Am I being scammed? Import into Toronto

[MarkB]

Will do, my plan is to do a lessons learned post mostly for Canadians who are experiencing the same. Would be great if I could possibly save some else some trouble. Just like I have been informed, getting trophies delivered on a Friday WILL cost storage fees.

MTF

MB

 

[Ontario Hunter]

My trophies, just eleven skulls and two tanned capes, have been in storage since the third. Truck driver picked up clearance documents yesterday, took them to cargo warehouse desk (SwissPort) and clearance documents were not stamped cleared. He had to leave without the crate. Food Inspection Agency inspector confirmed in email last week the trophies are clean. Customs confirmed on the phone two days later the crate was cleared. But now the contact phone number given to me by Canada Customs rings three times then goes to "mailbox full." They would answer when I used my daughter's phone (but I'm in Africa now). They are blocking my number. They refuse to give out email address. Already $980 storage fees and no end in sight. Even my Member of Parlaiment can't get through to them. They had an office in the cargo building at Pearson Airport but closed it during COVID due to "leaky roof". It's on the second floor of a four floor building. Offices are open on the third floor.

Will do, my plan is to do a lessons learned post mostly for Canadians who are experiencing the same. Would be great if I could possibly save some else some trouble. Just like I have been informed, getting trophies delivered on a Friday WILL cost storage fees.

MTF

MB

 

[MarkB]

Your wows are bad, all aspects of your importation process. I hope to have my whole hand on the pulse to eradicate and stop any of the issues you are having.

At least your back in Africa, have fun, don't let the import BS get in the way of trigger pulling. More experience for your next shipment.

Because I sent CFIA a letter based on SCI Canada's recommendation after hearing from many Canadian hunters experiencing pure BS. I received an email from President/Vice President of Canadian CFIA, (Dr. Harpreet S. Kochhar) stating thanks for making him aware of the difference in followed rules, he stated he has sent an email to all CFIA port managers. Not sure if anything will be done but now each port manager knows someone may be watching.

MB

 

[Anon]

Will do, my plan is to do a lessons learned post mostly for Canadians who are experiencing the same. Would be great if I could possibly save some else some trouble. Just like I have been informed, getting trophies delivered on a Friday WILL cost storage fees.

MTF

MB

That’d be very appreciated. Perhaps it could be stickied somewhere on the forum.

 

[Anon]

My trophies, just eleven skulls and two tanned capes, have been in storage since the third. Truck driver picked up clearance documents yesterday, took them to cargo warehouse desk (SwissPort) and clearance documents were not stamped cleared. He had to leave without the crate. Food Inspection Agency inspector confirmed in email last week the trophies are clean. Customs confirmed on the phone two days later the crate was cleared. But now the contact phone number given to me by Canada Customs rings three times then goes to "mailbox full." They would answer when I used my daughter's phone (but I'm in Africa now). They are blocking my number. They refuse to give out email address. Already $980 storage fees and no end in sight. Even my Member of Parlaiment can't get through to them. They had an office in the cargo building at Pearson Airport but closed it during COVID due to "leaky roof". It's on the second floor of a four floor building. Offices are open on the third floor.

Are you saying everything is cleared but you can’t get ahold of Swissport to pick it up?

Please let us know the damage once the dust settles. It’s interesting to shed more light on the costs associated with importing trophies. It’s also useful information for others for budgeting purposes.

Like I previously stated, I was most concerned about getting scammed by a party in Africa. Turns out it was Canada that burned me.

 

[MarkB]

Are you saying everything is cleared but you can’t get ahold of Swissport to pick it up?

Please let us know the damage once the dust settles. It’s interesting to shed more light on the costs associated with importing trophies. It’s also useful information for others for budgeting purposes.

Like I previously stated, I was most concerned about getting scammed by a party in Africa. Turns out it was Canada that burned me.

