Selling saddle on Craigslist?

[jettgirl24]

Hi Guys,

Hope this is the appropriate section! I'm selling my dressage saddle as it sadly doesn't fit my new horse... Have any of you tried selling something like this on Craigslist before? Obviously buyers are probably going to want to try it on their horses but what do you take for collateral? I'm definitely not going to hand it over to some random person on the street with nothing to cover my butt if they don't come back. I know at the tack store they took a carbon copy of my credit card... I can't exactly do that so what are my options?

 

[Rusty Hills Farm]

The last saddle I sold had a ton of silver on it so there was NO way I was letting that puppy out of my sight. What finally happened is the buyer brought her horse to my place and tried it on there. She also rode it out in my arena for a bit before she parted with her cash. One of the other lookers had me haul the saddle to her barn so she could try it. Unfortunately it was not a good fit for her horse, so I hauled it back home. I also stated in my ad that it was cash only--no checks or credit cards. It took me awhile to sell it, but it was a big, heavy stock saddle with a lot of silver, not a lightweight dressage saddle, and I had a hefty price on it. But it did sell.

HTH


Rusty

 

[MustLoveHens]

I would take the whole amount, cash, up front and not a deposit- not a check- not a money order. You must assume that you will never see that person again. I sold my western saddle on craigslist to pay for rent. It was pretty much brand new (rode in it once), I took tons of pictures and measurements, clearly stated the maufacture and the serial number, clearly stated the tree/bar size, seat size and listed any blemish no matter how small (took pics of those too). I met with the woman who bought it, she looked at it told me it was just how I described and gave me cash. End of story. It was hers after I got the money and she took possesion of it.
Another option might be to see if your tack store takes in consignment saddles. They do all the "paper work" so to speak and you get a percentage of the sale.

 

[jettgirl24]

Thanks guys! My feeling was to ask for the full amount in cash as well so I'm glad to see the general feeling is that it's not unreasonable to ask

 

[Kansaseq]

I sold a nice western saddle on cl a couple of years ago. Cash and carry, like everyone says. Good luck!

 

[WIChookchick]

If a person is truly interested in your saddle, they should know what will fit their horse. I made mistakes trying to fit my narrow chested/narrow withered, but broad backed ASB x mare with westerns.
I finally realized that I had to have a FQHB, with a built up wither pad. Semi were just too narrow for her broad back.
You can give them a tracing of your saddle for the withers. ALso if they are smart they should get a bent wire or wither tracing of their horses back.
It is easy to do, inexpensive and if they get one for the withers, one for the midsection and one for front to back (length wise) and compare it
to your saddle. Then they won't waste their time and money or your time.
If they ask "Will this fit such and such a horse." Which you know you will get.. tell them to do a wither tracing or to bring the horse to your place....
OR if they are close, offer to drive over there, to let them see if it will fit.
BUT get a check or cash in hand before allowing a test drive of your saddle.

Hope this helps.
Carol

 

[hollyclyff]

I bought a used saddle once. I took it home to try on my horse with the promise of a refund if I brought right it back in the same condition. But I paid the full price up front. It turned out not to fit quite well enough and she did refund my money.

 

[Frogdogtimestwo]

I have sold two. They have to bring their horse to our place if they want to try it out or buy it for CASH ONLY upfront. to take the saddle for a fitting. NO EXCEPTIONS or you will get ripped off! I have had a few scammers contact me through CL, no I won't ship and no I wont except anything except cash..... Make sure your hubby or equivalent is home for your safety, I have had a few weirdos come when selling other livestock so I always have my doberman with me.

 

[patandchickens]

What MustLoveHens said, every word of it... plus make sure the buyer SIGNS a paper saying that they cannot return it to you if there is ANY deviation from its photographically-documented condition. Or, alternatively, just make it clear that the saddle is on a one-way trip and if it don't fit their horse then THEY can resell it.

You won't get top dollar this way but you also won't risk losing the saddle, which is sadly not uncommon.

Do not be talked into accepting anything except cold, hard, authentic-looking cash.

(Not to be cynical, but I have had too many very narrow escapes myself, and known too many whose luck has gone the other way, and a saddle is an expensive thing to have stolen)

Good luck, have fun,

Pat

 

[michickenwrangler]

I've had my best luck selling saddles at consignment tack shops.