Purchase: I bought this bridle from Tack Wholesale.com, and got the Platinum Series because it boasted that it was made from 100% English leather, not that Australian cheapo stuff that explains the reason for the price difference in the non-platinum units. The Paris Tack cost me $109.00, and bragged that it had a MSRP of $435.00.
Likes: It's true - the stitching is superb, tight, attractive, the over all construction is excellent, the leather smells heavenly, the consistency of the straps' thicknesses throughout are 100%.
Dislikes: Where to begin? When I pulled it out of the box, I LOVED the smell, it was obviously of good quality leather. Again, the construction was excellent. BUT. The cavesson was oddly large..... like mega huge. I compared it to other full sized bridles I had and it was at least three inches larger than anything I had. Hummm. Maybe that's why a $435.00 bridle was discounted to $109.00? Anyway, I tried it on my big horse, and the whole thing was big, needed to have holes punched, but the cavesson was a joke, more like for a draft horse. I liked the leather and construction enough to keep it, so because it was stiff, I oiled it in Tanner's lite oil. That made the edges rough - like hand bruising sharp, horrible. In desperation I dunked it in Horseman's ONE STEP. OH! UGH! The cheap dye BLED all over!!!! My towel, at first white, turned into a crimson red mess. All the white stitching turned PINK. I rubbed and rubbed - managed to get the bridle soft and pliable, but the fancy stitch on the brow and nose band and reins had faded into this pale pink and may as well have disappeared.
Quality: Excellent construction, lousy sizing (this particular bridle), perfect detailed even stitching. I'm thinking these bridles are the equivalent of "irregulars", like discount clothing stores might offer top end items for 1/4 of the cost because of any number of defects. Well FINE, but the shop should SAY SO!!! Tack Wholesalers make their ads sound like you're getting the REAL THING, when they should warn about dye bleeds and odd sizes!!!
Summary: They aren't fools - their return policies are draconian. In other words, don't buy from them if you think there is a chance you might need to return an item for whatever reason. Seven days you get, tops, and you have to GET THEIR PERMISSION to return it!!! Really!! Customers are REQUIRED to contact them in order to obtain a return number! Packages sent to the PO box # (the only one they supply on orders) will be refused. They have to send YOU the return addy they'll accept. There are restocking fees ~ HIGH. On ebay they say if you return an item without "permission" they'll destroy the item and NOT give you a refund. Nice outfit. I can see the reason for the convoluted return policy!!! Do'ah!!!!