REPORT: Trophaendienste Taxidermy Namibia - Beware

[enysse]

I won’t say too much on the quality of their mounts as it doesn’t affect me, but let’s just say that what I saw varied quite a lot. The showroom was certainly in interesting place to look around however.

My same assessment. My mounts are not the best from them. I did do a review of them many years back. The skin shrunk on the mounts. The skin were delivered to them in perfect condition. You get what you pay for .

 

[Louw Nel]

Hi Guys, I'm Louw Nel, the owner and taxidermist at Trophäendienste taxidermy. I thought it good to reply to this posts for clients with trophies currently with us, old clients and future hunters seeking to visit Namibia.
Yes it's true, everything stated in the post of Tim and how it happened. Due to the use of a new tanning liquor we stuffed up a BIG batch of Pre-Tan capes and Full skins of mostly Australian clients.This is not something I am proud of and certainly not something I would like to repeat again in my taxidermy career.
I just want to mention a couple of points, not that it would make anything better but just to show that if anything happen we are there and willing to help.
- Replacing just short of 100 skins is no easy task and it did take us a long time, we are still sorting out some orders.
- We refunded all tanning cost to each client.
- We paid the transport cost of all trophies from Namibia to Australia for each client as a sign of good will. The skulls, horns and skins.
- We are still busy sorting out problems, a replacement skin or two that the client is not satisfied with we replaced and shipped at our own cost.

Now I know this doesn't heal the wounds and bring back the skin of the trophy these guys hunted in Namibia, point is we take responsibility for what we do and will always put a clients trophies first.
For those who plan a trip to Namibia, by all means please visit my shop and see for yourself what's going on here. There are plenty of other very good Taxidermy shops in Nam you can make use off, if you do not like what you see.
Just don't take Namibia completely of your list of hunting destinations, this is the country you will enjoy most.

 

[Adrian]

Fair play to you for coming here and taking the trouble to reply and take responsibility for the mistake.
I hope any apparent inconsistencies in the quality of the work supplied can be addressed too.

 

[MAdcox]

Hi Guys, I'm Louw Nel, the owner and taxidermist at Trophäendienste taxidermy. I thought it good to reply to this posts for clients with trophies currently with us, old clients and future hunters seeking to visit Namibia.
Yes it's true, everything stated in the post of Tim and how it happened. Due to the use of a new tanning liquor we stuffed up a BIG batch of Pre-Tan capes and Full skins of mostly Australian clients.This is not something I am proud of and certainly not something I would like to repeat again in my taxidermy career.
I just want to mention a couple of points, not that it would make anything better but just to show that if anything happen we are there and willing to help.
- Replacing just short of 100 skins is no easy task and it did take us a long time, we are still sorting out some orders.
- We refunded all tanning cost to each client.
- We paid the transport cost of all trophies from Namibia to Australia for each client as a sign of good will. The skulls, horns and skins.
- We are still busy sorting out problems, a replacement skin or two that the client is not satisfied with we replaced and shipped at our own cost.

Now I know this doesn't heal the wounds and bring back the skin of the trophy these guys hunted in Namibia, point is we take responsibility for what we do and will always put a clients trophies first.
For those who plan a trip to Namibia, by all means please visit my shop and see for yourself what's going on here. There are plenty of other very good Taxidermy shops in Nam you can make use off, if you do not like what you see.
Just don't take Namibia completely of your list of hunting destinations, this is the country you will enjoy most.

Very stand up, no BS response. Mistakes do happen and sometimes they are hard (or impossible) to fix. But fewer and fewer people are willing to take responsibility for theirs. Really appreciate your response here on a tough issue.

 

[Mekaniks]

Thank You for accepting responsibly. That shows a lot about your integrity and the integrity of your business.

 

[Wheels]

.... point is we take responsibility for what we do and will always put a clients trophies first.......
.

Louw,

I find it interesting that you say "....We take responsibility for what we do and will always put a clients trophies first...."

Since you and your company chose to ignore my emails a few years ago, do you care to respond to your work in posts #15 and #16 in this thread? Photo's are attached in those posts.

