.[/QUOTE]

Another great reason to support your local tack store

[DressageGeek_Ribbon]

Alas, the tack store is no longer so local. About 45 miles away from where I live and work, and the same distance from where I have Ted.

And they don’t sell padded halters, which is what I wanted - the Walsh’s are just too heavy for my horse’s head. But I will say - the Golden Horseshoe (in Eureka MO) is a great tack store!

[DMK]

@DressageGeek "Ribbon Ho";3074070

Here is where you are incorrect. While they sent a new crownpiece, I am not certain it is actually the right size, although I will admit it is not cracked and discolored, like the original one. It is not clear that the new crownpiece actually is of the same make.

Hey, all we can go by is what you have written down, and you did say they sent you a replacement crown AND you were happy with the rest of the halter. I dont think this latest diatribe against the crown piece has been documented, but I freely after 5 pages I may have missed a diatribe or two.

I’ve yet to see a $40 walsh halter, but then again, I don’t bother looking at the price tag unless we are talking 1" double ply, triple stitched, double buckle crown, english chin with a throat latch snap halter. That sucker is actually $76 in Quillins.

Either way, you are entitled to your say so go forth and have it. But so are we, and apparently a good number of people are happy with the service they have rec’d at Schneiders, and their opinion deserves equal air time as well.

[DressageGeek_Ribbon]

Odd. I went back and looked at my original post. Sure enough, the issues were pretty clearly stated. There, and every other place I posted, because, after all, if I am going to post something negative about a company, I should be certain that I am explicitly correct in what I say.

I am glad that many people received good service from Schneider’s, although, apparently not all have, and apparently, you only deserve good service, according to some, depending upon what it is you actually buy. I used to be one of these people. After their poor CUSTOMER SERVICE I no longer feel this way.

I certainly hope that when you buy in the future from Schneider’s, you will continue to receive excellent service, regardless of what you buy. Let’s hope, for their sake, in this worsening economy, that this was the exception, and one they chose not to make right (which is, after all, their choice, just as it is mine to decide where I want to buy).

Please don’t tell my horse that I was so cheap for our 10th anniversary as to only spend $50 on a leather halter for him. I guess I should have skimped on some of his supplements instead. Maybe cut out the wormers, too. Skipped buying the Kensington fly sheet for his foster brother - shoot! That was on sale at State Line Tack! And cost LESS than the halter! And I think it’s totally fine. Whew.

[DMK]

While I try very hard not to dwell on the idea of a tenth anniversary with a horse, could you please point out exactly where in your first post you described the replacement crown piece as "not the right size or same make. Because I am afraid I am at a loss on that one. Probably more of the “not reading for comprehension” stuff.

And no, the marketing “pick 2 out of 3” philosophy does not apply to specific items within a company, but frankly it would make my head hurt to further try and explain it, so we will just call your earlier example “spot on” and leave it at that.

[DressageGeek_Ribbon]

Yes, why don’t we just accept the issue about your “not reading for comprehension.” This is a BB, as opposed to a Kaplan SAT skills course.

[DMK]

Excellent point, and I agree. I was getting all hung up in the high drama over low circumstances and that is just beyond silly, even for a BB.

[SaddleFitterVA]

I’ve had limited experience with Schneiders, but have been exceedingly happy with the product I got.

I will order again. In fact, I almost feel I should figure out something to order this week in response to this thread.

And, the price, quality, and service thing is taught in business school, marketing classes or some other, that was nearly 20 years ago for me, but the concept is that if you want to reduce price, either quality or service will go down. You can get 2 of the 3. Low price for a quality product or low price with good service. Rarely will you consistently get a low price for both a quality product with good service.

[DressageGeek_Ribbon]

I am now very tempted to go buy the $20 leather halter and see if I get smacked upside the head.

[pattnic]

$40 Walsh? Where do I sign up?!?!?!

Hope your Quillen works out for you and Ted - I’ve heard nothing but good things about them!

Get better!

[MSP]

[QUOTE=DressageGeek “Ribbon Ho”;3074317]
I am now very tempted to go buy the $20 leather halter and see if I get smacked upside the head.[/QUOTE]

:lol: Maybe you should order a rope halter and really set your expectations low. So then you would have low price and can expect high quality and service! Is that how it works? :lol:

[DressageGeek_Ribbon]

I think this is worth a scientific investigation. Does customer service cut out at $50 across the board? Or only for specific items? So, if I ordered a $25 hoof pick, would the customer service be fabulous? But not for a blanket? So-so for polo wraps? Does it matter how far they have to ship?

Now, if only I could get funded for this process…

[VCT]

So really? Because the blankets I bought were $80 each I should be fine with the buckles breaking in half (on both blankets) within 10 days of use? Or is it that I should have expected them to break? :rolleyes: How much does a blanket have to cost in order for one to expect the hardware to last at least one winter? :no:

DG, I feel your pain on this thread! :lol:

[DressageGeek_Ribbon]

VCT, we are going to have to include your $80 blankets in this investigation. I hypothesize that it is the cost relative to the item that predicts the level of customer service. Therefore, $80 for a halter, would ensure good customer service, but not for a blanket. It would predict fabulous customer service for a grooming tool (curry or brush, exclusive of clippers), if there is a continuous correlation, as opposed to a simple threshhold. I dunno - is $150 good enough for good customer service for a blanket? I’d feel more comfortable going with $220. Which might only be acceptable customer service for a dressage bridle.

[JenEM]

I did expect my cheapie Schneider’s blanket to not hold up so well this winter. It was a cheap blanket, and I knew it, but money was tight and I wasn’t sure I was clipping, so I bought it to have it just in case. Has it held up? As a matter of fact, better than the Dover sheet that cost just as much as the Schneider’s heavyweight. Does it fit as well? No, it slides all over the place and will be replaced next year with something that will actually stay in place and cover my horse.

I’ve been happy with my Schneider’s purchases–I got what I expected for what I spent. But I’ve also not bought leathergoods from them. I buy halters from Quillin and other tack from brands I know and like, and have generally been pleasantly surprised.

[Eileen_M]

Personally, I love Schneiders. And have never had a problem with their customer service.

But then, they are more western oriented.