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Saddle selling frustration

Western
#1

I have a Circle Y show saddle for sale, and I have had all of zero interest in it. :no: The leather is in excellent condition. The silver has a couple of dents around the cantle, and a few minor scraps that I can’t seem to buff out. It is an older “hand made by Circle Y” saddle before they started using their Flex tree in everything. I have it listed on CL, Horseclicks, and every Facebook page that has to do with western saddles that I can find. Any places I am missing? Or any insight into how to better market it? It is on their FQHBs, unlike many that are SQHBs.

I have had more interest in my ranch saddle that isn’t in as nice of condition than I have had in the show saddle. :eek:

#2

Drop the price and see what kind of interest you get?

Sounds like the market is telling you is overpriced.

#3

You’re in a tricky situation. I don’t know what you have it priced at, but Circle Y is known for being a good buy. I’ve purchased several older show saddles to use as work saddles. The problem is, when reselling one that is really not that old, is that you now have a brand known as a good buy but can’t price it as such, likely because of what you paid for it. They aren’t top of the line show saddles and aren’t going to have the following from the deep pockets as such.

#4

[QUOTE=Bluey;8504618]
Drop the price and see what kind of interest you get?

Sounds like the market is telling you is overpriced.[/QUOTE]

I wasn’t sure if I could share pricing or not on this forums. I have it priced at $1300. Circle Y prices are all over the place, but most of the show saddles I saw of this brand and other similar brands were $1100 - $1500.

I kind of had a feeling that this might be part of the issue. Pricing for Circle Y show saddles seems to be all over the place. I have seen older ones for as low as $750, all the way up to $1500 for nice newer ones. I traded my dressage saddle for this saddle, so I have the added “complication” of trying to get some of the value I had invested in my dressage saddle out of it too.

#5

I’d say just keep plugging away with selling it. If you’re on FB, list it on the western saddle and western tack pages. Show season is coming up in a few months so you might start getting some more interest in it. From the pics, I think you have it fairly priced. Of course, it all depends on your area too.

#6

What is the seat size? Some sizes are more in demand than others, brand too effects resell. Circle Y is a good brand but the quality isn’t what it was years ago, people may expect a real bargain if you want it to move quickly.

#7

[QUOTE=js;8505081]
What is the seat size? Some sizes are more in demand than others, brand too effects resell. Circle Y is a good brand but the quality isn’t what it was years ago, people may expect a real bargain if you want it to move quickly.[/QUOTE]

If you have it listed at $1300, it’ll never sell unless you add more incentives to it… I don’t know what size it is, but 15 1/2-16 1/2 are going to be the better priced sizes.

Drop to Around $900-1000 and you might get more bites. I just sold a Circle Y that was similar to this in September, but more silver, in addition to a matching headstall with reins, girth, extra silver stirrups for only $1200. It was in impeccable condition.

I got zero bites with the $2000/$1500price range I was originally asking. When you can get an older used Harris/Chavez/BR for around $1500, people are going to shy around a bigger price tag for what is considered to be the lower end of High End Western saddles. If you’ve been sitting on that price for a few weeks and no one has bitten at all, or even made a lower offer, it’s time to list lower.

#8

[QUOTE=js;8505081]
What is the seat size? Some sizes are more in demand than others, brand too effects resell. Circle Y is a good brand but the quality isn’t what it was years ago, people may expect a real bargain if you want it to move quickly.[/QUOTE]

It is a 16 inch seat size.

#9

Part of the problem with your particular saddle is it is not currently an “in” color for a show saddle. That color is hot in ranch type saddles, but not so much in the silvered up show saddles. I know that doesn’t particularly help you much in selling it, but it might explain at least partially why you haven’t had a ton of interest in it. If you wanted to dye it black you might have better luck selling it, but that is just putting more money into a saddle you are looking to sell. Might not be worth the time, effort or money to do that

#10

I think the saddle is priced high. The silver is starting to pit, once that happens on cheap silver there is no going back. Additionally, the serial number is scratched off, that will scare many buyers away. As others have said, the saddle is dark. Price it at $900 and it will sell, not quickly, but will sell. Good luck!

