If I pay the importers fee (Well Worldwide) I'm in for a little more than $4500 for a Bushbuck and Buffalo hides and horns before they even get to the taxidermist, I've had enough. Well has a $1800 charge on their invoice for "storage". I fully intended to leave everything in Zim after getting "that" bill but my PH thought he was doing us both a favor by paying the bill for me without letting me know it's not his fault he was acting in good conscience. What is the deal has anyone else been raped like this recently? I am going to Zambia in September and am fully prepared to take pictures and come home.

Not exactly a comment on your situation, but there seems to be a continuing and growing problem with the costs of African Safaris, and that may turn out to be the bigger threat to Safaris than USF&W rules/regulations.

It is hard to visualize going on a safari now or in the future when it seems every aspect has an increasing price tag attached.

IMO the PH is obliged to get your consent, written or verbal, before he spends $ on your behalf. That being said, I don't think you owe anyone anymore $. Also, the PH may recieve some form of remuneration from the importer, so by paying them (with "your" $) he is being self-serving.

Several people have been overcharged and kickbacks are all to common.

It isn't uncommon to hear of an African taxidermist or an African shipping agent holding a clients shipment in attempt to gain more funds.

I've used Well a number of times and never had any problems. That fee sounds extraordinarily high for a bushbuck and a buff. My last safari was 3 buffalo, a leopard, sable, and several other assorted animals and while I can't remember the precise amount it was a fraction of what you are talking about.

Did you leave the trophies with them for an extended period of time? I'm puzzled.

I used Wells for the first time (4 trips to Africa) because they were in Houston, near my new taxidermist and they charged roughly twice what my usual Custom's broker, Hunter-International (SFO) charges.

Seriously, the fees on all ends of trophy shipping are out of control (USF&W/Customs fees included).

When I got a quote for shipping from Mozambique (2011) I told the shipper "That's way more than I budgeted, please give me a couple days while I consider just having you throw my stuff in the dumpster." they took $1000 off the bill. Apparently it was still profitable for them at that price.

You should tell them that you are beyond unhappy, and see if they can give you a lower price.

These days, I'm mostly looking for 'management' type buff and elephant hunts, where I take some good pictures of my animals, and avoid what I now call the 'screw you rich American shipping surcharges.'

It should absolutely not cost more to ship a damn box one way, than it does for round trip airfare!!

$4500 for a bushbuck and buffalo hide and horns? That number is insane.

Have you looked at clearing them yourself? Might cost some money in gas and time but cheaper than $4500.

Tell them too keep them!!!

You have nothing to loose at this point. It might work and it might not.

When I received a $2,000 bill for getting a euro stag and a shoulder mount black buck out of Argentina. I told them I wouldn't pay it. They asked if I would like to store them. I said no. Ive never heard another word about it.

It still stings some. If people keep paying these inflated prices the will keep going up.

I paid slightly more than that for 2, 300+ pound crates full of taxidermy from Namibia to my garage.

I would question a PH who says he spent money for you without telling you in advance. And, as mentioned above, he is getting a kickback from whomever is exporting.
Go hunt again. The $4500 is an absolute rape.
Walk away from them and don't look back.
Cal

quote:

Originally posted by cal pappas:
I would question a PH who says he spent money for you without telling you in advance. And, as mentioned above, he is getting a kickback from whomever is exporting.
Go hunt again. The $4500 is an absolute rape.
Walk away from them and don't look back.
Cal

..............................................................ABSOLUTELY!

Left my exceptional buff in Moz.

Between dip/pack, crating, freight charges, clearance fees and an Euro mount the cost would have approached 1/3 the price of another modest buff hunt......

No brainer for me.

Please explain why one would use a customs broker to do anything? I don't get it. I've only been to Africa five times. I just have the crates shipped to the airport...and have a buddy pick them up, or a taxidermist in town. The last crate (just a week ago) my cousin picked up for $50. The crate went from RSA on Delta to ATL, MSP and finally Anchorage, AK. Why pay another "middle man" to do anything?

I'm being serious too...I really don't know.

This blatant thievery is just another reason I quit bring most things back. Between taxidermy and shipping costs I HAVENT spent in the last 5-6 years, I figure I have saved at least $14-15,000.

I'd tell them to stick it. No sense throwing good money after bad. I don't think that PH is your friend and certainly wasn't doing you any favors by allegedly paying charges for you without your consent. I'll bet some of the $$ he said he paid for you wound up in his pocket.

I'll be leaving in May for my 12th trip across the pond. I stopped bringing anything home except pictures long ago. Dip & pack, shipping, clearance etc. costs are ridiculous. Save your $$ and put them to better use funding future hunts.

quote:

Originally posted by Labman:
I'll be leaving in May for my 12th trip across the pond. I stopped bringing anything home except pictures long ago. Dip & pack, shipping, clearance etc. costs are ridiculous. Save your $$ and put them to better use funding future hunts.

