Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums Accessories Corbin saddle

I am bumping this thread because I did get a response from Corbin! Let's just consider this an open discussion for now. I want them to see this topic. I want more people to write more letters. DO NOT GIVE UP. If you are disappointed, then let them know! If we all band together, then we have more influence.

"Attention Michael! I ride a Triumph America and I have looked into several other seats for my motorcycle, but I have not found many that are priced at $450. That is by far an insane price for the marketplace. None of Triumph's seats (including their gel seat) are even close. Newspeedmaster.com has a very popular seat that is closer to your old price than your increased price. Several others have started trading vendor names online that will custom make a seat for you for still less than the adjusted price from Corbin.

The smaller solo seat jumped up to $450. The larger gunfighter seat lists at $300. Logic then says that the price adjustment of 50 percent is not determined by the amount of materials used in the seat. I also noted that several seats for Harleys stayed at the original price. Again, not an across the board adjustment, so I guess those seats did not need a price increase because of the lower cost of materials used.

That is why I am disappointed."

This was the first response:

"Hello,

Thanks for writing. Unfortunately, due to the cost of oil in relation to foam, vinyl, and fiberglass we did push through an across-the-board rate increase on a good portion of our products. The prices currently reflected will stay the same for the immediate future.

Even though the prices have changed, we still build every seat from the ground up with the same quality and service you've expected from us. If I may ask, can I get some of these links to the forums from you? We'd love the opportunity to interact with all customers and get feedback direct from there, whether it's good or bad.

I hope this info helps - if you have any other questions feel free to give us a call at 800-223-4332 or 800-538-7035 (or 831-634-1100 outside the US) and one of our reps will be ready to assist you. Thanks for your interest with Corbin, it's much appreciated.

Regards,
Michael Alva
Corbin Saddles"


On the same day, I also recieved this from another person:

"Hello Stephen,

I am sorry to hear of your disappointment regarding price adjustments.
What bike are you riding these days? Let's discuss.

Thanks"

So I hope that if enough people get involved, they will change the absurd pricing into something that makes sense.

Guess the best response is to not buy one at $450.

Thanks. You gave them the link to this thread, right?

I just wrote an email encouraging them to read this thread. Also told them how to sign up to respond...

Pretty fair answers from Corbin. If costs are up ( and actually, in any industry that uses oil based products, they are ), then the additional price is justified. Of course, if their sales drop considerably, then prehaps they adjust again to sell off inventory. Really, if their seats are that good, and really is what you want, is the price really that big of a difference when considering your comfort and enjoyment when riding? Sometimes the cheaper alternative really cost more.

I just bought the complete set up from Corbin at the old price (solo + passenger) It's well made, fit great and didn't cost anything for customization. I sure hope it softens up soon though. I would suggest buying it through your dealer - often they will give you a 10-15% discount if you bought your bike through them (mine did).
I do think Corbin is is not leveling with everybody as to the inflated costs. It's my experience that the biggest cost to any product made in the US is labor, not materials. The materials would have to double or triple in cost to justify that kind of increase.

Costs involve more than what is seen, whereas we first think of the item or items used, we dont always think of the increased cost of energy, the costs of transportation, and so on. I think if they find their orders dropping off, then they may reduce prices to generate more sales, but of course, will they miss out on some sales and then allow the competition to get a foothold where they had customers ready to buy right now?

Response to my email from Corbin:


Hi Phil,

I just wanted to let you know I received your letter and thank you
for the opportunity to follow and interact with the members of your website.

I will pass this information onto our managers and definitely keep
them in the loop as to what people are saying. Whether it's good or
bad, we want to hear about it because ultimately, it will only make
us better as a company in the long run.

Regards,
Michael Alva
Corbin Saddles

Although I am saddened for those without your saddle that the price has gone up, I would like to commend you on your saddle and backrest. With my current back troubles, I would be unable to ride without your saddle and backrest system.

Corbin Saddle on eBay. Starting at 250, no bids as of 29 Jul. Closes in a couple of days.

I have the solo and pillion. Best investment I ever made...

I would pay twice that for my Corbin. Again, maybe it's me but I just love trying to support any manufacturer who makes something to fit our bikes.

The more I ride, the more I love that seat.

