WWYD Barrington Saddlery Repair shop woes

[Forthright_Farm]

Hi there!

I having some issues and wondering if anyone has ran into the same thing and has advice?

I dropped my $2500 saddle off at the repair shop at Barrington for a tree job…almost 18 weeks ago. Estimated repair time was 6-8 weeks.

Called a month later… they’re waiting on a tree. Waited 3 weeks… still waiting on a tree. 2 months in… waiting on a tree, but it’ll be here next week.

That’s where it starts getting sketchy.

Waited a while and called back not quite 2 months ago. The main saddler wasn’t available but they’re other saddler said he’d check on progress and call me back. 3 weeks go by and I hear nothing, so I call again. Same thing, the saddler isn’t there but the other saddler will check and will call me back… never happens AGAIN. Sidenote: I have a history in the service industry and this kind of lack in basic professionalism drives.me.crazy.

I was getting worried since I need to have the saddle back by Nov 2nd (18 weeks after I dropped it off) since the Schleese rep will be out and can fit it. I live in BFE, so this’ll be the last chance to get it fit until spring and the horse this saddle goes on is very sensitive and cold back. So I called last week and finally hear the main saddler has left Barrington and have inferred that he STILL has my saddle. The story is they are still waiting on a tree…it’ll be here next week. To put it nicely, I’m sceptical.

I’m sure at this point I’m missing the Nov date. This horse hasn’t jumped in months now and it’s going to cost me hundreds of dollars to get another saddle fitter apt if I can. Which I doubt.

There are 2 options I’m thinking of: pick up the saddle and take my business elsewhere, probably Saddlers Row. My other thought was: Barrington has a saddle fitter that could come out and fit my saddle, but I would be set on them paying for it. Does that seem reasonable? WWYD

[Highflyer]

I would just pick up the saddle at this point-- and hopefully they haven’t lost or damaged it.

[Forthright_Farm]

I am a little worried… what happens If it’s gone.

[trubandloki]

@Forthright Farm

My other thought was: Barrington has a saddle fitter that could come out and fit my saddle, but I would be set on them paying for it. Does that seem reasonable? WWYD

Does it seem reasonable that you would expect them to give you a free saddle fitting after all this? Yes. Does it seem logical that you want to continue doing business with them at this point? No.

Go pick up your saddle and find another place to repair it.

I get delays. I totally get delays. That is where good communication makes things OK. This place does not seem to understand that.

[lmlacross]

PMing now.

[2DogsFarm]

Go get your saddle.
Sooner rather than later.

If it isn’t there do you have any sort of contract that stipulates what happens?
At the very least, if it’s missing they owe you a comparable saddle.
AND fitting as needed COMP!
I worked in Service industries too & the lack of callbacks is stupefying as well as inexcusable.

Sad to hear that Barrington has gone so far downhill, but not that surprising as their Only Game In Town 'tude is historic.
Hope Saddlers Row can help if necessary.

*Footnote: Francis who owns Saddlers used to manage Barrington
giving away my age… :o

[Couture_TB]

@Forthright Farm

Hi there!

I having some issues and wondering if anyone has ran into the same thing and has advice?

I dropped my $2500 saddle off at the repair shop at Barrington for a tree job…almost 18 weeks ago. Estimated repair time was 6-8 weeks.

Called a month later… they’re waiting on a tree. Waited 3 weeks… still waiting on a tree. 2 months in… waiting on a tree, but it’ll be here next week.

That’s where it starts getting sketchy.

Waited a while and called back not quite 2 months ago. The main saddler wasn’t available but they’re other saddler said he’d check on progress and call me back. 3 weeks go by and I hear nothing, so I call again. Same thing, the saddler isn’t there but the other saddler will check and will call me back… never happens AGAIN. Sidenote: I have a history in the service industry and this kind of lack in basic professionalism drives.me.crazy.

I was getting worried since I need to have the saddle back by Nov 2nd (18 weeks after I dropped it off) since the Schleese rep will be out and can fit it. I live in BFE, so this’ll be the last chance to get it fit until spring and the horse this saddle goes on is very sensitive and cold back. So I called last week and finally hear the main saddler has left Barrington and have inferred that he STILL has my saddle. The story is they are still waiting on a tree…it’ll be here next week. To put it nicely, I’m sceptical.

I’m sure at this point I’m missing the Nov date. This horse hasn’t jumped in months now and it’s going to cost me hundreds of dollars to get another saddle fitter apt if I can. Which I doubt.

