When you buy a new saddle...

[BicycleSeatsCom]

Which is most important?

[Tom Stormcrowe]

Range of sizes for proper width, durability, weight, quality materials, price effectiveness for the purchase.

All are factors, and priority is individual, but I'd say all are about equal in my little list.

[lotek]

For me it's about selection followed by good sales staff who know what they're talking about.
I don't need a salesperson to tell me I need the latest whizbang low weight carbon fiber saddle
when I'm building a day touring bike (can you tell I'm old and grouchy?).

Marty

[Doohickie]

Something Else = "Does it say Brooks?"

[Jyyanks]

All of the above but there is nothing worse that going to a store that has no selection. How are you supposed to know what you want if you can't see it. Also, a flexible return policy is key because saddles are very personal and it's extremely hard to find one that fits.

[Dannihilator]

I found out early on what saddle I preferred, so I've simply stuck with what I know works for me.

[dwellman]

Assuming I've narrowed it down to a particular MODEL then I can answer the question.

Lowest price, duh.

[Seattle Forrest]

Money back if I don't like it. Saddles are very personal, not in the sense that they're in intimate contact with your ass, but because what's bliss for one person is torture for another. Ten people can say X is the best saddle in the world, and the eleventh might buy one, go for a ride, and wind up limping home. I borrowed a number of saddles from the bike shop and test rode them for several days before I settled on the right one.

Weight, obviously. 200 grams is the number to beat.

Quality goes without saying.

[magohn]

Something Else = "Does it say Brooks?"

+1 - I used the Specialized "a$$meter" and was "fitted" to two specialized seats over a 3 month period (because of saddle pain). After wasting $300+ on specialized, I bought a B17. I would never have another saddle... Hundreds of miles already and pain free!

[Rona]

there are a limited number of racing seat made for 175+ mm seatbones. If a store only caries one, that's not a real selection.

[Bob Dopolina]

I found out early on what saddle I preferred, so I've simply stuck with what I know works for me.

+1.

I've since applied the basic design of that saddle and can use others that have the same characteristcs.

[Mithrandir]

Voted for "Refunds" and "Quality", even though those criteria only applied to my last saddle purchase.

My first 3 saddles were based solely on price. And I paid dearly for that decision with a sore bottom and some nasty saddle sores.

Finally I found a place that offered a 6-month no-questions-asked return policy on a quality Brooks saddle. Decided to go for it, and I haven't gone back since.

The lesson I learned is that the saddle is easily the most important part of the bike, and it is worth it to spend extra money for a quality saddle. The refund aspect was the only reason I was willing to make that purchase in the first place, however. The price tag was very scary.

[dygituljunky]

Comfort wasn't one of the options. Comfort and quality first, customer service next.

Price doesn't matter as long as it's not a gazillion dollars.

[Looigi]

My saddle selection and procurement process doesn't quite conform to you questions. First I choose a saddle based on fit and features deciding on a specific make, model, color, etc.. The I search for a vendor that has that specific item in stock at a good price including shipping and sales tax. I'll give preference to and be willing to pay a few more bux to vendors that I have had good experience with and that are quick to ship.

[born2bahick]

it must fit
my sit
bones

[dwellman]

English or Western.

[RonH]

I gave up on reading manufacturer's hype or online reviews to determine which saddles are right for me.
My last 2 saddles were Specialized. I like their "scientific" method of measuring sit bone width and having a professional bike fitter determine which model seemed best for me.

[Siu Blue Wind]

Has to support the sit bones and not be squishy. Be able to be micro adjusted in tilt, fore/aft, and in all other directions. Gotta have that perfect fit!

I'm particularly picky because of the fact that I have a bulging disk in my back and just the weeeee bit out of adjustment and I can't ride without pain. Because of that, a wide selection as well as superior customer service/knowledge is VERY important.

[DX-MAN]

Width (160 is best for me, 175 is almost too wide).
Shape/design (prefer ergo).
Price (Spent $80 on the one I have now, most EVER).

[DuraAce]

Which is most important?

Color! Make sure when you purchase your bike saddle, color is taken into consideration!

[bhchdh]

I found out early on what saddle I preferred, so I've simply stuck with what I know works for me.

This

[deleteyourselph]

Brooks for sure. And Fizik Aliante for this guy!

[Machka]

Something Else = Is it a Brooks B17?

I already have several Brooks B17s, and I'm hoping that the next one I get will be in blue.

[dexetr30]

Comfort, period. Reliability and quality of materials follow closely.

[himespau]

My first one was based on price (inexpensive, but not too cheap), and it totally didn't fit. Then I bought 7-8 saddles used off ebay, found one that seemed comfortable enough and sold all the others for no real loss. Now that that's wearing out, I found something with the same dimension but other features that looked interesting that I wanted to try (leather, has cutout). If that doesn't work, it's back to what I know works. As far as vendors, since I know what works, if I go back to that one, I'll search solely based on cheapness. The one I got to try, I bought from a vendor because it was the only source I'd found for that saddle and I didn't hate the price.