1. Why did you ship me gemsbok horns that were not mine? If you damaged mine so badly they had to be replaced, why didn't you contact me first?

2. Why did you scrape/tan multiple holes in a Hartman without trying to repair them and ship it as a finished product?

3. Why would you wrap, send and charge me for an over boiled jackal skull that was in apx. 40 pieces? (The skull was broken into pieces before it was wrapped. Package was to small for the entire skull.)

4. Why did you ship me over boiled kudu horns with splits in them that you could stick a toothpick through without trying some form of rehydration?

5. Why wouldn't you or your company communicate with me or my agent about the above problems?

You say you take responsibility for what you do...........

 

[BRICKBURN]

This is an issue near and dear to my heart. It is the ONLY area I have had (the most) problems with on almost every trip.

RANT PORTION:
1. Wrong trophy being shipped. At least the taxidermist paid all expenses for getting it corrected. I got my trophy after a lot of PIA. Documented here on AH. (NAMIBIA)

2. Another taxidermist hoping I was stuck and would have to use them. A quote on tanning that exceeded what I can have work done for in North America! That was the last straw. Because I did so much homework beforehand I had all the trophies moved to another taxidermist I had found myself. I was not stuck. He lost three sets of trophies from that trip and all subsequent work by being a greedy ... (SOUTH AFRICA)

3. Not getting replies to requests for quotes BEFORE the work was even received. Monopoly. The hunter is stuck, there is no one else to turn to. The price quotes, when finally presented, changed along with the fees for paperwork. (Never to return to the country to hunt and be taken hostage) (BOTSWANA)

4. Shipping company sending a subsequent invoice to shipment being paid in full. They were charged more than they thought by the airline. So I should pay for it? Insane. (NAMIBIA)

5. Having trophies rot and spoil at the Outfitter waiting for the Taxidermist to get their act together. I did not bother to count the number left behind. (BOTSWANA)

6. Having the LARGE trophies magically disappear enroute. It happened in the taxidermists control. We had them take pictures before they took possession and we got pictures taken on delivery at the next leg. (I knew the old would be coming) The largest trophies substituted with some other sample.
The solution offered was to send all other trophies that were abandoned for free! Who gives a damn about the free shipping of garbage. The theft is complete and my trophies were gone.The garbage was thrown out when it arrived. (BOTSWANA)

You have to TRUST someone and the taxidermist is shielded by the good reputation of the Outfitter. Client's tend to rely on the Outfitter's recommendation and not screen the taxidermists properly. (Many clients not knowing the "commission" being provided to the Outfitter by the taxidermist for work received. Nor is it ever disclosed)

One of the best in the world was just roasted in another AH thread for failing to communicate with clients. He is going to be making changes in his operation. No one can afford to have the "bad news" getting out. AH sends the bad news around the world.

Australians, Kiwis, American customers in this thread alone Louw. Hmmm.

...........

.............. the quality of their mounts as it doesn’t affect me, but let’s just say that what I saw varied quite a lot. .............

Skulls were well cleaned, the smaller guys were a little chalky from bleaching but on the whole I was happy with the skull preparation. The capes however, were a different matter. It soon became obvious that they hadn’t been shaved properly, with a large portion of the face on each cape not thinned, a thick lump of rock hard hide being the result. ...............

As a taxidermist myself, ............... I'm simply astounded that they would use a chemical on customer’s skins that wasn't thoroughly tested beforehand! In hindsight, the varying quality of mounts I witnessed in their showroom should have been a warning to the obvious lack of consistent quality control that this company displays.
..................... Tim

@Louw Nel Glad you showed up to reply but, there are bigger questions.

Typically, it takes a lot to get someone to post a negative report. Like DWI charges it takes a lot of repetitions of the same behavior to get caught out.
Shipping replacement capes is pretty well the minimum action required. You destroyed someone's property!

"Negligence is the omission to do something which a reasonable man, guided upon those considerations which ordinarily regulate the conduct of human affairs, would do, or doing something which a prudent and reasonable man would not do. The defendants might have been liable for negligence, if, unintentionally, they omitted to do that which a reasonable person would have done, or did that which a person taking reasonable precautions would not have done."



