Beware AH.com PMs

100% agreed with Spike, as far as public offers go I do not post but 1 or so a year so wether it's countered by a lower offer or not I just could not give a damn guys that hunt with me will vouch that I am worth every penny even if its 5k more than a later or earlier posted hunt.

My deal is simple build up your reputation on the site as you might have been in the industry for 2 decades before AH yet on this specific site you might not be known, get those guys in and ask them to post a report of their honest experience...

Send out offers each to his own you are 100% within your scope and rights... Enjoy and look forward to sharing posts with you in the future.

My best always.

Jaco,
I agree fully with your sentiments. However, you and I know that this is a dog eat dog world. Humans, especially those who don't know better, will invariably be drawn to the lower price. Heck, I know ones that will force a piece of leather down his throat and convince himself that it tastes better than the fillet, just because the fillet costs 50 bucks more.
If you post an ad, and I post the exact same offer a couple of hours later, but at $2K Less, I think will be in poor taste from my side.
Some of the deals that have surfaced recently are absolutely unbelievable, and I'm not entirely sure how operations can afford them. I would have to operate at below cost price just to match the deals. I value and appreciate all of my hunters immensely, but , if you want hunt with a reputable and top outfit, it comes at a price, and that price is not at below cost.

True as well especially when running as now at $5.50 a gallon on fuel, up here... To mention but one...

Agree with you I am just a firm believer that such operators will sort them selves out over a short time, as you correctly state again hopefully not to the detriment of a hunters hard earned $'s.

We have also always said that if its to good to be true it most probably is...... I have just made a conscious decision to stay away from all the bickering, I have been around far to long for such crap...

How's the EC weather my old man has an angling week at Canon rocks?
My best always.

Heavy thunderstorms and rain yesterday, but it was a small front and passed quickly. The weather should be good. Not sure if the fish will bite, but the veld is looking the best I've seen in a long time.

Originally Posted by Spiral Horn Safaris

..........

Zenbear Willem is a top notch guy I have yet to go out for a beer with him but we have spoken numerous times and I can tell you that there are no smoke and mirrors there! What you see is what you get.

Thanks to everyone for making this forum what it is today!................

Exactly my thoughts Louis.

Originally Posted by KMG Hunting Safaris

..............
Some of the deals that have surfaced recently are absolutely unbelievable, and I'm not entirely sure how operations can afford them. I would have to operate at below cost price just to match the deals. I value and appreciate all of my hunters immensely, but , if you want hunt with a reputable and top outfit, it comes at a price, and that price is not at below cost.

Exactly!

Price is one component.

Originally Posted by BRICKBURN

Exactly!

Price is one component.

+1, but I am a bit disappointed that Marius from KMG Hunting Safaris didn't offer me a stripper package
But I chose to go hunting with him in July anyway

Hi Guy's

Let me clear this one up for you plain and simple if an outfitter has a special out, regardless of price or species I find it in very bad taste to go on to his offer and contact clients who expressed interest in his particular offer I find it in equally bad taste to launch a counter offer that is cheaper.

Marius my friend you are correct in saying that we live in a dog eat dog world but in saying that I would like to think that Outfitters can at least offer each other the common courtesy that the old guy's did in the past by not trying to pouch potential clients?

Jaco as usual you make a very good point in saying most good outfitters don't get involved in price wars there is no worse thing in the world than that, plus as you said they wont last long anyway as the old saying goes "pay peanuts be prepared to get monkeys".

Gerrit I was not referring to sending a client a pm who posts he is looking for a this or that hunt, it is your right to offer good service and advice to anyone on this forum heck that is exactly what makes it such a good place to be you are in the good sir!

Best Regards
Louis van Bergen

Louis,
You nailed it. I'm not actually sure that I can comprehend someone contacting clients that showed an interest in "your" hunts.
The same way Faceb**k has a "Like" button, we should have a "PK" button for this forum. Most of the outfitter here will understand its meaning. I have no interest in explaining what it stands for....

Marius I am sure the guilty parties will read this tread some time I rest easy in knowing the weal turns slowly but it does.

As for the PK LMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am contemplating a fishing trip down to the Eastern Cape this year we would have to hook up and have a beer, if you can show me a good spot for big sharks all the better.

Best Regards
Louis van Bergen

Sounds like a plan.

Originally Posted by enysse

BTW, I can understand why people don't expose bad outfitters, PH's or taxidermists because it ends up costing them lots of money. I did one time years back...it was a expensive lesson.

With all due respect I think these vermin need to be named publicly, and maybe they can explain themselves. I can't stand a liar, thief, or crook of any kind.

Originally Posted by BRICKBURN

So, not to derail this thread. I'll go at it this way.

Did you get a PM from Koedoeberg?
Did you get an offer in that PM?

What have you done to check them out?


In very little time i have found out a few things that I did not know of late.

Full Membership in PHASA
W.S. FAUL KOEDOEBERG SAFARIS Koedoeberg
Attachment 16388


AH:
Willem has consulted me on a few occasions. Simple honest questions and opinions requested from him.
He has never PM'd me an offer.