This is an interesting discussion and I have asked the question before but never really got a definitive answer. In similar discussions where posters have said they only take photos and memories but leave the physical evidence behind, some have accused them of only being shooters and having no respect for the animals they have taken as trophies and then more or less dumped. This is in no way my reflection and I am not judgemental on this issue.

Apart from meat and hides of the edible animals which always seem to get used, just what does happen to the trophy heads that are shot but left?

Do PH's treat you any differently if wanting to shoot good trophies but take nothing back?

Do you shoot real good trophies i.e. record book stuff and not take home or just take representative or cull animals?

If only taking representative animals and leaving them behind how do you 'spin' out the safari as I assume for most species other than say leopard you could pretty much shoot representatives in a few days rather than spent days looking for the big or bigger trophies than you may already have got in previous trips?

I am surprised by the replies to the OP as to how many don't take trophies back with them. Obviously this is just a small selection on AR but there must be many who follow this path?

$1,564.49 to get two red stag skulls out of Scotland to my house, using Well. They were perfectly boiled and cleaned by the estate when I left. My fault not having my act together about flying home with them as baggage. 'Took a year and 3 months...from Scotland!
Of the amount, 637.19 was for an English taxidermist to screw the two skulls onto two crappy-ass pieces of plywood. "Required" my ass.

This subject is really impacting my thoughts about booking another trip to Africa. (Zim 5 times, Moz once.) Hell, I might consider trying to clear my own trophies in HOU or DFW. Even a couple of hotel nights would be cheaper than paying what the brokers are currently charging.

I might force myself to return to Zim for the simple fact alone that I don't believe Andy Hunter would screw me, if he's still in the business.

quote:

Originally posted by Nick Hughes:
If I pay the importers fee (Well Worldwide) I'm in for a little more than $4500 for a Bushbuck and Buffalo hides and horns before they even get to the taxidermist, I've had enough. Well has a $1800 charge on their invoice for "storage". I fully intended to leave everything in Zim after getting "that" bill but my PH thought he was doing us both a favor by paying the bill for me without letting me know it's not his fault he was acting in good conscience. What is the deal has anyone else been raped like this recently? I am going to Zambia in September and am fully prepared to take pictures and come home.

Sir:

Would you mind providing what makes up the $4,500? Not exact, just roughly.

I am not at all questioning what you are saying. Something seems way wrong for such a small shipment. I am wondering where you got hosed. Those storage charges are extremely high unless they had them a very long time.

quote:

Do PH's treat you any differently if wanting to shoot good trophies but take nothing back?

Do you shoot real good trophies i.e. record book stuff and not take home or just take representative or cull animals?

On most of my hunts the PH's knew going in that I wasn't bringing anything home. Three of the hunts were for non exportable elephant bulls so I wasn't expecting to shoot a 60 lb. bull. My most recent hunts were for non trophy male plains game. One such hunt was at Kananna in Botswanna for Gemsbok and Blue Wildebeest. We spotted some animals that the PH said were to big but not many. The first Gemsbok I shot measured 38.5 inches.

My upcoming hunt in May will be in Namibia for non trophy male plains game. With the exception of Gemsbok I don't want to shoot females so this
is not a normal cull hunt.

quote:

Originally posted by larryshores:

quote:

Originally posted by Nick Hughes:
If I pay the importers fee (Well Worldwide) I'm in for a little more than $4500 for a Bushbuck and Buffalo hides and horns before they even get to the taxidermist, I've had enough. Well has a $1800 charge on their invoice for "storage". I fully intended to leave everything in Zim after getting "that" bill but my PH thought he was doing us both a favor by paying the bill for me without letting me know it's not his fault he was acting in good conscience. What is the deal has anyone else been raped like this recently? I am going to Zambia in September and am fully prepared to take pictures and come home.

Sir:

Would you mind providing what makes up the $4,500? Not exact, just roughly.

I am not at all questioning what you are saying. Something seems way wrong for such a small shipment. I am wondering where you got hosed. Those storage charges are extremely high unless they had them a very long time.

+1

I've used Well three times and am planning to do so on a 4th whenever the Zambian folks get their own stuff straight.

Maybe someone from Well will chime in and explain what is going on and why this gent is being charged so much for so little. I suspect the charges have little to do with Well (the importer) and more to do with the expediter and maybe the airline/storage.

There are options, and this is certainly bad press.

I just got a bill in the last 15 minutes for three buffalo, bushbuck, hyena and a crocodile. Total cost? It was $921.

Used WELLS worldwide for all three imports without complaint.

Cheers
Jim

I have used Well for at least a dozen different trips and this has never happened to me...

My last shipment from Zambia was $1600 for dip and pack/crate and another $974 for shipping and export fees from Lusaka to Calgary. There was a full hippo skull and tusks, a buffalo skull, a couple impala, and a full leopard skin and skull in the crate. $4500 for your buff and bushbuck is way out of line, even with brokerage fees, would like to see the break down of costs.

The fees are extremely high generally. These guys charge worse than wounded buffalo and with more determination...

