Whats an acceptable time frame on getting your animal back

[bobcat]

I've had an animal in the shop since August of 2010 and was given a 1 year date give or take a few months.  Very exceptable turn around.  I'm willing to wait for a great mount.  I emailed numerous times and no returns back.  I finally called and was told that in 2 to 3 weeks I would be able to come out and select my mount style and to pick up my skull back in July of 2011.  I waited for my call back and nothing.  I assumed with the new season starting up they were busy so I was not pushy about anything.  I waited til november to email again and still no response back.  Also sent one in December.  Is 16 months of waiting and not even being able select a mount worth it?  Is waiting this long worth the wait if communication from the taxidermist is pretty much non existent.  I want the best mount possible done and don't want to pressure anyone just to get crappy work.  Just a phone call or email back might calm my nerves a little.

I would probably stop by his shop

 

[grunt11B]

My mount took a year to get back to me. Just make sure to ask the taxidermist for a no bulls$$!!t assestment when it's be completed, and you won't experience the frustration of hearing the timeline of being pushed a couple months back. I recommend using the taxidermist on this website, such as FST, BLCKBEAR, and Michelle_Nelson, etc,etc......Best of luck to ya....

[fireoff]

I have three items in two shops right now. Michelle has a Bear rug and a Blacktail buck, Charlie has a Whitetail buck. Both have had them for a while and have kept me up to date on things, I understand things have been changing for our local folks and hope that things go better for them cause it relates in getting our mounts back done and in a timely manner. To Charlie and Michelle. Keep up the good work and let me know when you can!

[GameEater310]

I've been reading the blogs on here for a few years now but have never felt the need to reply until now.  I study taxidermist's work, and do as much research as I can, so when I give my prized possesion trustingly to one, I expect their best work and HONESTY when they tell me something.  I don't mind in the least of the price and the time if I get back quality work with great customer service.  I understand there are thing that happen, but when I call and ask how it's going,  I don't want smoke blown up my -ss telling me what you think I want to hear.  JUST BE HONEST!!! My feeling is(and tell me if anyone else feels the same way)...When I feel a reasonable amount of time has past to get my animal done and I keep getting excuses after excuses (Not involving the tannery), I don't want to pull my animal cause I've been waiting for a long time.  I don't want to put too much pressure on them and have them slap it together just to get me gone. So I feel stuck and at their mercy of lame excuses till I'll eventually get it back.  They have half my money and my animal I worked hard for and have invested alot of money into already, so they need to understand our side aswell.  In closing,  a 5 minute honest phone call goes along way in easing my frustration and is a good customer service practice. I know things happen and have seen great work on here and will try to be more patient, but no more BS please!!

[Whitelightning]

I can tell you the female taxidermist on this site that I used does incredible work! she was more than honest with me and saved a bear for me that I am not sure anyone else could have! just sayin 

[GameEater310]

no call here yet

[Kuduman]

Got Deer , Game eater:
 Sorry to hear about your issues. All I can say it that if your Taxi won't return your calls it's time for a visit.
As a general rule I try to return all calls as quickly as possible and I sure don't mind the drop ins by my customers.

In contrast I am having a bear picked up today by a clients wife. It's been about 14 months and the delay was due to wildlife gallery delaying shipment from their Misoula MT.  shipping depot to their tannery in Mt. Pleasent  Michigan .   Now when the customer called about a year after drop off he wasn't interested in why the bear wasn't done he just wanted to blow off some steam. He was rude and extremely disrespectfull. No big deal, I mounted the rug and tried to contact the customer because
he wanted his wife to see the bear before choosing the colors. two weeks later after 5-6 calls and 2-3 detailed messages the customer called me and left an irate message blasting me for leaving him a message. When the bear was done the guy wouldn't even return my call............ What a piece of work.......Can you say someone needs therapy......

Moral of the story is ..........Don't be this guy...... Although I don't try to take things personally sometimes guys like this make it hard to answer the phone. In this case the guys wife is truly the better half

the best advice I ever got was from a C.O. of mine and it was " Kindness doesn't cost you a dime, But pays off huge divedends "
Hope this helps

Kuduman

[CoryTDF]

My bear took a little over a year to get back. But, I was told up front that it would be that long so I was not worried. Just make sure before you pay in full you really look over your mount if you dont like it make it known.

[GameEater310]

Kuduman,

I appreciate your insight to the conversation and agree with you. Another adage is you catch more flies with honey than vinegar. I have been nice and understanding on some of the delays. but I guess my point was that I am the one calling and only received excuses. Believe me, my frustrations are let out on my spouse through many conversations.  I just feel at the mercy of my Taxi's whims of whether they decide they want to work or comment on here about everyones nice animals. I guess it's to say if "they" are that far behind, it's time to get to work.

[Kuduman]

GameEater:
 
Couldn't agree with you more..... I've been swamped and thats why you dont see me posting near as much as before.

Good Luck

Kuduman

[BOWHUNTER45]

Maybe next year I can help take some of the loud off  I may be getting my license this year .... I like doing birds the most ... I have gotten good enough now and my boys want to get into it So we see !! here is 2 mounts I done for my son ... you tell me if I should or not 

[BOWHUNTER45]

Again EVERYTHING I POST ON MOUNTING IS MY OWN STUFF !!!!!!

the deer is not completely finished yet but I had to show ya what he looks like so far 

[sirmissalot]

no call here yet

I sent you a PM gameeater

[Kuduman]

Beginner45….. Looks good

GotDeer,  GameEater:
 First let me say that I in no way meant to imply that you were the type of client that I described in my earlier post on the contrary I wanted to give you both some insight as to the type of customer that we sometimes have to deal with. The reality is that once you hang a shingle over your door you have no control over who comes knocking.

I have had customers try to establish friendship with the intent to get free or discounted work.
I have had one guy pose as a returning Iraqi combat vet in order to get free work
I had one guy ask if he could hit my dog because it was sniffing his hand
I had one guy that got in a fight with his wife and immediately called me to validate his manhood by ripping into me.
And the always popular I get to treat you like crap cuz I’m having a bad day and you got in my way.

Believe it or not these are all true instances and in no way reflect the normal customer but after being in business for twelve years you run into all kinds.  I have a large customer base and do allot of business with returning customers. They return because they get treated fairly and with respect. That’s the way I like to be treated.  I appreciate each and every customer that comes to me but when they treat me like the ones above I have no problem with them taking their work elsewhere.

I know most of the Taxis on here and have openly recommended some of them on various threads. Continue being patient and understanding and you’ll be rewarded. If you have chosen your taxi correctly and have delivered a complete and well cared for specimen there should be no surprises at pick up time.

Good luck to you both.

Kuduman

P.S. The lady picked up that bear rug that I mentioned in my earlier posting. She loved it and told me that her husband has been under allot of stress and work related pressure as of late and apparently taken it out on allot of people…… apology accepted…… enjoy your mount.  Pics attached

[GameEater310]

Bowhunter45 & Kuduman

Your works looks good.  Maybe someday, i'd like to get a rooster pheasant done. I have a trained black lab who'd love to retrieve one for me. I have kept my patience so far and will continue to do so. I don't mind the wait for good work!