I have listed the charges from Coppersmith for 5 Skull mounts from SA. The Freight and export fees were paid on the originating end.

From those with more experience, do these appear legitimate?

Bond To Customs $65
Terminal Charges & Service $30
Storage $20
Customs Entry Service $100
Fish & Wildlife Entry Service $100
Wharehouse Handling &65
Messenger Service $25
USDA Clr & Exam Service $25
CC Accounting Fee $21.50
Total $451.50

That's way I glad I clear my own shippments!

And my clients!!!

I changed to coppersmith this year from flora and fauna because their charges were becoming bogus. Now it looks like they are catching up and fast. Next time its pictures only, couldnt do it this time because i finally got that sable.

I used Coppersmith back in 2001. Widowmaker, can you expound as to why these charges are bogus? Conversely, what should they be? jorge

Jorge - - -

This is the kind of (pardon my words) Shit! that makes hunters not want to bring back their trophies!

I'm not saying they are bogus, they're not charged by the different dept. They are the brokers charges.

The only charge I have when I go to air cargo is Fish & wildlife $50.00 (import permit) and shipping charges, which some clients pay in advance. I do charge something for my time depends on if I doing the mounts and how many. Usually if there's 6 or more mounts I just charge my client for any charges that I have to pay when at the airport, (ex: Fish & Game - $50.00). I don't understand all these charges, "Bond to custom" "custom entry" "USDA" I was never charged any of these, and I've cleared alot of shippments.. It's completly out of hand!

I have a US Fish and Wildlife Import/Export permit, and a I'm licenced by USDA to receive restricted shippments... I do pay for these, yearly only, no restrictions on how many shipments. I feel the permits are part of my business..

If someone here can tell us what each of these items really are, I wish they could explain them to the rest of us. Why is a $65 bond reguired? Terminal charge, storage, and warehouse fee - total $105. Sounds like what they are charging for is the box to sit in the corner for a while. Messenger fee $25, Accounting fee $21.50? How much clerical time is required for this? Those who have cleared their own trophies - how much time did it take and what were your out of pocket costs? Did you have to post a bond?

RBHunt,

I know if you have any kind of pig or primate you have to have a "Approved agent" by USDA clear the shippment. It has to be treated before you can touch it.

I'm a F&W Import/exporter, any I don't understand these charges!

I see Coppersmith is still up to their old tricks! In particular, "warehouse transfer $65."

Three years ago I had some horns stolen from a shipment, somewhere between arrival in Chicago and upon truck delivery at our door. At the end of the deal all I got was a "sorry" from Carol at Coppersmith. However, as one of the many excuses that I got from their staff was that they never actually handled the crate, that it stayed at the Lufthansa Cargo facility until it was picked up by the trucking company. So I questioned why I was charged for a "warehouse transfer". Painted into that corner, Coppersmith told me it was a billing error and I was sent a refund for that amount. I then checked the paperwork from a previous shipment and there was a similar charge for "warehouse transfer". I called them out on that and was sent a refund check.

I call that bill padding!

I would suggest you call them and challenge them about this "warehouse transfer". I suspect your shipment never left the airfreight cargo hanger until picked up by the trucking outfit.

I also called them on inflated charges in getting my trophies back from RSA. The bill went down considerably.

After a hunt in Argentina this year, I cleared the trophies for my two hunting buddies and me myself. It wasn't that big a deal, and saved a lot of money. Of course, if you don't live in a port of entry city, it might be much harder.

I cleared a lot of my own shipments. The total time to clear any shipment through customs, USDA, USFWS is about 30 minutes of a persons time.
It is big rip off, but if they are only game in town what do you do.

Any shipment all USDA is inspects the paperwork with the shipment and if all the export permits are there, they are happy. The exception is usually pigs where they have to go to approved facility for further treament. Cities permitted animals have to have a cities permit with the item, then USFWS is satisfied.

When you clear your own items you do not have to have a bond.

I checked with USDA was informed if I had all hides tanned prior to shipping they do not have to inspect and do not have any special stipulations.
USFWS says you do not need a go through shipping agent. I have never had to pay a fish and wildlife fee except for cities permit, if needed in advance.

These brokers are there for people who do not want to hassle with checking there own animals through customs, etc.

If you had enough time to spend in Africa and could have everything tanned or dipped and pack and brought back as extra baggage you would not have to go through any of this hassle.

If someone with more knowledge from USDA or USFWS would like to clarify please step forward.

I just pulled the bill for my last African safari. It was not Coppersmith and I won't mention the name.

