Let’s face it, we live in a world FULL of scammers. That sounds like a bold statement, but sadly it’s true. If you’re old enough to be reading this article, odds are you have experienced this first hand. From an impersonating phone call to a fraudulent email, we have all dealt with those of our society who’d rather steal your hard-earned money than work a real job.
Unfortunately, this segment of con-artists has finally weaseled its way into the horse world and is now preying on our industry through Facebook. Many of us have witnessed the evolution of Facebook over the years. What started off as a way for college-aged kids to share photos has now evolved into a tech giant with more impact and control over our lives than we would all care to admit. Facebook may be responsible for stealing your free time, but I am writing today to help make sure it’s not also responsible for stealing your money.
The problem is not Facebook itself, the problem is the plethora of scammers preying on Facebook groups and Facebook pages that facilitate the buying and selling of used tack. So many of these used tack groups are now littered with so many fraudulent listings that it’s difficult for shoppers to weed through the scams to find the saddle of their dreams. What was once used as a great tool for buying and selling used tack has now become a scammer’s paradise. At Harris Leather & Silverworks, we hear stories on a regular basis of our customers getting caught up in the middle of many of these traps. We think of our customers as family, and it pains us to hear when someone is cheated or scammed when trying to buy one of our products online. That being said, we have put together some helpful tips based on past stories we’ve heard to assist and educate our clients when purchasing on Facebook.
1) ALWAYS ask for a photo of the saddle’s serial number before making a saddle purchase. Don’t just take the seller’s word for it either, request a picture of the number. The Harris serial number is unique to each individual saddle and can tell you a lot about the saddle. Tree style, year model, and seat size are all contained within this 10-digit number. We also keep a very detailed record of each saddle’s history based on this number along with a record of which saddles have been reported to us stolen. If you have questions about a particular serial number, give us a call and we will be happy to provide you with as much information on the saddle as possible. What we CAN’T tell you is whether or not it’s a good price or if you’re getting a good deal.
2) Learn to spot stolen photos, stock photos, or photoshopped photos.
• Stolen Photos: Most of the scams we see perpetrated today are done by individuals who are selling saddles that they don’t even have. A thief no longer has to steal a product to sell it online, they just have to steal a photo from an older listing. This is the number one way that we see our customers scammed. A dishonest person simply searches back through Facebook from months prior and finds a saddle photo from an older listing. The scammer then reposts the stolen photos as a new current listing and the trap is set. Adding a watermark, date stamp, or simple scribble signature to your listing when selling helps authenticate your photos and ensure that no one else in the future can reuse them to defraud others. If you’re ready to make a purchase and are still worried, simply ask the seller to take a photo of the front page of a current newspaper laying on top of the tack item you’re buying. This helps ensure that they actually have the tack item in their possession and that the pictures are current, not recycled.
• Stock Photos: We recently discovered a Facebook page advertising Harris products by simply stealing photos from our website and listing them for sale as “New” on Facebook. The dead-giveaway was that several of the saddles they were selling were still sitting on our showroom floor. Even if the seller claims the item is “New”, always request a current photo of the product before buying to ensure that it actually exists and that the seller has access to product. Most all of our stock photos have a plain white background and have more of a professional element to them than the average reseller. Objects like a barn, fence, hay cart, or stall in the background add to the authenticity of the photo and provide a little extra assurance that you’re dealing with a horse person. When someone is re-selling using a stock photo from our website, it should raise questions as to the authenticity of the listing.
• Photoshopped Photos: Some scammers will even go through the trouble of altering photos in an attempt to conceal certain aspects of a product. We’ve seen serial number photos altered to change the digits, or particular damages concealed using photo editing. Look closely at the product images and make sure nothing looks overly blurry, or out of the ordinary.
