Taxidermist tipping

[harden]

Akeata you know what they say about using the word assume. YOU are so wrong and saying what you stated is a lie ...LOL I've GIVEN clients free capes for ones so screwed up by crappy african tanneries and bad Africa Prep. They cost me out of pocket for the cape. Yes my business model you run yours and I'll run mine. I on occasion GIVE FOR FREE , the client, a free cape that cost me 300.00-500 on a mount, I will loose money on that one and not even cover costs of that piece because his other 8 cape are good and they will mount up and he will be happy ! ...You loose some you win some...Tell me that is not FREE . I make nothing on the mount beacause of the expense of the replacement cape ...You make a client happy....The horn I'd do it at home on a Sat Evening, my personal time hanging out at home, Silicone cover it , between tv shows, few coats and then 2 part plastic fill it off the original horn Done. LOL , Guess we should all go into the local stores when they advertise" By One Get One Free" and tell them they are staying claims that are, as akeate said " Not True".

This thread I think has amazed people that people get tipped for things, I've tipped the guy that painted my car, exceptional job...I've tipped the guy that cleared out an old barn shed on property, worked with a flashlight well into the late night..., snow plow guy that got me first because wife had to get out of road after snowstorm, etc....I've tipped people that I felt went over and above what I expected as I watched them work for me....

BTW My Business Model, Bust your tail, 24 7 365...Take ALL the time needed to make the mount RIGHT ! HAVE NO QUOTA or set amount of work you have to get out in any given day. Don't quit when your tired quit when your DONE ! Work 12 -14 hours a day more if you can. The piece you work on today and the quality of the mount is more important than the MONEY, because your name is on IT !
Put your trust in GOD and it all works OUT !!

 

[akeate]

I have no doubt you bust your tail and do amazing work. But you proved my exact "lie" in your post. You said that you will lose money on 1 cape when his other 8 capes are good. It's your business model. You are willing to lose to keep the customer and gain on the others. If all 8 capes were bad and you were losing thousands, I imagine that you would ask for more. After all, if all clients brought horrible capes and you lost on every one you wouldnt have a business very long.

With all due respect, you are an amazing taxidermist. However, economics are not your strong suit. Everything has a cost. There is no such thing as buy one get one free either. It's only a shifting of cost from the consumer to the supplier.

 

[harden]

Nope, i Guess it's not, Just don't assume you know me or my business. It's not fair. I'm don't know if you know anything about the taxidermy business it is not a normal in any way business. Me , Never woke a day in my life that I haven't had a job since I was 12. Live well and have a good life 95% off all taxidermy studios fail in first 5 years. I've been fully employed in my field for 38 years owning my own business not one day out of work. Pay my bills, life comfortably and am a high school drop out. You are picking and choosing your focus. I am talking about a average situation. You are correct if all 8 were bad, Never stated I would give them...I do everything in my power to make my clients happy even when it costs me some money and I loose profit ...but yes there is a limit with everything 8 capes is VERY RARE to loose.

 

[akeate]

I don't know you. I really do cheer for small business. And someone who is driven and works hard has my respect.

Maybe I railroaded this topic. Throwing someone a tip for taxidermy doesnt seem to be the norm but on a job well done it certainly seems to be appreciated......

 

[harden]

Thank you, Lots of people appreciate them trust me, American are quite the tippers tho' I've heard , now that is "" in Africa Europeans are stingy tippers some don't at all ----the Ph or help.

 

[Hank2211]

Thank you, Lots of people appreciate them trust me, American are quite the tippers tho' I've heard , now that is "" in Africa Europeans are stingy tippers some don't at all ----the Ph or help.

I've followed this exchange with some interest.

I believe I am a 'good' tipper on a hunt - PH's, trackers, skinners, staff, etc. Back home, I tip around 20% or more for waitstaff, I look after my barber after each haircut, etc. I take care of the mailman, the garbagemen, etc., at Christmas. All in all, I think I'm pretty considerate, if I do say so myself!

But this brings up a question. Where does tipping end? Should I tip everyone with whom I come into contact every day? What about the salesman at my local men's wear store, who takes time with me, and makes sure everything fits just right? What about the fellow at my local grocery store who sometimes helps me out with the groceries? What about my lawn care guys? The arborist who prunes my trees? The plumber who comes out and fixes by furnace on a winter day?

Is the test whether someone works hard? I have worked hard my whole life, and I've never gotten a tip. I guess you just don't tip people in my profession, no matter how hard we work. But if hard work is the test, then I should tip just about everyone I do business with, because I don't do business with lazy people (at least not willingly!).

I - and I think we - have to draw lines, and while I have greatly appreciated the efforts my taxidermist has made for me, and I've sent a whole lot of business his way over the years, I've never given him a tip. I've paid his bills promptly, without quibble, but no tip.

And I'm just fine with that. And I believe he is as well.

 

[harden]

Tipping IS the personal choice of anyone. Like is getting a steak rare med or well done.
It's the individual and yes Hank no issue of your don't . NO ONE STATES HERE especially me said to tip your taxidermist.
WOW a conversation becomes what someone wants to see not what is said.

