Are there ANY saddlerys that pay cash up front for your used saddle?! [Archive]

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warmbloodzrock

Jul. 1, 2009, 02:57 PM

TONS of places consign your saddle then wait for it to sell but I'm REALLY trying to get my hands on a SWEET passier and I need to use the money from my old saddle if I want to buy this one.

I am willing to ship the saddle some place and have them send me a check. I just can't wait around for it to consign. I was thinking of taking it to a pawn shop but the only pawn shops around me are in the city and I can't imagine they have a demand for saddles! :lol:

analise

Jul. 1, 2009, 03:16 PM

Why don't you sell it on Ebay or something? Craigslist?

paintlady

Jul. 1, 2009, 03:53 PM

eBay... I used eBay to sell a few saddles in the past - just be sure to include an accurate shipping estimate. I listed $50 flat rate for shipping, but it cost me $90 to ship my Tucker Endurance from VA to CA. Oh well... saddle sold for much more than I originally paid for it, so it was still a win-win situation.

Pookah

Jul. 1, 2009, 11:48 PM

I third Ebay--I just resold a saddle there, purchased on Ebay 2 years prior for less. Fees are pretty reasonable, much larger pool of potential buyers than any tack shop. . . it's a win/win.

mvp

Jul. 1, 2009, 11:52 PM

Lightning G Horseman's Shop or their website Usedsaddles.com (I think). They'll send you cold hard cash, and their FAQ explains it all.

Risk-Averse Rider

Jul. 2, 2009, 12:33 AM

Lightning G Horseman's Shop or their website Usedsaddles.com (I think). They'll send you cold hard cash, and their FAQ explains it all.http://www.usedsaddles.com/faq.htm

The way I read it, they'll give you immediate credit for 70% of what they evaluate the saddle for - but then you have to apply that amount towards a new saddle purchased from them.

They also take consignments, and you get 80% of what the saddle sells for - when it sells.

Am I misreading this?

Posting Trot

Jul. 2, 2009, 10:22 AM

RAR that's how I read their policy as well.

For the OP, I think you have to accept that if you want cash up front for your old saddle, you'd do better selling it yourself. A tack store either will only take the saddle on consignment and send you money when it sells, or if it is willing to reimburse you before selling the saddle, it will be for less that what you could get for it (selling it yourself) and it might be that you'd have to do a "trade-in" and buy one of that tack shop's saddles with store credit for your old saddle.

warmbloodzrock

Jul. 3, 2009, 05:45 PM

Lieslot

Jul. 3, 2009, 07:01 PM

I've tried selling my saddle on e-bay TONS of times. My asking price is REALLY cheap and the saddle is in great condition! I don't get it.

You're not alone. I've got 2 european saddles that I've put through ebay numerous times and not selling, yet overseas I see similar sold like cakes at double the price I'm asking here..........
I've stopped advertising them, I'm keeping them at present and wait until maybe times get better.

Bogie

Jul. 3, 2009, 07:06 PM

I've also run two saddles through eBay recently with no luck. Generally I can at least get my money out but not right now. I put them back in the tack room for now.

avezan

Jul. 4, 2009, 06:47 AM

I've tried selling my saddle on e-bay TONS of times. :( My asking price is REALLY cheap and the saddle is in great condition! I don't get it.

If you guys know of any other options let me know! Thanks!

Because of this, it is EXTREMELY unlikely that a tack store or pawn shop will end up giving you more cash for it than you could get for it on ebay. Are you buying the other saddle from a tack shop or a private person? If a tack shop, you could ask them for some trade in value. But if you need the money NOW, put it on ebay with starting price of $1 and take what you get. You would actually be surprised at the bidding frenzy this will start if it is a good saddle.

Pookah

Jul. 4, 2009, 08:29 AM

One other thing on Ebay-I don't know how much of a difference this makes, but I do sell items for more $ when I follow this-supposedly it's best to list items on a non-holiday Saturday afternoon for a 7 day auction, that way you get two weekends of browsing. Ebay is really dependent on the right person (or better yet, people) finding your item and bidding. So if you can maximize the number of people who see it, your chances improve of the right person seeing it.

warmbloodzrock

Jul. 4, 2009, 10:42 AM

Thats a good point Pookah.

Unfortunately, I am trying to buy this saddle from a person. It is SUCH a great deal and I'm sure someone will snatch it up quick if I don't act fast. Thats why I've been trying to push the darn thing. However, from what all of you have said it sounds like this may not happen. :(

Across Sicily

Jul. 7, 2009, 07:18 PM

mvp

Jul. 7, 2009, 07:39 PM

I'm not a shipping expert, but if you take your fragile, box-o-money to UPS directly and not a retailer like The UPS store, insurance gets much cheaper. Apparently retailers much charge UPS's shipping rates, but not their insurance rates.

