Post by: BLKBEARKLR on December 18, 2009, 09:49:43 AM
Post by: Woodchuck on December 18, 2009, 09:59:08 AM
Post by: rasbo on December 18, 2009, 10:08:50 AM
Post by: BLKBEARKLR on December 18, 2009, 01:32:17 PM
how did they end up that way natural or :dunno:
Rasbo
The best I can tell after having looked at it for hours trying to figure out what to do, I am about 99.999999% it was shot. I could see what looked like a bullet path through it. I can't say 100% what happened though, but I can say without a doubt that is not Natural.....
Joe
Post by: WDFW-SUX on December 18, 2009, 01:34:11 PM
Post by: BLKBEARKLR on December 18, 2009, 02:00:35 PM
Where was the buff shot? (country)
In United states on a game ranch
Post by: BLKBEARKLR on December 18, 2009, 04:06:33 PM
Post by: Buckhole on December 19, 2009, 10:24:08 AM
Post by: bucklucky on December 19, 2009, 10:34:53 AM
Post by: BLKBEARKLR on December 19, 2009, 11:53:17 AM
Wow! How do you fix something like that? Resin filler or Bondo? Looks like it's kinda rotting in there.
I filled it in with a foam and established a base to work off of, and now I am using a 2 part epoxy and slowly building it up and letting it settle and dry and then repeating the process. And then before the last batch hardens will put the dents and lines back in it.
Not rotten at all that horn is as hard as concrete, I had to soak it in boiling water and then ratchet strap it back together and set with screws to keep it in place.
Joe
Post by: BLKBEARKLR on December 19, 2009, 11:54:25 AM
OPh good time in the taxidermy world :chuckle: I bet you have a day into fixing that bad boy. Lets see 8 hours X $50.00 per hour and supplies....Probably a $500.00 fix, well maybee not that much. $350.00?
And that is why I have to learn to start adding extra hours into this stuff. I did not charge a dime for the repair work, so once again lesson learned on it.
Post by: bucklucky on December 19, 2009, 12:02:47 PM
Post by: Buckhole on December 20, 2009, 11:23:24 AM
Post by: BLKBEARKLR on December 24, 2009, 03:06:34 PM
So today we did a pre-fit to see how it was going to go on the form, GUESS WHAT, it was cut to short, so we had to do some form modifications. It involved a saws all, a shovel and a heck of a lot of sanding. But the baby was sleeping and it was momma and me having fun. Notice in the pictures her attire, cut off sweats, black socks and tennis shoes.
So today was just having fun with doing some modifications hopefully Monday it will go on the form...
Joe
Post by: bucklucky on December 24, 2009, 03:19:57 PM
Post by: BLKBEARKLR on December 24, 2009, 03:22:44 PM
Post by: rasbo on December 24, 2009, 03:35:35 PM
Post by: bucklucky on December 24, 2009, 03:55:02 PM
Post by: Michelle_Nelson on December 24, 2009, 06:40:05 PM
Post by: BLKBEARKLR on December 24, 2009, 07:22:41 PM
Post by: WCTaxidermy on December 24, 2009, 11:17:02 PM
John
Post by: BLKBEARKLR on December 26, 2009, 07:50:03 PM
Hey Joe, your face was turning red bud. :chuckle: You two look like your having fun doing that one. I think I will stick with birds thank you. ;) You two have a great X-mas. Talk with you soon.
John
Turning red? Brother I was straining so hard to pop that thing loose I think I turned my drawers brown!!!! Hope you and the Mrs had a good Christmas will give you a call sometime this week...
Joe
Post by: BLKBEARKLR on December 30, 2009, 05:53:53 PM
Post by: coop2424 on December 30, 2009, 06:20:50 PM
Post by: carpsniperg2 on December 30, 2009, 06:47:36 PM
Post by: Michelle_Nelson on December 30, 2009, 07:04:16 PM
Post by: BLKBEARKLR on December 30, 2009, 10:00:41 PM
Post by: Rudy on December 31, 2009, 10:25:29 AM
Post by: bucklucky on January 01, 2010, 09:45:43 AM
Post by: Buckhole on January 01, 2010, 03:48:02 PM
Great restoration!
