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Ok friends,

For those that know me, I can be like a dog not letting go about what is right and what is wrong.

With all the mess we experienced over the last 2 years with getting trophies to our clients, I started investing a LOT of time into the logistical chain to get you your stuff home.

So, we have one clearing agent, or importer with us here on AR, so I would like to test the water, before spilling the beans on what I found out. Firstly, I should say that I have not talked to, nor done any business with, Safari Specialty Importers. My "investigation" is not aimed at this company at ALL. I am simply asking them for some info, as they are here on our forum and seem to know what they are doing....

Safari Specialty Importers:

1. Do you do ocean freight for your clients? if so, what ports do you work out of and what is your clearing charge per client? What is the additional cost in clearing a 40ft container?
2. On airfreight - who much is your clearing cost per client?
3. How do clients know, or can get a guarantee that they will not end up paying "trumped up" storage fees?

Any information in this regard will be greatly appreciated.


Charl van Rooyen
Owner
Infinito Travel Group
www.infinito-safaris.com
charl@infinito-safaris.com
Cell: +27 78 444 7661
Tel: +27 13 262 4077
Fax:+27 13 262 3845
Hereford Street 28A
Groblersdal
0470
Limpopo
R.S.A.

"For the Infinite adventure"

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"I promise every hunter visiting us our personal attention from the moment we meet you, until your trophies hang on your wall. Our all inclusive service chain means you work with one person (me) taking responsibility during the whole process. Affordable and reputable Hunting Safaris is our game! With a our all inclusive door to door service, who else do you want to have fun with?"



South Africa
Tanzania
Uganda
 
Posts: 2018 | Location: South Africa,Tanzania & Uganda | Registered: 15 August 2006Reply With Quote
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Howdy Charl and AR Friends,

Safari Specialty Importers is glad to share a break down into our services, pricing, and how we ultimately provide the best total service when it comes to getting your trophies home. All of these details are readily available on our website, and I am happy to answer any further questions via phone or email.

1) Ocean freight is the antiquated method of moving trophies and adds more risks and costs than monetary savings. Ocean freight exposes hides and mounts to humidity, salt corrosion, and fluctuating temperatures, all of which are harmful to the trophies. Current shipments to US ports have to wait at sea up to a month before the ship is able to dock, resulting in further time/costs that are added to the final bill the hunters are saddled with. SSI does not recommend this method of transport for your trophies.

2) Our Personal Import Service is $975 and includes the following services and features:
• Set up with outfitter, dip/pack/taxidermist and shipping prior to the hunt
• Send ID tags for species harvested
• Send correct legal information to be used for hunting permit/hunting register that will generate export permits (prevention of mistakes later that will cause delays)
• Validate list of trophies collected from the outfitter (prevent mistakes of missing or incorrect trophies)
• Follow up regularly to ensure quick turnaround of shipment
• We will review and approve export documentation PRIOR to departure (to avoid problems after arrival to USA)
• Work closely with FWS, Customs and USDA on your behalf for trophy clearance
• Convenience of making a local one-time payment to SSI for complete export/import charges; handling all international wire charges
• Consolidated Shipping to the US, resulting in average lower rates for all parties in consolidation

Additional Charges as Applicable:
• FWS Fee for Shipment with CITES $93 USD
• CFS Bonded Warehouse/USDA related charges
• Inland transportation to final destination after clearance
• Application for Import CITES Permit
• Regardless of how many animals make up your shipment, $975 will always be the flat rate for our management of your hunt.

3) As detailed in a recent Friday from the Field Post, we informed the hunting community of the rising storage costs that hunters could expect to received if their trophies were stored at airline terminals while clearing. These costs averaged $1000 at best, and could easily go higher if issues delay the clearing process. SSI has control of a USDA Approved/Bonded warehouse at JFK, to which all our shipments go to immediately upon arrival to be cleared with USFW/Customs, etc. Our expert team processes the clearing in a timely fashion, so you are only charged for 8 days of storage at $45/day. If the clearing goes longer than this, our clients do not incur any further storage costs. Compared to the listed average storage costs, this can save hunters up to $640.

In conclusion, Safari Specialty Importers oversees the entire import process from before you leave for the hunt, until your trophies are safely to their final destination. Your job is to enjoy your hunt while leaving the rest to us. Please contact us today with any questions.
 
Posts: 192 | Location: New York | Registered: 25 May 2012Reply With Quote
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quote:
Originally posted by Safari Specialty Importers:
Howdy Charl and AR Friends,

Safari Specialty Importers is glad to share a break down into our services, pricing, and how we ultimately provide the best total service when it comes to getting your trophies home. All of these details are readily available on our website, and I am happy to answer any further questions via phone or email.

1) Ocean freight is the antiquated method of moving trophies and adds more risks and costs than monetary savings. Ocean freight exposes hides and mounts to humidity, salt corrosion, and fluctuating temperatures, all of which are harmful to the trophies. Current shipments to US ports have to wait at sea up to a month before the ship is able to dock, resulting in further time/costs that are added to the final bill the hunters are saddled with. SSI does not recommend this method of transport for your trophies.

2) Our Personal Import Service is $975 and includes the following services and features:
• Set up with outfitter, dip/pack/taxidermist and shipping prior to the hunt
• Send ID tags for species harvested
• Send correct legal information to be used for hunting permit/hunting register that will generate export permits (prevention of mistakes later that will cause delays)
• Validate list of trophies collected from the outfitter (prevent mistakes of missing or incorrect trophies)
• Follow up regularly to ensure quick turnaround of shipment
• We will review and approve export documentation PRIOR to departure (to avoid problems after arrival to USA)
• Work closely with FWS, Customs and USDA on your behalf for trophy clearance
• Convenience of making a local one-time payment to SSI for complete export/import charges; handling all international wire charges
• Consolidated Shipping to the US, resulting in average lower rates for all parties in consolidation

Additional Charges as Applicable:
• FWS Fee for Shipment with CITES $93 USD
• CFS Bonded Warehouse/USDA related charges
• Inland transportation to final destination after clearance
• Application for Import CITES Permit
• Regardless of how many animals make up your shipment, $975 will always be the flat rate for our management of your hunt.

