Selling a lesser known brand of saddle

[CanteringCarrot]

Have any of you ever sold a lesser known saddle? If so, how?

I have a saddle that I need to sell, because I have no use for it, but it’s a lesser known brand/make. It’s a Master by Mike Corcoran, so it might only be regionally known. When I bought it new back in August, I knew it’d be a hard sell if I ever had to resell it, and sure enough, here I am.

I had it on Facebook for a bit with zero interest.

Should I start on more FB groups? Send it straight to consignment…but where? eBay?

I’ve sold saddles in the past, but they’ve always been bigger, more mainstream names.

It’s in great condition and I took the new price minus $2k. Should I reduce it more or even just get it down to dirt cheap?

[sparkygrace]

Right now, I am in the same situation trying to sell two high quality lesser known saddles. One is going to a good shop for consignment. The shop will get way more looks than I am getting on Facebook. The other saddle is priced super low. I just need to not have four saddles for one horse.

Corcoran saddles were/are popular in Florida, if I remember correctly, so maybe check for some Florida Facebook groups? (I think he is based in Texas, though.) The sad reality is you may need to price low or consign. Buyers seem to trust a good consignment shop more than an individual seller.

[MapleFarm]

I had a Detente and sold it through my saddle fitter. It was XXW so needed a special pair anyway. It was a plush saddle, just not a common brand!

My experience (I’ve only sold 3 over the past few years, so not worth a ton) is that you can either drop the price a lot or be very patient. I have sold one locally, one through my fitter, and one on eBay. I put a lot of info about the saddle on eBay - what type of horse it typically fits, very specific measurements, etc.

[outerbanks77]

You might ask if you can post it in the Black Country US FB page. As you probably know, Mike designed saddles for BC, so that audience might be more aware of them. In other ads, you might also mention the association/similarity with BC. I’ve trialed two MC saddles and though I didn’t end up buying one, they are really nice and were on my list to look at if I ended up needing to buy new/custom.

[exvet]

As one who is forever buying and selling saddles it seems due to my stable full of shapeshifters, I usually prefer consignments shops because of their saddle trial policies. With the majority, I know I will get most if not all of my money back with the exception of shipping if the saddle doesn’t fit. On facebook, though there is Paypal and other means that provide recourse, I don’t usually feel ‘as safe’. Having said that though, I will advertise things on Facebook that I’ve also put on consignment for added exposure and it’s helped. I do think consignment shops especially the better advertised ones get more views even on their Facebook pages. I currently have two saddles I need to move. I plan to take both to a very large tack sale that our local equine community is hosting. They are older model saddles with a lot of life still in them. We are luckily having two saddle fitters come and set up shop at the sale. If one or neither get sold, I hope to send them with the saddle fitter I’ve been using for my horses.

[blue_heron]

Agree with sending it away to a saddle consignment shop that you know moves inventory. For me it’s worth it not having it in the house and usually people will pay a bit more to get it from a reputable shop and not from an individual which makes up for part of the loss you get consigning it.

I do think it matters who you send it to. I have a very popular brand saddle thats been for sale with a well known shop for forever. Wish I sent it to the same person who sold my last saddle in a few weeks. But who knows. Saddle fitting and buying and selling is a mystery to us all.

[CanteringCarrot]

Yeah, it looks like consignment is my best bet. Just have to choose one! I know Aiken Saddlery had one of these not too long ago, but I wasn’t impressed with my buying experience from them previously.

My fitter mentioned Pelham saddlery because she thinks that more people are starting to look at these saddles in the New England area, but I’m not sure how popular Pelham is anymore. They’ve been around for awhile though.

[blue_heron]

Pelham kind of sucks IMO. They have a lot of stock but don’t sell much. I would try a consigner in one of the horsey hot spots in NC or FL.

[LawsofMurph]

@CanteringCarrot

I have a saddle that I need to sell, because I have no use for it, but it’s a lesser known brand/make. It’s a Master by Mike Corcoran, so it might only be regionally known. When I bought it new back in August, I knew it’d be a hard sell if I ever had to resell it, and sure enough, here I am.

Mike is also likely to help if you ask him. I have a Master saddle by him as well and I’m never giving it up! But he has in the past taken his own saddles on consignment (how I got my first one from him) and could point you in other directions of places to market it. Just message his facebook page!

[CanteringCarrot]

@LawsofMurph

@CanteringCarrot

I have a saddle that I need to sell, because I have no use for it, but it’s a lesser known brand/make. It’s a Master by Mike Corcoran, so it might only be regionally known. When I bought it new back in August, I knew it’d be a hard sell if I ever had to resell it, and sure enough, here I am.

Mike is also likely to help if you ask him. I have a Master saddle by him as well and I’m never giving it up! But he has in the past taken his own saddles on consignment (how I got my first one from him) and could point you in other directions of places to market it. Just message his facebook page!

Yeah, I have his phone number, so I’ll reach out. He sold me this one and also did a fitting for me. Just didn’t know how weird it would be.

[sparkygrace]

Check out Liberty Saddlery. They do a great consignment saddle business. I will send one of my saddles to them.

Liberty Saddlery LLC | Consignment & Used English Saddles For Sale

[SonnysMom]

Read your contract with Liberty carefully. My saddle sat for 11 months. Never went out on trial. It was in beautiful condition when it went there. I finally asked for it back. I was charged a restocking fee to PICK UP my own saddle. This is an open ended restocking fee. Don’t sell it in a few years… and there is still a restocking fee. Aiken sold it for more money in 3 months.
As with any contract make sure you read it carefully

[sparkygrace]

Thanks for the tip! I’ll read the contract before making a decision.

[Buster]

This is getting to be “a thing” and I personally think it’s ridiculous!

[CanteringCarrot]

I’ve been “denied” by three bigger named places so far because they don’t take the make/model on consignment. Never again will I buy a smaller name/brand of saddle. I mean, I knew this could happen, so I’m not upset, I just know that I won’t do it again.

I didn’t hear back from Mike, but I can reach out again. Sometimes that’s what it takes with him because I imagine that he stays busy.

[NJRider]

I know he has sold several used saddles of his brand that he helped sell for clients. There is a large group of people in Oklahoma who really like his saddles. You will have better luck contacting his wife to talk to them about arranging something.