The Accurate Reloading Forums THE ACCURATE RELOADING.COM FORUMS Hunting African Big Game Hunting Over the barrel on shipping - Mims, you there?Go | New | Find | Notify | Tools | Reply | |
| Over the barrel on shipping - Mims, you there? | Login/Join |
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Well, everything has gone fine after my great hunt in Namibia last summer. Until now. After exchanging emails (or trying to) with the taxidermist for several months, as well as the shipping agent, and getting two different shipping quotes from him, I get an email this week stating, "we have received your shipment from the taxidermist, and are preparing it for airfreight to the US.." Goes on to outline costs in detail, ending with a total of $2,982. This was after I got quotes of $900 TWO different times from the guy. His response was that the quote he send me BOTH times was for some other guy, and he doesn't know how I got it. Does anyone know of other shippers in Windhoek? Below are the details for who is involved. I don't want to drag anyone through the mud before this is resolved, but I do want to make people aware that this is happening. Booking Agent: Mims Reed (posts here as Harry) PH: Helmke von Bach, Kamajab Trophy Hunting Taxidermist: Marlon Byer, Taxidermy Studio Otjiwarongo Shipper: Harald Preschel, Namibia Safari Services I know there's not much that can be done, but I want to reach out to the only folks that could possibly help (or be helped). Use enough gun... Shoot 'till it's dead, especially if it bites. | ||
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Really, that don't sound too bad for mounts. We paid over $1600 just to get 7 sets of horns, skins and skulls from Windhoek to Birmingham. ______________________ | |||
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Shipping rates have gone way up with the cost of fuel - especially air freight. Your amount sounds about right to me. | |||
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You could look into sea freight to lower you cost. Cry 'Havoc,' and let slip the dogs of war; That this foul deed shall smell above the earth With carrion men, groaning for burial. | |||
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I used Wilko Pascheka at Reiser Taxidermy in Windhoek. My total shipping from Windhoek to San Francisco was only $900 for the airfare for my 300 lb. crate, and an additional $600 of permits, clearance, and agents fees on both ends (included delivery from port of entry to tannery). It was for horns, capes, rear skins, and zebra rug only. No mounted trophies. You neglect to say how many mounts you are trying to ship home. Your bill still seems to be unreasonably high. | |||
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I guess the thing I'm most put out about is the fact that I was given TWO DETAILED quotes based on DETAILED information provided by the taxidermist, and then all of a sudden it is three times the price. The shipment has 4 shoulder mounts (kudu, Gemsbok, Warthog, Springbok) and the horns/hides of 2 more Kudu, 1 Gemsbok, and 2 zebra rugs. They provided the quote for 415 kg, which is over 900 lbs  Seems pretty high.Use enough gun... Shoot 'till it's dead, especially if it bites. | |||
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About a 1/3 of which will be packing paper  When we unpacked ours we got 5 30gal bags of paper out of the box, there was paper everywhere.______________________ | |||
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Last year it cost me $4000 to ship seven mounted heads back from RSA air freight. I had been given an estimate that it would cost no more than $2000 by the taxidermist. The excuse I got was that costs had gone up. They have you by the gazonnies and are squeezing because they know you want those heads and horns. Not much you can do about it now. THE LUCKIEST HUNTER ALIVE! | |||
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Last year Life Form sent me seven heads including a Buffalo and a Zebra rug and other hides in a crate that weighed in at 400 pounds. Everything was bolted to the side and the hides were used to wrap up the loose horns. Crate fit into the back of the pickup truck. Cost was around $1,600.00 delivered to Atlanta. Safari Air Cargo. Suspect costs will be higher this year. | |||
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Of course you know that "weight" is figured by volume in this case and not actual physical weight. Even with that said, I shipped a kudu, eland, sable, 2 bushbuck, reedbuck, grysbok, oribi, duiker, and bushpig mount home from Zim along with all the backskins and a pair of baboon skulls about a year and half ago. I believe it cost me just a bit more than half of what you have been quoted INCLUDING the trip from L.A. to Arizona. I would raise hell if I were you. Start with the PH or safari company. The taxidermist and shipping people know they may hear from him again and , as a customer, his voice is therefore going to be more important to them. Let me also say, as we all hopefully realize, that the fuel cost argument that some make is total bullshit and should be immediately pointed out as such whenever heard from a shipper. No offense to dogcat but fuel costs do not make up such a huge portion of total costs to justify doubling the price of a shipment...even if fuel costs were to increase by 100%. JMHO, JohnTheGreek | |||