3) As detailed in a recent Friday from the Field Post, we informed the hunting community of the rising storage costs that hunters could expect to received if their trophies were stored at airline terminals while clearing. These costs averaged $1000 at best, and could easily go higher if issues delay the clearing process. SSI has control of a USDA Approved/Bonded warehouse at JFK, to which all our shipments go to immediately upon arrival to be cleared with USFW/Customs, etc. Our expert team processes the clearing in a timely fashion, so you are only charged for 8 days of storage at $45/day. If the clearing goes longer than this, our clients do not incur any further storage costs. Compared to the listed average storage costs, this can save hunters up to $640.

In conclusion, Safari Specialty Importers oversees the entire import process from before you leave for the hunt, until your trophies are safely to their final destination. Your job is to enjoy your hunt while leaving the rest to us. Please contact us today with any questions.


Ocean freight is antiquated? If antiquated means as effective but far less expensive, I would agree. But saving serious money is not antiquated.

You are wrong or trumped up on so many points and levels that I almost can’t believe you are serious.

As I have told you before: No, thanks.


Mike

Wilderness is my cathedral, and hunting is my prayer.
 
Posts: 13623 | Location: New England | Registered: 06 June 2003Reply With Quote
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posted Hide Post
quote:
Originally posted by Michael Robinson:
quote:
Originally posted by Safari Specialty Importers:
Howdy Charl and AR Friends,

Safari Specialty Importers is glad to share a break down into our services, pricing, and how we ultimately provide the best total service when it comes to getting your trophies home. All of these details are readily available on our website, and I am happy to answer any further questions via phone or email.

1) Ocean freight is the antiquated method of moving trophies and adds more risks and costs than monetary savings. Ocean freight exposes hides and mounts to humidity, salt corrosion, and fluctuating temperatures, all of which are harmful to the trophies. Current shipments to US ports have to wait at sea up to a month before the ship is able to dock, resulting in further time/costs that are added to the final bill the hunters are saddled with. SSI does not recommend this method of transport for your trophies.

2) Our Personal Import Service is $975 and includes the following services and features:
• Set up with outfitter, dip/pack/taxidermist and shipping prior to the hunt
• Send ID tags for species harvested
• Send correct legal information to be used for hunting permit/hunting register that will generate export permits (prevention of mistakes later that will cause delays)
• Validate list of trophies collected from the outfitter (prevent mistakes of missing or incorrect trophies)
• Follow up regularly to ensure quick turnaround of shipment
• We will review and approve export documentation PRIOR to departure (to avoid problems after arrival to USA)
• Work closely with FWS, Customs and USDA on your behalf for trophy clearance
• Convenience of making a local one-time payment to SSI for complete export/import charges; handling all international wire charges
• Consolidated Shipping to the US, resulting in average lower rates for all parties in consolidation

Additional Charges as Applicable:
• FWS Fee for Shipment with CITES $93 USD
• CFS Bonded Warehouse/USDA related charges
• Inland transportation to final destination after clearance
• Application for Import CITES Permit
• Regardless of how many animals make up your shipment, $975 will always be the flat rate for our management of your hunt.

3) As detailed in a recent Friday from the Field Post, we informed the hunting community of the rising storage costs that hunters could expect to received if their trophies were stored at airline terminals while clearing. These costs averaged $1000 at best, and could easily go higher if issues delay the clearing process. SSI has control of a USDA Approved/Bonded warehouse at JFK, to which all our shipments go to immediately upon arrival to be cleared with USFW/Customs, etc. Our expert team processes the clearing in a timely fashion, so you are only charged for 8 days of storage at $45/day. If the clearing goes longer than this, our clients do not incur any further storage costs. Compared to the listed average storage costs, this can save hunters up to $640.

In conclusion, Safari Specialty Importers oversees the entire import process from before you leave for the hunt, until your trophies are safely to their final destination. Your job is to enjoy your hunt while leaving the rest to us. Please contact us today with any questions.


Ocean freight is antiquated? If antiquated means as effective but far less expensive, I would agree. But saving serious money is not antiquated.

You are wrong or trumped up on so many points and levels that I almost can’t believe you are serious.

As I have told you before: No, thanks.



Having your trophys sitting in a metal connex box in the sun, on a ship…seems like a really bad idea. It certainly hasn’t historically been great for my furniture.


Beyond that, exactly what are you saying is factually wrong?
 
Posts: 164 | Registered: 19 January 2011Reply With Quote
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I'm using Safari Specialty Importers now and have been very happy with their level of service. In years past it seemed like there was always something else to attend to and another wire to be sent. This year with SSI has been seamless and I didn't have to have any involvement with all the details, which is much appreciated. They handled it all. Well worth their nominal fee in my opinion.
 
Posts: 10319 | Location: Houston, Texas | Registered: 26 December 2005Reply With Quote
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quote:
Originally posted by Michael Robinson:
quote:
Originally posted by Safari Specialty Importers:
Howdy Charl and AR Friends,

Safari Specialty Importers is glad to share a break down into our services, pricing, and how we ultimately provide the best total service when it comes to getting your trophies home. All of these details are readily available on our website, and I am happy to answer any further questions via phone or email.

1) Ocean freight is the antiquated method of moving trophies and adds more risks and costs than monetary savings. Ocean freight exposes hides and mounts to humidity, salt corrosion, and fluctuating temperatures, all of which are harmful to the trophies. Current shipments to US ports have to wait at sea up to a month before the ship is able to dock, resulting in further time/costs that are added to the final bill the hunters are saddled with. SSI does not recommend this method of transport for your trophies.

