Complaint Review: J. Stead Saddle Company - Greenville Texas

I ordered a saddle form J. Stead Saddle Co. on 4/1/15.  I mailed a $1,000.00 Deposit on same day so I could get my saddle into his "next Batch Start" a few days later (or so he told me).  He did reply to my email on 4/10/15: Yes I did get your check, I'll finish up a few saddles, so I don't get confused, I'll call you shortly before I get started.

5/11/15 I sent him a message and pictures of one of my Breast Collars indicating it was 40" across from "D-Ring to D-Ring" as my horse is 16.3 hands and 1450 Lbs.  I also Detailed the saddle Specs: Model: Rose Wade, Seat 16.5", Padded seat same color as saddle "Light Oil", and Carve/Tool a Cross in the cap of the horn.

6/4/15 I sent a message asking if he was going to send me a tree for sizing as he said he would. He rplied: I will when I'm ready to focus on it.

7/29/15 I emailed him: Just checking to see if you have a rough estimate as to when my saddle might be done? He replied: "Next Thursday"

8/6/15 I sent: Just wanted to check to see if you did start my saddle today as planned.  I would like to have it ASAP but by September for hunting in October.  I need to ride it and  break it in some before going into the mountains with it. Please let me know if this is going to work. He replied: "Yes it'll be done"

8/18/15 J. Stead sent me an email asking me to call him.   He mentioned they made the cantle pouch with a side flap rather than a top flap - I said OK.  He asked me to send the balance Due:  Your balance is $1050. Thanks Jeremy Stead Office/Shop/Barn/ 903-217-8974

8/28/15  Received WRONG saddle.  Rough out material and black seat.  Breast collar too short.  Cantle pouch not tooled and is useless - no room.   I emailed the following: Here is the message I sent to you on 4/1/15 on  the same day I mailed a $1,000.00 Deposit.  This is the saddle I ordered but not the saddle I received.  The one I received is completely wrong.  Besides getting the wrong saddle, the Breast Strap is way too short and the cantle pouch is useless.  You can't even stick your fingers in it!  I AM THOROUGHLY DISAPPOINTED.  If you can't make the saddle I ordered, please refund my money.

8/31/15 I sent: Can you email me a prepaid shipping label so I can return the saddle & Breast Strap that I received last week?  J. Stead replied: "Yes, I will in the morning."  I never received the prepaid label.

9/3/15 J. Stead sent: "Hey Frank, Just send that saddle out to me and I'll send the money to you in a money order. FedEx site is a pain to figure out, wasting my day."  I sent it back to him via FedEx (around $45.00 but I had the wrong address so the standard cost was $36.29 which I still have not received as of 11/11/15.    10/28/15 I asked: Will you please tell me when my saddle will be done?  J. Stead replied: It's on its way. fedex 781604004261.

10/30/15 I receicved the saddle and breast collar.  Wrong size seat, no cross in horn cap, seat is black not same as saddle, the breast collar is 6" too short.

11/2/15 I sent: Please let me know about replacing the Breast Collar with the one I ordered He stopped answering my phone calls ands stopped replying to my email messages.

11/10/15 I boxed up the Breast Collar as it is far too short for my horse and sent it back to J. Stead via FedEx.  I sent the following message:I shipped the Breast Collar to you via FedEx #7749-1450-2811 for arrival today 11/10/15.  Please just refund my money for the Breast Collar ($150.00 + the Cost for me to ship the Mistake saddle back as you requested ($36.29).   Total: $186.29

11/10/15 I also sent sent: I don't know why you don't return my calls or reply to my emails. I have the forms from Precinct 1. Place 1, Hunt County and will get them filled out and mailed if need be.  At this point I'm willing to live with the saddle (even though there are several things wrong with it).  If you refund the $186.29, I'll go elsewhere for a Breast Collar.  If not, I'll complete my Small Claims Court paperwork which will include a full refund for the saddle (new & unused), the breast collar, and Court Costs.  My son is a pilot for Southwest so traveling to Texas in no big deal for me.  I have never registered complaints on the web but this ordeal has been a nightmare.  I'd much prefer to get my refund ($186.29) and forget about it.  How about you? Please call me so we can talk or send me a Cashier's Check via certified mail or FedEx.

11/10/15 J. Stead replied: ""Too funny"

11/10/15 He added:  I give a you a deal, several hundred dollars off of my regular price, add a free flank cinch. It's $1500 or so less than what anyone else would build that quality for and you want to nit pick and cry to get $186 when you feel like sending things back without asking me?!?

FYI: He gave me no discounts.  I paid his advertised price for everything but that's just the way this whole transaction has gone from beginning to end.

I have never dealt with anyone quite like Mr. Stead and I hope I never do again.  I'm willing to keep the saddle that took seven (7) months to make even though it is not what I orderd and paid for.  Never once did J. Stead say he couldn't or wouldn't build the saddle to my spec. sheet.  I' just would like for him to refund the $150.00 I paid for the Breast Collar and refund the $36.29 I paid to return the "Mistake Saddle" (as he called it).

I'd strongly recommend purchasing your saddle elsewhere as this person has shown no consideration whatsoever for me as a customer who paid for something we discussed several times but he failed to deliver. Once he got my money, he was very selective about when he would even answer my calls or reply to my email messages.  Worse yet, he lied to me over and over about when he was starting and/or would deliver my saddle.