What to look for with an import agent?

[Philip Glass]

Everything to do with imports and shipping is an aggravation And expensive! That said I am using Coppersmith because they have their own staff at the major airports. No matter who you use, if you import enough, it will be frustrating.
I have one Shipment that has arrived and two coming soon.

 

[Hyde Hunter]

I'd ask who has a local warehouse that trophies can be transferred to while waiting to clear all the various govt agencies as well.. depending on what port of entry you are looking at this could make a huge cost difference..

For example.. Coppersmith has a warehouse in DFW.. the airlines have been sticking people for on average $150 per day for every day a crate sits in their warehouse.. and youre typically looking at a week to 10 days for most crates to clear in most ports recently.. Thats an extra $1500...

With Coppersmith in DFW, the airline MIGHT stick you for a single day (day of arrival) but once they are notified your crate has arrived, they immediately go and pick it up and transfer your crate to their warehouse, where it is held until all the various agencies come and do their thing with it..

Coppersmith does the same thing in Chicago, waiting on mine to arrive hopefully tomorrow

 

[375Fox]

There is one outfit, at least that I've found, where you do only this and they take care of the rest.

I’ve never done it that way. I’m sure it’s convenient, but I would suspect there is a premium added if they will pay the shipping bill. I’d rather be given several options and pay direct myself. The shipper there coordinates with customs broker regardless.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

On recommendation of a broker in Toronto, I will drive down and get my trophies through customs personally. Not a large shipment (eleven dehorned skulls, two tanned capes, and two springbuck hides) so it should fit in my SUV. The broker explained if my stuff comes addressed to me, it's "personal effects" and handled much differently than shipped through them as "commercial goods." He said it likely will go right through same day if no red flags (dip & pack hides, CITES critters, or potential quarantine animals like pigs). Always a possibility my trophies will be sent to Ag Canada for further inspection if it's my turn. Luck of the draw. But not likely considering the cargo is tanned hides and bleached skulls. He also advised bringing my stuff home if I can rather than dealing with truck freight companies. Yeah, I know about that! Manitoulin Freight supervisor told me last time it's not unusual for drivers sent to warehouse will skip it and drive on if there's a lineup. How do you know if the freight has or has not been picked up? Sometimes we don't. Tracking number? What's that? A total shitshow! Meanwhile, my stuff sits in an airline warehouse (maybe or maybe not) getting hammered for storage fees. What was interesting is the young fella at this brokerage was encouraging me to NOT use their service because it was not in my best interest.

I have been told one reason fur mounts are delayed getting through customs is because they need to be inspected for smuggling. Not a problem with hides and skulls. It's pretty much impossible to hide drugs in them.

 

[JimP]

I’ve never done it that way. I’m sure it’s convenient, but I would suspect there is a premium added if they will pay the shipping bill. I’d rather be given several options and pay direct myself. The shipper there coordinates with customs broker regardless.

On my invoices from my first safari who SSI handled there was no other charges other than my dip and pack, shipping, and wire transfer fee.

My final invoice was for everything stateside but didn't include any Premium added for them doing the work. That was covered under their fees.

 

[375Fox]

On my invoices from my first safari who SSI handled there was no other charges other than my dip and pack, shipping, and wire transfer fee.

My final invoice was for everything stateside but didn't include any Premium added for them doing the work. That was covered under their fees.

What was their fee? If that’s the case it’s a great deal, but I can’t imagine many successful businesses taking that kind of financial risk for only $500 flat fee and charging all on the final invoice hoping the client pays. Dip and pack could be $500 to maybe $2000 on high end and shipping $1000 to $5000+ for completed mounts to port of entry with some clients. Or do you just make 3 payments to SSI?

 

[Carson]

I used Trophy Shippers during what sounds like a difficult time for them. I think they were going through some staff transitions. I ended up with some fairly large storage fees. I'm not even 100% sure that the storage fees were incurred because of them or some other organization. Trophy Shippers did end up making it right with me and I believe they are on track. I would use them again.

 

[R.M.C.]

