Tack-y Couture

This is a re-​post of a review I did on them back in 2011 when they were «Stable Snob», but the review has disappeared. The long & short: avoid at all costs! It took forever to get paid and even then, only happened after repeated emails and calls from myself. Seemed to be run by a mother-​daughter con team!

You will not get paid for the items you leave on consignment. I attempted to collect a check in person four times over six months. Each time I was told a different story, the person who writes the checks isn’t in /​our computers are down /​we only write checks after the 3^rd or 4^th of the month /​we only write checks between the 1^st and 15^th of the month. Whatever the reason I have not been paid for close to a year.
When I asked to take home all the items that had not been sold for the past 6 months, they could not find them… I was told they must have been sold and would appear on the following month’s account. When I returned the following month several items still could not be found and I had not been paid for them. I was then told they must be out on trial and they had a one month trial policy — for a pair of boots!!!
They are dishonest and rude. A rose by any other name, as one reviewer said… No matter what they call this shop it is a place to avoid.

THIS PLACE IS CLOSED. SAMANTHA DRENTEN /​SAMANTHA BRYANT is the owner. This was originally called STABLE SNOB, but after she was hit with a ton of complaints for not paying all the people she owes, she changed the business name to TACK-​Y COUTURE, and managed to get even worse in her business practices. To my knowledge, she has NEVER paid most of the people who left their tack with her.
I have been trying to get her to pay me for my tack for the last year and a half. Month after month, she would say that the check is in the mail, but none of the checks EVER arrived. Then, she said that I was not, under ANY circumstance, to come down to the store for a check, because she would not/​did not cut checks at the store. She would re-​mail it. Then, she completely stopped answering emails at all, and going out to the store location was a moot point, because she was gone. Again.
During the almost two years I’ve done business with her, she’s changed her business name twice and her location twice. According to the Better Business Bureau, she has never responded to all the complaints people have left with them. Do NOT leave anything on consignment with this woman, regardless of where she is or what she’s calling the store — or herself — now. She is unscrupulous and irresponsible.
If you want to read more about her, check out the reviews under both Tack-​y Couture and under Stable Snob. She’s great about selling the stuff in her shop, but she’s little more than a fraud and a thief when it comes to procuring those items.

I have recently done inventory on all of my consigned merchandised and filed a lawsuit with Samantha & Tack-​Y Couture in Small Claims Court. Hopefully my merchandise and or lost money will be returned.

My experience happened last winter. I was totally disgusted and when I looked this place up on Unilocal,i knew why. Wish I’d done that before going there. They had a ton of bad reviews under the name «Tacky» (no hypen between Tack and y) and also under their former business name which was Stable Snob (still up there, have a look — people wanting to do a class action against them, but they closed and re-​opened as Tacky Couture). Can’t find the «Tacky» Unilocal page — they probably took it down and started this thread so they looked better. Anyway, I was a buyer not a seller. Went in to buy a helmet for my niece who lives on the other side of the country. They didn’t have a measuring tape so we approximated with a piece of cord and a ruler. The two ladies who were working there were very nice and friendly. I explained that it was a gift and had to be sent in the mail, etc. and they said it was returnable within 30 days. When I got home and re-​measured, I discovered it was going to be too small. I returned two days later (couldn’t make it the next day) and that’s when I met Samantha. Not only was she as bad as Patricia S said below, she also threatened to fire the «idiots» who worked for her who told me I could return the hat. She then pointed to a small (and I mean small) piece of paper hung on a perpendicular wall behind the counter (i.e. — not in customer’s eyeline where one could see it) that said exchanges only. If I’d seen that, of course I wouldn’t have spent the $ 50 without measuring. It was only because the employees said I could bring it back that I took it home to measure it. (And you would think that a store like this would have a measuring tape!). Long and short it was a nightmare. She said she would talk to the employees in question and get back to me. She did not. I went back there in person a week later. She claimed she’d left me a message saying her employees said they never told me I could return it. I never got a message on either my home or cell phone numbers, both which I’d left with her. Funny enough, she then defended the former «idiots» who she’d previously threatened to fire. It became unpleasant and everything that Patricia said mirrors the way I was treated. Rudely, abusively, loudly… could not believe that a business person could be that disrespectful. Utter trash. Since I didn’t think of threatening her with «goons» (lol Patricia S.), I finally settled for a store credit for the $ 50 — which was TOTALLY useless to me as I don’t ride and my young niece lives 3,000 miles away, only rides every once in a while and doesn’t own a horse. Luckily, some months later I was able to give this certificate as payment for a service to someone who does have horses and could use it. Go to eBay, find another store, but don’t go here.