2) Our Personal Import Service is $975 and includes the following services and features:
• Set up with outfitter, dip/pack/taxidermist and shipping prior to the hunt
• Send ID tags for species harvested
• Send correct legal information to be used for hunting permit/hunting register that will generate export permits (prevention of mistakes later that will cause delays)
• Validate list of trophies collected from the outfitter (prevent mistakes of missing or incorrect trophies)
• Follow up regularly to ensure quick turnaround of shipment
• We will review and approve export documentation PRIOR to departure (to avoid problems after arrival to USA)
• Work closely with FWS, Customs and USDA on your behalf for trophy clearance
• Convenience of making a local one-time payment to SSI for complete export/import charges; handling all international wire charges
• Consolidated Shipping to the US, resulting in average lower rates for all parties in consolidation

Additional Charges as Applicable:
• FWS Fee for Shipment with CITES $93 USD
• CFS Bonded Warehouse/USDA related charges
• Inland transportation to final destination after clearance
• Application for Import CITES Permit
• Regardless of how many animals make up your shipment, $975 will always be the flat rate for our management of your hunt.

3) As detailed in a recent Friday from the Field Post, we informed the hunting community of the rising storage costs that hunters could expect to received if their trophies were stored at airline terminals while clearing. These costs averaged $1000 at best, and could easily go higher if issues delay the clearing process. SSI has control of a USDA Approved/Bonded warehouse at JFK, to which all our shipments go to immediately upon arrival to be cleared with USFW/Customs, etc. Our expert team processes the clearing in a timely fashion, so you are only charged for 8 days of storage at $45/day. If the clearing goes longer than this, our clients do not incur any further storage costs. Compared to the listed average storage costs, this can save hunters up to $640.

In conclusion, Safari Specialty Importers oversees the entire import process from before you leave for the hunt, until your trophies are safely to their final destination. Your job is to enjoy your hunt while leaving the rest to us. Please contact us today with any questions.


Ocean freight is antiquated? If antiquated means as effective but far less expensive, I would agree. But saving serious money is not antiquated.

You are wrong or trumped up on so many points and levels that I almost can’t believe you are serious.

As I have told you before: No, thanks.


Ocean Freight, while seemingly cheaper, is riddled with hidden costs that are not mentioned or addressed until hunters are given the final bill. The below links are to articles focusing on the rising delays at US ports, and the average cost of demurrage fees that are passed on to hunters whose trophies are part of the cargo shipments. Any savings in shipping rates are eaten away by these charges.

https://www.joc.com/maritime-n...-trade_20220401.html

https://www.joc.com/internatio...report_20210629.html

It is up to hunters to make the best choice for themselves, and SSI will provide the most up to date information for them to do so.
 
Posts: 192 | Location: New York | Registered: 25 May 2012Reply With Quote
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quote:

Your links require a subscription to read.
Let me get this straight in my mind. SSI charges a flat rate of $975 to handle the import/export. Then there is another charge of 8 days storage at your bonded warehouse of $45.00 per day that equals $360.00. Your fees are on top of the shipping and dip/pack fees payable to whomever your using on the African side. Is this correct?
John
 
Posts: 793 | Location: MI | Registered: 26 November 2009Reply With Quote
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Howdy Gundog,

I will try to provide better links. They did not require accounts when I found them.

Yes. Flat rate of $975, storage, and any additional fees from US Customs (Cites, permit applications, etc.) combined with the shipping costs and dip/pack fees. As stated, we consolidate when able and work with multiple freight forwarders to secure the best available shipping rates.
 
Posts: 192 | Location: New York | Registered: 25 May 2012Reply With Quote
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First ocean freight is unsafe, and now it's "riddled with hidden costs."

I guess the more than 100 hunting trophies I've had shipped to me by ocean freight over more than 20 years made it to me by miracle, and at high costs that were totally "hidden" to me.

"Hidden" must mean hidden from the illiterate.

And please don't tell me that the tens of thousands of dollars in savings versus air freight were somehow lost to me by virtue of such "hidden" costs.

If you don't offer ocean freight, that's fine.

But please don't make up spurious reasons not to use it.

And Fauna & Flora/MIQ Logistics have never charged me as much as you charge.

If I were considering hiring you, which I am not, I would ask for an itemized list of every single excluded item from your fee and the cost of each excluded item.


Mike

Wilderness is my cathedral, and hunting is my prayer.
 
Posts: 13623 | Location: New England | Registered: 06 June 2003Reply With Quote
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Bottom line is that it costs a shitload of money to get trophies from Africa. You will quite easily double or even triple the original Safari cost. Glad I don’t fool with it anymore.


Vote Trump- Putin’s best friend…
 
Posts: 13395 | Location: Georgia | Registered: 28 October 2006Reply With Quote
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Out of curiosity, I am in the midst of shipping my trophies back from Zim. I havent been charged anything yet, but what should I expect? I'm using Afropride in Harare and Genus Logistics stateside. Buff and plains game.

Any guesses on just the export/import/shipping?
 
Posts: 61 | Location: South Carolina | Registered: 10 April 2019Reply With Quote
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quote:
Originally posted by SCLawyer:
Out of curiosity, I am in the midst of shipping my trophies back from Zim. I havent been charged anything yet, but what should I expect? I'm using Afropride in Harare and Genus Logistics stateside. Buff and plains game.

Any guesses on just the export/import/shipping?


I would ask Genus Logistics what their costs for clearing, storage, etc. would be if you have not already. Shipping costs are based on the dimension/weight of the crate. Afropride is an excellent shipper and gets some of the best rates out of Zimbabwe. How much time and effort have you had to put into the import process so far?
 