I'm using coppersmiths services ( Lenny Fishman NYC) for my first time, he answered his phone every time I called and seems very knowledgeable. He has a local warehouse to minimize airport storage fees. I'm in the beginning stages now, filling out the power of attorney paperwork and stuff. I'm using Zingela forwarders in Africa, mainly because they're one of the few shippers who bothered to email me back lol. They're air shipping quote was pretty good as far as I'm concerned. I'll let you know how it goes.

 

[HookMeUpII]

I’ve never done it that way. I’m sure it’s convenient, but I would suspect there is a premium added if they will pay the shipping bill. I’d rather be given several options and pay direct myself. The shipper there coordinates with customs broker regardless.

SSI handles everything, which includes pricing out shipping. Wyatt seems far more capable to handle working with shippers to negotiate the best rate than I. This is where I think you make back the slightly higher amount SSI might charge over a Coppersmith.

Lenny Fishman at Coppersmith has also been a pleasure to speak with. Nice guy. They are not as involved, though. They act as the agent and that's it. Not bad, just how it is.

We haven't made a decision yet. I know which one I would undoubtedly go with. We just have 3 other hunters involved.

 

[mikecatt13]

SSI handles everything, which includes pricing out shipping. Wyatt seems far more capable to handle working with shippers to negotiate the best rate than I. This is where I think you make back the slightly higher amount SSI might charge over a Coppersmith.

Lenny Fishman at Coppersmith has also been a pleasure to speak with. Nice guy. They are not as involved, though. They act as the agent and that's it. Not bad, just how it is.

We haven't made a decision yet. I know which one I would undoubtedly go with. We just have 3 other hunters involved.

Trust your gut. You're all paying separately, you're crated ship separately. If you go with their choice and something goes wrong (or even if it just produces extra stress/time/etc), you'll forever regret it. Just my .02, not that it was asked for lol

 

[Dog Large]

Does anyone out there have a preference between Coppersmith, Trophy Shippers or Safari Specialty Importers? I'm bringing back a Tsessebe, Gemsbok, Blue Wildebeest and Kudu to Atlanta from my first safari.

As a newbie, I've figured out taxidermy and shipping costs, but I'm having a hard time getting straight talk (and a reasonably straight answer) what additional fees (e.g customs clearance, storage, freight, etc.) I'm likely to incur. It's as if they DON'T want you to know until you're at the point of no return.

I first thought I'd ship everything by boat (half the cost), but some of the threads I'm reading about storage fees are scary! Also, the fright bill to Atlanta will certainly go up.

Suggestions welcomed and appreciated!

 

[375Fox]

Does anyone out there have a preference between Coppersmith, Trophy Shippers or Safari Specialty Importers? I'm bringing back a Tsessebe, Gemsbok, Blue Wildebeest and Kudu to Atlanta from my first safari.

As a newbie, I've figured out taxidermy and shipping costs, but I'm having a hard time getting straight talk (and a reasonably straight answer) what additional fees (e.g customs clearance, storage, freight, etc.) I'm likely to incur. It's as if they DON'T want you to know until you're at the point of no return.

I first thought I'd ship everything by boat (half the cost), but some of the threads I'm reading about storage fees are scary! Also, the fright bill to Atlanta will certainly go up.

Suggestions welcomed and appreciated!

Trophy shippers doesn’t make sense for your situation to clear in Atlanta. Coppersmiths has a base in Atlanta but I’m unsure of bonded warehouse there. I believe SSI is based in New York but have a good reputation for managing costs. Look into coppersmiths or SSI. I haven’t seen anything negative or positive about trophy shippers but it’s difficult to forget about them dropping the ball with several customers a few years ago. I use coppersmiths now because they’ve been around forever and have some stability the others don’t have.

 

[JimP]

I live in Colorado and have used SSI twice. Once with D&P and the last time a full crate of mounted trophies. If I go back and bring something home it will be SSI again.

All they do is imports for hunters so they know the ins and outs along with any problems that might creep up. They have bonded warehouses so you don't incur additional storage fees from the airlines. They clear everything through NY I believe and then ship it to your destination airport or right to your doorstep.

If nothing else look at their web site and give Wyatt a call. You'll only be out a few minutes of your time.