#11

If I were looking, the serial number being scratched off would be a big red flag to me. I probably wouldn’t buy at any price.

Could you consign it somewhere? Sometimes you just need someone to sit in it and fall in love. I just bought a Billy Cook Pro Reiner - because I did just that.

#12

[QUOTE=AQHAEventer;8505485]
Part of the problem with your particular saddle is it is not currently an “in” color for a show saddle. That color is hot in ranch type saddles, but not so much in the silvered up show saddles. I know that doesn’t particularly help you much in selling it, but it might explain at least partially why you haven’t had a ton of interest in it. If you wanted to dye it black you might have better luck selling it, but that is just putting more money into a saddle you are looking to sell. Might not be worth the time, effort or money to do that[/QUOTE]

I suppose that explains why most of the interest has been in my ranch saddle. It has a few more blemishes and yet I have had a lot of questions and some serious interest.

#13

[QUOTE=Tiger Horse;8505573]
If I were looking, the serial number being scratched off would be a big red flag to me. I probably wouldn’t buy at any price.

Could you consign it somewhere? Sometimes you just need someone to sit in it and fall in love. I just bought a Billy Cook Pro Reiner - because I did just that.[/QUOTE]

Curious why that would be a red flag? There doesn’t appear to be anything wrong with the saddle.

#14

[QUOTE=AQHA4me;8505510]
I think the saddle is priced high. The silver is starting to pit, once that happens on cheap silver there is no going back. Additionally, the serial number is scratched off, that will scare many buyers away. As others have said, the saddle is dark. Price it at $900 and it will sell, not quickly, but will sell. Good luck![/QUOTE]

I just sold a 15 year old Circle Y show saddle in two days. It was very similar to yours and in great condition. I sold it for $700. Buyer drove 2 hours to get it and paid cash. It was worth it to me to sell quick with no hassle.

#15

I would not buy one with the serial number scratched off as it could be a stolen saddle.
Maybe try eBay,too?

#16

Not sure if it helps, but two I just picked up in the past few months for work saddles: 1 is a 1993, dark with silver, 16" seat, FQHB for $400. 2 is a 1995, dark with silver, 15.5" seat, SQHB for $385.

#17

[QUOTE=Draftmare;8505595]
Curious why that would be a red flag? There doesn’t appear to be anything wrong with the saddle.[/QUOTE]

If you have the secret decoder ring the serial number will tell you a lot about the saddle. Second, I’d like to know the history of the saddle. My head goes to the fact it may have been stolen at some point in time. I’m not saying you stole it, but why else would the number be scratched off. I buy and sell a lot of western tack, this saddle would need to be very cheap before I’d be interested in it.

#18

[QUOTE=Draftmare;8505595]
Curious why that would be a red flag? There doesn’t appear to be anything wrong with the saddle.[/QUOTE]

The serial number on a saddle is like a vin number on a car. They are obliterated for the same reason. It is a red flag to most buyers.

Also, IME the people who want that much silver are looking for a show saddle. They will be turned off by dents and scratches and ultra suspicious of the hinky serial number. They also like the flex trees.

Maybe you will have better luck putting it on consignment in a store with a lot of foot traffic, or go to near by shows and put up flyers. Like others have said you may need to adjust the price.

#19

[QUOTE=Draftmare;8505595]
Curious why that would be a red flag? There doesn’t appear to be anything wrong with the saddle.[/QUOTE]

As mentioned by some others - it could indicate a saddle that was stolen or records might indicate there was repaired damage, etc.

#20

Could also be that people don’t have much for extra cash right after the holidays.

If you are not in a hurry to sell it, you could keep your price and see if the interest increases as show season gets a little closer.

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