Counting on the distance and frustration of addressing these issues from a foreign country is a prevalent practice. Apparently @Wheels has been subject to the methodology.


What is the solution being afforded for the LARGER problem?

QUALITY CONTROL

Not testing a new process before using it on SOMEONE ELSE'S PROPERTY!
Why should anyone trust this kind of decision making in a business?

How hard is it to have someone who actually KNOWS what they are doing to REVIEW EACH PIECE?
Those capes of @blacks are pretty obviously not completed. Someone being paid piece work did the easy bits and then threw them into the "complete" pile.

So, why do YOUR staff not give a damn about what they are producing?


"The purpose of the reasonable man ... is to determine whether a particular plaintiff has failed, judged by a community standard, in the duty of care he or she owes....."

I honestly wish you well solving your problems.

 

[Wheels]

In May 2016 I took my first safari to Africa. We chose to hunt at Kowas Safaris in Namibia and everything about the hunt was absolutely first class, more than I’d ever hoped for. I’d repeat the hunt in a heartbeat and recommend Kowas to anyone, first safari or fiftieth.

I have never hunted with @Kowas Hunting Safaris . Every year I enjoy spending a few minutes with Jacques and his mother at DSC. They are a wonderful down to earth family with a fantastic reputation that I am sure I would enjoy hunting with some day. In fact, if I do a family hunt, or a pg hunt in Namibia they are on the short list.

You have to TRUST someone and the taxidermist is shielded by the good reputation of the Outfitter. Client's tend to rely on the Outfitter's recommendation and not screen the taxidermists properly. (Many clients not knowing the "commission" being provided to the Outfitter by the taxidermist for work received. Nor is it ever disclosed)

I don't spend much time vetting taxidermists. (Probably why I have made the posts I have on this thread.) I do rely on the Outfitter's recommendation, since they should know the best companies at a reasonable price in their area. I don't even mind if the outfitter gets a "finders fee" as long as the invoice isn't marked up to reflect it. If there is a commission, I do want that fact disclosed. I want the outfitter in my corner since my relationship is with him. If a problem goes wrong, I want an individual locally that can go in and see for himself what is going on. I don't want the outfitter to say, "I have no relationship with the taxidermist, you chose him. There isn't much I can do."

Since this thread indirectly affects @Kowas Hunting Safaris, I think it would be good to hear from Jacques, and/or any other Namibian outfitter that would like to contribute if they are willing:

Why work with Trophaendienste, other than their handy location by the airport?

Is Trophaendienste the best taxidermist in Namibia, or at least the Windhoek area?

What are your thoughts of hunters problems like mine in posts #15 and #16, or @Mark R in post #5 regarding Trophaendienste? Do these situations arise often?

Do you have very many problems with Trophaendienste communicating with your clients, where you have to get involved, or am I just the unlucky one?

If a client like me, doesn't want to use Trophaendienste, what other taxidermist would you recommend using? Would they be a major step down in quality from Trophaendienste?

Thanks.

 

[Kowas Adventure Safaris]

Since this thread indirectly affects @Kowas Hunting Safaris, I think it would be good to hear from Jacques, and/or any other Namibian outfitter that would like to contribute if they are willing:

Why work with Trophaendienste, other than their handy location by the airport?

Is Trophaendienste the best taxidermist in Namibia, or at least the Windhoek area?

What are your thoughts of hunters problems like mine in posts #15 and #16, or @Mark R in post #5 regarding Trophaendienste? Do these situations arise often?

Do you have very many problems with Trophaendienste communicating with your clients, where you have to get involved, or am I just the unlucky one?

If a client like me, doesn't want to use Trophaendienste, what other taxidermist would you recommend using? Would they be a major step down in quality from Trophaendienste?

Thanks.

I am Danie Strauss, owner of Kowas Hunting Safaris. I want to respond to questions directed to us on the issue of the Trophaendienste taxidermy:

1. WHY WORK WITH TROPHAENDIENSTE:
Kowas Hunting Safaris is in the trophy hunting business for 19 years. I do know Louw Nel and Trophaendienste quite well and have dealt with them on a regular basis. Problems that occurred, are dealt with directly with Louw and clients usually be copied into correspondence.

