moose rug sold

[Schliesman22]

So, last October my brother shot a ghostly gray cow moose. I've Never seen anything like it before!

But he took it to Aumans taxidermy, in Enumclaw WA, so last week my brother called the guy, and he said he called my brother to come and get it, which he didn't, and the guy said he sold it. Ha! I never heard of any taxidermist doing this to there customers! Wondering if anyone been to this guy, Steve auman, our if anyone in the area would know of the whereabouts of the rug,
 Thanks,

[X-Force]

is the guy at least going to reimburse your brother? I know a couple taxidermist that have animals for years because guys don't pick them up. Can't imagine why he would sell it in less than a year...

[Schliesman22]

Yeah ,That's the right thing to do but no,
My brother had already put down $600 and he still sold it underneath him, and won't reimburse him.

[SemperFidelis97]

I would personally get an attorney, and take him to small claims court.

[Michelle_Nelson]

How long after the taxidermist called your brother did it take him to go to the taxidermists shop to pick up the hide? 

The reason you don't hear about Taxidermists selling customer mounts is because it doesn't happen very often.  I have been doing Taxidermy for close to 10 years and I have only ever been stuck with 1 deer head and possibly a bobcat skull.  Typically the taxidermist will call a person a couple times to come get it.  Then send a couple registered leters.  This process probably takes 60-120 days.

Let say you drop off a deer head to be mounted on 01/01/12 to be mounted and are quoted a 1 year turn around.  The cost is $550 after sales tax.  Typically, taxidermists require a 50% down at drop off, so you pay the $275.  Now you have 1 year to come up with $275 to pay off the mount by 01/01/13. 

So my question is what is an acceptable time a taxidermist should have to wait to get payed once a mount has been completed?  When the customer has 1 year to come up with the $$ to pay off a mount by the time it is done? 

[Schliesman22]

The taxidermist said there would be a year turn around.
Its not quite been a year since he's taken it to him.
My brother called just to see if it was done and and if he could pick it up. That's when he said it was sold.
Also my brother payed 600 of the 800 $ total.

Nothing was received from the guy, letter or phone call.
Yet the gut says he did both.
If that answers your question.

[mkcj]

Look at his web site he has a LINK for selling item's "Occasionally we have horns, tanned hides, finished mounted pieces, or other items for sale. I have never seen that on a taxidermy web page. Also did he call your brother's cell number if so there will be a record of that or if he used his cell phone record there also.

[CAMPMEAT]

I'd ask for a sales receipt to the other buyer from Mr. Dick Weed !

[Michelle_Nelson]

The taxidermist said there would be a year turn around.
Its not quite been a year since he's taken it to him.
My brother called just to see if it was done and and if he could pick it up. That's when he said it was sold.
Also my brother payed 600 of the 800 $ total.

Nothing was received from the guy, letter or phone call.
Yet the gut says he did both.
If that answers your question.

I would have your Brother call the Taxidermist and ask him what phone # and address he has in his records that he used to try and make contact with your brother.  Your brother can check his phone records to see if the taxidermist did call.

The taxodermist should know who he sold the hide to.

[boneaddict]

So my question is what is an acceptable time a taxidermist should have to wait to get payed once a mount has been completed?  When the customer has 1 year to come up with the $$ to pay off a mount by the time it is done? 

I think to avoid legal issues or misunderstandings, it best be defined in the paperworked signed when the animal is dropped off.   Its shop policy that the item must be paid for in full, x amount of days after initial contact as documented or the item will be forfieted.....blah blah blah.

[Schliesman22]

Thanks,
Il tell my brother to check his records,
But on sales recipe to the other guy he won't give him nothing.

Michelle Nelson, thanks for the advice, we'll get on it.

Boneaddict, yeah that's a good place to start, would nt be surprised if the guys done it before and makes it to his advantage.

[Michelle_Nelson]

Hey Bone I think you may have mis read that protion of my post.  It was a question to the members of Hunt-Wa more or less.  X-Force made the coment that he knows several Taxidermists that have held mounts for years because guys won't pick them up. 

How long should a Taxidermist have to wait after a mount is completed to get paid?  How long should they have to hold on to it when most customers have a year to save up to pay it off? 

Most of the taxidermists that I know do have a time frame listed in there paper work.  Mine is 90 days.  Though I have never had to sell a mount.

[Mark Brenckle]

Hey Bone I think you may have mis read that protion of my post.  It was a question to the members of Hunt-Wa more or less.  X-Force made the coment that he knows several Taxidermists that have held mounts for years because guys won't pick them up. 

How long should a Taxidermist have to wait after a mount is completed to get paid?  How long should they have to hold on to it when most customers have a year to save up to pay it off? 

Most of the taxidermists that I know do have a time frame listed in there paper work.  Mine is 90 days.  Though I have never had to sell a mount.

  90 Days is a LONG time to have 1/2 your money tied up in a piece once the work is complete.  And the longer someone waits to pick it up, the more hours you have to dedicate to that piece in order to collect the money.  At some point, you have to cut your losses and recover what you can.  I'd say 30 days should be plenty of time if you don't hear back from them.  If you do, then maybe working out a payment plan would be best.  Just my 

[Kuduman]

I've sold a couple of items over the past 10 years. Most were items that were dropped off without deposits and after several months of trying to get the customer to work with you its easier to cut you losses. A very few were finished mounts. In EVERY case the client was well aware that the item was going to be sold and a deadline was recorded in a registered letter to that client. I'm very cautious when selling items because of reasons like this thread. I'm withholding judgment until the taxi chimes in. I would be shocked if he sold it without actually talking or corresponding with your brother. But again like stated earlier your brother should have received an invoice that clearly outlines the shops policy on unclaimed work.

That said I have a floor pedistal  deer for sale that's been here for 8 years that I don't think the guy will pick up 
Kuduman

[Michelle_Nelson]

That said I have a floor pedistal  deer for sale that's been here for 8 years that I don't think the guy will pick up 
Kuduman

  . . .and you have kept it for 8 years?