Would you shop at an online equine consignment store? What would be some items you would like to see? Just gathering some input from the equestrian community (:
Yes. Saddles, longe cavesson, helmets, boots, horse and human. Bridles, bits, blankets.
High end gently used rider equipment, show clothes, boots, etc
Most high end gently used things I will buy second hand. The only thing I won’t is a helmet for obvious reasons. I probably wouldn’t buy low to mid range things used just because for the price point I might as well buy new. Also, from a consigners (you) view point, it might not be worth your time/space/effort to sell and ship something that you’ll only make $10 off of. Just my two cents.
I would buy things I presently use ebay for: good-quality-but-discontinued items such as breeches and certain tack pieces.
Yes I would, especially if there is free shipping 
Since I am a frequent purchaser of used items I’ll tell you what I look for:
I like to purchase high-end clothing and tack. Clothing wise, I primarily like to add fashionable breeches and sunshirt type shirts to my wardrobe. I am all set with my show clothes, so I am looking for “fun” colors and styles for schooling, because you can never have too many of those! Tack wise, I will nab any accessory that is high-end, excellent condition, and a good price.
Things I am not interested in buying used- cheaper equipment such as saddle pads (unless BOT and in like new condition), polo wraps, bonnets, etc. If it’s under $50-60ish new I probably won’t bother buying used. I also don’t by sheets or blankets when used unless they really are 'like-new".
Hope that helps!
We have a local consignment store that has been around forever, so clearly there is a market for it. Tack, high-end clothing, and nearly-new blankets seem to be the most popular items. Kids’ clothes are also popular, given how frequently they outgrow things. No helmets, unless you are going to carry new. Tack is really the #1 item for me - nice to find a higher-end used item for schooling if you can, rather than buying a new one of lower quality.
This is the website for our local consignment shop http://snootyfox.net/index.php
Yes!
Thank you for all the feedback !
:yes:
As long as the seller provided decently-priced (or Free!) Shipping within a reasonable amount of time - less than a week would be ideal.
And as long as used items were cleaned/reconditioned so they did not arrive looking like they just came from the barn.
And any defects were plainly described - pics would be great - & prices adjusted accordingly.
IOW:
I would be willing to pay for a blanket with a small tear, as long as I can see the extent of the damage & the item is priced less than I can find new online.
Same for any piece of tack or clothing.
Highline Tack is a good example of an online consignment store with a great selection of high end items. I found them while shopping for a used saddle. I thought their prices were very good for the quality of the stock, and things seem to move pretty quickly. (If you were looking for a site to model yourself after!)
I would and I do. I’ve bought many items gently used off Ebay (Bobby’s bridles, saddles, a few apparel items) and from web consignment stores (one is called Redwood Tack and advertises on the high end used tack FB sale groups).
Clothing has been more hit or miss, and I agree that good, detailed photos are size information are key.
I like buying anything that I don’t have to try on, online. For boots and breeches, unless I know the exact model, I like to try those on at local consignment stores and sales. But I use consignment to buy and sell all the time.
I would and do shop at consignment stores, but I am reluctant to consign items because of the typically high fees.
I realize the store has to make its money too, so I don’t have a solution. But if you’re thinking about starting one you’ll definitely have consider where your inventory will come from and how to make consigning with you attractive. I do love places that have the option to convert sales to store credit without any consignment fee, but I believe in that case you would have to have your own inventory as well.
Yes, as long as the store had good controls in place to keep track of consigned items and make sure the seller got paid. I’ve heard too many horror stories of items being taken to consignment stores and the seller struggling to collect payment.
Many consignment stores do not take returns, because they have already remitted the seller’s proceeds to the consignor, and if they take an item on return it is now their item, completely. For this reason, I would not shop at an online store; without an opportunity to examine the item or try it on, etc., as used items can vary greatly from the advertised condition. I shop in brick-and-mortar consignment shops all the time, but the inability to inspect an item prior to purchasing something used, and then being unable to return it, would be a showstopper for me. Maybe some of you have access to consignment stores that take returns, but the ones near me generally do not.
I would definitely shop at an online consignment store, but things I would insist on from my merchant:
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Measurements of everything. An easy way to do this is to add a photo of the item with the measuring tape on it (especially clothing and bridles!!)
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Honest descriptions and everything being in good shape. As a long-time ebay buyer, there are sellers I can count on to have perfect used stuff. There are others who I don’t shop from because they don’t. “like new” should mean “like new,” not “has pilling” or “definite fade”!!
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Accepting returns (less postage) within XYZ days, buyer to pay return shipping.
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Reasonable shipping (i.e. actual cost).
If you can get a brisk and reliable business going, I think there are lots of riders who would gladly let YOU be their on-line seller rather than ebay, especially for the stuff we’ve “outgrown” or that doesn’t fit our new horse, if you take the trouble to do the good pictures, answer questions, etc.
I would both consign and shop online consignment stores IF it’s properly managed from consignment contracts though payment options to prompt shipping. Taking credit cards is a must for extra protection.
Many start something like this up with great expectation but fail miserably on the management side.
I have a tack store with an online store and put all my consignment items online. Its very time consuming. I like my pictures to look professional so photoshop the background out of all of them. Then I add description and price etc. Its a lot of work for not a ton of money earned. On the plus side its free inventory so I don’t complain.
I did once buy from an online consignment store. I got a pair of breeches that ended up being huge on me and had to return. The owner was great and took the return no problem but for me it was too much of a hassle to do again. Fitting well into a pair of breeches is difficult enough let alone consignment breeches that may be quite old and have a totally different fit to them based on the style of the time. In my opinion used items really need to be seen and tried on. Pictures can be too misleading.
