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The Accurate Reloading Forums THE ACCURATE RELOADING.COM FORUMS Hunting African Big Game Hunting Trophy shipping issues - clearing in the USGo | New | Find | Notify | Tools | Reply | |
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We're having raw capes and some finished skins shipped in by Coppersmith. The shipment from South Africa arrived in Washington DC on 8/13/2014. We've been trying to get information from Coppersmith on when the box will ship to San Francisco and can't get any response from them. Emails are ignored and phone calls just get us, "We'll check on it and call you back" but they don't return any of the calls. Is there any reason that the box would be sitting in Washington DC for a week, since it is supposed to clear customs in San Francisco? Frank "I don't know what there is about buffalo that frightens me so.....He looks like he hates you personally. He looks like you owe him money." - Robert Ruark, Horn of the Hunter, 1953 NRA Life, SAF Life, CRPA Life, DRSS lite | ||
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Thanks for all the PMs. I wish that I had checked on here before I told my brother to pick a Customs Broker. Apparently, they have a long history of bad customer service. Frank "I don't know what there is about buffalo that frightens me so.....He looks like he hates you personally. He looks like you owe him money." - Robert Ruark, Horn of the Hunter, 1953 NRA Life, SAF Life, CRPA Life, DRSS lite | |||
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On the contrary Coppersmiths always came thru for me with flying colors Relax, it's gonna be alright " Until the day breaks and the nights shadows flee away " Big ivory for my pillow and 2.5% of Neanderthal DNA flowing thru my veins. When I'm ready to go, pack a bag of gunpowder up my ass and strike a fire to my pecker, until I squeal like a boar. Yours truly , Milan The Boarkiller - World according to Milan PS I have big boar on my floor...but it ain't dead, just scared to move... Man should be happy and in good humor until the day he dies... Only fools hope to live forever “ Hávamál” | |||
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No Issues in 10 years with Coppersmith in Chicago My broker Mike Lewis, Have met him personally, Stays in touch, gives me his private cell, emails always returned, Takes care of my clients VERY WELL. If he's on Vacation has his clearances covered. NEVER had a problem. Met me at the airport on a friday night 8:00 last trip to help me thru Customs on return from Kyrgyzstan then onto Detroit. I use them all the time Coppersmith has just cleared the last 3 shipment from last month with no issues and in 3-4 days to get USFW and Customs to sign off on them. I think that is pretty fast. I get them shipped 1-2 days after they clear ! USFW and CUSTOMS and USDA have to inspect and clear.... a week is fairly normal for 3 government agencies to get there act together if there busy. It's not always a broker issue, they should tell you tho' MIke keeps me abreast of USFW USDA and CUSTOMS backlog if any and their time frames for clearing crates. | |||
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You must have a lot better relationship with Coppersmith than most people. I'm getting PMs telling me that my experience is not unusual at all. Our shipment has been in Washington DC for 9 days. The shipping company in South Africa emailed us that day and told us. Two days later we received an email from Coppersmith telling us that. That has been the only communication from them that we have received. Three emails in the last 6 days have been ignored, Two phone calls have been answered by receptionists/admins who have had no information but tell us that we will be called back with an update and they haven't called us back yet. All I'm asking for is that they email us or return a phone call and tell us what is going on! Just communicate! This isn't my first rodeo, I've had excellent service from Hunters International Brokerage Services Inc. on two other shipments from Africa I've never had to call them for anything because they emailed me updates where my shipment was at all times. There hasn't been a single delay once the cargo got into the US but if there had been I'm sure that they would have emailed me why and what the new delivery schedule would be. Unfortunately I let my hunting partner arrange the shipping and Coppersmith was more convenient for him so he chose them. We won't make that mistake again. Frank "I don't know what there is about buffalo that frightens me so.....He looks like he hates you personally. He looks like you owe him money." - Robert Ruark, Horn of the Hunter, 1953 NRA Life, SAF Life, CRPA Life, DRSS lite | |||
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I generally clear my own shipments. About two years ago it took the airline almost two weeks to forward the shipment from SF to BWI. If you have a AWB number you can track it, a phone call to the airlines sometimes helps. Your broker can not do much until the have the shipment and can submit the paperwork. Ken DRSS, PP Chapter Life NRA Life SCI Life DSC | |||
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I can recommend D&L Custom House Brokers in Chicago. Always wonderful service. Good luck on your stuff. Dave Fulson | |||
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super guy - with him there just aren't any problems | |||
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I have my boxes sent "In Bond" to Anchorage. When they land where ever in the US they are not looked at until they arrive in my state. This way I avoid the excess charges companies like Coppersmith charge for their services. Try this on your next box, in bond to SF, where you can clear it yourself. When I am notified my box is at the freight house near the Anchorage airport I go there and collect the proper paperwork. I take the papers to customs and also Fish and Wildlife and they set a time to view the contents. I pay any fee to them if due. I am at the freight office when they arrive with their stamps, etc., and when done with their duties, I am free to take my skins and/or skulls. The only other thing is this: if a pig is in the box then a licensed taxidermist must take possession and boil the skull before I can get it. Other than that it is simple and inexpensive process. Cal _______________________________ Cal Pappas, Willow, Alaska www.CalPappas.com www.CalPappas.blogspot.com 1994 Zimbabwe 1997 Zimbabwe 1998 Zimbabwe 1999 Zimbabwe 1999 Namibia, Botswana, Zambia--vacation 2000 Australia 2002 South Africa 2003 South Africa 2003 Zimbabwe 2005 South Africa 2005 Zimbabwe 2006 Tanzania 2006 Zimbabwe--vacation 2007 Zimbabwe--vacation 2008 Zimbabwe 2012 Australia 2013 South Africa 2013 Zimbabwe 2013 Australia 2016 Zimbabwe 2017 Zimbabwe 2018 South Africa 2018 Zimbabwe--vacation 2019 South Africa 2019 Botswana 2019 Zimbabwe vacation 2021 South Africa 2021 South Africa (2nd hunt a month later) ______________________________ | |||
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Frank Remember the hunt. (This is separate.) I hope it means they are just clarifying a detail... Barry _______________________ | |||
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Thanks to Kathi Klimes who got a hold of me via PM and then contacted Linley (big cheese for trophy importing) at Coppersmith in Atlanta. Linley called me for details and then found out that our trophies had arrived in San Francisco on the 19th. Coincidently,  half an hour after Linley told me that, their San Francisco office called my brother and told him that the crate arrived 3 days ago.Again, thanks to Kathi for going out of way to help even though I'm not a client of hers, just another AR member. Frank "I don't know what there is about buffalo that frightens me so.....He looks like he hates you personally. He looks like you owe him money." - Robert Ruark, Horn of the Hunter, 1953 NRA Life, SAF Life, CRPA Life, DRSS lite | |||
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I am in the process of using coppersmith for the third time. The first two times were flawless. This time is starting off that way. I use Mike Lewis in their Chicago office. He has called me on weekend to give me updates. Sorry you are having issues. NRA Patron member | |||
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like you the closest international airport for me is SFO and i have always used Hunter Int. no problems and good service. i have likewise heard a few horror stories about Coppersmith( including my BIL's trophies from RSA last year through ATL). no thanks Vote Trump- Putin’s best friend… To quote a former AND CURRENT Trumpiteer - DUMP TRUMP | |||
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