3) Do some good ol’ fashioned cyber stalking. Always check the Facebook profile of the seller to see if they are indeed a horse person. Look back through their photos and posts to see if they seem to have any involvement with horses. Check to see if you have any mutual friends. Both of these things can provide a little extra assurance that you’re dealing with someone who’s one of us. This isn’t foolproof, because we have heard of thieves actually stealing a horse person’s entire profile (name, pictures, etc) in order to create a new profile and use it to scam folks on used tack sales.
4) Don’t overpay. When buying used Harris products on Facebook, always refer to our website to check current pricing. You wouldn’t believe the number of times we have heard from customers who paid more for a used tack item on Facebook than what they could’ve bought the exact same item new. This advice is great for used tack items also. We usually keep an extensive inventory of used saddles, headstalls and halters listed on our website. Try to find a style comparable to what you are looking at on Facebook and make sure you’re not overpaying. Remember, when comparing used saddles, year model, amount of silver, leather color, and overall condition play a major factor in determining the price.
5) Use PayPal for payment. PayPal has a program called “PayPal Purchase Protection” that helps recover your money in the event that you get scammed. If you don’t receive your product, or it shows up different than described, PayPal Purchase Protection will help you get reimbursed for eligible items. As with everything, there’s some legal red tape and fine print, so be sure to read all about the exclusions and rules for eligibility ahead of time.
6) Don’t forget the shipping. Always discuss shipping methods, costs and procedures with the person selling the used tack item. When dealing with a business you are usually guaranteed that your item will be professionally packed in an appropriate size and strength box. We ship saddles and tack all over the world on a daily basis and know how to ensure that a fancy show saddle will arrive at your door unharmed. Often times, individuals selling saddles on Facebook are not professionals and have little to no experience shipping high value saddles across the country. Request that your saddle or tack item be packed in a sturdy cardboard carton that is the proper size for that item. Saddles that are shipped in a box that is too big often have room to move around in the box, and get damaged when being transported in shipping. Also, make sure you insure or request insurance for each package with the proper dollar amount necessary to replace the item should it be lost or damaged in shipping. For more information on what boxes we recommend for saddles, check out our YouTube channel where there’s a helpful video on packing and shipping your saddle.
Also, be sure to discuss the expected time frame for buyers to pay and sellers to ship the saddle or tack. We’ve heard from customers who reached an agreement with buyers on a price, but did not receive payment for the item until weeks later. On the contrary, we’ve also heard from customers who bought a used item on Facebook and didn’t receive the item until weeks after they paid for that item. Make sure your buyer or seller knows how quickly you expect the transaction to the handled. Set these expectations BEFORE agreeing to the sale, so that there’s no surprises for either party.
7) If possible, arrange a show pickup. Most legitimate buyers and sellers of used tack have a horse show connection. Even if they are no longer showing and getting out of the game, odds are that they still have a friend, trainer or exhibitor who can give the product a ride to the next nationally recognized show. An in-person delivery scenario works best because it ensures that you’re not paying for something you’ve never seen in person. It also ensures that you’re not shipping something ahead of time and risk never being paid. A show pickup is mutually beneficial for both parties. If you’re selling an item, it’s always helpful to list your show delivery options in the listing to attract more buyers; such as “Saddle can be delivered to NSBA World Show or Congress”.
At the end of the day, the vast majority of people in the horse industry are honest, hardworking individuals who simply love horses and the lifestyle that comes with them. Unfortunately, it only takes a small number of dishonest people to create problems for everyone else. Buying used tack online can still be a great way to find the saddle you’ve been searching for or to pass along equipment you’re no longer using. The key is simply slowing down and taking a few extra precautions before sending money to someone you don’t know.
• Ask questions.
• Verify photos.
• Check serial numbers.
• Research the seller.
A few extra minutes of diligence can make the difference between finding a great deal and falling into a costly scam. If you ever have questions about a Harris saddle, its serial number, or its history, don’t hesitate to give us a call. We’re always happy to help however we can. After all, protecting the integrity of our products and the people who use them matters just as much to us as building the saddles themselves.