Posts: 192 | Location: New York | Registered: 25 May 2012Reply With Quote
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quote:
Originally posted by Michael Robinson:
First ocean freight is unsafe, and now it's "riddled with hidden costs."

I guess the more than 100 hunting trophies I've had shipped to me by ocean freight over more than 20 years made it to me by miracle, and at high costs that were totally "hidden" to me.

"Hidden" must mean hidden from the illiterate.

And please don't tell me that the tens of thousands of dollars in savings versus air freight were somehow lost to me by virtue of such "hidden" costs.

If you don't offer ocean freight, that's fine.

But please don't make up spurious reasons not to use it.

And Fauna & Flora/MIQ Logistics have never charged me as much as you charge.

If I were considering hiring you, which I am not, I would ask for an itemized list of every single excluded item from your fee and the cost of each excluded item.


Howdy Mike,

It seems that you have been successful in getting your trophies home over the years. Congratulations!

However, times change and the best method to get things home yesterday may not be the best method today. SSI CAN certainly manage ocean freight shipments, we simply do not recommend it as it raises more risks to the trophies than airfreight does as we have detailed. You seem fixated on comparing costs, so I would ask you to provide the total itemized costs that you have paid for to get your trophies home for a recent shipment. By recent, I mean a shipment occurring in 2020, 2021, or 2022. Since 2020 saw the largest disruption of global logistics since the Second World War, whose effects we are still seeing today, using anything before that would be similar to comparing the speed of the Sopwith Camel to an F-22.

Safari Specialty Importers has been transparent and upfront with our services. If one uses critical reading methods, one can discern which costs are included in our flat rate and those that are not, culminating in an itemized list. With the shoddy state American education is in, we feel it is our job to encourage the use of more than just the pleasure centers of the brain.

In closing, while you clearly are not looking to engage our services now, you were at least interested in doing so last December and through January. You asked me to put a quote together for you, but suddenly took offence when I reached out to Lifeform Taxidermy to get the status of your trophies to determine the dimension and weight. I thought that you understood that part of our service was to engage on your behalf so that you did not have to spend your time in doing so. I know that my time is valuable and I do loathe to waste it. What is yours worth? I do hope that you have managed to make arrangements to get those trophies home, and that you have been fortunate enough to not have them carried by a ship with a name similar to Northumberland or Edmund Fitzgerald.

Wishing you Fair Winds and Following Weather,

Wyatt Fetner
 
Posts: 192 | Location: New York | Registered: 25 May 2012Reply With Quote
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Ocean freight is a big savings but this year the ports are so backed up that for several months my crate could not even be accepted for shipping. I have 23 trophies plus skins so I bit the bullet and will have FEDEX air freight them to Anchorage where I will clear them myself as they will be sent "in bond" to Anchorage.

Also, why pay someone to clear the trophies with USF&G? Since the 1990s I have my trophies sent in bond to Anchorage and I clear them myself. When the shipper contacts me they are in, I immediately call the Anchorage USF&G and set an appointment to meet them at the shipper. Usually this is the next day. After that is done, I take the paperpwork to the US Customs office for their stamp. Then back to the shipper with all documentation where they put the crate in my pickup and I am off to home. I really can't see paying someone to do what I have doing myself for almost 25 years.


_______________________________

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)
______________________________
 
Posts: 7281 | Location: Willow, Alaska | Registered: 29 June 2009Reply With Quote
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quote:
Originally posted by jdollar:
Bottom line is that it costs a shitload of money to get trophies from Africa. You will quite easily double or even triple the original Safari cost. Glad I don’t fool with it anymore.

JDollar,
Yes the dip/pack/shipping/customs is getting outrageous, but double or triple the cost of the safari? My last safari cost me 20K, I did not spend 40-60K to get the trophies home. I too am on the side of pictures from here forward as I would rather spend the money on another safari, versus hanging another animal on the wall.
 
Posts: 793 | Location: MI | Registered: 26 November 2009Reply With Quote
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posted Hide Post
quote:
Originally posted by jdollar:
Bottom line is that it costs a shitload of money to get trophies from Africa. You will quite easily double or even triple the original Safari cost. Glad I don’t fool with it anymore.


I recently used SSI to import my trophies from Zim. I am happy with their services but the costs keep going up. I am seriously thinking about filming my next safari and leaving the trophies in Zim.


USMC Retired
DSC Life Member
SCI Life Member
NRA Life Member
 
Posts: 730 | Location: Maryland Eastern Shore | Registered: 27 September 2013Reply With Quote
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quote:
Originally posted by Safari Specialty Importers:

In closing, while you clearly are not looking to engage our services now, you were at least interested in doing so last December and through January. You asked me to put a quote together for you, but suddenly took offence when I reached out to Lifeform Taxidermy to get the status of your trophies to determine the dimension and weight. I thought that you understood that part of our service was to engage on your behalf so that you did not have to spend your time in doing so. I know that my time is valuable and I do loathe to waste it. What is yours worth? I do hope that you have managed to make arrangements to get those trophies home, and that you have been fortunate enough to not have them carried by a ship with a name similar to Northumberland or Edmund Fitzgerald.

Wishing you Fair Winds and Following Weather,

Wyatt Fetner


Do you really want to go there? When I asked you for a quote, you falsely represented to my RSA taxidermist, Life-Form Taxidermy, that I had hired you to handle the shipping of my trophies!

Here is what you wrote in your email to Life-Form:

"Howdy,

Mr. Michael Robinson has engaged Safari Specialty Importers to oversee the import of his trophies. It is a pleasure to work with y'all again.

Please send me a list of the trophies and their current status. I have copied Yolanda Kemp from Trophy Logistics and Crating who will handle the export documents and shipping to the US. If the trophies are completed, please coordinate with Yolanda to arrange collection.

