Does Outfitter get % of trophy costs if they market or have an association with a Taxidermist

[Tom Y. Hanssen]

All, having just completed my 2nd hunt in Africa, and I am just wondering if an Outfitter markets a Taxidermist on their website, would there be an agreement between them to receive a compensation by recommending them which is covered by the overall taxidermy cost to the hunter.

 

[buck wild]

I’ll go out on a limb and say that’s a highly likely firm YES

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

All, having just completed my 2nd hunt in Africa, and I am just wondering if an Outfitter markets a Taxidermist on their website, would there be an agreement between them to receive a compensation by recommending them which is covered by the overall taxidermy cost to the hunter.

I can't say for sure. What I would say is any decent taxidermist in the USA is as busy as they can be. Being a couple of years behind doesn't seem uncommon at all. So it doesn't seem to me that it makes much business sense for a taxidermist to pay an outfitter for referrals as they're already overloaded in work.

If the taxidermist is in Africa, well that could be another story, I just don't know how busy those folks are. What I can tell you is that at least from what I've learned being somewhat in the business for the last 10 years is that taxidermy is not the outfitters line of business. It's quite often a pain spot for the outfitter. When things go wrong with the taxidermist or getting trophies shipped, whatever it may be long after the hunt, the client will naturally turn to their outfitter for help. Nothing wrong with that, perfectly natural thing to reach out to your outfitter for help. But the fact is much of that is out of your outfitter's hands and there's only so much they can do.

So this begs the question of why would an outfitter sign up to get a relatively small commission back from a taxidermist for a referral? There's a lot of potential hassle associate with this. They have no control of the quality of the work, nor the schedule nor much ability to affect a positive change when things go wrong. That seems a lot of risk for too little return. Outfitters should stick to the business they know and the taxidermy end is typically not.

Does it happen? Well if they're advertising and/or recommending a specific taxidermist on their website (and it's not their own shop...some do have their own by the way), then I'd say it's likely they are getting a cut of the revenue.

 

[buck wild]

My original answer was based on this being an African business model and not US, thus my reply of yes.

I’ll take Phil’s set of facts so to speak and use my common sense to overlay

Given all the complications/issues outlined above for the Outftter to make such recommendation, If there is no financial incentive for the Outfitter, why would they continue to put themselves in the middle of potential sticky things but for …

Just my .02 cents. From what I hear 5-10% is the norm for making any type referrals in the hunting industry such as certain hunting outfits and the like.

And lastly, to your last point, I don't think there is an up charge to the customer to cover any referral fee should one exists. That is normally absorbed by the business in exchange for higher business volume from the referrals for them in the end.

 

[Inline6]

My original answer was based on this being an African business model and not US, thus my reply of yes.

I’ll take Phil’s set of facts so to speak and use my common sense to overlay

Given all the complications/issues outlined above for the Outftter to make such recommendation, If there is no financial incentive for the Outfitter, why would they continue to put themselves in the middle of potential sticky things but for …

Just my .02 cents. From what I hear 5-10% is the norm for making any type referrals in the hunting industry such as certain hunting outfits and the like.

And lastly, to your last point, I don't think there is an up charge to the customer to cover any referral fee should one exists. That is normally absorbed by the business in exchange for higher business volume from the referrals for them in the end.

I would take it one step further. With the amount of volume the PH produces. The end customer is likely to receive a discount if their order is a bigger one. It never hurts to ask.

 

[BRICKBURN]

Commissions are everywhere in the business.

 

[Hank2211]

It's not at all uncommon in South Africa for an outfitter/PH to recommend a taxidermist, and in many cases, they tell you you should visit the place and decide for yourself. And then they take you there for that visit.

Rest assured, there is a commission involved.

 

[Tanks]

Reminds me of a conversation I had with a regional VP of multi billion dollar equipment manufacturer. His first words at our lunch meeting were "The name of the game is, I scratch your back, you scratch my back".

 

[IvW]

Business is business....

 

[yhc]

I am sure there is a business relationship between an outfitter and his preferred taxidermist(s).

However I am not sure why that would matter to us hunters. We are not obliged to use an outfitter preferred taxidermist but rather we have the option to choose our own. If that happens to be one of the preferred taxidermists then so be it.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

It's a win win for the lodge to do a commission business referring clients to a specific taxidermist. When things go haywire with the trophies, the lodge can simply say it's not their business therefore not their problem. They can step out of the loop as easily as they stepped in. Should clients expect the lodge to help with their problems with a taxidermist if that's where the lodge exclusively sends trophies? Yes! My experience was lodge goes through the motions of trying to resolve issues. Nothing was resolved. "Oh well, we tried." It's complicated.

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

It's a win win for the lodge to do a commission business referring clients to a specific taxidermist. When things go haywire with the trophies, the lodge can simply say it's not their business therefore not their problem. They can step out of the loop as easily as they stepped in. Should clients expect the lodge to help with their problems with a taxidermist if that's where the lodge exclusively sends trophies? Yes! My experience was lodge goes through the motions of trying to resolve issues. Nothing was resolved. "Oh well, we tried." It's complicated.

This is precisely the argument for why an outfitter who isn't in the taxidermy business should not get partially involved in it by making taxidermist recommendations for a commission. We have who knows how many threads on AH about taxidermy events gone bad. And when they go bad, it gets ugly and quick. Why would an outfitter do this? Trust me I know well how it gets bad for an outfitter when they're not making a taxidermist recommendation and things go south, much less when they have skin in the game. There is just so much risk to outfitter's primary business of selling hunts for too little reward, why do that?

I'll say it again, outfitters should stick with the business they know which is hunting. Allow the taxidermists to take on the risk for after hunt work, it is they who get the far bigger reward.

As for clients, they should pick a taxidermist they're comfortable with and realize that once the animals have gone to them, it is very difficult for the outfitter to affect any positive results if things get sideways. This doesn't mean they shouldn't try to get the outfitter involved in trying to rectify an adverse situation, but just know they have about the same power as they do with an airline that screws over your flight arrangements. Maybe a little more, but not much.

 

[Rickmt]

My taxidermist here in Montana does not give my African outfitter any money. I would say many if not most taxidermists in Africa compensate outfitters in Africa for the referrals. Dip and pack likely as well.

 

[MarkB]

I will go out on a limb and say that this is rampant and is done almost always in SA, as has been stated you scratch my back and I will scratch yours. This happens with every business, D&P companies recommend a specific shipper for a reason, outfits a taxidermist, hotels, restaurants and on and on.

Go to some countries, (India) my hired driver was upfront, stated he wanted to drop me off at a certain business because he got a commission, even stated only pay if I want. I did not need any gems or silk stuff, he got his kick back, payment, bribe and said thanks..

I always get quotes for all safari tasks, this keeps all on a level playing field, my experience proves the best deals are still received from honest apples to apples quotes.

As long as you compare the estimates and do not blindly follow the outfitters. Its no issue with me.

MB