Just FIY. Also, sorry about the bad advice re: Usedsaddles.com/Lightning G.

Risk-Averse Rider

Jul. 7, 2009, 09:24 PM

DiablosHalo

Jul. 9, 2009, 01:04 PM

I've had no luck with ebay lately either. I have 5 to sell and have listed two or three times each. Two are used in gc, the other 3 are a few years old but still brand new- never sat in. I bought and kept "waiting for the right time" to use/break them in. Then stopped riding a lot so decided to stick with my 2 other used and sell the rest- these new ones are sitting in my office doing nothing. They are a little high priced, but still 30+% less than I paid. No luck! I'm holding them until late fall when people might be shopping for holiday gifts, etc.

Oh yeah ... I list on Friday afternoon/evenings or first thing Saturday morning and pay the extra 10 or 40 cents to do a 10-day listing. That way you get two full weekends of lookers/shoppers!

Good luck!

Ambrey

Jul. 9, 2009, 01:28 PM

For saddles, I've always had the best luck doing "buy it now or best offer," unless it's something I know will sell (a 14" close contact saddle in great condition for $300 will sell, any saddle over $1000 is less likely to right now).

But seriously, the tack market sucks on e-bay right now. People aren't bidding, so people aren't listing, and it's a snowball effect.

halla

Jul. 9, 2009, 01:54 PM

I know when I was saddle shopping on ebay, I was only interested in something with really extensive photo documentation and a thorough description. Actually that goes for all my ebay browsing, just more so for something as expensive as a saddle. Also, since there is usually no return option, I was willing to spend less since I was stuck with it if it didn't fit.

I ended up buying a saddle found on a message board's advertising section, I can't remember which. And the one person who tried the saddle I'm trying to get rid of also found it on I think Bits and Barter.

FolsomBlues

Jul. 9, 2009, 02:00 PM

I have sold two saddles in the last few months using eBay and www.TackTrader.com Put up lots of pictures and offer to send additional pictures if they are interested.

I never show pictures of the saddle on my horse because I don't want people to think "well, I don't have that type of horse so that saddle won't work for me" Also, be very descriptive and take LOTS of pictures at different angles and in different lights. Then sort through and pick the ones that show off your saddle the best.

Also, make sure that your saddle is the only thing in the pictures. No barn backgrounds, no pets, no furniture or messy house, take really neat, clean, professional looking pictures. It presents the saddle better.

Also try the Bits and Barter board and any of the USEA area websites as well as craigslist. You never know who is going to see the ad and which website they will be looking at, so get it out there as much as possible. Also, let people know that is it "or best offer" or "negotiable". If you want that sucker gone, be willing to negotiate a little and be reasonable about what you will get for it.

It will do you a lot more good to be sold at a lower price than to sit in your closet for another 6 months.

2horseowner

Jul. 10, 2009, 10:35 AM

I have been trying to sell a saddle for a while now. I listed w/ ebay 2x in a row, and posted on area event site. No luck at all, even after reducing it. I finally sent it to Patricia at Fine Used Saddles. I hope she can sell it before my new saddle comes in. I am also seeing lower/mid priced saddles selling better than the high end ones right now. The economy has really cut into people's spending. Equus Now! does take trade ins-but only on new saddles. I may have to that w/ yet another saddle that won't sell either.:cry:

gotabuk

Jul. 10, 2009, 12:03 PM

Don't know if they still do it, but Rick's Heritage Saddlery in West Chester, PA has given me cash up front for saddles before, but this was a number of years ago.

KPF

Jul. 10, 2009, 02:31 PM

There is someone in MD that is buying used saddles for cash and then reselling them... I saw her ad in the Equiery last month. If you can get your hands on one, I'm sure it has her ad in it. Maybe someone on here has one they can look thru for you and find her contact info???

CosMonster

Jul. 10, 2009, 07:32 PM

OP I hope you don't mind my little hijack here but has anyone used that Lightning G trade-in thing? I've got a saddle I can't sell, and I wouldn't mind picking up a cheap Wintec or whatever in exchange for it.

mojo7777

Jul. 12, 2009, 05:00 PM

I'm doing the Lightening G trade in thing right now--eagerly awaiting my new saddle coming any day. In exchange for the convenience of being able to get trade in value immediately, instead of waiting for the saddle to sell, you do give them 20% of their (fair, I think) estimation of the market value of the saddle. In my case, it was worth it because I didn't have another saddle to use while waiting for the first saddle to sell. They have great customer service, and every saddle can be exchanged after a trial period if it does not fit. Worked well for me.