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anyone receive a flat branch saddle recently?

Hi all, I stumbled on SH due to less than pleasant circumstances, but I guess if there is one good thing that comes out of this, it is finding this community.

I am one of those people who only recently learned about saddle hunting and decided to pull the trigger on my first harness. I saw the NYSH video on Flat Branch, and the subsequent discount code.
In early Dec. of last year, I ordered my first saddle from Flat Branch Outdoors. Eight months later, I still have no saddle, the company won't return calls or emails, and the website is now down.
I will share what I have done in recent weeks in the hopes that it might encourage others to take similar steps. Perhaps some of you will have ideas for me as well.

Here are the bullets of my timeline:
  • Dec 2, 2021 - ordered saddle
  • Dec 23, 2021 - first and last communication from Flat Branch (sharing that I am in the queue and to have a happy New Year)
  • July 12, 2022 - I finally start reaching out after deciding I have been more than patient (started with email to ask if there are any updates)
    • I receive an automated response:
      • Thank you for contacting Flat Branch Outdoors. We apologize for a delay in communications. We have had continued issues with our network and are in the process of implementing a new network. Please know that
        we are diligently working on orders and around supply issues. Your
        business is very important to is and we truly appreciate your patience
        and hanging in there with us. The new network will be up and running
        no later than July 5th. I will contact you then with an update/ ETA.

        Thank You
        Leigh Ann
  • July 18, 2022 - I send a similar email:
    • Hello Leigh Ann,
      Please email me back when you have a chance.
      I need to prepare for the 2022 white tail season and need to know when to expect my order.
      Thanks so much.
      Sincerely,
      ...
      • I receive the same automated response.
  • Around this time I started calling their phone number - (205) 475-6898.
    • I leave brief polite messages - This is so and so in reference to order .... Please call me back at your earliest convenience.
    • I have left voicemails 2 - 3 x/week for the past 3 weeks.
  • Late July - I filed a complaint with the BBB.
    • File a complaint form:
    • the next day I received a response from the BBB:
      • "We have forwarded your complaint to the business for their response. We have asked the business to reply promptly, but some disputes may take longer than others to conclude. Please be patient as we work to ensure that your concerns are addressed."
  • August 5, 2022 - I filed a complaint with the Alabama Office of the Attorney General
I sucked it up and in the meantime ordered a saddle from elsewhere. I also got on Eders and ordered a 50 pack of Grizzly Ameristep tree screws since I hunt mainly on my own land. I can access my trees with my climbing equipment, but honestly, I don't want to mess with that when I am walking out for a couple hour hunt before starting my work day. I will save the ropes and ascenders for scouting out new spots and for when I need to get up with a chainsaw.

Thanks for reading. I hope this helps anyone else, who like me, stumbled on this forum because of their frustrating experience with Flat Branch Outdoors.
I encourage anyone who hasn't, to go through the Alabama AG's website and fill out their form. It seems like they might get it done for us:

Attorney General's Office - State of Alabama

The home page for the Attorney General's Office - State of Alabama
www.alabamaag.gov www.alabamaag.gov

Glad to be here.
 
CabinCovfefe said:
Hi all, I stumbled on SH due to less than pleasant circumstances, but I guess if there is one good thing that comes out of this, it is finding this community.

I am one of those people who only recently learned about saddle hunting and decided to pull the trigger on my first harness. I saw the NYSH video on Flat Branch, and the subsequent discount code.
In early Dec. of last year, I ordered my first saddle from Flat Branch Outdoors. Eight months later, I still have no saddle, the company won't return calls or emails, and the website is now down.
I will share what I have done in recent weeks in the hopes that it might encourage others to take similar steps. Perhaps some of you will have ideas for me as well.