There are 2 options I’m thinking of: pick up the saddle and take my business elsewhere, probably Saddlers Row. My other thought was: Barrington has a saddle fitter that could come out and fit my saddle, but I would be set on them paying for it. Does that seem reasonable? WWYD

Well when I took my saddle to Saddler’s Row they forgot to mention that they no longer have an in house master saddler for repairs. After I think 2 months they told me they sent it to a person in NY and it would cost X to fix it. I told them I didn’t want it repaired for that price and they tried to get me to pay to have it shipped back. I told them there was no way I would do that and it better be shipped back to them at their cost and I would be picking it up at no later than X date. Sorry to hear you had a crap experience with BS too

[lmlacross]

IMO, Kate Ballard is the area’s top SMS Master Saddler. She hung out her own shingle with two other partners when they opened their Stanbridge Master Saddlers in St Charles back in February. I am admittedly biased, but in my opinion, she is the best, most experienced, and most educated there is when it comes to fitting and repair work.

[jherold]

I second Stanbridge Master Saddlers in St. Charles. Kate’s headed to Florida, but she recommend her colleague, Eileen, should I have any issues with my horse in the Winter. (He bucks when his saddle doesn’t fit perfectly). Eileen fitted a new saddle for my friend’s new horse and both Kate and Eileen work very well together. They have a van and I met them at a barn in SW Michigan. Give them a call and see what they can do for you.

I don’t buy anything from Barrington anymore. Customer service is crap and they usually don’t have what I need anyway.

[spaceagevalkyrie]

Did you ever get your saddle back?

[IL0VePupPies134]

Hi. I know you posted this a few months ago, but I wanted to offer my two-cents. I wouldn’t do business at Barrington Saddlery. My mom got me a pair of Tucci’s for my birthday/Christmas present from them a few years back and was I fitted by someone who no longer works there. I always thought they felt too tight and went back to talk to them multiple times but I was told time and time again (both by the person that fit me and other employees there) that I just need to break them in and that they’d stretch. I trusted them and continued to wear them. Months go by and I still can’t get them to zip all the way up, and I figured out a way to zip-tie the zipper to the keeper because otherwise the zipper unzips the moment I start trotting. Eventually, after a few months, I started noticing that the elastic panels on the boots were starting to split from the leather. They literally could not stretch any more and they still did not fit. I brought them back and they told me that it was too late and I should’ve done something about it sooner. So now, I go do Dover or Saddlers Row for all my horse needs.

[Forthright_Farm]

A very late update… my saddle was in fact not at Barrington. They ‘gave’ it to the saddler that left or was let go from Barrington Saddlery. Luckily after a lot of hounding I figured that my saddle was gone and got them to give up it’s location and the saddlers phone number. I called the saddler and he finished it in a week or so and I have my saddle back. I definitely will not be returning to Barrington.

[vxf111]

@Forthright Farm

A very late update… my saddle was in fact not at Barrington. They ‘gave’ it to the saddler that left or was let go from Barrington Saddlery. Luckily after a lot of hounding I figured that my saddle was gone and got them to give up it’s location and the saddlers phone number. I called the saddler and he finished it in a week or so and I have my saddle back. I definitely will not be returning to Barrington.

Was it Michael Daighton by chance?

[Forthright_Farm]

Yep! Couldn’t quite remember the name. He was actually very easy to work with and did a great job. Not sure why/how he ended up with my saddle but I’m glad it came back to me!

[vxf111]

@Forthright Farm

Yep! Couldn’t quite remember the name. He was actually very easy to work with and did a great job. Not sure why/how he ended up with my saddle but I’m glad it came back to me!

He’s got something of mine from a similar situation in PA but it’s not as valuable as a saddle and it’s probably not worth chasing down at this point. But I was curious if it was him!

[Calling_Duck]

vxf111, I think a number of folks in Pennsylvania experienced this shuffle when he left the tack shop where he had been employed and started his own business out in Parkesburg … and then left Parkesburg for Illinois.
To the Illinois folks, google Saddlers Row, LLC v. Dainton.
He was hired by Saddlers Row in 2008, and quit in May 2012 to work for Barrington. This despite a non-compete agreement with Saddlers Row.
Saddlers Row filed a temporary restraining order in May 2012 against him, and fun and games went on for a while.
It is now 2019. I am assuming he is now no longer at Barrington, but somewhere still in Illinois?
Forthright Farm, I am glad you finally got your saddle back.