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Travis, Give me a call before you pay the freight, I have some ideas that might help. Those charges are way out of line. Jerry Huffaker State, National and World Champion Taxidermist | |||
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Sea fraight is always cheaper. I am waiting on my cost too. My friends had 12 trophies shipped for around $2000 from South Africa . | |||
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My shipping costs from Namabia to Baltimore was $1260 and $294.50 to clear customs etc.. The shipment included untaned hides of Zebra, Giaraffe, Springbok hide, skull and horns and the same for Gemsbok. Just faxed the check for clearing and will pick up the crate Monday at BWI. | |||
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Texan, if this is of any helps. I just got a shoulder mounted eland, impala, warthog, a zebra rug and euro mounts of a kudu and wildebeest back from Zim last month. Total freight bill to Seattle WA was $1,300 | |||
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Check with John Meehan at Fauna and Flora[jjmeehan@faunaandflora.com] about using his Ocean Cargo scheme in conjunction with Safaari Air Cargo in Johannesburg. Ocean Cargo is significantly cheaper. It's worth a call at least. Les | |||
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Try this----after many rip offs over the years- now what I do with my trophies---I make it clear with the safari company that I am NOT interested with any more trophies.I am there for the experience and to share it....if they want the trophies --its all theirs- I know the meat etc. will be utlized.I feel sorry for the skinner who is looking for something to do(good tip for nothing)..25 years of the same issues...no more--------------- | |||
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you would be surpriesed at how much freight has gone up since Novemebr. Any oen doing international business knows this is just how it goes. SOrry you are getting hit with it, but this is just part of the game. I have been burned getting trophies shipped back as well. Won't even tell you the horror stories in business. Getting trophies shipped from over seas isa far cry from running to the corner grocery to buy a gallon of milk. That cost you can pin down. International shipping you can not. But now you know and won't be surprised next time | |||
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Guests My SA taxidermist tells me he can get a confirmed price/quote prior to consignment dispatch .... NOW is that bollocks OR are some taxidermists/freighing companies PULLING THE WOOL ??? Peter | |||
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The way I read it is that the taxidermist gave you quotes in the past? If so, that is fo rthe price at that time. These prices fluctuate wildly. ocean freight is cheaper if you do not mind the wait. THere is nothing the taxidermist can do to reduce the charges from the shipping company. What people paid a year ago or even a few months ago has no relation to your problem. Check it out with some shippers on thi send and see if it is way out of line. But bear in mind that some one has to get your trophies to the shipper and get them on a plane or boat. Be sure you look at total costs with each option you research. Piss the right person off and you will never see the tophies again. It is funny how so many people automatically assume that some one is trying to screw some one. We have heard a few scant facts of a story and people start jumping to cinclusions. Have you done much international shipping before? | |||
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Last year, I had a shipment from Windhoek, Namibia that the taxidermist said would cost around $4000. I went ballistic and said no way. Found out they were going to ship in 2 crates which ended up in one crate and included a full mounted Leopard. It also depends on who the taxidermist uses for shipping and the route of the shipment. After many emails, the taxidermist and shipper checked on different routes and found that it was cheaper to send it to Germany, instead of RSA, due to the size of aircraft handling shipments out of Windhoek. You need to take an active roll in the shipping phase and not just say, well okay ship it. | |||
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4 years ago, I had trophies being shipped out of Namibia to Atlanta, Georgia. I had also decided that they were gouging me on the airfreight. I called Coppersmith's in Atlanta and asked them to find me a cheaper route. The agent for Coppersmiths actually went out to the taxidermists studio in Windhoek, claimed my trophies using a power of attorney that I had signed, and then shipped my trophies using another air carrier. I saved over 40% off of the original quote from the Namibian taxidermists. It worked for me and it might work for you. Ron L | |||