Here are the bullets of my timeline:
  • Dec 2, 2021 - ordered saddle
  • Dec 23, 2021 - first and last communication from Flat Branch (sharing that I am in the queue and to have a happy New Year)
  • July 12, 2022 - I finally start reaching out after deciding I have been more than patient (started with email to ask if there are any updates)
    • I receive an automated response:
      • Thank you for contacting Flat Branch Outdoors. We apologize for a delay in communications. We have had continued issues with our network and are in the process of implementing a new network. Please know that
        we are diligently working on orders and around supply issues. Your
        business is very important to is and we truly appreciate your patience
        and hanging in there with us. The new network will be up and running
        no later than July 5th. I will contact you then with an update/ ETA.

        Thank You
        Leigh Ann
  • July 18, 2022 - I send a similar email:
    • Hello Leigh Ann,
      Please email me back when you have a chance.
      I need to prepare for the 2022 white tail season and need to know when to expect my order.
      Thanks so much.
      Sincerely,
      ...
      • I receive the same automated response.
  • Around this time I started calling their phone number - (205) 475-6898.
    • I leave brief polite messages - This is so and so in reference to order .... Please call me back at your earliest convenience.
    • I have left voicemails 2 - 3 x/week for the past 3 weeks.
  • Late July - I filed a complaint with the BBB.
    • File a complaint form:
    • the next day I received a response from the BBB:
      • "We have forwarded your complaint to the business for their response. We have asked the business to reply promptly, but some disputes may take longer than others to conclude. Please be patient as we work to ensure that your concerns are addressed."
  • August 5, 2022 - I filed a complaint with the Alabama Office of the Attorney General
I sucked it up and in the meantime ordered a saddle from elsewhere. I also got on Eders and ordered a 50 pack of Grizzly Ameristep tree screws since I hunt mainly on my own land. I can access my trees with my climbing equipment, but honestly, I don't want to mess with that when I am walking out for a couple hour hunt before starting my work day. I will save the ropes and ascenders for scouting out new spots and for when I need to get up with a chainsaw.

Thanks for reading. I hope this helps anyone else, who like me, stumbled on this forum because of their frustrating experience with Flat Branch Outdoors.
I encourage anyone who hasn't, to go through the Alabama AG's website and fill out their form. It seems like they might get it done for us:

Attorney General's Office - State of Alabama

The home page for the Attorney General's Office - State of Alabama
www.alabamaag.gov www.alabamaag.gov

Glad to be here.
Click to expand...

Welcome to Saddle Hunting where more of a vacuum has been created than the Afghan pullout

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
I kinda wish NYSH would post a video addressing the issue since they were the one of the main promoters. I understand its not their fault or responsibility for another company. But simply deleting any mentions of it kinda of feel....'corporate'
 
HuumanCreed said:
I kinda wish NYSH would post a video addressing the issue since they were the one of the main promoters. I understand its not their fault or responsibility for another company. But simply deleting any mentions of it kinda of feel....'corporate'
Click to expand...

I bet they feelin a little sheepish. Maybe a plead the 5th at this point with AL AG being involved.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
HuumanCreed said:
I kinda wish NYSH would post a video addressing the issue since they were the one of the main promoters. I understand its not their fault or responsibility for another company. But simply deleting any mentions of it kinda of feel....'corporate'
Click to expand...
I saw a response on a post on the NYSH facebook page where Joe did address the issue in depth, the nature of their relationship, how things developed from his perspective, the things they did to try and address the issue as well as several apologies for promoting the product. I thought it was well done. Here is Joe’s post:

“Unfortunatly Im thinking people are going to get ripped off. I have no confidence at all that Josh & Leanne warren will do the right thing and at least give back the $ people sent them.

You know originally Josh of flatbranched reached out to us about our thoughts on his original solitude saddle. We tried it out and and told him what we believed it needed in the design to be more comfortable. So with our free input the solitude 2.0 was born. We felt it was the most comfortable minimalist saddle we'd sat in and well made. Josh at that time answered our phone calls right away and was very attentive and great to work with and he quickly responded to calls. We told him that once we promote this saddle your probably going to get really busy are you prepared for this. He said yes thats what he wants and was all in . Once our video review of the saddle was public he quickly recieved lots of orders . The first 2 months after the video review he couldnt thank us enough and said everything was great aside from some issues with material supplies but he was getting saddles to customers. Then we started to see complaimts about long waits poor communication. People started coming to us with complaints, though we had no affiliation with them aside from our reviewing the saddle. We relayed complaints to them via texts and emails.

