Re: Taxidermy grievance thread
[Re: GritGuy]
#7075118
12/05/20 04:54 PM
12/05/20 04:54 PM
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Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 11,253 Maine, Aroostook
Posco
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Just cause a person does great work does not mean they are reputable to use, I always check reference on any mounts when using a new "Artist" saves just this problem, sorry you got took so hard, it is a hard lesson, I learned the hard way on one of my first critters when I was younger as well. You can't ever get the first one back either !!! That's the thing, he can be a talented taxidermist and a lousy businessman. I should have checked his references. His flippant attitude is what really galled me.
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Re: Taxidermy grievance thread
[Re: Posco]
#7075119
12/05/20 04:55 PM
12/05/20 04:55 PM
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Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 17,740 Central Oregon
AntiGov
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That's a bummer .....crappy experience and crappy customer service
Hope it works out ok for you so you can move on
Hopefully karma catches up with him
Report a post club - Non member
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Re: Taxidermy grievance thread
[Re: Posco]
#7075121
12/05/20 04:59 PM
12/05/20 04:59 PM
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Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 561 WV
garymc
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Great topic. I am in a similar situation. I have had a fair bit of taxidermy worked performed over the years without issue. A couple years ago I was fortunate to harvest a white squirrel. I had met a prospective taxidermist years prior at a show and had kept his card on file. I contacted him about mounting the squirrel and he was all in. I had several coworkers that had work performed by him and it had been top notch. I dropped the squirrel off, settled on a pose, habitat, and put down a 50% deposit. The agreed timeframe was 12-16 months which is the norm. I waited 18 months and had not heard from him. I finally made contact with him thinking maybe I had missed a message from him and he stated he was behind which jived with some other people I had talked to that had pieces of work with him. He stated it would be 6 months or so more. Giving him the benefit of the doubt I gave him 8 more months. No call, so at the 2 year and two month mark I contacted him again and received the COVID excuse of not being able to get supplies. I am currently 2 years and 6 months from the day of drop off.
This guy has been in business for 20 years and at the time was highly thought of in the local taxidermy community
I have never had this issue before and really am at a lose of what to do. I currently have a cat at another taxidermist that should be ready for pickup in the next few months and have thought about running my dilemma by him for suggestions on an approach. My current thoughts are to contact the guy and ask for my pelt back (hopefully it has been tanned by now) and persue someone else.
Last edited by garymc; 12/05/20 05:03 PM.
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Re: Taxidermy grievance thread
[Re: AntiGov]
#7075124
12/05/20 05:00 PM
12/05/20 05:00 PM
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Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 11,253 Maine, Aroostook
Posco
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That's a bummer .....crappy experience and crappy customer service
Hope it works out ok for you so you can move on
Hopefully karma catches up with him I appreciate that. As luck would have it, I found a taxidermist locally who does as good a work on cats or better. I didn't think it was possible to have such a talented taxidermist in my little Podunk town. I've driven by the place countless times. Just a young fellow who found his calling. If the hide is salvageable, I'll have the local guy do it. I guess he won't know until it's time to work on it.
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Re: Taxidermy grievance thread
[Re: Posco]
#7075137
12/05/20 05:14 PM
12/05/20 05:14 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 8,854 Magna, Utah
GritGuy
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I'd venture a guess your white squirrel is gone and the whole affair is toast now, you won't see the mount your deposit back or even further contact,
Happened to me on a grey fox as well as a kit by two different "artists" really winds ya up waiting, on the grey I called half way in to the estimated time to find out he had folded up and moved.
The other did the put off for six months longer than the estimate for various reasons, never did get that one he changed numbers , then he moved away as well, both I never checked references on their customer relations, I do now but did learn the hard way that good work does not always a good reputation make !!
Sorry if my opinions or replies offend you, they are not meant to !
