Wednesday, November 30, 2016

Retail Therapy

While I didn't indulge in any Black Friday shopping (despite Amanda's best efforts to tempt me, haha), I did indulge in a few orders from the ever fabulous Riding Warehouse in the last two months!
My first order was purchased on a whim, because who doesn't need teal breeches? I also threw in some Higher Standards Leather Care, since I'd been dying to try it. Thanks to Amanda, I knew the tip about adding a hat if my order was over $100 (it was), but then also getting a discount with the coupon code for liking their Facebook page! Shipping was both free and fairly prompt, so no complaints there! I impatiently tracked it to my doorstep, and rushed home to try on my new breeches. 
Stock photo from Riding Warehouse.
Stock photo from Riding Warehouse.
Stock photo from Riding Warehouse.
Upon first inspection to make sure they fit, I noticed one of the decorative buttons on the breeches was damaged (paint flaked off)... cue sad face :( the breeches were perfect in every other way, so I emailed Riding Warehouse the next morning. They were a clearance item, so I wasn't sure they'd have any more in my size, but I emailed to see about possibly exchanging them. Unfortunately they were sold out, but RW quickly offered me a full refund. I was too in love with the breeches to want to give them up, so I thanked them for the prompt response but told them I'd rather keep them, slightly dinged or not. I figured that would be the end of it.
I don't think I have any photos of the breeches in action, but here's a video of my wiggly baby on her first ride in an indoor prepping for the show earlier this month haha. 
To my surprise, a supervisor emailed me back later that day with an offer for some store credit, to make up for the issue with my breeches. With that single interaction, RW basically turned me into a forever customer. It was my choice to keep the breeches (since it was just a minor cosmetic flaw), and they didn't have to do anything else. And yet, they went above and beyond to keep the customer happy -- major kudos to them! That store credit didn't hang out long before I was stress shopping (thanks job). This time, it was a pair of Majyk Equipe dressage boots, a Noble cowl neck top (thanks Aimee haha), and some EquiFUSE that called my name.... And of course, another hat!
Stock photo from Riding Warehouse
Stock photo from Riding Warehouse.
Stock photo from Riding Warehouse.
Another promptly shipped order, and another happy customer. And then again, Riding Warehouse went above and beyond! I placed my order on a Thursday. The following Monday, on their Instagram they announced a holiday deal where any ME boots purchased would receive a free holiday bag. I jokingly commented on their Instagram post that I ordered my boots a few days early and missed the promo, so they immediately mailed me a bag, free of charge. You really can't beat customer service like that! I'm seriously stunned. In both my interactions with them, they have gone to great lengths to make sure that I was happy -- and I was a brand new customer. While I'm sad I don't live anywhere near their physical locations, they have an online customer for life!
Photo from the Riding Warehouse Instagram.
And then yesterday morning Jeffers got me with one of their 12 days of Christmas promo items -- Ruby's medium weight turnout is both too small for her and no longer waterproof, so I snagged a Horseware Mio for her. Tragically, while Horseware has a black/teal option, the promo was only for black/burgundy... so that's what she gets!
Stock photo from Jeffers.
My initial plan was to make this a solely RW-themed post, but I am sort of excited about Ruby's new blanket, so I threw it in there too. But for the most part, this fit in perfectly with Equinpilot's giveaway to celebrate 500 posts! Head on over and enter her contest for a chance to win your own gift certificate to Riding Warehouse!

23 comments:

  1. I have that same NO hoodie too!
    Glad you had a positive experience with RW. They're not my favorite retailer, but I know plenty of people that love them.

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    1. Isn't it a fun hoodie? My local tack store stocks NO but I hadn't seen this one before, but i really like it!

      Yeah, they've been great to me so far. Luckily even if you don't like them, plenty of other good online retailers!

      So this is going to be creepy and stalkerish, but do you blog? I follow you on IG and have seen you comment on other blogs so I assumed you did but if you do, I can't find it! Haha

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    2. Haha it's not creepy at all! I blogged consistently for about a year, but stopped because of...reasons. I've debated getting back into it because Roger needs to be shared with the world, but I haven't yet pulled the trigger. Maybe someday I'll get back to it :)

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    3. I feel somewhat relieved that at least my fairly epic internet stalking record is unblemished 😂 it was driving me nuts thinking there was some awesome blog out there chronicling your adventures with Roger and that I couldn't find it! Haha. Well if you do start again, I can't wait to read!

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  2. RW has always gone above and beyond for me as well, even special ordering things for me that they don't normally stock. They're really fantastic on top of having great deals. I'm always more than happy to rep them!

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    1. I had never heard of them before I started following your blog, so this is totally your fault 😂 haha. But I'm hooked!

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  3. MMM I like the Higher Standards Leather Care products - they've worked wonders for both my bridles and saddle

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    1. I kind of want all the scents now! I really love it so far, although I've only given all my tack one thorough cleaning since I got it. Not riding much = less tack cleaning haha.

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  4. You definitely needed those pants. And I'm so jealous of the boots but I'm afraid Stinker's little legs are too skinny for them. I love the HS and the EquFuse and the NO shirt. Did I mention I have a problem....

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    1. No regrets on the breeches, haha. Except I need decent photos of me wearing them! I think we allllll have problems 😉 haha.

      RW seems like they have a great return policy, might be worth a try on the boots? And at least ME should have good resale value, with all the bloggers who use them?

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  5. haha there's always something about great customer service that makes us feel so warm and fuzzy inside lol

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    1. It's something I appreciate so much! Especially in the day and age of retail giants like Amazon -- you should see some of my interactions with their "customer service". They literally copy and paste responses out of some sort of instruction manual and they may or may not have anything to do with the problem I wrote in about.... Haha. So when I get good customer service, I make them a top option for my dollars!

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  6. I adore RW. They consistently go above and beyond for me.

    Also HS is the best. I wish she would formulate some kind of spray soap for winter months.

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  7. So much shopping!! I've had mixed experiences with RW but I can say the same for most line horse retailers and it's possibly because I order a lot and am bound to have problems sometimes, haha.

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    1. Yeah with most online places if you do repeat business you're bound to have an issue at some point... However, the fact that my first two interactions were great probably still tip things in their favor more often than not, even if they do disappoint me sometime in the future. As opposed to somewhere like Schneider's, where I had an absolutely awful first experience so they're basically my last choice in retailers....lol.

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  8. I love RW. If you like the equifuse serum, try the one-step conditioner/protector. It's awesome.

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  9. Higher Standards soap is my FAVORITE. I'll never use anything else. And also, EquiFuse is my go-to horse show shampoo. LOVE IT.

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    1. I really like it so far! And it smells great, mmmmm.
      (I meant the HSLC but I guess that could apply to both haha)

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  10. Daammn. Killer customer service. I just got some of the Higher Standards stuff myself - looooving.

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    1. And then totally independent of this post or my precious orders, I won a free t-shirt from them yesterday! 😁

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    2. *previous, although they're precious too haha 😂😂😂

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