Kowas Hunting Safaris value our clients and will always step in and determine where and how we could be of assistance when challenges occur.

To illustrate our preparedness in going that extra mile, Kowas conducts inspection on trophies that are shoulder/full mounted. To do so, our clients provide us with written authorization for inspecting the taxidermy work at Trophaendienste prior to packing and shipment. When trophies are inspected, and corrections needs to be done, we then request these changes to Trophaendienste, where they then adhere to these requests. Our clients then receive an inspection report from us.

Take note: Be aware that not all taxidermists allow the inspection process to be conducted by the outfitter. In the case of Trophaendienste, they have no problem with this request.

We unfortunately did not conduct inspections in the past on “dip and ship” and/or tanned skins orders. Looking at the recent incident(s), we would like our clients to give the same authorization for dip and ship and/or tanned skins orders since we are deeply saddened on what happened with clients Mark and Tim (apparently others also) mentioned in this thread.

2. IS TROPHAENDIENSTE THE BEST TAXIDERMIST IN NAMIBIA:
This I cannot confirm.
We provide the following options to our clients:

DIP AND SHIP: Namibia Safari Services
MOUNTS: If clients insist in having taxidermy work done in Namibia, we are now recommending two Taxidermists:
- Trophaendienste (long successful history with them);
- Reiser Taxidermist (new alternative after a serious review)
We are busy evaluating the capacity, capability and performance of a third taxidermy option (and will keep our clients informed accordingly).

3. DO THESE SITUATIONS ARISE OFTEN:
No

4. DO YOU HAVE VERY MANY PROBLEMS WITH TROPHAENDIENSTE COMMUNICATING WITH YOUR CLIENTS:
Yes
Our biggest challenge with Trophaendienste is communication with our clients, or the lack thereof.

5. WHAT OTHER TAXIDERMIST WOULD YOU RECOMMEND USING:
Kowas Hunting Safaris have requested Reiser Taxidermy to display their trophies at the Kowas lodge, for review by our clients - which they did recently. Our clients can thus now also view some of their trophies at Kowas. Their brochure and catalogue is also available.

6. WOULD THEY BE A MAJOR STEP DOWN IN QUALITY:
Kowas Hunting Safaris would not recommend an alternative taxidermy if the quality of work is worse than Trophaendienste.

Lastly: Our Kowas motto is: “Arrive as a stranger but leave as a friend.” As a friend of Kowas family, we will also do our level best to protect your interest. Our opinion is that your safari is not concluded until your trophies is in your possession and/or against the wall.

More than 85% of our friends return to Kowas for a follow up safari, sometimes 2nd or 3rd times. There must be a reason for them returning and it is simple: “strangers became friends”…

 

[Wheels]

Dani,

Thank you for your clear and well written answers to my questions. I appreciate your taking the time to respond. You have clarified some things for me.

I look forward to seeing you and Jacques at DSC. Hopefully you can come to the AH dinner.

All the best.

 

[Kowas Adventure Safaris]

Dani,

Thank you for your clear and well written answers to my questions. I appreciate your taking the time to respond. You have clarified some things for me.

I look forward to seeing you and Jacques at DSC. Hopefully you can come to the AH dinner.

All the best.

Wheels, it is a pleasure.
Jacques and Elleni will attend the DSC.
At the moment, the plan is to attend the AH dinner.
A sincere thank you for the invitation.
Looking forward to it.

 

[Tim Blackwell]

Great to see both Louw and Danie (Kowas) posting on here. I truly hope that for the benefit of all concerned that these quality and consistency issues can be ironed out for good.

Also good to hear that Kowas are doing the legwork to research other options for their clients. As I mentioned in my original post, the support from the Strauss family has been outstanding and is much appreciated. I will be back there to hunt again one day, as Jacques and I need to close the book on a Hartmann Zebra. Namibia is indeed a beautiful place and gets in your blood.