Today in 2023 its better to believe that anyone and EVERYONE will try and scam from you. Its certainly buyer/customer beware. I received multiple quotes from every stage of my inbound shipment. You know how many had a "crating/packing" fee on shipping quotes??? Or a fee that when asked the response was "puzzling" or what I assessed as BS. When I asked about these fees the response was "oh that was a mistake we will remove". For someone with no "grip" on THEIR shipment I am sure it would slip past and get paid, same money for the D&P company.

Following on this site it seems even the highly regarded, great reviewed companies are doing it. Many members are complaining about fees incurred due to highly regarded companies falling short. If you have money to burn then its no issue, for those that do not its better to manage things your self.

Maybe I sound jaded, maybe I am but now it seems the trust level of any company doing what they do properly has passed.

MB

 

[ve7poi]

Always had mine shipped direct to Calgary Ab never had a problem

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

I did the same thing in 2018, Windhoek to Toronto, did it all myself. I too incurred additional storage fees because of CBSA issues. My trophies arrived on a Tuesday, I was aware of this, but did not get to the airport until Thursday (I'm only an hour away from Pearson, in Waterloo). Got there on the Thursday only to hear that the Veterinarian who inspects the cargo was not yet informed, so it would be another day's delay. Went back the next day, sorted it out, paid for the additional unnecessary storage fees (around $400 I think) and brought my shipment home.
Fast forward to March of this year, second trip, and I decided to let a broker handle it all for me. I used Rigel Logistics out of Saskatchewan. They brought my shipment into Edmonton, as the import fees were less than Toronto (go figure), then shipped overland to me. I was very pleased with their services, and they did everything that they said they would, but it still cost too much in my opinion. International shipping has skyrocketed in recent years, and all of the fees add up very quickly.
Bottom line - I will no longer ship any trophies home. I work hard enough to be able to afford the trip in the first place, and do not want to have to budget another third for trophies.

@DmacD
When my trophies were sent to Australia the cost of shipping a container from south Africa to Australia had jumped from 1,400 dollars per container to over 14,000 dollars per container. This was because of covid prices went up world wide. Fortunately my outfitter/ taxidermist had multiple clients stuff to bring back so the cost was shared. The cost still went up a lot. I had the option of leaving them in Africa to avoid the cost but to me that wasn't an option so I bit the bullet and went ahead and I'm glad I did or I would have lost a lot of memories. If I go again it will be a cull hunt with a shit load of photos and videos.
Bob

 

[Doubleplay]

I'm not sure if it's an option for everybody but it's better to use the local taxidermists in SA and import the shoulder mounts, skins, etc.. as finished goods yourself.
The reputable ones do a much better work than the ones in North America because that's all they do and they are half of what you are paying here. The money you saved will be a lot but you have to cut the middle man and find and deal with the taxidermist yourself.
Obviously you have to have time to do that.
If you are getting dropped at the airport after the last day of the hunt, this won't work.

 

[MarkB]

I do all my own taxidermy, one of life's best investment taking up the offer by a qualified taxidermist to train me for free 35 yrs ago, now he's my best buddy and even though I worked for him free for some months I still owe him. So D&P is a must for me.

Have you taken into account the cost of shipping full mounts vs a smaller crate? Also be careful if you think African work equals NA. Never seen a taxidermist shop in NA where a non qualified person is doing customer mounts, in Africa???????? Lots of posts on here to justify having done close to home.

As for Canadian imports the problem is too many import Port personnel are NOT following Gov rules and regs as they should. For me its easy to read and adhere to the rules for shipments, issues arise when person inspecting crate, CFIA or CBSA pers read, add rules or are anti something that make up their own way of importing, or stall for storage fees.

From reading here its seems its the same in US, I did receive SCI's email/letter warning all members on this very point.

MB

 

[Doubleplay]

I do all my own taxidermy, one of life's best investment taking up the offer by a qualified taxidermist to train me for free 35 yrs ago, now he's my best buddy and even though I worked for him free for some months I still owe him. So D&P is a must for me.