I had done business off and on with Samantha for a couple years and because to me she seemed like a nice person i never would have foreseen this happening. Even if it took awhile, with some follow-​up I got all my checks… until this year, after the move to Sunland.
After about 6 months of sending emails and leaving messages and getting the run-​around, i finally went up to the store last week to discover that it was empty. I spoke with another business owner on the same street that said they packed up and skipped town all on the same day. I was very disappointed to hear this. I had been waiting on a check for about $ 200, and she still had some of my items, although nothing compared to the thousands of dollars of saddles that others lost.
I have a feeling she’ll probably try selling it all on ebay. There must be a way to alert them. I’m sure this has affected quite a few local people and I personally feel justice should be done before she does this to more people somewhere else. Is there anyone else who would like to look into this with me? Please leave a posting and let me know.

had a callback and needed basically an entire set of english and western gear so i didnt have to drive home and she was the only consignment store for tack and wear anywhere around. she had everything i needed and spent an hour with me trying on breeches boots chaps, everything. she even had a pair of boots sent to have a full zipper added with a day and a half turn around so i could have them for the callback. she is so sweet and really wants to help. she wants to you have exactly what you need and its always at the perfect price. If you are looking for anything start here. I walked out with almost brand new items that would have cost me as much as my rent and spent a ¼ of what i would have anywhere else. GO HERE. shes wonderful

My apologies for not updating this sooner, but just to be fair, I DID receive my check and I got it BEFORE Samantha had promised it. Plus, it was good when I actually cashed it… I would have lost a bet on that one!
However, I had to get verbally aggressive with the owner before she agreed to pay me. Same shady tactics that others have reported, including «lost» records or items, and they never work out to be in your favor. The customer appears to always be wrong in Samantha’s store.
As an example, when I went to pick up my items that had not sold, I noticed that there had been some «bait and switch.» A brand-​new, wool designer jacket that I had left was mysteriously replaced by a worn tacky, polyester one. When I told the owner that the jacket was not mine, she argued with me and did not relent until I told her that I had a photo of the jacket at home. This also occurred with several books I had left. After I wore her down, she eventually agreed to pay me for all items that were in question.
Bottom line: I would use eBay over Tack-​y Couture. It is just not worth it. But if you choose to do business with Samantha, I would TAKE PHOTOS OF EVERYTHING you leave with her, including the labels inside clothes. Ask her to attach the photos to your consignment sheet and keep copies for yourself. You may even want to bring a notary with you to officially record the whole transaction.
If that sounds like too much trouble, then go the eBay route – especially with an expensive item like a saddle. She seems to play a lot of games with the merchandise, at least with the sellers.
And if you get into a tangle with her, throw the ladylike behavior out the window. Just yell louder than she does, throw in a few profanities, and tell her you’ll bring some goons in with you on your next visit. (Where do you even find goons?!) It worked for me! (Seriously, that’s what I had to do!)
Truth be told, I wasn’t desperate for the consignment money. Time is money and I actually spent a considerable amount of time trying to get her to pay me. To me, it was the principle of the thing. It appeared to me that her business model relies on shady business practices to generate a profit. I went after her in the name of the other people who have been too reticent to take her on. Because, let’s face it – she was only doing to me what has worked for her in the past.
Don’t want to go to the lengths I describe to stand up for yourself? Then, don’t do business with her – plain and simple.

I wish I could give a better review because there really isn’t another consignment store locally. Alas… I would not reccomend this place. I have had tack on consignment, and a nice silver headstall was «lost» and I never received any compensation for it. Some items were in fact sold, and the check they gave me bounced. They did pay me cash and cover my fees but only after I had to call, and then come in twice because someone to give me money wasn’t available the first time.
The selection may be alright, but after my shady experiences, I’d rather not do business there.

Warning! Only after threatening Samantha Drenten with Small Claims Court will you even get her attention to pay you for anything you have given her for consigment. I am still waiting for a check on a saddle she sold in October of 2011. In a email she assured me it would be issued April 1^st. Samantha also stated she was sending my consignment boots back to me in March. After many phone calls and excuses I still do not have my boots or check for the saddle. Do not do any business with this person.

BEWARE you will NOT or ONLY paid after many back and forths of nasty emails and a final threat to take them through Small Claims Court.
Samantha took over the business «Stablesnob» from her mother. She ripped off many businesses including kept money and items from non-​profits raising money.
Then she moved the business and change the name to Tack Y Couture but continues the same shady practices from the Stablesnob.
YES if you are consumer you might find some items. But DON’T CONSIGN your stuff.
Its better to go to Thrifty Horse OR Hold Your Horses in Augora Hills.

I am really glad that I did not read the reviews before I went to the shop. My experience was completley different than the previous people. I went in yesterday to buy things for my first horse. I am rather green and had/​have alot of questions. I think I would have driven a sane person crazy but I want to buy the right things. The owner was there and spent a very long time answering every question I could come up with. She was very sweet and kind and even more important for me is that she was patient and didn’t get frustrated with me. She helped me find the perfect saddle for me (I sat in 20+ saddles) and she was very knowledgable about the needs of my horse. I am really glad I found this shop and will do all of my horse shopping here. Great prices, great product and great experience. Dawn B.

Neat Place
This place is for Horse people who want to dress their horse in fashion without spending an arm and a leg.
I have been going here for years and have found the most amazing things at the greatest prices.
I can’t say enough great things about this place, They are always friendly and willing to help with whatever questions you have.
The new place is easier to find things and much more appealing.
Thanks for always putting my horses in fashion…