Post by: TheHunt on January 01, 2010, 04:52:31 PM
Post by: BLKBEARKLR on January 02, 2010, 09:22:57 AM
Joe
Post by: BLKBEARKLR on January 22, 2010, 05:03:46 PM
Post by: turkey slayer on January 22, 2010, 07:09:01 PM
Post by: huntnphool on January 22, 2010, 07:23:57 PM
Post by: littlebuf on January 22, 2010, 09:36:29 PM
Post by: robb92 on January 23, 2010, 06:04:52 AM
Post by: PacificNWhunter on January 24, 2010, 08:37:05 AM
Post by: patton1 on January 24, 2010, 04:28:11 PM
Post by: BLKBEARKLR on January 25, 2010, 06:29:14 AM
Post by: rasbo on January 25, 2010, 06:36:00 AM
Thank you everyone, I have learned a lot off of this project. The customer is supposed to be coming and pick it up today. I hope he will be happy with it, from where it was to what it is now....looks great,ahh is that skunk I smell?
Post by: bucklucky on January 25, 2010, 10:02:10 AM
Post by: BLKBEARKLR on January 27, 2010, 04:31:32 PM
Jim it does still smell like skunk a little out there...
So 3 phone calls now and still no pick up...
Post by: bucklucky on January 27, 2010, 05:00:53 PM
Post by: Ray on January 27, 2010, 05:07:21 PM
Post by: rasbo on January 27, 2010, 05:08:48 PM
Thanks Charlie,finally got rid of the glands..
Jim it does still smell like skunk a little out there...
So 3 phone calls now and still no pick up...
Post by: Michelle_Nelson on January 27, 2010, 06:21:55 PM
My husband threatened to make me sleep in my shop that first night after skinning that thing out. LOL
Post by: BLKBEARKLR on February 06, 2010, 09:37:18 AM
Every time it rains the scent comes back up. Think I am going to bleach my yard pretty soon.
Post by: Michelle_Nelson on February 06, 2010, 03:53:12 PM
Post by: BLKBEARKLR on February 24, 2010, 06:51:00 PM
Been 32 days since I contacted this customer to come and pick the mount up, got to talk to him twice said he would be here the next time and still nothing. I don't take any money up front, so this has really dipped into the business account and still nothing.
Think it is time to send certified letter, in my contract it says after 30 days to start charging a storage fee, think I am going to have to impose that and starting March 22 60 days after he was notified and did not come pick it up then sell it and recover my losses.
Some may think that this is a little harsh, but right now I am out almost 1000.00 for this mount, and he has not even attempted to start a payment plan or anything, I would understand if he just manned up said he did not have the entire amount but at least start making some payments.
So what are your thoughts???
Joe
Post by: carpsniperg2 on February 24, 2010, 07:01:24 PM
Post by: BLKBEARKLR on February 24, 2010, 07:28:26 PM
that would be just fine to me if it was my business. if no effort has been made after 60 days of notification and you have tried multiple times to contact and the person is not making payment cut the loses and sell it. :twocents: do you have any finished picks for us? i remember when you first posted this would love to see how you fixed it if you can post the picks if you havent already.
Carp, go to page 3, I posted a bunch of them up when I first got it finished...
Joe
Post by: Michelle_Nelson on February 24, 2010, 07:43:33 PM
Do you think the stuff I tell you I pull out of my ass? It is from experience! By not collecting a deposit you are setting yourself up for this kinda stuff. You think he would be this flaky if he would have had $500 down on that buffalo?
Post by: Kuduman on February 24, 2010, 09:20:29 PM
:yeah: Good Point Michelle
Joe:
I feel for ya but this guy has nothing to lose. NEVER put yourself in a position to be taken advantage of. I currently have a two bears that are going to start getting storage fees applied and I'm not a bit stressed cuz there already 50-75% paid for.