Then they stopped talking or responding to us all together in about late Febuary early March , I assume because we kept trying to see what was happening with peoples orders.

They stopped communicating with us long before they stopped communicating with others and they always had excuses waiting on materials,no help etc.

We were very dissapointed but initially attributed the problems to new buissiness growing pains and hoped they would overcome it but it eventually became aparent that either they dont know how to run a buissiness or we suspect maybe this guy has personal issues or somthing we just dont know.

Unfortunatly I dont believe this guy has any integrity. If he would ignore us who only helped him then take peoples money and stop communicating with them at this point I consider him a thief.”

Buissinesses fail and he could at least reach out and let people know whats going on and try to get their money back to them.

We regret ever promoting flatbranch. The product is great but the company is nothing but a dissapointment.

Unfortunatly we put our trust in someone that we all found out couldnt be trusted.

All our dealings with him were over the phone and he always came off like a good guy. Man we completly misjudged him and we are very sorry for those we influenced to do buissiness with him.

Scott & I both feel very bad about anyone that gets screwed because we recomended people give flatbranch a try.

Just last week I even posted on Josh warrens facebook page saying he should send back the $ he owes people but no responce , as expected.

It really sucks because he literally could have been one of the best in the market but he blew it. I wish I knew what his story is.

Im so sorry that I ever recomended flatbranch to others.....”
 
It’s very unfortunate for everyone who is going through it. It’s also unfortunate for the NY saddle hunter guys as well. They put off great content and have a large following. Recommending a product that fails immensely or equates to fraud, will hurt people’s trust in them as well. It’s not fair because it’s not their fault. I hope everyone gets their money back and that whatever issues caused it to reach this point gets resolved.
2Sloe said:
I saw a response on a post on the NYSH facebook page where Joe did address the issue in depth, the nature of their relationship, how things developed from his perspective, the things they did to try and address the issue as well as several apologies for promoting the product. I thought it was well done. Here is Joe’s post:

“Unfortunatly Im thinking people are going to get ripped off. I have no confidence at all that Josh & Leanne warren will do the right thing and at least give back the $ people sent them.

You know originally Josh of flatbranched reached out to us about our thoughts on his original solitude saddle. We tried it out and and told him what we believed it needed in the design to be more comfortable. So with our free input the solitude 2.0 was born. We felt it was the most comfortable minimalist saddle we'd sat in and well made. Josh at that time answered our phone calls right away and was very attentive and great to work with and he quickly responded to calls. We told him that once we promote this saddle your probably going to get really busy are you prepared for this. He said yes thats what he wants and was all in . Once our video review of the saddle was public he quickly recieved lots of orders . The first 2 months after the video review he couldnt thank us enough and said everything was great aside from some issues with material supplies but he was getting saddles to customers. Then we started to see complaimts about long waits poor communication. People started coming to us with complaints, though we had no affiliation with them aside from our reviewing the saddle. We relayed complaints to them via texts and emails.

Then they stopped talking or responding to us all together in about late Febuary early March , I assume because we kept trying to see what was happening with peoples orders.

They stopped communicating with us long before they stopped communicating with others and they always had excuses waiting on materials,no help etc.

We were very dissapointed but initially attributed the problems to new buissiness growing pains and hoped they would overcome it but it eventually became aparent that either they dont know how to run a buissiness or we suspect maybe this guy has personal issues or somthing we just dont know.

Unfortunatly I dont believe this guy has any integrity. If he would ignore us who only helped him then take peoples money and stop communicating with them at this point I consider him a thief.”

Buissinesses fail and he could at least reach out and let people know whats going on and try to get their money back to them.

We regret ever promoting flatbranch. The product is great but the company is nothing but a dissapointment.

Unfortunatly we put our trust in someone that we all found out couldnt be trusted.

All our dealings with him were over the phone and he always came off like a good guy. Man we completly misjudged him and we are very sorry for those we influenced to do buissiness with him.