I've shipped several heavy crates from the US to South Africa (being an importer of North Fork products) and getting trophies here from Zimbabwe is far more expensive. My opinion is that everybody in the chain is overreaching the clients. Some are slick and efficient, but so what?

I had an issue where the dip and pack taxidermist reflected the value as the trophy fees despite these being raw hides and skulls. I was charged VAT by customs at 14%. My agent on this side paid it, causing the problem and it was not possible to put the shit back in the horse to undo it all.

Beware of declared values. The trophy fee in my opinion includes the value of the privilege of being permitted to hunt the animals. It's a fee not a value.

I'm over shipping trophies. But it will no doubt hurt some not to.

quote:

Originally posted by larryshores:

quote:

Originally posted by Nick Hughes:
If I pay the importers fee (Well Worldwide) I'm in for a little more than $4500 for a Bushbuck and Buffalo hides and horns before they even get to the taxidermist, I've had enough. Well has a $1800 charge on their invoice for "storage". I fully intended to leave everything in Zim after getting "that" bill but my PH thought he was doing us both a favor by paying the bill for me without letting me know it's not his fault he was acting in good conscience. What is the deal has anyone else been raped like this recently? I am going to Zambia in September and am fully prepared to take pictures and come home.

Sir:

Would you mind providing what makes up the $4,500? Not exact, just roughly.

I am not at all questioning what you are saying. Something seems way wrong for such a small shipment. I am wondering where you got hosed. Those storage charges are extremely high unless they had them a very long time.

Dip and pack in Zim was around 800 I paid that quite some time ago and then back around the end of the year I got a bill from the taxidermist for export/shipping fees for around 1200. Fast forward to a few day me ago and I get the invoice from well which included storage fees of 1800... I questioned this and was told it was from 2/17-2/21 the items sat at the airport that long before clearing and Well was notified.

The PH is a personal friend and I am confident he's wasn't doing anything to his advantage I got the shipping bill from the taxidermist long before he paid it I suspect the taxidermist contacted him because I was unresponsive, I was planning on stopping the bleeding then but we hadn't discussed that he was acting in good faith.

Tell me this is 1200 shipping and export fee sound right out of Bulawayo? I will dig through my emails when I have time and get a breakdown of charges.

I'm not understanding how the dip pack and shipping is a suprise? Am I the only one who BEFORE going on a trip asks what theses charges will be instead of after it's all done?

Thanks

quote:

I have used Well for at least a dozen different trips and this has never happened to me...

Me too.

I'm not really disputing the dip and pack cost mainly the extra 1800 from well and I thought 1300 for shipping was a little high

Hmmm... it kind of sounds like that $1,800 might be what they had to pay for airport storage. Emphasis on might.

Don't blame you at all for being upset.

Yes exactly it is airport storage I know that for fact but why did they let it sit there if storage is that high?

Sometimes it is not the import company's fault. It has to be cleared by USFWS and if they are backed up, it can sit a few days, and I think they get charged for secure warehouse space... if there is a federal holiday it can be a while...

quote:

Originally posted by Nick Hughes:
Yes exactly it is airport storage I know that for fact but why did they let it sit there if storage is that high?

I had a shipment held up for two weeks after arrival because US F&W changed officers.

quote:

Originally posted by jdollar:
This blatant thievery is just another reason I quit bring most things back. Between taxidermy and shipping costs I HAVENT spent in the last 5-6 years, I figure I have saved at least $14-15,000.

+1

quote:

Originally posted by Frostbit:

quote:

Originally posted by Nick Hughes:
Yes exactly it is airport storage I know that for fact but why did they let it sit there if storage is that high?

I had a shipment held up for two weeks after arrival because US F&W changed officers.

I had one held one time as well but I can't remember the reason.

quote:

Originally posted by Frostbit:
Used WELLS worldwide for all three imports without complaint.

Cheers
Jim

Me too. No issues, fair prices

quote:

Originally posted by Cazador humilde:
$1,564.49 to get two red stag skulls out of Scotland to my house, using Well. They were perfectly boiled and cleaned by the estate when I left. My fault not having my act together about flying home with them as baggage. 'Took a year and 3 months...from Scotland!
Of the amount, 637.19 was for an English taxidermist to screw the two skulls onto two crappy-ass pieces of plywood. "Required" my ass.

This subject is really impacting my thoughts about booking another trip to Africa. (Zim 5 times, Moz once.) Hell, I might consider trying to clear my own trophies in HOU or DFW. Even a couple of hotel nights would be cheaper than paying what the brokers are currently charging.

I might force myself to return to Zim for the simple fact alone that I don't believe Andy Hunter would screw me, if he's still in the business.

I'm with you!!! Andy is still in the business and took GREAT care of me in 2015! Zim is where I will return to and Andy will be handling my shipments..

quote:

Originally posted by dogcat:

quote:

Originally posted by Frostbit:
Used WELLS worldwide for all three imports without complaint.

Cheers
Jim

Me too. No issues, fair prices

Me too.