 

[LivingTheDream]

I will usually give my taxidermist an extra 20 or so when I go to pick up my animals. He does a great job and usually will jump me to the front of the line.

As to the comment where does it end, I hope it doesn't end, if someone does a great job and goes above and beyond throw them a few bucks and make them smile. The only time I get stingy is when service sucks and tip is expected.

 

[tedthorn]

First let me say that I am not a Taxidermist

I do however concider myself an artist

I do top shelf tooling work on time and under budget day in and day out.....almost 30 years now

Tip? I am happy if I receive a verbal "Thank You"

Why?

Because I set my price in advance to my customer and that is my price......done deal

I will never ask for more and have always told the customers to keep the tip if it was offered. I have never accepted a tip

 

[Dinsdale]

Guess I have a different perspective as I get tips all the time.....custom residential carpenter.

Cases of good wine, tickets to pro sports games, hefty deposit on a custom rifle (that was quite nice), cash, nice chainsaw, got a tractor once.

Customers appreciate some good work ,I often spend up to a year on one house and am the lead finish guy. Never expected one, doesn't happen every job, always appreciated.

Helped out taxidermists with custom bases a few times when they were in a jam for free as a tip, wouldn't have a problem with a cash tip either.

 

[tedthorn]

I am routinely offered "free stuff" and cash tips.

Like I said above..... I set my rates and I don't ask or accept or expect more.

 

[otsego44]

Instead of raising prices for everyone, how about this idea?

Charge the guys who bring in damaged skins the reasonable cost of repairing them, without worrying about whether the PH's skinner is at fault or the client is at fault for blowing a bus-sized hole in a duiker. Fix the hole and charge him accordingly.

I blew a bus-sized hole in a duiker last year, and decided in the field I didn't want to pay the taxidermist to repair it. So I told the PH I wanted a skull mount, and that was that. If I'd wanted it mounted, I would have expected to pay for the repairs.

I'd just as soon not pay for someone else's damage. Strikes me as kind of socialistic.

I have a great taxidermist, I've used him for over forty years. When there is additional work to done, whatever the reason, he charges for it and I have absolutely no problem with that. No, I've never tipped him, nor does he expect to be tipped. We've had this conversation over the years, and he feels he charges his clients enough.

 

[harden]

Some good responses...Have never asked FOR, NOR expected a tip in my life for anything I have ever done.
When given I accept gracefully and politely and let them know what it means to me !

 

[jeff]

If someone wants to tip I feel by refusing it you deprive them of their way of showing appreciation for your work.

 

[tedthorn]

If cracking open one's wallet to express appreciation is going to give that person closure by all means do so.

I am 100% fine with "Thank You"

 

[jeff]

If cracking open one's wallet to express appreciation is going to give that person closure by all means do so.

I am 100% fine with "Thank You"

Closure has nothing to do with it. Some people want to do more than just say thank you and a tip is their way of showing it.

 

[ChasingHemingway]

Interesting topic that I have been following. I've never tipped my taxidermist in the past and have been blessed with great work thus far. However, I might be inclined when a person goes above and beyond, i.e. transportation of my trophies, something thrown in that saved me overall monies, etc.

When one does a great job in any profession I give him/her additional business and share my experience with others. I do think the best business model is word of mouth, i.e. one of the reasons we are all here on AH. Learn with and from one another. This is the greatest tip of all.

With all that being said I am using Dennis for the first time. As this subject came up I was interested in the discussion. I am excited to see Dennis passion and professionalism show up in my finished memories.

dt

 

[tedthorn]

If someone wants to tip I feel by refusing it you deprive them of their way of showing appreciation for your work.

Closure has nothing to do with it. Some people want to do more than just say thank you and a tip is their way of showing it.

That's fine but I must ask......

Where do you draw the line?

Who gets tips and who doesn't?

 

[jeff]

That's fine but I must ask......

Where do you draw the line?

Who gets tips and who doesn't?

I agree, where does it stop? Tips should not be expected or they really are not true tips but requirements. Tipping has gotten out of hand in Africa in my opinion. The hunt I'm going on this year the recommended tips are $80 a day for the PH and $30 for the staff equaling $110. It seems that maybe they are under paying their help and want you to make up the difference.

 

[tedthorn]

Interesting topic that I have been following. I've never tipped my taxidermist in the past and have been blessed with great work thus far. However, I might be inclined when a person goes above and beyond, i.e. transportation of my trophies, something thrown in that saved me overall monies, etc.

When one does a great job in any profession I give him/her additional business and share my experience with others. I do think the best business model is word of mouth, i.e. one of the reasons we are all here on AH. Learn with and from one another. This is the greatest tip of all.

With all that being said I am using Dennis for the first time. As this subject came up I was interested in the discussion. I am excited to see Dennis passion and professionalism show up in my finished memories.

dt

I am using Denise Harris for the forst time as well.....ten animals

I've been dealing with Taxidermist for 30 years and have had nothing but bad experiences in the past.

I could make a list of reasons NOT to tip a Taxidermist......a long one

I am looking forward to a seeing his work first hand and hope to have a lasting business relationship with The Artistry of Wildlife.