Scott & I both feel very bad about anyone that gets screwed because we recomended people give flatbranch a try.

Just last week I even posted on Josh warrens facebook page saying he should send back the $ he owes people but no responce , as expected.

It really sucks because he literally could have been one of the best in the market but he blew it. I wish I knew what his story is.

Im so sorry that I ever recomended flatbranch to others.....”
Click to expand...
 
2Sloe said:
I saw a response on a post on the NYSH facebook page where Joe did address the issue in depth, the nature of their relationship, how things developed from his perspective, the things they did to try and address the issue as well as several apologies for promoting the product. I thought it was well done. Here is Joe’s post:

“Unfortunatly Im thinking people are going to get ripped off. I have no confidence at all that Josh & Leanne warren will do the right thing and at least give back the $ people sent them.

You know originally Josh of flatbranched reached out to us about our thoughts on his original solitude saddle. We tried it out and and told him what we believed it needed in the design to be more comfortable. So with our free input the solitude 2.0 was born. We felt it was the most comfortable minimalist saddle we'd sat in and well made. Josh at that time answered our phone calls right away and was very attentive and great to work with and he quickly responded to calls. We told him that once we promote this saddle your probably going to get really busy are you prepared for this. He said yes thats what he wants and was all in . Once our video review of the saddle was public he quickly recieved lots of orders . The first 2 months after the video review he couldnt thank us enough and said everything was great aside from some issues with material supplies but he was getting saddles to customers. Then we started to see complaimts about long waits poor communication. People started coming to us with complaints, though we had no affiliation with them aside from our reviewing the saddle. We relayed complaints to them via texts and emails.

Then they stopped talking or responding to us all together in about late Febuary early March , I assume because we kept trying to see what was happening with peoples orders.

They stopped communicating with us long before they stopped communicating with others and they always had excuses waiting on materials,no help etc.

We were very dissapointed but initially attributed the problems to new buissiness growing pains and hoped they would overcome it but it eventually became aparent that either they dont know how to run a buissiness or we suspect maybe this guy has personal issues or somthing we just dont know.

Unfortunatly I dont believe this guy has any integrity. If he would ignore us who only helped him then take peoples money and stop communicating with them at this point I consider him a thief.”

Buissinesses fail and he could at least reach out and let people know whats going on and try to get their money back to them.

We regret ever promoting flatbranch. The product is great but the company is nothing but a dissapointment.

Unfortunatly we put our trust in someone that we all found out couldnt be trusted.

All our dealings with him were over the phone and he always came off like a good guy. Man we completly misjudged him and we are very sorry for those we influenced to do buissiness with him.

Scott & I both feel very bad about anyone that gets screwed because we recomended people give flatbranch a try.

Just last week I even posted on Josh warrens facebook page saying he should send back the $ he owes people but no responce , as expected.

It really sucks because he literally could have been one of the best in the market but he blew it. I wish I knew what his story is.

Im so sorry that I ever recomended flatbranch to others.....”
Click to expand...

I don't do Facebook often so glad to know they posted something. Again, I'm not blaming them at all. These things happens and sometime you trust the wrong person.
 
2Sloe said:
I saw a response on a post on the NYSH facebook page where Joe did address the issue in depth, the nature of their relationship, how things developed from his perspective, the things they did to try and address the issue as well as several apologies for promoting the product. I thought it was well done. Here is Joe’s post:

“Unfortunatly Im thinking people are going to get ripped off. I have no confidence at all that Josh & Leanne warren will do the right thing and at least give back the $ people sent them.

You know originally Josh of flatbranched reached out to us about our thoughts on his original solitude saddle. We tried it out and and told him what we believed it needed in the design to be more comfortable. So with our free input the solitude 2.0 was born. We felt it was the most comfortable minimalist saddle we'd sat in and well made. Josh at that time answered our phone calls right away and was very attentive and great to work with and he quickly responded to calls. We told him that once we promote this saddle your probably going to get really busy are you prepared for this. He said yes thats what he wants and was all in . Once our video review of the saddle was public he quickly recieved lots of orders . The first 2 months after the video review he couldnt thank us enough and said everything was great aside from some issues with material supplies but he was getting saddles to customers. Then we started to see complaimts about long waits poor communication. People started coming to us with complaints, though we had no affiliation with them aside from our reviewing the saddle. We relayed complaints to them via texts and emails.