Have you taken into account the cost of shipping full mounts vs a smaller crate? Also be careful if you think African work equals NA. Never seen a taxidermist shop in NA where a non qualified person is doing customer mounts, in Africa???????? Lots of posts on here to justify having done close to home.

As for Canadian imports the problem is too many import Port personnel are NOT following Gov rules and regs as they should. For me its easy to read and adhere to the rules for shipments, issues arise when person inspecting crate, CFIA or CBSA pers read, add rules or are anti something that make up their own way of importing, or stall for storage fees.

From reading here its seams its the same in US, I did receive SCI's email/letter warning all members on this very point.

MB

Please read my post once again. I said reputable. Have you ever been in a good taxidermy shop in Africa? Their work is equal if not better than the ones done here for half the price. On a side note I've seen plenty of questionable taxidermy work done in North America. As far as shipping the difference will be negligible.

 

[JimP]

I do all my own taxidermy, one of life's best investment taking up the offer by a qualified taxidermist to train me for free 35 yrs ago, now he's my best buddy and even though I worked for him free for some months I still owe him. So D&P is a must for me.

Have you taken into account the cost of shipping full mounts vs a smaller crate? Also be careful if you think African work equals NA. Never seen a taxidermist shop in NA where a non qualified person is doing customer mounts, in Africa???????? Lots of posts on here to justify having done close to home.

As for Canadian imports the problem is too many import Port personnel are NOT following Gov rules and regs as they should. For me its easy to read and adhere to the rules for shipments, issues arise when person inspecting crate, CFIA or CBSA pers read, add rules or are anti something that make up their own way of importing, or stall for storage fees.

From reading here its seams its the same in US, I did receive SCI's email/letter warning all members on this very point.

MB

I had my last hunts taxidermy done in South Africa.

They were cheaper than here in the US.

Shipping them home was more expensive that just dip and pack.

My home taxidermist is 15+ months out once he gets the dip and pack so I would still be at the minimum another year+ before I saw my mounts

Quality wise, my new mounts are just as good as the ones that I had my US taxidermist do. The only complaint that I have with the European mounts from South Africa is that most of the nasal cavity bones are missing. But they would still be missing if they just prepend the skulls and sent them.

In the end I got away a bit cheaper having them done in South Africa even figuring the extra cost of a larger crate.

 

[MarkB]

I agree there are good and bad taxidermists in both places. I have been in good taxidermist shops, stores, display rooms in a few African countries, so I am speaking with a little knowledge. I can show you a life size jackal and baboon that I have that was done in one of those reputable shops.

I would disagree that African taxidermists work is equal if not better than work done here by reputable ones at half the price. Most funds saved on taxidermy will be given to shippers to get them home. As for time I do think that African work can be completed long before most NA taxidermists. Africa uses a large lower paid unqualified workforce than NA taxidermist shops.

Most recent posts on here concerning "negligible" difference in shipping D&P size crates vs crates of finished taxidermy in todays shipping world show things are not equal.

My inbound crate with 22 animal parts was $4200 D&P and $2500 quoted in shipping (not home yet final Cites and Vet inspections in Joberg then on plane for early Sept). I cannot imagine the same crates containing completed work.

Each case/safari must be treated individually, maybe sort PG hunts with 5-10 animals could be equal in quality and costs, but larger more specialized hunts or those hunters that like to go see the progress makes a difference.

Each to their own. Taxidermy is art, seen differently by its owner.

MB

 

[Doubleplay]

Each to their own is the right word.
Most people here are not shipping 20+ animals like you do and some are shipping skins, pelts which takes a lot less space.
How about $200(3900 Rands) for a zebra flat skin on felt compared tp $1000 here in US?
I hear what you're saying but if you can find the right people there's significant amount of money to be saved.

