Selling a Hulsebos saddle

[Zephii]

Hello, I’m looking for advice on how to sell a used Hulsebos saddle and how others have found their buyers.
I’m selling from Sweden and absolutely no one here knows the brand so no one wants to buy it, not even saddle fitters. I’ve tried listing it on every Swedish marketplace I know, like 10 or more FB saddle selling groups abroad, and on the Netherlands FB marketplace. 0 interests. Been trying to sell it for 6 months or so now and I don’t want to give it away for free, obviously.
Is there any Hulsebos saddle group or literally just anywhere good to list it with shipping from Sweden?
I saw there is a lot of Hulsebos in the NL for sale, but I assume I have to put my price lower than I’d like for them to want to buy one from Sweden when they can just buy one of the many already available.

I really regret buying this saddle as it seems impossible to sell and now I just wanna ger rid of it and never see it again. 🫣

Thanks.

[widge]

Can you sell it back to the maker? Sometimes makers offer a used inventory.

[Zephii]

Sadly no… I tried to email Hulsebos and ask if they can buy back saddles, but got a no. The previous owner of my horse was the one who found it and fixed transport to Sweden from NL, so I don’t know who she bought it from there but I believe it was a private seller.

[iberianfan]

I have no words of wisdom for you, unfortunately. I, too, have one for sale here in the U.S. It’s been for sale for a long time. I love the saddles and the fact that Hulsebos comes around every 6 months to fit, fluff, repair. But they are not super well known, I’m afraid.

I’m just grateful it doesn’t eat…

[CanteringCarrot]

You’re probably going to have to come down on price and take more or a loss than you’d like. That’s been my reality, anyway. I mean, you can keep holding at the price that you want for it, but it’s likely going to take a very long time for the right buyer to come along, if at all.

The best selling places are usually eBay and Facebook these days (this was the case in the USA and EU for me). I do recall an online NL based marketplace, but it’s been a bit since I’ve lived there so I’ve forgotten the name you’ve likely already found it though.

[Bogey2]

Have you talked to a consignment place in the states? Try Pelham Saddlery in New Hampshire 603-635-1263

[tabula_rashah]

I would just go the traditional routes of Ebay or FB marketplace and ship internationally. I bought mine off ebay used and searched forever to find one because once people have them, they don’t often seem to sell them.

[ACMEeventing]

Another option is to send it off to a reputable consignment shop. I’ve used Highline Tack to buy and sell quite a few saddles and found them very easy to work with (and their consignment fee is probably the lowest you’ll find)

There are a few of your brand on their site now. Sorry the link is so bulky, I don’t know how to make it prettier on my phone

https://www.highlinetack.com/category/dressage/?ixwpst[pa_brand][]=193&title=1&excerpt=1&content=1&categories=1&attributes=1&tags=1&sku=1&ixwpsf[taxonomy][product_tag][show]=set&ixwpsf[taxonomy][product_tag][multiple]=1&ixwpsf[taxonomy][product_tag][filter]=1&ixwpsf[taxonomy][product_tag][op]=or&ixwpsf[taxonomy][pa_brand][show]=set&ixwpsf[taxonomy][pa_brand][multiple]=1&ixwpsf[taxonomy][pa_brand][filter]=1&ixwpsf[taxonomy][pa_brand][op]=or&ixwpsf[taxonomy][pa_price][show]=set&ixwpsf[taxonomy][pa_price][multiple]=1&ixwpsf[taxonomy][pa_price][filter]=1&ixwpsf[taxonomy][pa_price][op]=or&ixwpsf[taxonomy][pa_seat-size][show]=set&ixwpsf[taxonomy][pa_seat-size][multiple]=1&ixwpsf[taxonomy][pa_seat-size][filter]=1&ixwpsf[taxonomy][pa_seat-size][op]=or&ixwpsf[taxonomy][pa_width][show]=set&ixwpsf[taxonomy][pa_width][multiple]=1&ixwpsf[taxonomy][pa_width][filter]=1&ixwpsf[taxonomy][pa_width][op]=or

[Zephii]

No I haven’t looked at that option yet, do you think they would accept taking a saddle from Sweden though? I fear they would just take from the States

[Zephii]

Do you think they could take saddles from Sweden? I could always contact them and ask though, haven’t thought of that before as I assumed it was only for within the US.

[ThreeFigs]

I feel sure a consignment shop would take your saddle no matter where it’s from, but it may depend on the shop. Best to ask.