Then they stopped talking or responding to us all together in about late Febuary early March , I assume because we kept trying to see what was happening with peoples orders.

They stopped communicating with us long before they stopped communicating with others and they always had excuses waiting on materials,no help etc.

We were very dissapointed but initially attributed the problems to new buissiness growing pains and hoped they would overcome it but it eventually became aparent that either they dont know how to run a buissiness or we suspect maybe this guy has personal issues or somthing we just dont know.

Unfortunatly I dont believe this guy has any integrity. If he would ignore us who only helped him then take peoples money and stop communicating with them at this point I consider him a thief.”

Buissinesses fail and he could at least reach out and let people know whats going on and try to get their money back to them.

We regret ever promoting flatbranch. The product is great but the company is nothing but a dissapointment.

Unfortunatly we put our trust in someone that we all found out couldnt be trusted.

All our dealings with him were over the phone and he always came off like a good guy. Man we completly misjudged him and we are very sorry for those we influenced to do buissiness with him.

Scott & I both feel very bad about anyone that gets screwed because we recomended people give flatbranch a try.

Just last week I even posted on Josh warrens facebook page saying he should send back the $ he owes people but no responce , as expected.

It really sucks because he literally could have been one of the best in the market but he blew it. I wish I knew what his story is.

Im so sorry that I ever recomended flatbranch to others.....”
Click to expand...

thanks for posting....not that i had any, but if i had any second thoughts on turning them in to Visa and AL attorney general....you posting this erased them all

and good on the NYSH guys for trying to help everyone and also calling them out
 
What is so odd to me, is that they responded to my email almost immediately when I said there was a defect in my saddle. This was end of April 2022. The Leanne woman sent me several emails back requesting pictures, saying they would make it right. So I sent them the pictures. Sent them the saddle (I paid for shipping obviously). Not a single return email or call back.

I almost feel like they requested the saddle back so they could immediately get rid of it like there was never even a transaction? I have no idea.

My gut instinct is this guy/couple are on pills and they are taking peoples money to support it.
 
Last edited:
Fl Canopy Stalker said:
It’s very unfortunate for everyone who is going through it. It’s also unfortunate for the NY saddle hunter guys as well. They put off great content and have a large following. Recommending a product that fails immensely or equates to fraud, will hurt people’s trust in them as well. It’s not fair because it’s not their fault. I hope everyone gets their money back and that whatever issues caused it to reach this point gets resolved.
Click to expand...
Agreed. Joe and Scott are a great resource for the community and this incident in no way changes my opinion of them. I think this is a very good example for other “influencers” as well, although it is an extreme example. If you have a large following you have to do the due diligence if you are going to recommend a major purchase to your followers from an unproven or new business. A few questions about production plans and capabilities, warranty, customer service Is in order. I think Joe was a victim of his own humility and didn’t really think about the number of people their recommendations influence. I think that Joe’s response also acknowledged and apologized for that lesson learned very well.
 
_Dario said:
What is so odd to me, is that they responded to my email almost immediately when I said there was a defect in my saddle. This was end of April 2022. The Leanne woman sent me several emails back requesting pictures, saying they would make it right. So I sent them the pictures. Sent them the saddle (I paid for shipping obviously). Not a single return email or call back.

I almost feel like they requested the saddle back so they could immediately get rid of it like there was never even a transaction? I have no idea.

