...I see that Saddleback Leather Company has introduced the long awaited (3+ years) dog collar to its customers. There have been any number of excuses given for the absurd delay but the most significant include the promised unique, functional and different overall design coupled with hardware supposedly designed by the master himself - hardware that had to be specially produced and took well over a year to have manufactured. You would think that Saddleback would address these issues with the product unveiling as a courtesy to loyal customers whove held off buying a competitors product in the interim. The issues have been totally ignored. Instead, Saddleback has produced a video referencing shelters and the Humane Society in an effort to align itself with a charity as part of its marketing strategy. Whats missing, of course, is how much from the sale of each collar is being donated to the charity. A charity helping to enhance the company image and contribute to sales. The pattern of non-disclosure continues. Also missing in the video is anything related to the product itself. What about the design? I honestly dont see anything special or particularly useful as a dog owner: 1) Why a floating D-ring to attach a leash? I would be wary of the flat side eventually working its way around and ending up on the top of the collar. Its possible that allowing it to float eliminates the creation of a particularly thick section of the collar where the D-ring would be fixed to it using an additional leather piece. As it is, its likely a simpler and cheaper way to make the collar. I dont profess to be a designer, but the additional leather piece and the D-ring could be attached to the top of the collar versus the underside so as not to irritate the dog. Depending on the size of the extra piece, there could be sufficient play for the D-ring to slide a little from one side to the other while remaining on top of the dogs neck. 2) I dont like the floating D-ring for many reasons, one being that it is likely to slide around under the flap. While not impossible to do, it would mean that you would need to hold the dog with one hand and position the D-ring with the other before attaching the leash - a little awkward. Assuming some people might like the floating D-ring, whats the purpose of the stopper? Does it matter if the D-ring slides to both sides of the collar? Of course, it might slide right off the end if there wasnt some sort of retainer keeping it on, but why put it in that location rather than closer to the end? If you prefer to have the D-ring slide more on one side than the other, you can easily change which side of the dog the D-ring is on by reversing how the collar is put onto the dog. 3) The keeper is fixed and has a hole in it so that ID and a licence can be attached. If anything should be floating, its the keeper to accommodate different lengths of excess after the buckle is closed. I would much rather see two fixed D-rings, one at the top of the collar with some play in it to slide an inch or so to either side and a second where the existing keeper is to attach ID. Id also like to see a floating keeper to handle different lengths of excess. This design and its manufacture strikes me as being rushed and not well thought out. Someone appears to have sat back and said to themselves, Its not great, but thats good enough. As is the norm with SBL, it makes an effort to sell its own products by criticizing and demeaning others: Doesn’t embarrass your dog like that cheap nylon one does. Coupled with the subtle suggestion of a charity alignment, it appears to be just more of the same old lack of respect for customers by Saddleback. People know that I dont like Saddleback Leather Company, its overpriced products diminishing the value, and how it operates. At the same time, I make every effort to clarify and substantiate any criticism with specifics. My criticism of this dog collar includes its design and the marketing. Unfortunately, the company is able to continuously find consumers who are prepared to blindly follow the company despite being mislead and mistreated. At some point, that will hopefully change.
Posted on: Thu, 09 Oct 2014 01:55:48 +0000
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