Just a quick what would you do?
Caught first fisher and took same day to taxidermist for body mount (12/20/2020). Dad (over the years has taken deer, mountain goat, at least 5 different animals and been happy) with the original owner. Not sure how it is but she bought the business, Had to pay up front...by cash. Called after 6 months to get an update. Just said my name and an immediate "it's at the tanners". Called 6 months later and same answer. Waited another 6 months and she said she had it and was waiting on a form and would get to it right away. That was 4 months ago and heard a rumor so drove by and place is basically closed up, everything gone. Called several times today but no answer. Had the number of the previous owner who did Dad's mounts (lives above the shop) and called to see if she was there. He said no and she really hasn't been in the shop for at least 6 months and he's heard of several people having problems. Going to keep trying to call her (voice mailbox not set up) to see if can get her. Guess might have to call a magestrate buddy of mine to find next legal thing to do. Was $500.00 in cash (have receipt) and wondering if charges get worse as price goes up? Sounds like I may possibly be out the fisher and money. Guess just venting.

I feel for ya.
Good help is so hard to find these days.
Wish ya luck,
Regards

i went thru, the same thing, did not end up good for me, hopefully it ends up better for you

what part of PA?

Good Luck

Pay in full up front is never a good idea....I can see a deposit though.

I have had some great pieces of taxidermy work by some big names. Elk, Moose, Buffalo, etc. all went flawless, but I have been in a taxidermist slump over the last 4 years or so. First it was a white squirrel dropped off in 2018 that drug on into 2021 when the taxidermist first blamed COVID, later claimed a freezer failure and lost my squirrel. I was fortunate that I got my 50% deposit back + what the finished cost of the mount would have been. It didn’t sit well with me that it was still in the freezer after 3 years and not tanned.

In 2019, I dropped off a bobcat to a very reputable and highly recommended taxidermist for cats. Paid 50% deposit and checked up on it at one year (2020) and second year (2021). Both times the same excuse that he was behind due to COVID. I just learned that he may have gone out of business recently so I am about to follow up in the next week or so asNov 2022 will be 3 years.

I my experience if a solid timeline isn’t given at the year checkup contact things are not going to turn out good. I have had three pieces out of 15 or so that exceeded a year not counting the two above and all 3 times I was given a solid date and that date was hit.

I’m definitely losing faith in our local central WV taxidermists.

Is her name Roxie?

I agree with Nessie…

Osky

Thanks. Just got off the phone a few minutes ago with either her husband/live-in. Apparently she's on her way back from Cleveland (to Erie). Supposed to call me tomorrow morning. According to him the previous owner (who lives upstairs) daughters want to turn it into a second hand store and kicked them out (his story) and won't let them back in (he...one having trouble with says daughters haven't seen their dad in 40 years. Find out from her tomorrow but he says for me to pick it up and then have her finish it. Who knows who's telling the truth, different story from both sides. Is going to be a cluster no matter what. Yeah paying up front had me wondering especially when they said cash but Dad never had any problem with the former owner and a fried had a bobcat done with her (former new owner) and was real happy.

Our taxidermist won’t let you pay up front, but a $100 deposit is fine. When asked why they said folks that pay up front think they should jump ahead of others. They also said they’ve had issues with tanneries before…lost or ruined furs.

Other than the first time, I’ve never had to give a deposit beforehand and my taxidermist does exotic animals from all over the world. But I’ve had a lot of stuff done there in the past and it’s not like it’s a first time deal. He knows I’m coming back for it.

I used to be a full time taxidermist and am certainly not excusing any taxidermist for not being able to stick to a time, but I am glad I am not full time anymore. Things have gotten horrendously bad in the taxidermy supply and tannery side of things. Most of the time when I try to order something now from a supplier it is either out of stock or will take 2-3 weeks before they can pour the form. Now suppliers routinely send out a new catalog followed by a email a few weeks later saying they are being forced to raise their new prices to cover increased expenses. I will not name the tannery I use, but they are even more ridiculous, 6 - 9 month turnaround even during the "off season". Though I am pretty sure most of them have found a racket to line their pockets a whole lot more, "rush tanning" if you arent willing to pay 50 to 100% more for rush service you just keep getting bumped to the bottom of the list.

Woodchuk that sucks. I don't know what I can do to help you but this is the guy I use. If you look at his gallery the silver fox is mine that I had done and I'm not sure but I beleive one of the fisher is a friend of mine.

www.solitudetaxidermy.ca

Small claims court works if the firm or person has a business they want to keep or save, but it sounds like that is not an option if she is really not an on going business. Check with your friend, there is a dollar amount to bring the charge up to a felony and if that is the case that could get someone's attention.

Bryce

Taxidermists, surveyors, and septic designers; all cut from the same cloth.

I've had two close calls, one with a beaver mount- the tannery burned down and the taxidermist came to my house personally with insurance papers, I told him he had bigger issues (he had African game at the same tanner), I wouldn't be filing a claim. Six months later he called and said my beaver pelt was in the tank and survived the fire- so I got it back anyway.
The second one was with a Bear Rug, the taxidermist was local, nationally recognized and basically started to live off his deposit money until it was gone and didn't have a dime to finish mounts, he led a lavish lifestyle and went on safaris glassing for trophy clients. My bear rug was probably one of the last items to come out before it was an empty building, he sent my skull out to be measured for Pope & Young and luckily that was with the scorer and he hunted me down.
What happened to you definitely sucks and hopefully you'll get another one and have a better experience.

Quoting a soap opera, "As the World Turns".
Picked up the skin (frozen) last night from where she (Denise who screwed everyone) used to be, not even sure it's tanned...yet. Called my magistrate friend to find out next step. He said I had to give her a chance and to call another taxidermist to see if unfreezing it to make sure if it could be re-frozen. Then would have to give her an option to give me my money back minus skinning and tanning costs and if she said no then to go further but to keep in mind that if a magistrate said no to my claim then I would end up paying court costs PLUS be out my original money. Went to another taxidermist to check and one look and he said it didn't even look like a fisher. Pried it open a bit and here it's not fleshed (so not tanned), has freezer burn AND is a mouflon sheep cape!!! It has my Dads name on it (Rev. LeVan who died in 2017) even though on the receipt it has my name on it. Had just mentioned when dropping fisher off in 2020 that my Dad had Kunkles (former owner) do 6 different mounts for him. He did get a mouflon but that was mounted BEFORE 2000. Taxidermist took it to today said he is getting tired from all the things he's getting in from her. We were talking (Steve from Heads and Sheds) and I mentioned with Kunkles daughter that she told me of one guy who had a deer mounted and when he hung it up he had hair all over his hands. Steve pointed and said "yep that's the one". He said he's do so many remounts from her that he's run out of his supply of spare deer capes.
So talk to my madistrate buddy again tonight with all this new info. Not sure of outcome yet as find out she lives in a shack (Steve's friend lives nearby and confirmed it).

Wow thats terrible news. I really hope your luck changes