Good Luck
Jeff
A.K.A Kuduman
Post by: carpsniperg2 on February 24, 2010, 09:24:42 PM
Post by: WCTaxidermy on February 24, 2010, 10:00:10 PM
Post by: Elkstuffer on February 24, 2010, 10:17:36 PM
I contact the customer when the mount is finished. If nothing after 7 days I send them an invoice that states if payment arrangements have not been made to MY satisfaction within 30 days from the original phone call the mount will be sold. I don't screw around with storage fee's. To easy to get out of those in court.
Good luck with this guy. Put this one in the lesson learned column. :(
The mount turned out great by the way!
Post by: BLKBEARKLR on February 25, 2010, 06:43:54 AM
I have had not a lot but quite a few customers that I have not had an issue with, I like it that way, I will continue to honor with them my agreement of no money down, but thinking new customers without a referral I am going to require money down. It is a shame that one person can screw a lot of others.
Joe
Post by: Kuduman on February 25, 2010, 08:43:47 AM
Looks like your precessing this as well as to be expected.
I'll add this then leave you alone.
In the past few years I've operated my business with the following three principals governing my actions
1. I'm am first a businessman and a good friend second. That way I'll be less likely to be taken advantage of.
2. I don't use my money to mount other peoples animals.
3. I'll work with my customers as long as they work with me... No deposit = No work I can't justify working on someones mount when they haven't paid something. especially when paying customers animals are still frozen or salted on a rack waiting to be worked on.
Additionally:
If I'm not getting a gross margin ROI of at least 10-1 then I'm not going to be in business for long.
The reality is. that about 5% of your customers will be 95% of your problem but we have to treat everyone equally. This might ruffle your friends feathers but are they really your friends. Good customers and good friends NEVER put you in an awkward position or take advantage of your generosity. Since I've adopted theses three simple principals My business has grown, my supposed friendships have dwindled and my stress level has all but disappeared.
I say my friendships have dwindled I mean that the folks that said they were my friends were gone once the deals stopped. I still have good friends after all I'm not a total A$$.
My deposits that I get cover my costs and ensure that the customer has enough invested to make walking away less attractive than picking up the mount. In ten years of operation I have had 2 mounts go unclaimed after 60 days. One was due to the death of the customer and the other was a
divorce. Not bad for an average of 125-155 mounts a year.
Good Luck
Jeff
A.K.A Kuduman
Post by: BLKBEARKLR on February 25, 2010, 09:04:41 AM
Joe:
Looks like your precessing this as well as to be expected.
I'll add this then leave you alone.
In the past few years I've operated my business with the following three principals governing my actions
1. I'm am first a businessman and a good friend second. That way I'll be less likely to be taken advantage of.
2. I don't use my money to mount other peoples animals.
3. I'll work with my customers as long as they work with me... No deposit = No work I can't justify working on someones mount when they haven't paid something. especially when paying customers animals are still frozen or salted on a rack waiting to be worked on.
Additionally:
If I'm not getting a gross margin ROI of at least 10-1 then I'm not going to be in business for long.
The reality is. that about 5% of your customers will be 95% of your problem but we have to treat everyone equally. This might ruffle your friends feathers but are they really your friends. Good customers and good friends NEVER put you in an awkward position or take advantage of your generosity. Since I've adopted theses three simple principals My business has grown, my supposed friendships have dwindled and my stress level has all but disappeared.
I say my friendships have dwindled I mean that the folks that said they were my friends were gone once the deals stopped. I still have good friends after all I'm not a total A$$.
My deposits that I get cover my costs and ensure that the customer has enough invested to make walking away less attractive than picking up the mount. In ten years of operation I have had 2 mounts go unclaimed after 60 days. One was due to the death of the customer and the other was a
divorce. Not bad for an average of 125-155 mounts a year.
Good Luck
Jeff
A.K.A Kuduman
Jeff very sound advice, thanks for sharing that with me. I will put these in the back of my mind for future endevors...
Joe
Post by: bucklucky on February 25, 2010, 09:07:45 AM
Post by: Rudy on February 25, 2010, 06:05:09 PM
Keep up the good work, and dont let it get you down too much (easier said than done, i know). Just remember, not everyone is out there is a d-bag.