Taxi Trouble

[gallion_t]

I just wanted some people oppinion on my situation. I dropped off my 2011 buck last October and was told it would be done in 9 month, 6 if I paid in full up front. Wanting to have some leverage I only put the half down. July comes around and I give him a call to see if were still on schedule and I was told the end of the month. Thats only about 2 weeks late I figured no big deal. At about this same time I find out my Mom had decided to surprise me and paid the other half at the beginning of the month. August comes around and I still haven't heard from him so I call him back. I am then told any day now. I keep waiting. September comes and I still haven't heard anything. I call him back and once again get the "any day now" response. Once pushed he tells me the end of the month. End of September comes and still nothing. I call him back once again. He tells me hes moved mine to the top of the list and it should be a couple weeks plus or minus a little bit depending on the drying time. I just called him back again today am still getting the "couple weeks" answer and that its pinned and in the drying stage, but still needs to finish drying and be painted.

Were now going to be 4+ months late on what I was orignally quoted and he has been paid in full for it. I informed him that I feel like I'm getting jerked around and I'm about to just come pick up my deer and money. He is telling me I can get my deer, but not my money back.

I guess my question is how much longer should I leave it there to get worked on? If he doesn't complete it what are my options as far as getting my deer and money back. At this point I feel like I am being robbed. I paid him to complete a service which he isn't doing. I understand mounts can take a long time, but when I am continually being told "any day now" and not seeing results I feel like I'm getting screwed.

[whacker1]

Does the Taxi have a good reputation elsewhere?

Many taxi's run late and telling you 6-9 months is pretty lofty for most taxi's anyway, at least in my opinion.

my suggestion is stop by BS him and ask him to see it, so that you can see if he is full of crap to begin with, but if you see it 90% done then I wouldn't worry about it.  While I feel taxi's should be held to the accountability you want, many times you are better just to stay on top of them and see if you can't nudge them along.  You don't want shotty work in return for getting upset about it.

Many taxi's are taking in work now and caping fresh animals, which probably slows them down for getting last year's animals out the door. 

[Capt Morgan]

I wish my Taxi was only 4 months late. Come January my Taxi will be 1 yr behind schedule with no end in site. :bash:Yes I could go grab it & take it somewhere else but I'd just start at the end of the line so whats a guy to do.

[h20hunter]

I agree....stop by and check things out if you can. My issue is I keep sending my taxi stuff so she can't get started on everything at once and get a little hunting time in for herself!

[gallion_t]

It doesnt bother me that its late. It's that he keeps telling me its going to be any day now. If its going to be late thats fine. Just be honest and give me a reasonable answer. Thats whats bother me.

[cedarriver]

 Go to the shop and check things out. A lot of things can happen in the course of the year to slow things down, but no excuse for not telling you what is holding things up. Money wise not sure, on the legal end, but not how I would do business myself.
 Good luck!

[CAMPMEAT]

Post the name of the business, ain't no law against that. Then see what kind of responses you get and tell the guy you did it. Might light a fire under his azz ! That's what I'd do and don't care about feelings... it's your money and you want it now !!!

[gallion_t]

I plan on stopping by his shop this weekend and seeing if anything has been done. Today was the first time that I talked to him and he had said progress had been made. I understand things come up but you should keep your customers informed of things like that. I just hope by expressing my frustration with him that he doesn't do a crappy job and just throws something together to get me off his back.

[adamR]

my father-in-law took a bull to a taxi that will remain nameless...  he told us that it would be done by the following season.  We called around 13 months later and he told us that it would be about a month, which was fine.  Two months later we were told he had his freezer go out and had to have an emergency move and things were scattered blah blah blah.  4 months later we called and he said it would be two more months at least.  We told him we would come pick up the horns and the money the next day and we were tired of his bs.  The next morning he called and said it was drying and would be done in a week.  Turned out to be one of the best mounts I've ever seen. 
It's not a matter of how long it takes, it could have taken 3 years, just be honest.  Why mess with your customers, just come out and say it will be done at this time, and have it done at that time!

[BuckHunter23]

My brother is still waiting on his 2010 Spring Bear to be finished.  Over two years now and been several months since he's received any kind of update. 

[mdbuck5x5]

It doesnt bother me that its late. It's that he keeps telling me its going to be any day now. If its going to be late thats fine. Just be honest and give me a reasonable answer. Thats whats bother me.

I definitely know how frustrating waiting years on end can be. Like you said its not how long it takes, it's the stringing along that comes with it! I would definitely stay on top of it.  A taxidermist I used for my 2004 muley took 4 years to get back and my dads 2005 bull he did took 5 years. Now I think he did nice work but it was the people skills and professionalism that came along with it that was terrible! I now have a new taxi that I am extremely happy with and thankfully all thats in the past.

[elkhunter1977]

My Taxi is 5 years late. Hopefully he reads this and remembers he still has it.

Wow!....that's unacceptable!... I hope you are fibbing a little. There is no reason what so ever to be that far behind.....

[Kola16]

it's your money and you want it now !!!

Your right! It's my money, and I need it now!!! 

[coastie hunter]

 Maybe it's just me but if I have problems with a taxi I will make sure you guys no there name. I dont want you to have the same problems.

