I just received the shock of my life when I got an email from the shipping company stating that shipping my mounts from South Africa will cost me $4010.69 USD. Does this seem a bit on the exhorbitant side? The charge is for air freight to BWI Airport (Baltimore).

The shipping company responded that it would cost less to ship by sea. Would this be an acceptable way to ship taxidermy mounts? Any experience you have would be welcome, fellow AR members.
Thanks,

I would contact Carol Rutkowski at Coppersmith Inc. about shipping and the costs. 1-888-827 4388 or check the website. The handle mine and did a great job for a reasonable price.

Holy s@@t! SBT and I are having 14 animals shipped via air from Namibia for the total price of $971.04. This shipment includes skulls, horns, hides and some knick knacks. These all fit in one container and SBT and I will split the above cost so its like $535 each.

Mounts take up a LOT more space than skulls and folded hides.

You get charged based on weight or volume, whichever costs more.

Ask for a breakdown of charges. There may be some significant padding, or even a double charge.

George

Sorry, I didn't read the word "mounts". That would make alot of difference.

30ott6,
Who did your skulls and hides in Namibia? Did they arrange shipping? I am going in September and will not be shipping as much as you, probably 3 skulls/horns and three skins. Thanks, Bob

Skulls, hides and horns were all done by the outfitter at the ranch. He is known for his work on these items and they did an outstanding job. He then delivered them to I.F.N. Airfreight Logistics (contact there is Chris) who has been very reasonable in price and communicates with us on a daily basis. If you need anymore info, let me know.

John

Thanks to all for your replies. I suppose a bit more information would be in order so that those who go on their first African safari will not be so surprised as was I.

After the hunt, my outfitter, Ken Du Plessis (Faunafrika) recommended that I have my taxidermy work done by Kevin Cooper, a taxidermist near Johannesburg. The rate for doing the seven heads was quite reasonable (about $2800 for all seven heads), and Kevin suggested that shipping would be in the neighborhood of $1500 for the entire package. On this basis, I decided to give South African taxitermy a try, reasoning that it would cost me between 5 and $6,000 just to get the mounts done here in the states and I would still have a shipping bill of about $1000.

I have paid for the taxidermy work, and now have to decide whether to get the heads shipped air freight ($4,000 USD) or by sea ($2980 and change). I will probably pay the extra and get them shipped by air freight, but either charge is a far cry from the $1500 I was told it would cost.

In the future, I will certainly have the capes and horns shipped home and have one of my local taxidermists do the work. I am posting this so that those who might be faced with the same sort of decision should have some knowledge to fall back upon. I did not. For your information, the heads I am having shipped are as follows: Cape buffalo, eland, kudu, blesbuck, impala, blue wildebeest, and gemsbok.

When I get the heads back home and have a chance to inspect them, I will post on my impressions of the quality of work done by Kevin Cooper. So far, I only have photographs of the work to go by.

Check with those people in Baltimore I gave you, she told me they have some connections and may be able to get you a better rate. Shipped by sea and you may get them next year. I think this is why people have said on here for years cost wise it doesn't make much difference weather the taxidermist work is done here or there. I just looked at your trophy list and if all are shoulder mounts they are taken up alot of space.

Thanks, my friend. I will do that. The address/phone number is as follows?
Samuel Shapiro & Co. talk with Giana Blades. 410-539-0540 ext 229.

Your charges do seem high to me, both for air and ocean freight.

I am right now having eight head and shoulder mounts, two skull and horn shield mounts, lion, leopard and two zebra rugs, hippo tusks and miscellaneous skins and other items shipped ocean freight from RSA to my door for just about US$2,200.

That is the full cost from RSA to my door, including all customs brokerage, insurance and other costs.

Two full head and shoulder mounted buff are included.

FYI, Life-Form Taxidermy in Mpumalanga, Safari Cargo Systems in Bredell and Fauna and Flora in New York are handling this for me.

That is much more in line with what I thought it would cost. Is your shipping being done air freight or sea?

Sea.

mrlexma,



Man, I'll be interested to hear if the total remains at the amount you posted. I've heard of some real horror stories about F&Fs charges once the stuff reaches the port, and most of them involved handling and storage charges. So keep us up to date.



Coincidentally, my broker in Houston just called me to say they had just cleared my stuff and will be trucking it to the tannery there in Houston next Tues.



My crate, shipped out of RSA via D. Robinson/Fakir Transport, has zebra and sprinbok rugs, a warthog shoulder mount, and the capes and horns of a kudu, nyala, gemsbok, blesbok, blue and black wildebeest, bushbuck, impala and a second springbok.



Air freight on Air France via Paris to Houston was $869, which included an additional $150 vet fee charge for going thru France. The total broker fee thru ABX in Houston included a personal port exemption, USFWS inspection fee, the airline's terminal import and storage fees (5 days) and trucking the shipment to the tannery -- a 4 hr. trip -- was $480. All other shipping from Houston, including getting the finished stuff to me, will be paid by my taxidermist here in Phoenix.



So it will cost me a total of $1,349 from the taxidermist in RSA to my door. Of course, there's no dip/pack or taxidermy in RSA in that. That all came to a grand total of $1,715 with documentation and crating charges. -TONY