All the best
Tim

 

[Louw Nel]

Louw,

I find it interesting that you say "....We take responsibility for what we do and will always put a clients trophies first...."

Since you and your company chose to ignore my emails a few years ago, do you care to respond to your work in posts #15 and #16 in this thread? Photo's are attached in those posts.

1. Why did you ship me gemsbok horns that were not mine? If you damaged mine so badly they had to be replaced, why didn't you contact me first?

2. Why did you scrape/tan multiple holes in a Hartman without trying to repair them and ship it as a finished product?

3. Why would you wrap, send and charge me for an over boiled jackal skull that was in apx. 40 pieces? (The skull was broken into pieces before it was wrapped. Package was to small for the entire skull.)

4. Why did you ship me over boiled kudu horns with splits in them that you could stick a toothpick through without trying some form of rehydration?

5. Why wouldn't you or your company communicate with me or my agent about the above problems?

You say you take responsibility for what you do...........

Sir what year did you visit Namibia, I need your surname so that I can draw your order and correspondence and I promise to get back to you asap.

 

[kgesch]

Dani,

Thank you for your clear and well written answers to my questions. I appreciate your taking the time to respond. You have clarified some things for me.

I look forward to seeing you and Jacques at DSC. Hopefully you can come to the AH dinner.

All the best.

+1

 

[Wheels]

Wheels, it is a pleasure.
Jacques and Elleni will attend the DSC.
At the moment, the plan is to attend the AH dinner.
A sincere thank you for the invitation.
Looking forward to it.

Dani,

Sorry to hear that you will not be coming to DSC this year. It will be my loss. I do look forward to meeting Elleni.

Your comments in the previous post have made me much more comfortable with the taxidermy situation in Namibia. The steps that you are evidently going through in vetting and working with taxidermists should make all of your clients and prospective clients feel much better.

Have a wonderful off season. I look forward to reading more hunting reports about Kowas!

 

[Wheels]

Sir what year did you visit Namibia, I need your surname so that I can draw your order and correspondence and I promise to get back to you asap.

Louw,

Thank you for responding to my post. I have just sent you a pm with the pertinent details. I look forward to hearing back from you.

 

[MAdcox]

I am loving this website more every day! Sweet pics/videos, hunt reviews, hunt offers, news, and the give and take between members on issues like this.
Fantastic site and members!

 

[Buckdog]

I agree with all that Brickburn said
DIP/PACK AND SHIP IS AND HAS BEEN MY BIGGEST NIGHTMARE EVERYTIME PERIOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!
NOW MY TURN TO RANT TOO.
1. they always find a way to over charge.
2. They literally hold you hostage as they are far away and not much you can do to them and they know it.
3. there is almost always some kind of screw up or problem.
4. Ph and outfitters are all too happy to recommend and/or only let you use their chosen one and then when the shit hits the fan they run for cover and claim innocent!
5. they never communicate well.
6. etc, etc etc....

My take away from this thread is I will never use the mentioned dip/pack company or the outfitter because any business that lets themselves be slammed in a public forum before they try and save face IS NOT A GOOD BUSINESS in my humble opinion. If they were customer service oriented and good at what they do it would never have reached this forum.
So thanks for all you guys and this forum.

 

[Mark R]

I would also like to thank Louw and Dani for responding on a difficult topic..... Dani, Kowas have been terrific in dealing with this and of course Lauren and I would love to be hunting with your family down the track again for sure. Your company looked after us so well...... Louw, I thank you for coming on here but we still have some issues to fix that should not have to be done a second time let alone a 3rd. Hope we can get it sorted once and for all....

Cheers,
Mark.

 

[Louw Nel]

Thanks for sharing this blacks. I also used this company for my taxidermy work on my first Namibian safari back in 2011. The quality was a bit mixed but overall very good. In ensuing years I pointed friends to the same company and they all had good experiences. The company were good to deal with and very prompt with their work and the email communication was always prompt.
After reading you report I won't be recommending them any more. I think you have done a lot of hunters a big favour by reporting your experiences.

Thanks for stating that you had a good experience with us, work and communication wise. This go a long way. Don't however scrap a company because off one mishap.
Regards