I just got the invoice from Fauna & Flora for a shipment recently arrived in Port of NY. Seven shoulder mounts including eland and kudu, backskins and a few ashtrays. $435 customs entry service fee, $1236 ocean freight to NY and $515 inland freight to Central TX.

I think this is quite reasonable. F&F worked with Safari Cargo Systems in RSA to collect the mounts from the taxidermist, crate and ship. SCS charges were included in the above.

thanks for the info how long did it take to get from the RSA to NY by ocean? I assume there was no problems doing it this way?

KWTX & Guests

Sounds quite reasonable to me sitting here in ( sleepy hollow) downunder NZ ... guess for those in the USA you have a better economic idea than me as you are earning wages in US currency

Just out of interest I was contacted recently by a Bona Fide' US company whom has some interesting service they offer you chaps within USA ..

I dont have an opinion at this point in time BUT you chaps will be a much beter guide on the pro's cons as applicable, here is the guts of their offer ........

If there is (some further interest) I will give you the full information update

Cheers, Peter ( downunder )
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THE OFFER

Our fee of *$415.00* covers all costs, fees, inspections and charges, from the moment the consignment arrives at Denver International airport until it's ready to send (most economical way) to your choice of destination, freight collect. That is it, one check (except for return freight charge).

(Due to USFWS charging by the hour for inspection/paperwork concerning hunting trophies).

Fee breakdown

$125.00 Customs fee

25.00 USFWS paperwork

35.00 Import service fee

30.00 Duty & transfer fee

35.00 Messenger service

55.00 Hot Shot delivery service.

110.00 USFWS inspection fee (based on 2 hr min.)

*$415.00 Total *

This info below is ALSO QUITE INTERESTING //////

Air Freight

As a viable alternative to your shipping your trophies by scheduled passenger airlines we can offer discounted air cargo rates by an airfreight company. This service is completely optional and is offered as a separate service.

There is a $50.00 administration & documentation fee to access our discount. Your quote will be for dimentional weight shipment Airport to Airport (for example Johannesburg to Denver, Colorado a shipment of 50 to sixty kilo's (based on six to seven trophies) by other companies would cost $500-700.00.

Our estimated rate for shipping one-hundred kilo's would be approximately $600.00.

Trapntravel,

I don't know. I did not know it had left RSA until I called the F&F office in NY to inquire as to its status in late Jan. My last word from them was in late Nov when SCS mailed that they had picked up the trophies.

I would guess that they close down in Dec and it was shipped early Jan. The invoice was dated Jan 30.

Fees are all relative.One cant expect a company to work for nothing.
BUT that being said and done,istead of $415 + 50$ access fee maybe, all for clearing customs
I typically pay the gross amount of zero US $ when I clear my trophies myself at LAX.
Takes maybe max 1 hr

quote:

*$415.00 Total *

Sounds like Coppersmith's fees. Most brokerage agents charge closer to $200-250 for similar services at inland ports of entry. I don't know if there are additional fees for ocean freight.

As sheephunter stated, you can do for free yourself.

How do you get around paying any customs, USDA, FWS or other fees associated with imported shipments?

Clearing shipments can take a few hours or a few days depending upon the Customs and Wildlife. It has been easier for me living three+ hours from Atlanta to pay a clearing house $150.00 plus normal fees to clear the shipmemt and the next day come down and pick it up. On several occasions we have had the shipment sent up here for $100.00.

I had a shoulder mount kudu, impala, blesbuck, springbok, gemsbuck and zebra rug shipped from the Eastern Cape. I used Safari Cargo and Fauna & Flora for the brokerage house.

The charges were:

Ocean freight $288.89
Departure fee $ 28.90
Docum. Fee $ 95.00
Trucking $135.00
Insurance $ 82.00
Facility Fee $ 37.10
Brokerage house $334.78
Del. to residence $248.90

Total $1250.67

The crate weighed 100kg but was billed for 169kg. They were ready at the taxidermist the middle of October and I received them the middle of January.

As you can see half the cost was after they reached New York harbor. Fauna&Flora were helpful and everything went smoothly but if you could pick them up and clear them through customs yourself you could save some money.