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Re: Taxidermy grievance thread
[Re: M.Magis]
#7075153
12/05/20 05:38 PM
12/05/20 05:38 PM
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Joined: Nov 2017
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Not to make excuses for someone elses poor business practice, but the cost of a wall hanging vs cost and work to have one taxidermy tanned isn’t even close. It takes a lot of time to skin to every toe nail, split everything well, and get it fleshed properly, and the tanning cost is more as well. That being said, thats what a 50% deposit is supposed to cover. I understand there are always two sides to every story but I'm giving you the unvarnished truth. He made zero effort to reach out to me in all time, zero. He could have easily asked for more money if he wanted it but I gave him more than enough to cover the work he did. In my opinion, he should have refunded all of my money and apologized, he did neither.
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Re: Taxidermy grievance thread
[Re: Posco]
#7075161
12/05/20 05:45 PM
12/05/20 05:45 PM
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Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 4,276 western pa
goldnut
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Funny I saw this post. I just called my taxi yesterday for an update. She has done good work for me in the past and I understand the covid thing and also that it takes time to be done properly. I dropped off an Antelope in September 2019. She said it would be a year..thats fine. I called and she now told me it would be the end of January. The part that bothers me is she stated that she had to remove the flesh off of the antler base since I failed to do that. But, She is the one that removed it. I went and picked up the horns from her and I let them hang for a month that was required to have it scored. I returned it to her and she has had it since. I dont know how long she has to let it dry but I am getting impatient, but I am trying to be understanding. What scares me is that I paid her in full! My bad but I am a trusting soul. we will see come Feb.
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Re: Taxidermy grievance thread
[Re: Posco]
#7075165
12/05/20 05:48 PM
12/05/20 05:48 PM
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Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 4,276 western pa
goldnut
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I also had a different taxi try to steal a piebald pelt off of me. Told me the pelt couldnt be tanned because the fur slipped. I asked for the number of the tannery but they didnt have it right there! LOL I got my pelt back 2 weeks later!
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Re: Taxidermy grievance thread
[Re: Posco]
#7075177
12/05/20 06:03 PM
12/05/20 06:03 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 9,686 ND
MJM
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Do you think a taxidermist is going to give you a name or number of someone for a reference that got shafted? Someone was happy with what they did and that's the number you will get.
"Not Really, Not Really" Mark J Monti "MJM you're a jerk."
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Re: Taxidermy grievance thread
[Re: MJM]
#7075206
12/05/20 06:14 PM
12/05/20 06:14 PM
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Posts: 11,253 Maine, Aroostook
Posco
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Do you think a taxidermist is going to give you a name or number of someone for a reference that got shafted? Someone was happy with what they did and that's the number you will get. That's about how much stock I put into them. I was a self-employed mason for a lot of years and word-of-mouth is what sold my business. I couldn't give my work away when I first started out, no one knew who I was or what my capabilities were. Satisfied customers generated my work.
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Re: Taxidermy grievance thread
[Re: Posco]
#7075213
12/05/20 06:22 PM
12/05/20 06:22 PM
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Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 2,963 Central Ontario, Canada
Crit-R-Dun
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Not to make excuses for someone elses poor business practice, but the cost of a wall hanging vs cost and work to have one taxidermy tanned isn’t even close. It takes a lot of time to skin to every toe nail, split everything well, and get it fleshed properly, and the tanning cost is more as well. That being said, thats what a 50% deposit is supposed to cover. I understand there are always two sides to every story but I'm giving you the unvarnished truth. He made zero effort to reach out to me in all time, zero. He could have easily asked for more money if he wanted it but I gave him more than enough to cover the work he did. In my opinion, he should have refunded all of my money and apologized, he did neither. Probably struggling with some personal problems.
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Re: Taxidermy grievance thread
[Re: Posco]
#7075227
12/05/20 06:37 PM
12/05/20 06:37 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 8,854 Magna, Utah
GritGuy
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Do you think a taxidermist is going to give you a name or number of someone for a reference that got shafted? Someone was happy with what they did and that's the number you will get.
Depends on your questions and how you ask them, and if you ask enough ! I always ask about any guided hunters and for that outfitter as well. If you deal with the public like I do, you tend to pick up on words and phrases used for promotion, in the end yes it's still really a crap shoot, find a good one and just stay with them until they don't work anymore ! If its a large mount I take the time to vet them, I don't assume anything from the taxidermist any more !
Sorry if my opinions or replies offend you, they are not meant to !
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