REPORT: Trophaendienste Taxidermy Review

[DoubleLunger]

@DoubleLunger I have to admit now, when I read you and your dad’s reports I saw your busted horn Kudu and thought “dang it, that dude would be awesome if that horn wasn’t broke.” Now seeing him on the wall he is freakin’ cool. That will be an awesome memory of a great hunt with your dad from now on. Congrats

Thanks MAdcox. I agree. In fact the broken horn adds character

 

[buck wild]

If your skulls were “painted” that’s not generally an acceptable method of a euro mount. It likely means poor degreasing of the skull which results in a yellowing thus the need to paint. How do you expect them to make this right ? Money back ? If it’s really paint a thinner should remove it. Your horns appear to have been darken so matching the color have removing the overspray shouldn’t be difficult.

 

[enysse]

The mounts look really great in your house but I would be irate about look my bow and that shipping bill. When you are in the customer service field you should really be watching out for you client's property at all times.

 

[DoubleLunger]

So this is the outcome/solution from African Shipping Services. I’m not entirely in belief that their “$500” is the average cost for someone to clear the shipment without a broker but I suppose that I have no way to prove them to be innacurate.

 

[DoubleLunger]

If your skulls were “painted” that’s not generally an acceptable method of a euro mount. It likely means poor degreasing of the skull which results in a yellowing thus the need to paint. How do you expect them to make this right ? Money back ? If it’s really paint a thinner should remove it. Your horns appear to have been darken so matching the color have removing the overspray shouldn’t be difficult.

Im not sure how they would make this right. Maybe my money back? Sad thing would be if they do nothing at all or just didn’t respond to my email. I would hope that if they had ever dealt with their own mishaps in the past then they would already have a plan in place. But, sometimes companies just don’t think that way

 

[harden]

@TROPHY SHIPPERS our new sponsor does full clearances for 400 for AH members and that's 50 off their going rate, Most brokers I deal with clear for about the same. Most under 500 TOTAL USDA, USFW and paperwork. Cites fees would increase this about 100 a cites.

 

[DoubleLunger]

@TROPHY SHIPPERS our new sponsor does full clearances for 400 for AH members and that's 50 off their going rate, Most brokers I deal with clear for about the same. Most under 500 TOTAL USDA, USFW and paperwork. Cites fees would increase this about 100 a cites.

Sounds like it’s around average. I appreciate the intel

 

[TROPHY SHIPPERS]

@TROPHY SHIPPERS our new sponsor does full clearances for 400 for AH members and that's 50 off their going rate, Most brokers I deal with clear for about the same. Most under 500 TOTAL USDA, USFW and paperwork. Cites fees would increase this about 100 a cites.

Thank you Dennis for the referral!
Our $400 rate for our AH friends includes the following:
-working with dip and pack/taxidermist as well as export company to obtain all documents for the shipment, reviewing and sending approvals to ship to designated port of entry.
-scheduling and overseeing all necessary inspections
-filing final clearances

We can also ship here in the US to directly to your house, your taxidermist, or even the tannery that your taxidermist uses. This should help save some $ on unnecessary truck moves. We will always find out all details on the shipment before directing the overseas export company on which US Fish and Wildlife Port of Entry to send the shipment to.


@DoubleLunger, congrats on your hunt. Your mounts are beautiful and look great in your home. Im sorry to hear that you had a rough experience with this shipment. If you ever have questions or need help with any logistics (we move a lot more than just hunting trophies), please call me at any time!

Best Regards,

Tom

 

[DoubleLunger]

So the final outcome of the shipping company is that the owner has contacted me in regards to the issue of shipping to the unapproved port and has refunded me $1100 of the $2500 that I paid total for shipping. I find this to be a fair outcome. A good business will make things right if they mess up and I feel that Africa Shipping Services falls into that category.

Now that the headaches are over with, I can finally sit back and relax while I enjoy the view of my trophies(perhaps with a cold drink).

Thanks all for your help and insight

DL

 

[Debbie Stewart]

Work looks great, Love that Kudu.
Hate to hear about your troubles. Still in the middle of mine. Emiac has had my crate and several family members since September 2018- still sitting in JBerg. Losing my mind waiting. - Hunt was August of 2017.

Good day

Did you receive your trophies as yet?

 

[Foxi]

great trophies,great mounts.
Tastefully hung in a beautiful house .
But complaining about the Wildebeest is a bit over the top, don't you think ?
I had to look several times to see what you could possibly mean.
Sorry for the remaining trouble.

 

[MAdcox]

Good day

Did you receive your trophies as yet?

Yes ma'am. It all got here in August. Almost exactly two years from the date of the hunt. It was all in excellent shape though.
Here is the link I posted when it arrived.
https://www.africahunting.com/threads/got-to-open-my-birthday-present-a-day-late.51960/

 

[Philip Glass]

Bottom line here is don’t act as your own agent, and don’t assume anything anyone in Africa is telling you is correct. Use a competent importer all along the way like @TROPHY SHIPPERS to avoid these costly mistakes.
Regards,
Philip

 

[Philip Glass]

View attachment 272250 So this is the outcome/solution from African Shipping Services. I’m not entirely in belief that their “$500” is the average cost for someone to clear the shipment without a broker but I suppose that I have no way to prove them to be innacurate.

Wow these guys deserve some real credit if they are going to help you in this manner!

 

[Philip Glass]

Yes ma'am. It all got here in August. Almost exactly two years from the date of the hunt. It was all in excellent shape though.
Here is the link I posted when it arrived.
https://www.africahunting.com/threads/got-to-open-my-birthday-present-a-day-late.51960/

Two years for dip and pack! I’d have had someone for lunch!

 

[Philip Glass]

Side note: all these African dip and pack guys are full of crap about the logistics of getting our trophies to us. Dishonest really the whole lot of them. I’ve had dip and pack to Texas in 30 days so I know it can be done. Anything over 6 months is theft!
regards,
Philip

 

[MAdcox]

Two years for dip and pack! I’d have had someone for lunch!

Should have specified Philip. Mine were mounted in RSA. Taxidermist finished in just under a year. Then exporter had multiple issues and it took another year to get them here to Coppersmith.

 

[Philip Glass]

Should have specified Philip. Mine were mounted in RSA. Taxidermist finished in just under a year. Then exporter had multiple issues and it took another year to get them here to Coppersmith.

Always some excuse and no one is ever responsible! My biggest gripe.