Please let me know if there are any questions.

Best,

Wyatt Fetner"


This, after all I had asked you for was a quote!

You did not even copy me on your email. The first I heard of it was when Life-Form contacted me for confirmation of your claim, after noticing that I had not been copied.

To me, that kind of behavior is always a precursor of worse things to come. So, yes, that is exactly when I "suddenly" told you no, thanks, that I was not happy with your misrepresentation, and not interested in your services.

You are a scare monger when it comes to ocean freight. First it's unsafe, then it's "riddled with hidden costs," and now it's slow.

The odds of running into any kind of problem with ocean freight are millions, if not tens of millions, to one. If those odds keep you awake at night, then it's a wonder you ever leave your house.

And as for "hidden costs" - or to use the catch phrase of the day, "transparency," you will need to list every single excluded item and the cost thereof, otherwise you are not being "transparent."

It's not enough just to list only the item, and not the price, and describe the item only in a general and obfuscatory way.

That is where "hidden" costs lie, and no consumer should let any service provider get away with it. By the way, I don't use catch phrases. I call it honesty.

Now, as to "slow." These shipping problems are temporal. Thanks to my over 20 year relationship with Life-Form, they are happy to hold my trophies until things return to normal. If I were in a hurry, I might feel differently, but I would at least look into it and find out how long an ocean shipment would actually take before I would rule it out.

And as to your fees, the last time I imported a huge crate full of finished taxidermy in 2019, my broker charged me $200 to clear them through U.S. Customs, $150 through USF&W and a bond fee of $75.

A hell of lot less than your one thousand dollars, or excuse me, $975.

Lotsa luck.


Mike

Wilderness is my cathedral, and hunting is my prayer.
 
Posts: 13623 | Location: New England | Registered: 06 June 2003Reply With Quote
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posted Hide Post
quote:
Originally posted by Gundog 64:
quote:
Originally posted by jdollar:
Bottom line is that it costs a shitload of money to get trophies from Africa. You will quite easily double or even triple the original Safari cost. Glad I don’t fool with it anymore.

JDollar,
Yes the dip/pack/shipping/customs is getting outrageous, but double or triple the cost of the safari? My last safari cost me 20K, I did not spend 40-60K to get the trophies home. I too am on the side of pictures from here forward as I would rather spend the money on another safari, versus hanging another animal on the wall.


My comment about doubling the cost of a Safari was primarily related to plains game hunts. It can easily costs $10,000 for taxidermy and shipping for a $10,000 plains game hunt-hence a doubling the Safari costs. Regardless, money spent on taxidermy/ shipping is money you could have spent on a second hunt…..


Vote Trump- Putin’s best friend…
 
Posts: 13395 | Location: Georgia | Registered: 28 October 2006Reply With Quote
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SSI has been great for me. I don't have time to deal with the details and they do all that. They've communicated probably more than I need, but they just handle it. And that's what I need.
 
Posts: 10319 | Location: Houston, Texas | Registered: 26 December 2005Reply With Quote
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Thank you for all the comments!


I have been wading through a lot of stinking "muck" over the last 18 months when it comes to getting your trophies back home. The prices seem to be very inflated, and I know the airline charges are WAY up. Also, the congestion in the ports did not help. BUT, what changed with the clearing agents in the USA and RSA? Other than rising fuel prices for them to get to and from work? Nothing. Why is their charges suddenly up 30%?

We are now shipping our trophies directly to the USA. My first two containers cleared within 2 weeks of landing in Houston.


Coppersmith cleared and I must say, although it was a bit bumpy, because we just do not know, the whole process went quite smooth.

Watch this space, we have to take control of our own. Airlines are happy to have roughly 30,000 seats filled by hunters coming to visit Africa annually, but they are not willing to fly those hunters trophies home?

Again, I want to stress the fact that I do not know, or have had any dealings with SSI, I simply named, and asked them as they are very active on here.

Wyatt's answer was very vague and not the full disclosure layout I was expecting. It is also in direct contrast to my own experience that we have just gone through. but be that as it may.

We took the total cost of 30 hunters, that hunted the same package with us, in the same year, with similar Taxidermy instructions. They were all located in the Mid West and South East and the road transport was the only real fluctuating price during the whole process. Turn around time from loading the container to crates being delivered was just a bit over 6 weeks. Prices giving below is the mean average of these 30 hunters, that we shipped and cleared ourselves :

$2,500.00 Mean cost of total Travelling cost ( Economy flights, Road transfers between home and airports)
$7,900.00 Total Hunt cost including Trophy fees
$ 790.00 Gratuities
$4,900.00 Taxidermy
$1,500.00 Shipping from RSA to Houston
$ 675.00 Coppersmith
$ 650.00 Road Freight from Coppersmith home

$18,915.00 Total Safari cost

I hope and trust that you found this interesting!

Warm regards,


Charl van Rooyen
Owner
Infinito Travel Group
www.infinito-safaris.com
charl@infinito-safaris.com
Cell: +27 78 444 7661
Tel: +27 13 262 4077
Fax:+27 13 262 3845
Hereford Street 28A
Groblersdal
0470
Limpopo
R.S.A.

"For the Infinite adventure"

Plains Game
Dangerous Game
Bucket List Specialists
Wing-Shooting
In House Taxidermy Studio
In House Dip and Pack Facility
In House Shipping Service
Non-Hunting Tours and Safaris
Flight bookings

"I promise every hunter visiting us our personal attention from the moment we meet you, until your trophies hang on your wall. Our all inclusive service chain means you work with one person (me) taking responsibility during the whole process. Affordable and reputable Hunting Safaris is our game! With a our all inclusive door to door service, who else do you want to have fun with?"