COLLECT AIR FREIGHT $2304.44
CLEARANCE FEE $ 125.00
FISH AND WILDLIFE INSPECTION FEE $ 95.00
ADD'L FISH AND WILDLIFE CLASSIFICATIONS $40.50
CDC PERMIT $25.00
TERMINAL AND STORAGE CHARGES $150.00
AIRLINE RECOVERY FEE $46.08
INLAND DELIVERY $140.00
COURIER SERVICE $ 10.00
CUSTOMS GENERAL ORDER STORAGE CHARGES $685.00

TOTAL $3621.02

This was a large shipment with several lifesize skins. I was told that the extra storage charges was because they held it for clearing the warthog and baboon which requires extra documentation.

Clearing Agents are the biggest scam in the safari industry.

I got into a fight with Carol Rutkowski at Coppersmith over my last shipment. Left the damn thing in her warehouse while we argued for 6 months. Finally got a $200 reduction in her charges.

Here is what she charged (one box from Zimbabwe with a buffalo skull and elephant tusks).

Freight $1,293.04 (I had approved freight charges of $993.00 in advance. Some company named Emo Trans intercepted the shipment at DFW airport and held it for a day before transferring to Coppersmith. Emo Trans charged for $300.04 for their "services". Coppersmith could not explain how Emo Trans came into possession of my shipment nor why Coppersmith didn't take control of my shipment upon arrival at DFW.)

Storage Charges $50.00
Airport Transfers $30.00
Custom Bond $246.00
Customs Entry Services $100.00
Fish & Wildlife Services $100.00
Messenger Services $25.00
Bonded Warehouse Services $65.00

Why hide behind all of these charges? Why not just say Coppersmith Services $xxx.00?

I talked to another clearing agent at DFW, ABX Logistics, they quoted a flat fee of $225.00 for clearing trophies.

If you really want to piss off Carol, ask for copies of all documentation supporting the listed charges, as I did. Guess what, she hasn't got any - you will never see it. These are all her charges, she just makes them sound like they are going to someone else.

Regards,

Terry

P.S.

Jim,
Just pay the fees to Coppermsith and use someone else next time. Not worth fighting over it in the long run.

I think you should change the Topic name, Coppersmith is just one of many that have all these "charges"

it should read: "Brokers - Fair charges?"

Well getns, now you have me thinking. I'll have to dig up my bill from Coppersmith. In 2002, I remember being amazed that ground transportation from Atlanta to Orange Park (Jacksonville) Fla was almost as the air freight from RSA to Atalnta. Suffice to say, I jumped in my truck and got the crate myself. When I arrived at Coppersmith, they told me that the warehouse guys were out to lunch. Well, I managed to talk the lady into letting me drive the forklift so I put the crate right in my truck and drove off!

Well, I guess forewarned is forearmed amd I'll know better when it comes time to retrieve my trphies after my hunt thic coming June. BTW, any other "reputable" brokers you folks can recommend? jorge

Jorge,

Contact ABX Logistics, they have several US offices. I talked to them (at their Dallas office) and they seemed knowledgeable. I am planning on using them this season. They quoted me a flat rate of $225.00 when I talked to them last year while I was struggling with Coppersmith. Good to get all of this cleared in advance with them and you will need to give them your Power of Attorney so they can deal with US Customs on your behalf.

Also, the Customs Power of Attorney you granted to Coppersmith on your original shipment remains in full force until you revoke it in writing. So probably not a bad idea to send Coppersmith a letter revoking all previous Powers of Attorney.

From Coppersmith's website:
"Will I have to fill out this form again?
No, once you have done this and are entered in our computer data base your POA will remain in effect until you revoke it. As a note, if you already have a POA on file with another Customs Broker, please call or fax them and advise them that you are revoking the POA you have on file with them."


Regards,

Terry

Well, the score is 13 zip against Coppersmith. I am going to call them and get an accounting of every line.

Do I understand that the USDA charge is bogus because they were finished trophies?

Let us not forget, we not only pay charges when we receive the shipment but when it is shipped. I pulled one of the bills I paid on a recent Australian deer hunt. This is on the shipment out of Australia and does not include the receipt and clearance charges in the US. The bill we get for air freight is not always just air freight. This is for three deer capes and horns.

AIR FREIGHT $548.80
WAR RISK SURCHARGE $31.20
OVERSEAS FUEL LEVY $22.40
AWB FEE $30.00
AIRLINE DOCUMENT FEE $25.00
AIRLINE SECURITY FEE $5.00
EXPORT PERMITS $50.00
OVERSEAS INSURANCE $125.00
CARTAGE $26.00
EXPORT DOCUMENT PREPARATION $40.00
EXPORT ENTRY (ECN) $30.00
COMMUNICATION COST $30.00
AGENCY FEE $85.00

TOTAL $1076.90

So the $1076.90 that I paid to have my trophies shipped to me was twice the amount of the freight. And then I paid the US side when it arrived here. As a previous post stated, it is not just one broker that charges. This is from a broker outside of the US.