[HornHoarder]

My Taxi is 5 years late. Hopefully he reads this and remembers he still has it.

Wow!....that's unacceptable!... I hope you are fibbing a little. There is no reason what so ever to be that far behind.....

So your saying my buck from 2003 should be done by now We must have the same taxidermist.

[littlemac]

My brother is still waiting on his 2010 Spring Bear to be finished.  Over two years now and been several months since he's received any kind of update. 

Is it a full mount?  I believe our full mounts took in the 2+ year range.

It is the point of getting jerked around in my opinion.

[littlemac]

My Taxi is 5 years late. Hopefully he reads this and remembers he still has it.

Wow!....that's unacceptable!... I hope you are fibbing a little. There is no reason what so ever to be that far behind.....

So your saying my buck from 2003 should be done by now We must have the same taxidermist.

I have a Red Stag, Sika, Thar and Chamois in New Zealand since 2008, difficult to stop by but I have friends headed that way in a few months.  Same stories others are relating here.

[littlemac]

Thought I would throw this out there. The pic below is my son holding his 2011 bull in the New Mexico taxi's shop on Oct 2nd, 2012, dropping off his 2012 bull. 

Granted the hide was tanned already, but I got called today to pay the shipping for his 2012 meat and 2011 mount that is done.

Obviously the time element is scheduling and getting the work done.

[sirmissalot]

I understand the frustration, and agree with many of you that its not that its taking longer than expected, its the stringing along and BSing. I've got a bear rug from 2010 that I've written off to a lesson learned, not because of time (even though 2+ years is rediculous to me) but because of the stringing along and excuses. A man is only as good as his word... honesty goes a long ways in any business. I don't mind waiting for something if I know the product will turn out right, and I also don't mind paying a little more for a quality product and an acceptable lead time.

[bobcat]

The deer that you see in my avatar, was killed November 8th, 2004.

I had the finished mount back by Christmas. (Yes, same year, 2004). 

[NWBREW]

The deer that you see in my avatar, was killed November 8th, 2004.

I had the finished mount back by Christmas. (Yes, same year, 2004). 

Can you post a pic of the finished mount?

[bobcat]

The deer that you see in my avatar, was killed November 8th, 2004.

I had the finished mount back by Christmas. (Yes, same year, 2004). 

Can you post a pic of the finished mount?

Yes, I can tonight.

[sirmissalot]

This buck was on the wall 8 months after he hit the dirt

The bear was about 6 months


It is possible to produce quality work in a timely manner.

[mdbuck5x5]

Of course on the flipside its extremely nice when the turnaround time is quicker than expected and the quality is still there. I shot this buck on Nov.19th last year and was told it would be around 9-10 months but picked it up on Mar.31st! In half the time I was told, I'll take that. 

[canyelk48]

One year and still waiting for my mount!  Something to do with the tannery guy in NE Washington making all kinds of excuses of why he's way behind.  Pretty fed up and wondering if I'll ever see my deer mount!  As a comparison, I shot a whitetail deer on my farm in Tennessee and had my mount less than 3 months later!  He did his own tanning, so maybe that's why he could get it done so quick.

[Ballance1]

Took my stuff to the same tannery and had to make excuses to my customers for why their stuff is late. First time I've ever had to do this. Needless to say I use a different tannery this season.

[head hunter]

This is the reason why I will only use one taxi. I trust him and the time he says stuff will be done the only truble i have had in this department is when I moved and decided to use a differant taxi in Anacortes. And well I told his worker that when i picked up my mount and I had a reciept that said paid in full, she, as in his helper jacked up the price 175 dollars and was not going to budge. even thought I had paper work from them that said paid. I will never use this guy again and inturn he has lost out in thousands of dollars in work. I drive mine across the state just so I dont have problems. Take my advice find a good one and stay with them.

[littlemac]

My Taxi is 5 years late. Hopefully he reads this and remembers he still has it.

Wow!....that's unacceptable!... I hope you are fibbing a little. There is no reason what so ever to be that far behind.....

So your saying my buck from 2003 should be done by now We must have the same taxidermist.

I have a Red Stag, Sika, Thar and Chamois in New Zealand since 2008, difficult to stop by but I have friends headed that way in a few months.  Same stories others are relating here.

So about a month ago my taxidermist calls for the balance and says the mounts are ready to ship to Auckland for shipping stateside.  I figure at this point may as well anti up and hope for the best!

Mounts arrived this week, like nearly six years after my hunt.

Not out of the crate yet, but at least they are here.

[duckmen1]

Unfortunately trouble is going around. Please read my post for future awareness. Good luck to you.

[ahuntnfool]

Are we all using the same taxidermist?  I took a archery harvested bear in in 2003 to have a rug made, was also told about a year.  He would let me help him around the shop a bit so I wasn't worried.  then in 2005  won a raffle for a hunting trip in Canada got a mule deer and a moose, took them to him for shoulder mounts.  After hounding him on those finally after about 5 years I got the deer and moose back.  Long story short I still haven't seen the bear. Now he wont even answer his phone or return phone calls.  I have been talking to fish and game about the next steps to take.   It is a shame this taxidermist is very good at what he does. That was my first and only big game archery kill.  I JUST WANT THE BEAR BACK DONE OR NOT