South Africa
Tanzania
Uganda
 
Posts: 2018 | Location: South Africa,Tanzania & Uganda | Registered: 15 August 2006Reply With Quote
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posted Hide Post
quote:
Originally posted by infinito:
Thank you for all the comments!


I have been wading through a lot of stinking "muck" over the last 18 months when it comes to getting your trophies back home. The prices seem to be very inflated, and I know the airline charges are WAY up. Also, the congestion in the ports did not help. BUT, what changed with the clearing agents in the USA and RSA? Other than rising fuel prices for them to get to and from work? Nothing. Why is their charges suddenly up 30%?

We are now shipping our trophies directly to the USA. My first two containers cleared within 2 weeks of landing in Houston.


Coppersmith cleared and I must say, although it was a bit bumpy, because we just do not know, the whole process went quite smooth.

Watch this space, we have to take control of our own. Airlines are happy to have roughly 30,000 seats filled by hunters coming to visit Africa annually, but they are not willing to fly those hunters trophies home?

Again, I want to stress the fact that I do not know, or have had any dealings with SSI, I simply named, and asked them as they are very active on here.

Wyatt's answer was very vague and not the full disclosure layout I was expecting. It is also in direct contrast to my own experience that we have just gone through. but be that as it may.

We took the total cost of 30 hunters, that hunted the same package with us, in the same year, with similar Taxidermy instructions. They were all located in the Mid West and South East and the road transport was the only real fluctuating price during the whole process. Turn around time from loading the container to crates being delivered was just a bit over 6 weeks. Prices giving below is the mean average of these 30 hunters, that we shipped and cleared ourselves :

$2,500.00 Mean cost of total Travelling cost ( Economy flights, Road transfers between home and airports)
$7,900.00 Total Hunt cost including Trophy fees
$ 790.00 Gratuities
$4,900.00 Taxidermy
$1,500.00 Shipping from RSA to Houston
$ 675.00 Coppersmith
$ 650.00 Road Freight from Coppersmith home

$18,915.00 Total Safari cost

I hope and trust that you found this interesting!

Warm regards,



If you had good luck with coppersmith which I have as well why did you not reach out to them. SSI is so high on them selves and one I would never use would clear myself before using them as an agent.

It is great to see you working on a way to take care of your hunters from start to finish great job on your part.
 
Posts: 576 | Location: macungie , Pa | Registered: 21 March 2014Reply With Quote
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I used SSI for my 2018 safari and am using them again this year. Totally worth it. All I have to do is write a check. I don't have the time or inclination to fool with the details. The cost of shipping trophies is expensive but I don't think hunting overseas is a pastime that attracts people looking for a bargain.
 
Posts: 113 | Location: Maryland 's Eastern Shore | Registered: 03 February 2016Reply With Quote
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Picture of Safari Specialty Importers
posted Hide Post
quote:
Originally posted by infinito:
Thank you for all the comments!


I have been wading through a lot of stinking "muck" over the last 18 months when it comes to getting your trophies back home. The prices seem to be very inflated, and I know the airline charges are WAY up. Also, the congestion in the ports did not help. BUT, what changed with the clearing agents in the USA and RSA? Other than rising fuel prices for them to get to and from work? Nothing. Why is their charges suddenly up 30%?

We are now shipping our trophies directly to the USA. My first two containers cleared within 2 weeks of landing in Houston.


Coppersmith cleared and I must say, although it was a bit bumpy, because we just do not know, the whole process went quite smooth.

Watch this space, we have to take control of our own. Airlines are happy to have roughly 30,000 seats filled by hunters coming to visit Africa annually, but they are not willing to fly those hunters trophies home?

Again, I want to stress the fact that I do not know, or have had any dealings with SSI, I simply named, and asked them as they are very active on here.

Wyatt's answer was very vague and not the full disclosure layout I was expecting. It is also in direct contrast to my own experience that we have just gone through. but be that as it may.

We took the total cost of 30 hunters, that hunted the same package with us, in the same year, with similar Taxidermy instructions. They were all located in the Mid West and South East and the road transport was the only real fluctuating price during the whole process. Turn around time from loading the container to crates being delivered was just a bit over 6 weeks. Prices giving below is the mean average of these 30 hunters, that we shipped and cleared ourselves :

$2,500.00 Mean cost of total Travelling cost ( Economy flights, Road transfers between home and airports)
$7,900.00 Total Hunt cost including Trophy fees
$ 790.00 Gratuities
$4,900.00 Taxidermy
$1,500.00 Shipping from RSA to Houston
$ 675.00 Coppersmith
$ 650.00 Road Freight from Coppersmith home

$18,915.00 Total Safari cost

I hope and trust that you found this interesting!

Warm regards,


Charl,

I appreciate you starting this conversation, as I believe that it has generated some quality, passionate discussion. I am glad that you have been able to put together a good program for your clients, as I know that was your goal when we spoke at length in 2020 about the best means to move trophies during the height of the lockdowns. You have created a unique vertical system that allows you an amount of control that other outfitters cannot provide as they utilize other companies to handle taxidermy work, shipping, etc., resulting in a more complicated path that must be navigated by the hunter, or a company like SSI working on their behalf. SSI’s goal, like yours, is to provide “…our personal attention from the moment we meet you, until your trophies hang on your wall.”


I have been as open and transparent about our services and pricing as I can be. The only point that one could claim vagueness is on the international shipping cost to the US and the transportation to the final destination. These are variable items that will differ from shipment to shipment. I have laid out the total, fixed costs of our services in a clear and concise manner. I have expressed my opinion that we have found that airfreight provides a safer, more time effective method to get hunter’s valuable trophies home compared to ocean freight. If this changes in the future, SSI will adapt to whatever methods meets our desired balance of safety, speed, and cost effectiveness.