 

[SikaMDhunter]

It's crazy how much of a difference shipping is for each person. It's like if we have the same sized/weight crate and you get yours sent on a Tuesday and I get mine sent on a Wednesday we're looking at two totally different prices. The entire industry is wild

 

[Anon]

Each to their own is the right word.
Most people here are not shipping 20+ animals like you do and some are shipping skins, pelts which takes a lot less space.
How about $200(3900 Rands) for a zebra flat skin on felt compared tp $1000 here in US?
I hear what you're saying but if you can find the right people there's significant amount of money to be saved.

Based on my recent research, I haven’t see anywhere that charged even close to as low as $200 for a Zebra flat skin in Namibia or South Africa.

Splitting Image is basically charging $110-200USD just for antelope euro mounts. Add on an additional $150 for a shield. It’s $750 for a Zebra flat skin there—and that certainly isn’t on felt. I think I paid about $500 for my Zebra rug on felt with leather trim from Nyati in Windhoek. But I can’t seem to find those type of prices in SA.

I’m headed to SA in 2024 and if you can point me in the direction of a reputable and low cost taxidermist, I’d be very grateful.

 

[Doubleplay]

Based on my recent research, I haven’t see anywhere that charged even close to as low as $200 for a Zebra flat skin in Namibia or South Africa.

Splitting Image is basically charging $110-200USD just for antelope euro mounts. Add on an additional $150 for a shield. It’s $750 for a Zebra flat skin there.

I’m headed to SA in 2024 and if you can point me in the direction of a reputable and low cost taxidermist, I’d be very grateful.

I'll send you a pm. I don't want to post anything here to ruffle feathers.
Btw you can buy a Zebra skin at the Joburg airport for $350 in one of the curio shops without felt.

 

[Anon]

I'll send you a pm. I don't want to post anything here to ruffle feathers.

That’d be appreciated. Thanks.

 

[MarkB]

Each to their own is the right word.
Most people here are not shipping 20+ animals like you do and some are shipping skins, pelts which takes a lot less space.
How about $200(3900 Rands) for a zebra flat skin on felt compared tp $1000 here in US?
I hear what you're saying but if you can find the right people there's significant amount of money to be saved.

Not sure where your finding a tanned, felted flat rug zebra for $200 in 2023 and from a reputable company allowed to export, I paid that in Zim in 2005, $400 in Namibia 2010 from a well known taxidermy company, they sent forgetting the felt I may add but did refund some amount. Even my last safari 2021 I was looking for 3 to bring home as gifts. I was quoted $600-$1000 from all reputable people/companies we contacted.

After many emails and different quotes from all the D&P companies I requested quotes from most were almost $200 per species (all 3 parts). My D&P from a reputable well known SA taxidermy company gave me best price and also used Canadian funds to make wires easier.

If you have a special "in" please share, those right prices need to be seen. I am sure all on here would love to help stop the crazy high current prices.

MB

 

[Doubleplay]

Not sure where your finding a tanned, felted flat rug zebra for $200 in 2023 and from a reputable company allowed to export, I paid that in Zim in 2005, $400 in Namibia 2010 from a well known taxidermy company, they sent forgetting the felt I may add but did refund some amount. Even my last safari 2021 I was looking for 3 to bring home as gifts. I was quoted $600-$1000 from all reputable people/companies we contacted.

After many emails and different quotes from all the D&P companies I requested quotes from most were almost $200 per species (all 3 parts). My D&P from a reputable well known SA taxidermy company gave me best price and also used Canadian funds to make wires easier.

If you have a special "in" please share, those right prices need to be seen. I am sure all on here would love to help stop the crazy high current prices.

MB

The prices I paid and I have the invoice for, are local prices in SA rand. You have to deal with the exporting yourself. Better yet if you are going back you can pick them up and bring them with you next time as personal goods.
You can also buy a zebra skin at the Joburg airport for ~ $300-$350 if you are so inclined and add felt here for a little extra.
I'll send you a pm.