Todays research:
He is in the investment industry. Options is his field "Head Managed Client trading Strategies"
His firm recently moved offices to newer nicer digs.
The offices are in Johannesburg. If you follow his email address you can find where he hangs his shingle.

Bio from the Corporate website, which references Koedoeberg.
Attachment 16386

New Office Google Earth Street view
Attachment 16382

He likes to hunt.

The hunting side:
He has disclosed an ongoing development of the farm.
Koedoeberg has been around on the web since 2008-07-11.
Registered at physical address.
Attachment 16387

His Koedoeberg website is honest and factual as you can imagine.
To show the actual farm size, layout etc. Says its a farm house, etc.
It's all there.
Koedoeberg


If you read reports here on AH:
Hunt with Koedoeberg

Fantastic hunt with Koedoeberg Safaris!

Koedoeberg Game Lodge

Being in the investment industry I think he might have a grasp of making "value for money" offers.
Hence the deeply discounted offers that show up here.

Here's another interesting indicator, (at least to me):
If he can sell JGRaider on hunting with him, Willem must be very good.
Read JG's posts, you'll see what I mean.
Going from here:
Looking For SA or Namibia Safari
To here:
Flight Seat Questions to SA

I am sure if I really tried you could find more.....

good luck.

You're googlefu is amazing Brickburn! I'm in awe! You are right though. I came to this site as a "hardheaded, I know I want to go to Namibia so send me some recs please" kind of guy. Brick and others really helped me out. To make a long story short, I started here, researched everybody involved, talked to probably 15 references, and booked a hunt for May of this year with Koedoeberg. I was so impressed with Willem and Nathan Jonas I even talked my buddy into coming with me. I'm a born skeptic, but feel really comfortable with my choice.

While I'm in the posting mode, I would like to give an "attaboy" to Louis VB, the owner of Spiral Horn Safaris. I do not know the man, but when I posted on another forum, looking for input and references on Willem Faul, the owner of Koedoeberg, Louis VB responded. He told me Willem was top notch and an honest person and outfitter. It takes a big man to basically recommend one of his competitors. That speaks volumes about the kind of man Louis is. I've read enough to know that Spiral Horn is legit, but almost by this alone I'd spend money to hunt with Louis Van Bergen at Spiral Horn Safaris. Thank you sir.

Originally Posted by PaulT

Sess, sent you an offer via p.m.

Didn't want you to feel left-out.

Well you must have hit the wrong button, never got it.

Well The cool thing I love about this site is the legit guys never bash their competition,Jaco and Maruis both are a prime example when I post a question or contact them they always answer even though they know I went with Louis last year and heading back again this year, but they know it is just business and you never know Louis may drop the ball hehehehe,

On another note Louis is really not a PH but a strawberry picker in real life,

thanks for a great site even if cost me more money then my 3 daughters lmao

Picking berries at his newest client farm that will be coming with me for a Lion, he do anything to close a deal lmao

Attachment 16412

well can you imagine I have 4 daughters!

Originally Posted by huntingbigun

Well The cool thing I love about this site is the legit guys never bash their competition,Jaco and Maruis both are a prime example when I post a question or contact them they always answer even though they know I went with Louis last year and heading back again this year, but they know it is just business and you never know Louis may drop the ball hehehehe,

On another note Louis is really not a PH but a strawberry picker in real life,

thanks for a great site even if cost me more money then my 3 daughters lmao

Picking berries at his newest client farm that will be coming with me for a Lion, he do anything to close a deal lmao

Attachment 16412

Thanks bigun, there is more than enough pie for everyone I honestly feel that the last thing to bargain with is price.... Many meat factories love doing it.. I am a firm believer in the age old philosophy of work less earn more (maybe I'm just lazy) . I firmly believe that it sits well with the wildlife as well....

No honestly IMO life's to short to waste one's time on putting another down, there is a little corner for each one of us under that flaming ball of gas!!!

My very best always.

Thanks for the compliment JG Raider much appreciated sir and have a great time with Willem I always enjoy speaking with him!

Huntingbigun I will be charging royalty fees on that picture you posted I will take my payment in beer or whiskey.


Best Regards
Louis van Bergen

Good afternoon,

I just saw the post and also agree with what is said by everybody regarding this matter. Thank you tap for the compliment on the outfitters you had good things to say about. It is alway appreciated as I know each and every one of the outfitters named truly strive to keep their reputation and name clean in the industry.

I would also want to bring up another point that I have been told about by clients what recently has happened. We get outfitters on here that will only wait for a post from a different outfitter and then counter offer any forum member that is interested in the package posted by a cheaper offer. If a guy like that counter offers on your posts why does he not post his own packages or deals? We from Africa all love hunting but we surely also have families to feed and a business to run and there will always be cheaper deals, but as Jaco said if it is to good to be true it usually is....

Thank you guys thats just my 2cents and I truly hope a lot of the guys that's making use or riding on other outfitters backs will read this!

Best regards,

Jacques