A major factor that has only been mentioned briefly is the time cost of the import process that must be either paid by the hunter with his personal time and efforts to oversee the import of his trophies, or by hiring a service to do so. SSI’s management of a import begins months before the hunt as we confirm details of the hunt with the client, contact and coordinate with outfitters, taxidermists, freight forwarders during our Pre-Hunt period. On average, SSI will have spent 9 months of time from the beginning of the hunt until the trophies are cleared and delivered to their final destination. Breaking $975 down to an hourly rate comes to approximately $0.45/hour. This time is not only spent on managing trophy imports, but staying abreast of changes to Customs rules and regulations, working with and advocating for better policies with USFW, and providing educational information to the hunting community at large. With all of this, I believe that SSI certainly provides a bang for your buck!

At the end of the day, hunters will have to make the best choice for their circumstance. This is true for whom they hunt with, who mounts their animals, and how they get home. We provide a service that removes the worry and hassle of the import process so that hunters can focus on their hunts and life. For those we have served, they seem pleased with their outcomes. We plan to continue to provide as much aid to hunters as we can.

Now if you’ll excuse me, we have just gotten another elephant permit that we have been fighting to get for the last 8 years. I am going to go get it in so that I can see the smile on the hunter’s face when it gets to his home.

Wyatt Fetner
 
Posts: 192 | Location: New York | Registered: 25 May 2012Reply With Quote
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Picture of Gundog 64
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quote:
Originally posted by Safari Specialty Importers:
On average, SSI will have spent 9 months of time from the beginning of the hunt until the trophies are cleared and delivered to their final destination. Breaking $975 down to an hourly rate comes to approximately $0.45/hour.

Wyatt Fetner

Wyatt,
First, thank you for the information. I am going to take exception to this statement of yours. No business is going to stay afloat at $0.45 an hour. Also by your math you are spending 2,166 hours per customer.
John
 
Posts: 793 | Location: MI | Registered: 26 November 2009Reply With Quote
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so hard to take this clown serious .45 an hour. I guess he never realize how few people respond or even look at his post when he does them.
 
Posts: 576 | Location: macungie , Pa | Registered: 21 March 2014Reply With Quote
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Picture of SFRanger7GP
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I had finished trophies from 2019 waiting for shipment to the US. I used the shipper in country in the past with no issues. Everything was crated and ready when the panic-demic started and the shipper told me don't worry, we can sort this when things get back to normal. No storage fees. When shipping opened up recently, I reached out to 3 different companies to assist me with getting them into the US. I got 3 different prices. Three seemed to be excessive but all listed the EXACT services.

I sent the estimate for their "services" to the shipper in country and he agreed the charges were excessive and some were questionable at best. Especially since a lot of the services they claimed to be providing had already been done in country. WTF??!! Three estimates were between 4K and 6.5K. The company I went with (recommended by the in-country team) called me today and told me they had my crate. They have kept me updated every week/step. They took it to their storage facility and asked did I need delivery or will I come pick it up. Under $400 with no storage fees. Extreme difference in prices for the same "VIP" service. Disclaimer so I am not misunderstood: crating, dip and pack, air freight charges were all paid to the in-country shipping country. The 3 companies I thought were excessive had tacked on over 1K extra for the same itinerary that was used. WTF??!! By the way, the in country shipping company fired the guy that was strongly suggesting I use companies that charged more.
 
Posts: 887 | Location: Wichita Falls Texas or Colombia | Registered: 25 February 2011Reply With Quote
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Picture of jdollar
posted Hide Post
quote:
Originally posted by Gundog 64:
quote:
Originally posted by Safari Specialty Importers:
On average, SSI will have spent 9 months of time from the beginning of the hunt until the trophies are cleared and delivered to their final destination. Breaking $975 down to an hourly rate comes to approximately $0.45/hour.

Wyatt Fetner

Wyatt,
First, thank you for the information. I am going to take exception to this statement of yours. No business is going to stay afloat at $0.45 an hour. Also by your math you are spending 2,166 hours per customer.
John


Yep, you would have to be an idiot to believe their service breaks down to $.45/hour/customer. SSI is not doing themselves any favors with posts like this…..


Vote Trump- Putin’s best friend…
 
Posts: 13395 | Location: Georgia | Registered: 28 October 2006Reply With Quote
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Picture of Michael Robinson
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At least there are no more "Howdies" and "y'alls". rotflmo

And all of these worries and psychic injuries and PTSD that dealing with trophy imports seemingly cause?

I have never felt any of them.

For a lot less than $1,000 - oh, excuse me, $975.


Mike

Wilderness is my cathedral, and hunting is my prayer.
 
Posts: 13623 | Location: New England | Registered: 06 June 2003Reply With Quote
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Picture of Todd Williams
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I don't have a dog in this fight really but this claim of $0.45 per hour once a few challenges to SSI's business model are raised is one of those definitive "Jump the Shark" moments.

 
Posts: 8523 | Registered: 09 January 2011Reply With Quote
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As Abraham Lincoln said, a lawyer's time is his stock in trade. I don't have time to deal with arranging shipment of trophies, importing trophies, coordinating shipments to taxidermists, etc.

SSI has been my solution to that problem.
 
Posts: 10319 | Location: Houston, Texas | Registered: 26 December 2005Reply With Quote
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Picture of Michael Robinson
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quote:
Originally posted by lavaca:
As Abraham Lincoln said, a lawyer's time is his stock in trade. I don't have time to deal with arranging shipment of trophies, importing trophies, coordinating shipments to taxidermists, etc.

SSI has been my solution to that problem.


lavaca, you surprise me.

What a relief it must be for you not to have to answer a few emails, maybe make a few phone calls, provide a POA and proof of SS number, send a wire transfer or two, and then wait.

Or are you going to tell us that you don't have to do any of those things, thanks to the amazing services of SSI?

I don't think so.