I had a Hulsebos years ago that came with the mare I bought. Wish I’d kept it! Good saddle.

[Bogey2]

info@pelhamsaddlery.net It would not hurt to ask!

[Equibrit]

Based in the UK ?

https://www.thesaddlebank.com/

[NJRider]

I had a used Hulsebos Balance Plus a few years ago that Highline bought from me outright. Yes I took a loss but overall it was fair. I had bought it used myself and used it for a couple years. I paid $1,600 used but I ended up with $1100 selling it out right.
One thing I see with people who sell these saddles used is they never list the model name. So make sure you do that.

[rothmpp]

@tabula_rashah

I would just go the traditional routes of Ebay or FB marketplace and ship internationally. I bought mine off ebay used and searched forever to find one because once people have them, they don’t often seem to sell them.

I’d caution OP against eBay with international shipping. eBay CAN and WILL force her to take the saddle back at her expense, including refunding the original shipping if a buyer gets it and determines that it is “not as described”. It doesn’t matter how good of photos she uses, how good the description is, or if she chooses “no returns accepted”. eBay’s money back guarantee/buyer satisfaction policies trump all of that. She could end up out hundreds of dollars, dependent on the buyer to package the saddle well enough to return it without damage, etc…

I not would recommend anyone ship something expensive and hard to pack like a saddle without a form of payment that could NOT be reversed by the buyer. Often credit cards do not require an unhappy buyer to return the merchandise to get a refund if they dispute the transaction. I sell online and ship all the time so do not get the same level of scammers and I still get taken sometimes.

OP - is there not a consignment style shop somewhere in your country/northern Europe that could handle the sale for you? The commission likely would be worth it if you could avoid having to take the payment and shipping risk.

[Zephii]

Thank you for the advice. I was considering putting it on Ebay.com but it became such a hassle with the shipping options since I ship from outside the US, and I couldn’t quite figure out how that worked despite trying to find tutorials etc, it felt risky doing it without knowing properly and accidently ending up with higher shipping fees than expected and such that would land at my expense. So I never posted it there.

I tried to ask a few places here but only got answer from one that didn’t want to take it, but I could definitely ask more places, I was just unsure whether I would get close to the money I want for it (Its not overpriced but since no one here knows of the brand, maybe that would lower the price). I had a saddle fitter out to fit a new saddle and she said she could prob take it for 180 dollars, which felt like a scam… I’m going to refit my saddle at another place in February, so was planning to bring it and ask them too since its a bigger saddle fitter. But I can definitely contact a few places and ask about consignment anyways. I see your point with shipping issues abroad.
Do you see Paypal as a safe transaction option? Do they make it fair for both sides, as I want the buyer to feel safe as well if they buy it from abroad with shipping?

[cheektwocheek]

I buy and sell a lot of saddles, mostly for my own use. I have used Consignment stores, Ebay, Facebook & UK resources. Facebook unfortunately has had the least action for me, other than scam replies. In the UK, The Saddle Bank, Old Mill, Saddles Direct and The Saddle Shack are ones I’d look into.
Last week I bought a saddle off Ebay UK, arrived in 5 days and I saved $1,200, even with higher shipping and conversion rates.

[ACMEeventing]

@Zephii

Do you think they could take saddles from Sweden? I could always contact them and ask though, haven’t thought of that before as I assumed it was only for within the US.

There is a contact form on their website. They are very friendly and I’m sure would let you know promptly if they would take your saddle. You just need to take a couple photos of it. Good luck, they are really comfy saddles!

[Bogie]

@rothmpp

I’d caution OP against eBay with international shipping. eBay CAN and WILL force her to take the saddle back at her expense, including refunding the original shipping if a buyer gets it and determines that it is “not as described”. It doesn’t matter how good of photos she uses, how good the description is, or if she chooses “no returns accepted”. eBay’s money back guarantee/buyer satisfaction policies trump all of that. She could end up out hundreds of dollars, dependent on the buyer to package the saddle well enough to return it without damage, etc…

100%. Sellers have very little protection on eBay. Buyers have up to 90 days to file a complaint and eBay will take the money right out of your bank account. Much, much better to send the saddle to a well-regarded consignment shop.

[Equibrit]

The Saddle Bank in UK have a form you fill in for a quote and they contact you within 24 hrs. It’s worth a try.

https://www.thesaddlebank.com/sell-a-saddle/