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We ship with Lufthansa air freight from Addis Ababa to the USA. Mt. Nyala, lesser kudu, Grants gazelle, Menelik's Bushbuck, and dik-dik skulls, horns, and capes or full skins have been averaging less than $400. Dipping, packing, and documentation is $80 to $120 per animal, depending on what is taken. Now we do have to realize that it is more air miles to points south of Ethiopia but even taking that into account, when I hear these horror stories about the charges for shipments from Southern African countries I can only arrive at one conclusion. Somebody is getting s*****d! Rich Elliott Rich Elliott Ethiopian Rift Valley Safaris | |||
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With all the people (including me) getting ripped off by clearing agents in the US and shipping agents in Africa, we have to set up our own shipping/customs clearing company. I volunteer to move to Africa and set up the business on that end.  AR Shipping and Customs Clearing The one stop source for all your trophy shipping needs. Owned and operated by hunters. Regards, Terry  Msasi haogopi mwiba [A hunter is not afraid of thorns] | |||
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Somebody has to do the tough jobs, Terry. Thanks for volunteering for this one (LOL). THE LUCKIEST HUNTER ALIVE! | |||
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Try I.F.N. Airfreight Logistics in Windhoek. They shipped our trophies last year and did a great job for a reasonable price although our animals were not "stuffed"  Email contact is : operations@ifn.com.na | |||
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There's no cheap way to do this! I had sticker shock myself getting horns, a zebra hide and a few back skins back from Kamanjab. My shipping was about $1500. Still had a great hunt with great people, but it's probably a good thing I didn't have all the costs factored in or I might have wavered on going. Bob | |||
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I love when we boys here in the USA listen to booking agents tell us "it's cheaper to hunt 4 or 5 animals in Africa for 10 days than it is to hunt elk in the Rockies ...." SURE it is if you don't have to fly there and don't bring those 4 or 5 animaslhome to be mounted! Yet I go do every few years  just can't help myself. But next trip I'm thinking I'll leave the horns/hides in Namibia. | |||
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Well, I just re-read my post. I don't regret the trip for an instant, think of it every day. Lets just say it was a good idea to spread the $ pain over a while. Helmke & Harry are both great guys and helped me & Zack put together a fabulous trip at a very fair price. Bob | |||
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One think you can do is reduce the insurance. they often insure the trophies for $10,000 or more. It is nearly impossible to collect if something goes wrong and the insurance company will nit replace your hunt tehy will want a quote for rapir of the trohoy...by dropping the insuranc ew way down you might knock of $100 right there Mike Legistine actu quod scripsi? Never under estimate the internet community's ability to reply to your post with their personal rant about their tangentially related, single occurrence issue.  What I have learned on AR, since 2001: 1. The proper answer to: Where is the best place in town to get a steak dinner? is…You should go to Mel's Diner and get the fried chicken. 2. Big game animals can tell the difference between .015 of an inch in diameter, 15 grains of bullet weight, and 150 fps. 3. There is a difference in the performance of two identical projectiles launched at the same velocity if they came from different cartridges. 4. While a double rifle is the perfect DGR, every 375HH bolt gun needs to be modified to carry at least 5 down. 5. While a floor plate and detachable box magazine both use a mechanical latch, only the floor plate latch is reliable. Disregard the fact that every modern military rifle uses a detachable box magazine. 6. The Remington 700 is unreliable regardless of the fact it is the basis of the USMC M40 sniper rifle for 40+ years with no changes to the receiver or extractor and is the choice of more military and law enforcement sniper units than any other rifle. 7. PF actions are not suitable for a DGR and it is irrelevant that the M1, M14, M16, & AK47 which were designed for hunting men that can shoot back are all PF actions. 8. 95 deg F in Africa is different than 95 deg F in TX or CA and that is why you must worry about ammunition temperature in Africa (even though most safaris take place in winter) but not in TX or in CA. 9. The size of a ding in a gun's finish doesn't matter, what matters is whether it’s a safe ding or not. 10. 1 in a row is a trend, 2 in a row is statistically significant, and 3 in a row is an irrefutable fact. 11. Never buy a WSM or RCM cartridge for a safari rifle or your go to rifle in the USA because if they lose your ammo you can't find replacement ammo but don't worry 280 Rem, 338-06, 35 Whelen, and all Weatherby cartridges abound in Africa and back country stores. 12. A well hit animal can run 75 yds. in the open and suddenly drop with no initial blood trail, but the one I shot from 200 yds. away that ran 10 yds. and disappeared into a thicket and was not found was lost because the bullet penciled thru. I am 100% certain of this even though I have no physical evidence. 13. A 300 Win Mag is a 500 yard elk cartridge but a 308 Win is not a 300 yard elk cartridge even though the same bullet is travelling at the same velocity at those respective distances. | |||