Mike

Wilderness is my cathedral, and hunting is my prayer.
 
Posts: 13623 | Location: New England | Registered: 06 June 2003Reply With Quote
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Picture of Safari Specialty Importers
posted Hide Post
quote:
Originally posted by Michael Robinson:
quote:
Originally posted by lavaca:
As Abraham Lincoln said, a lawyer's time is his stock in trade. I don't have time to deal with arranging shipment of trophies, importing trophies, coordinating shipments to taxidermists, etc.

SSI has been my solution to that problem.


lavaca, you surprise me.

What a relief it must be for you not to have to answer a few emails, maybe make a few phone calls, provide a POA and proof of SS number, send a wire transfer or two, and then wait.

Or are you going to tell us that you don't have to do any of those things, thanks to the amazing services of SSI?

I don't think so.


Howdy Mike,

It is one thing to express your disagreement with a company and its services that you personally find issue with. It is wholly another to denigrate one of our valued clients who is satisfied by the service he has received, and to you, is but a stranger on the Internet. This demonstrates a key issue in our community: the gleeful willingness to tear down and detract other hunters on differences of opinion. You don’t see anti-hunting groups doing this to each other in public, as they do understand the power of a unified front.

You clearly do have ample time to oversee all aspects of your own import, as you seem to have nothing better to do than gripe at people on the computer. Perhaps it is time to go outside and touch grass.

For the rest of y’all, stay tune for our Friday from the Field post that will be up later today!

Thanks and Gig ‘Em,

Wyatt Fetner
 
Posts: 192 | Location: New York | Registered: 25 May 2012Reply With Quote
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Picture of Michael Robinson
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Howdy Doody - you are quite the preacher.

Just so we're clear, I will call bullshit wherever and whenever I see it. And in your case, it is smeared all over your clumsy and misleading advertising efforts on this forum. I'm not the only one who has noticed and commented on it, by the way.

I don't know what you were up to when you falsely claimed to my taxidermist that I had hired you to handle the shipping of my trophies. Did you think my existing shipping agent and broker would take offence and drop me? Did you think I wouldn't find out about it until it was too late to fix things?

Bottom line is that your actions were deceptive. That was enough for me.

Even at $0.45 an hour, y'all are overpaid.


Mike

Wilderness is my cathedral, and hunting is my prayer.
 
Posts: 13623 | Location: New England | Registered: 06 June 2003Reply With Quote
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Picture of fairgame
posted Hide Post
quote:
Originally posted by Michael Robinson:
Howdy Doody - you are quite the preacher.

Just so we're clear, I will call bullshit wherever and whenever I see it. And in your case, it is smeared all over your clumsy and misleading advertising effortsMike we must share a cam on this forum. I'm not the only one who has noticed and commented on it, by the way

I don't know what you were up to when you falsely claimed to my taxidermist that I had hired you to handle the shipping of my trophies. Did you think my existing shipping agent and broker would take offence and drop me? Did you think I wouldn't find out about it until it was too late to fix things?

Bottom line is that your actions were deceptive. That was enough for me.

Even at $0.45 an hour, y'all are overpaid.


Mike we must share a campfire again if just for your humour!


ROYAL KAFUE LTD
Email - kafueroyal@gmail.com
Tel/Whatsapp (00260) 975315144
Instagram - kafueroyal
 
Posts: 9954 | Location: Zambia | Registered: 10 April 2009Reply With Quote
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$.45 an hour is laughable . Absolutely absurd.
 
Posts: 12094 | Location: Orlando, FL | Registered: 26 January 2006Reply With Quote
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Yup this guy is no better then the robert guy who was the talking head for this company. Had my run ins with him on the other big africa hunting site when they were a sponsor there.

They try and take credit for anything that happens and always put others down who offer the sane services. They just make me laugh and to me are just a joke.
 
Posts: 576 | Location: macungie , Pa | Registered: 21 March 2014Reply With Quote
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With that comment, he lost all credibility with me.
 
Posts: 12094 | Location: Orlando, FL | Registered: 26 January 2006Reply With Quote
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Mike,

We generally see eye to eye on most things -- .416's for example. And I get it that you don't like SSI and won't use them. That's your privilege and I can't fault you for your opinion. I don't think your disagreement needed to be raised on a public forum though.

For me, SSI offers a valuable service and I've been very satisfied. While you may find it unusual that I would pay for that service rather than "respond to a few emails and send a few wire transfers", doing so is a bit of an issue for me.

I know we are all busy, but I get a couple of hundred emails a day and my firm's spam filter grabs everything from Africa. So I miss them, unless I check. In the past, I'd have to find emails and send wires to a dip and pack company, a storage company, the shipping company, etc. Every time, I'd have to go to the bank and send another wire for another thousand or two. Takes time and delays when I miss an email.

SSI handled all that for me and it was well worth the price. My two cents. If you've got the time and the inclination to deal with all that hassle, more power to you. But I don't.
 
Posts: 10319 | Location: Houston, Texas | Registered: 26 December 2005Reply With Quote
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They also handle CITIES permits, which is a plus for me.
 
Posts: 10319 | Location: Houston, Texas | Registered: 26 December 2005Reply With Quote
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posted Hide Post
quote:
$2,500.00 Mean cost of total Travelling cost ( Economy flights, Road transfers between home and airports)
$7,900.00 Total Hunt cost including Trophy fees
$ 790.00 Gratuities
$4,900.00 Taxidermy
$1,500.00 Shipping from RSA to Houston
$ 675.00 Coppersmith
$ 650.00 Road Freight from Coppersmith home

$18,915.00 Total Safari cost

I hope and trust that you found this interesting!


Charl:

This is absolutely great information. Well done!
 
Posts: 2663 | Location: Utah | Registered: 23 February 2011Reply With Quote
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