My gut instinct is this guy/couple is on pills and they are taking peoples money to support it.
Click to expand...

wow....i was thinking they were afraid of getting sued over a defective product so saving their neck that way was enough to motivate them

i hope you get your saddle back and that it passes your own inspection and you can use it
 
2Sloe said:
I saw a response on a post on the NYSH facebook page where Joe did address the issue in depth, the nature of their relationship, how things developed from his perspective, the things they did to try and address the issue as well as several apologies for promoting the product. I thought it was well done. Here is Joe’s post:

“Unfortunatly Im thinking people are going to get ripped off. I have no confidence at all that Josh & Leanne warren will do the right thing and at least give back the $ people sent them.

You know originally Josh of flatbranched reached out to us about our thoughts on his original solitude saddle. We tried it out and and told him what we believed it needed in the design to be more comfortable. So with our free input the solitude 2.0 was born. We felt it was the most comfortable minimalist saddle we'd sat in and well made. Josh at that time answered our phone calls right away and was very attentive and great to work with and he quickly responded to calls. We told him that once we promote this saddle your probably going to get really busy are you prepared for this. He said yes thats what he wants and was all in . Once our video review of the saddle was public he quickly recieved lots of orders . The first 2 months after the video review he couldnt thank us enough and said everything was great aside from some issues with material supplies but he was getting saddles to customers. Then we started to see complaimts about long waits poor communication. People started coming to us with complaints, though we had no affiliation with them aside from our reviewing the saddle. We relayed complaints to them via texts and emails.

Then they stopped talking or responding to us all together in about late Febuary early March , I assume because we kept trying to see what was happening with peoples orders.

They stopped communicating with us long before they stopped communicating with others and they always had excuses waiting on materials,no help etc.

We were very dissapointed but initially attributed the problems to new buissiness growing pains and hoped they would overcome it but it eventually became aparent that either they dont know how to run a buissiness or we suspect maybe this guy has personal issues or somthing we just dont know.

Unfortunatly I dont believe this guy has any integrity. If he would ignore us who only helped him then take peoples money and stop communicating with them at this point I consider him a thief.”

Buissinesses fail and he could at least reach out and let people know whats going on and try to get their money back to them.

We regret ever promoting flatbranch. The product is great but the company is nothing but a dissapointment.

Unfortunatly we put our trust in someone that we all found out couldnt be trusted.

All our dealings with him were over the phone and he always came off like a good guy. Man we completly misjudged him and we are very sorry for those we influenced to do buissiness with him.

Scott & I both feel very bad about anyone that gets screwed because we recomended people give flatbranch a try.

Just last week I even posted on Josh warrens facebook page saying he should send back the $ he owes people but no responce , as expected.

It really sucks because he literally could have been one of the best in the market but he blew it. I wish I knew what his story is.

Im so sorry that I ever recomended flatbranch to others.....”
Click to expand...

Very good to hear. I feel bad for the NYSH gentlemen for getting sucked into this mess for literally just helping for free.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
2Sloe said:
Agreed. Joe and Scott are a great resource for the community and this incident in no way changes my opinion of them. I think this is a very good example for other “influencers” as well, although it is an extreme example. If you have a large following you have to do the due diligence if you are going to recommend a major purchase to your followers from an unproven or new business. A few questions about production plans and capabilities, warranty, customer service Is in order. I think Joe was a victim of his own humility and didn’t really think about the number of people their recommendations influence. I think that Joe’s response also acknowledged and apologized for that lesson learned very well.
Click to expand...
I agree 100%. I’m a huge fan of the NY saddle hunter guys. I found out about them from this forum last year and I enjoy their content. Especially the tall one. When I watch him climb, I can tell that is a man who is definitely familiar with work positioning. I questions some things other people say and do, but that guy (Scott I think is his name?) is definitely a knowledgeable man who seems to be very comfortable with climbing.
 
Fl Canopy Stalker said:
I agree 100%. I’m a huge fan of the NY saddle hunter guys. I found out about them from this forum last year and I enjoy their content. Especially the tall one. When I watch him climb, I can tell that is a man who is definitely familiar with work positioning. I questions some things other people say and do, but that guy (Scott I think is his name?) is definitely a knowledgeable man who seems to be very comfortable with climbing.
Click to expand...
Agree. Seems like he has years of climbing trees under his saddle.
 
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