My Corbin gunfighter arrived today. I unwrap it, take out to put it on. Then I notice that the stitching is subpar, a seam is not tight and there is space and I can see in. So, I call Corbin. First, they want me to send them a pic, I have no digicam, so no go. They want to be sure it wasnt damaged in transit. I tell him ( again ), its the stitching. After a couple circular moments ( 5 to 10 mintues ), he finally gets it. I want the seat replaced, they want me to send it, I ask for a credit for the cost of sending as I believe it is completely wrong for me to pay extra for their mistake and poor craftsmanship. They balk at that and want to pick it up. I tell them fine, but I am not going to spend the day waiting for someone to show up, they have to go to the back door and it will be sitting out for them. Okay. So, I am told it will take four days to ship back, a couple of days to analyze whether it is defective and can be fixed or whether a new one needs to be made to replace it ( and how long will it take to make it again? A couple of weeks ? ). Then four or five days for return shipment. This should be no question asked service, not the mess around I have had to fart ( fiddle ) with. Then, the issue of time. I want it now, to ride, they seem to have no clue that time is part of service. This is type of BS that I get sick of with companies that carry a certain level of arrogance that seems to miss the point that customers are won on service, not simply the best product. I will find it interesting as to how they resolve this. They boast of how tops they are, but this seam was obvious, it should have been caught before shipment. This should have been a no question asked deal. Send it, on our tab. We will replace it or fix it to be perfect. They didnt even come close to that level of professionalism or service.

Wow, that sucks Henry. Along with the recent increase in price, you think someone's getting a bit full of themselves?? Good luck on a speedy resolution.

Price increase blows me out of the saddle for Corbin. Guess I will look for a custom made seat instead. When you start to dress out your bike, you budget for the total cost. When an item increases in cost to a what seems like a very unrealistic amount. You simply look elsewhere. Supply and demand. I have a demand for a better seat, but the supplier for me will not be Corbin. Their bean counters must figure they can make more money with fewer units sold at a higher price. This is one unit that will not be seated on their unit.They should look at the demagraphics of the typical Triumph owner, I think they do not know the disposable income of us beer swillen, pork rind eaten double college degreed people make. A crack and a tarnish to Corbin's reputation. I am so upset, I not will watch two wheeled Tuesday anymore and forget that Corbin couch I was going to put in my game room. (Am I puttin it on thick enough here fellas?)/Mark

I bought my corbin at 400+ bucks... later I saw the price drop... I never regreted buying my saddle... The price went back to about what I paid... still the best mod I have done You can ride the crap stock seat or you can pay for better...I guess it's just a matter of how much you ride

I need to add that I have also put a corbin on all my other bikes and have always been very happy with the workmanship on all of my saddles... you do get what you pay for

Man, I just read this thread from start to finish. I'm sorely disappointed in Corbin. 50% price increase b/c of oil? Come on people? That's a load? Not to mention not everything increased.

As I said earlier, I love my Corbin, the workmanship was impeccable, service fantastic, I LOVE that seat. But, for that money, you simply have to go custom. I mean there is simply no reason not to.

Very disappointing.

As for Corbin service, they tell me it wont be until mid September till I see my seat now. They are not really too in tune with customer service. Get them on the phone and they seem to have a problem with being straight. Idiots.

That's a shame about your experience with Corbin. It seems their service runs hot or cold, no inbetween. They were great with me when it came time to rework the seat, years after I bought it. All I paid was about $10 for shipping back to them and they handled everything else for free. Of course, this was during the winter so there was no rush in my case. I think it was about a month turnaround time.

The last guy I spoke with was actually the most straight up. I basically started to rip into him and their sad service ( something to the effect of demanding a refund and where they could stick their seat ), and then he said hold it, let me look at the log. Then he could see where no entries had been made and where some had ben put in, but not too accurate. He said that they should have sent me a number, told me to install the seat so I could ride with it, then I could have been riding all along and then send it in during the winter. He even admitted they have some less than stellar employees on the phone. It would seem easy to take care of, if Corbin would do the random audits and see how their employees are doing. It isnt a revolutionary concept, and I find it amazing that for a comapny that brags so much about how good it is, that they dont do better at this.