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Thanks for the input, guys. I guess the biggest thing for me was that the same guy sent two quotes on March 4, then comes back with this much higher quote only 5 weeks later. I'll check out some options, and probably end up paying the freight and chalking it up to a lesson learned. Bobc, have you received your stuff yet? I think Helmke told me one of ya'll got a whopper of a Springbok...I'm jealous of that! Use enough gun... Shoot 'till it's dead, especially if it bites. | |||
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I thought the outfitter/agent was suppose to help on these problems? Are you getting any help from them? | |||
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Trademark, we received our shipment in November. Zebra rug is done now and gemsbok shoulder mount is due soon. I have warthog & another gemsbok & kudu to finish skull mounts. We didn't shoot a springbok, but my friend Alan did just before our trip. Maybe the whopper was his. Bob | |||
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The lady that has helped me with my air frt. in the past is: Pam Foerster IFN Airfreight Logistics 26-28 Maxwell St. Winhoek Box 4400 Phn 061 249400 Fax 061 249403 You can borrow money but you can not borrow time. Go hunting with your family. | |||
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Hi Mims, Thanks for the nice words on me handling your past shipments. As you know I have left IFN and started my own company specialising in shipping trophies mainly to the USA. You can contact me now at the following: Pam Foerster International Air Cargo Services 43 feld Street,Windhoek, Namibia Tel.++264 61 255333(O) ++264 61 223800 (H) Fax ++264 61 230700 Cell ++264 81 240 9578 email: pam-iacs@mweb.com.na Also I did do a re-quote for your friend Travis based on the same information and I went back to him with a quote +/- USD 300 cheaper using the same routing and airlines, so somewhere along the line he has been quoted "hidden extras". BTW its only my opinion, but with the escalating costs here in Namibia and Africa in general, I am beginning to believe that its becoming less economical for American hunters to have headmounts done here on the basis they are saving money. Shouldermounts/headmounts are always based on volumetric weight and with the rising costs of aviation fuel, (we are expecting quite a hike this Wednesday)and costs elsewhere i.e.airfreight costs, is it really worth it to have them done here as some of the Taxidermists are also becoming expensive one wqay or the other. By all means having skins tanned here can save money because they are not volumetric,but I believe its not cost effective anymore to have shouldermounts done. Only my opinion.. Should any of your clients or anyone else wish to contact me for shipping quotes please contact me at the above email address. I can also give them a list of the Outfitters that have been using my services for 12+ years for references if needed. enjoy your hunt in Kamanjab and look forward to seeing you this trip. Your true Pommie or Brit friend Pam | |||
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I am happy to also recommend Pam, who worked with me in Jan 04 to ship my skins from Namibia. Pam - glad to see you posting on AR, and thanks again for your help in getting the leopard and other game shipped from Kuzikus (Fritz Reinhard). I posted a few pictures of the mount on the forum at: https://forums.accuratereloading.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/1821043/m/308109422 Regards, Bill | |||
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Hi rslus, Just as a matter of Interest was your Taxidermist on this shipment either Tropahendioenste or Reiser,or perhaps someone else. Here in Namibia most of us freight forwarders have a problem shipping by seafreight for Mounted trophies. This is because whatever route we use it has to go either to Cape town or Hamburg. Asd you know here in Namibia the heat can be very extensive and we have one big problem. to ship either via Cape Town or Walvis Bay, unle4ss they have a fuill container going to Hamburg ex Walvis bay orCape town, vie truking from Windhoek the shipment sits there at both places waiting for a "groupage"container. Normally the Shipping Lines or Agents do not tell you how long it takes to get your "critters"loaded and if they are sitting in that extensive heat we worry about "hair slippage"because of theweating - bearing in ind all trophies are wrapped in plastic wrapping. Secondly by the time your shipment eventually gets to the USA the permits have expired and with Cites that is is big Problem...Just my thoughts and explanations.... ..
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