I used Hechny's and was reasonably happy with them. I will look for the itemized bill. I drove up to Atlanta to pick up my trophies. I think the USFWS is in league with these brokers.! I posted on this forum, some time ago, asking how to "bring in" your own trophies. I'm afraid that I did not get a lot of concrete steps, jst a "do what FWS say". Well I called them up and asked for the forms and instructions. Every time I called with questions I was told "well, your custome broker will handle that for you". I must have been told this a least half a dozen times! I'm sure that USFWS is comfortable dealing with the brokers because they know them, deal with them every day and hence have to do less work. Just MHO. Now the storage fee is legit. I was told that the airline charges either $30 or $50 per day to store the shipment once it is cleared.
So the $150 is for either 3 or 5 days storage. You should be able to figure this out. Also, as has been stated above, there is additional grief for warthog or other swine.
Peter.

Thanks, Terry. I'll keep them in mind. jorge

Since shipping cost have cime up again some here will remember post regarding my shipping. I think we should name names to known who to avoid next time.
My shipment was received by Hunter international. Can anyone tell me what an Airline ISC fee of $30.00 is or a Demurrage fee of $70.00 is? My shippment arrived on 12-28 and I was not notified in person. My taxidermist was called and he called me first thing the night of 12-30. I called and left a message on the night of the 30th and was fully ready to wire the money on the 31st. I called on the 31st and found the office closed and had to call them on following Monday and was charged for storage that was beyond my control when I was fully prepared to have the money wired within hours of notification had I been told on the 28th or 29th. But the worst is the shipping fee of $3,074 for a crate that was over built and two horns still managed to get lost! After complaining to Safariland taxidermy in Bulawayo and Cargolux airline I'm told the calculations on the size was off and I'm owed $1,360 refund. However Hunter international wont send a check until they are reimburst by Cargolux.

Terry,

I used ABX last year to clear my 12 African critters into Houston. Lynette Lilley in Houston was very professional. See charges below.

The "inland delivery fee" was for trucking to my taxidermist's tannery, which was 3 hrs. away, and the $25 for the port exemption is the result of Houston not being a normal USFWS entry point. Storage was the airline's charge for several days before the USFWS cleared the shipment.

DOCUMENT TRANSFER FEE $ 65.00
ABX CLEARANCE FEE $ 125.00
FISH AND WILDLFIE INSPECTION FEE $ 95.00
PORT EXCEPTION PERMIT APPLICATION $ 25.00
TERMINAL & STORAGE CHARGE $ 80.00
AIRLINE RECOVERY FEE $ 10.00
INLAND DELIVERY $ 80.00


TOTAL $480.00

Last year I used Hunter International for clearing our stuff from NZ. Maria Europa Felix is a class act, and if I ever need brokerage service again, she would get it. My partner and I had everything packed in one large crate. It included the hides and skulls of two large red deer stags, two tahr, a chamois, Arapawa ram, a skinned Canada goose, lifesize wallaby and two turkey tails. Total below, including trucking from SanFran to my door here in Phoenix. -TONY

Brokerage fee $ 190.00 (for two of us)
Exam handling (USFWS fee) 85.00
Airline import service fee 30.00
Residential delivery 205.00 (liftgate charge included)

Total $ 510.00

I too have used ABX -Lynette Lilley in Houston.
They rec'd the shipment and transferred it to Conroe Taxidermy very efficiently and quoted a flat price though had a breakdown if needed.

However, I tried to use ABX in Miami for this last shipment of finished trophies and did not get the same reception. Apparently Lynette in Houston is the one who knows how to do all this, not the other offices. The Miami office just didn't even call back. If you are close to Houston and want to use Air Cargo call Lynette for sure.

Finally went with Fauna and Flora using their Ocean Cargo deal by way of Safari Air Cargo in Johannesburg. It worked like a charm, and was cheap enough to get another trophy or two next trip.

Les

Les,

That's why I would suggest someone call Hunter International before committing to any clearing agent. Maria coordinates with her offices around the country with a "the buck stops here" attitude.

Before we left, she sent me a handful of hangtags to put on the hides and antlers/horns. She even had an agent in NZ that took care of everything on that end as per her instructions. Plus, she was in constant contact with me either by phone or email, as was the guy in NZ.

From the time my shipment hit the ground in SF to the time it was delivered to my front porch took 5 days. -TONY

I agree with Tony, two thumbs up for Maria at Hunter International. She handled my shipment into San Francisco last year and did a great job. I will use her services again this year.

John

For any of you who are interested, there's a thread going under which I posted my experience in clearing my own stuff ('clearing trophies yourself?'). This process was prompted by Coppersmith's many charges (which were significantly reduced after I negotiated with them).