Cardboard Box Trophy Shipping Issue

Hi all,
Just wanted to relate something to you that happened recently. We handled some trophies that had been packed in cardboard - bad idea! There were a group of 4 boxes, and most were torn & squished. They also looked like they may have gotten wet. There was a box with horns, and one of the tips had protruded thru, altho I believe it was okay. Unfortunately, most people that handle your trophies in the transit over don't know or give a darn (remember the Samsonite commercials with the gorilla?) I suggest that you ask to have your trophies packed in wood crates if you have any choice in the matter!

I never thought of them even being packed in cardboard. That is just amazingly lazy. Wow.

It's cheaper and weighs less and unless you request it....It is what it is...Mine were shipped that way from Namibia. Sprayed in Foam around the animals. The Animals in plastic bags. One ear got damaged on the blue wildebeest. I've been told wood is very expensive to buy for a taxidermy or shipping company too.

Originally Posted by enysse

It's cheaper and weighs less and unless you request it....It is what it is...Mine were shipped that way from Namibia. Sprayed in Foam around the animals. The Animals in plastic bags. One ear got damaged on the blue wildebeest. I've been told wood is very expensive to buy for a taxidermy or shipping company too.

Your shipping costs are based on either real or dim weight, whichever is greater. I know costs are outrageous, but I'd think after spending all the time, cost, etc. on your hunt, you'd want your memories brought home intact...It sounds like the foam helped quite a bit on yours, but a lot of what I see are wrapped in newspaper, plastic, and then shredded newspaper for filling in the empty spots.

Merry B., Were the trophies dipped and packed by the hunting outfitter or was a taxidermist involved? What country were the trophies coming from?

Originally Posted by AfricaHunting.com

Merry B., Were the trophies dipped and packed by the hunting outfitter or was a taxidermist involved? What country were the trophies coming from?

They were dip/pack from Namibia...

Was the dip and pack done by a taxidermist?

Originally Posted by AfricaHunting.com

Was the dip and pack done by a taxidermist?

You know, I'm not sure- all I see on the paperwork is a name of a person...

Let's see...Namibia...Cardboard.....Betcha the initials are H.P.?

Do I win?

Dnsdale

Originally Posted by Dinsdale

Let's see...Namibia...Cardboard.....Betcha the initials are H.P.?

Do I win?

Dnsdale

No, try again!!

I had the same problem with trophies shipped from Namibia. The mounts were in a plastic bag, packed in cardboard boxes with shredded newsprint as the padding. The outrageous part to me, were the crating charges- $1300 USD for crating. When I visited the taxidermy shop and asked about crating the trophies for shipment, I was shown nice wood crates. What a disappointent, arriving at the cargo facility and seeing those ragged, distorted, un-reinforced cardboard boxes, with bits of my trophies hanging out. So my last memory to that otherwise wonderful trip are damaged trophies, broken curios, and the feeling of being overcharged for those wonderful 'crates.'

Originally Posted by Merry B

Your shipping costs are based on either real or dim weight, whichever is greater. I know costs are outrageous, but I'd think after spending all the time, cost, etc. on your hunt, you'd want your memories brought home intact...It sounds like the foam helped quite a bit on yours, but a lot of what I see are wrapped in newspaper, plastic, and then shredded newspaper for filling in the empty spots.

Merry B,
I agree with you 100 percent. The amount of money and time that goes into the hunt, it might be worth it to request wooden crates. It would be such a pity to have a trophy damaged that you worked had for.

For the crating fee I paid, I was surprised to see anything but wood.