AB2506
AH fanatic
- Joined
- Aug 16, 2014
- Messages
- 541
- Reaction score
- 463
- Location
- Calgary, AB Canada
- Media
- 16
- Articles
- 1
- Member of
- SCI, AFGA, AHEIA
- Hunted
- Alberta, Wyoming, Florida, Eastern Cape of South Africa x3
Your experience does not surprise me.Second part.
Crate is in the garage, and I get busy to remove the 10 1/2 million screws used on the crate. Here is a picture of the crate.
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As I remove the top lid, I noticed the first sign of damage. One of my Impala Euro mounts broke and busted up during transit.
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Ok, not too bad, the other one (my granddaughter's gift) was fine.
Then comes the true horror part. I had asked Lauriston to make a couple of ashtrays and book end from the Buff ft,and provided them with a couple of pictures. This is what I wanted.
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and this is what I received.
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Well to say that I was angry is an understatement. I immediately got on the computer and wrote Lauriston an e-mail with what I had received, and the pictures. I also reached out to Wik (via Whatapp) so he could see what had happened. He suggested I receive a full refund, and that he would reach out to Lauriston first thing in the morning.
I know this has been all bad news so far, but let me tell you, that the rest of the work Lauriston Taxidermy did was short of outstanding. The Buffalo and Waterbuck look great. I also did not realize how big this mount was going to be. My wife has issues with this, but we are working it. LOL!!!!! Here are some pictures of the Buffalo mount.
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Another angle.
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I also had Lauriston make a purse from the back skin of the Buffalo, and to say that I gain some serious brownie points it's an understatement. Here is picture of the purse on the Buffalo. LOL!!!
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Well, there was some good out of all the bad. So, my mood changed dramatically, and I was hopeful that this would work out. To tell you that I slept, well, truthfully, I didn't. My mind was restless all night, expecting the worst. Something I had experience with my first safari, and how the Taxidermist basically told me to F-off, and the outfitter was no better in trying to help me.
Woke up this morning and the first thing I did was to check my e-mails and see if I had anything from Wik. About 30 min later, I check my e-mail and there was a reply from Michelle, from Lauriston Taxidermy. I've been dealing with her for the past year. I'm going to cut and past her reply to me.
"Thank you for your email.
I'm glad you received your trophies. I'm so sorry that you have damage on your Impala Skull on shield.
Regarding your other items - I apologize profusely on behalf of the Taxidermy.
This is completely unacceptable, and inexcusable. I am quite speechless to be honest!
Unfortunately, I gave the detailed instructions through to the relevant department manager, and presumed everything was done as instructed.
I am truly sorry about this. I will be taking steps to ensure this nonsense does not happen again. I know this does not help with your received trophies through.
Please could you let me know the cost to repair your Skull & Horns on Shield.
Can I pay you a refund on the Impala legs / Buffalo legs?
Please let me know what works best for you.
Once again, please accept my sincere apology.
This is not how we like to do business, and we aim to please our clients.
I'm sorry this was not the case with your shipment.
Kindly let me know the cost to repair, and how I can refund you on these items.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Kind regards
Michelle"
To say that I was blown away by this reply it's an understatement. Wik had told me that Lauriston was a stand-up business, and that he knew that his reputation was on the line if something went bad and they didn't stand behind their work.
So, something that started as the bad dream we all here fear, turned out to have a happy ending after all. To say that I am extremely grateful for Lauriston (Michelle) commitment to their customer service and to ensure the customer is happy with their work is without a doubt top notch. To offer to pay to fix something and to offer a refund is going above and beyond. We've all read those horror stories, and there are many.
I hope this helps someone who might be on the fence about using Lauriston Taxidermy. This proved that Lauriston stand behind their work and their reputation.
Michelle & Wik, thank you both for your assistance in making this right. I know most of the time we get hung up on the negatives, and we forget to highlight the positives. I hope I did justice to what happened, and how it was handled.
I used a different Eastern Cape taxidermist and have always had some issues with quality.
I have been in their shop and toured it. Had dinner with the chief operator and his wife. Nice staff. Met the founder. And yet there is always something(s) that I am not happy with.
I don't think that there is enough inspection of the hired staff's work. Inspecting a skull after it has been boiled is too late if it was over boiled. I'd say it is only about 85% well prepared
That being said, I'm doing the minimum to get it out of South Africa and imported to Canada.
YMMV
P.S. The Canadian government is trying to screw us hunters over. They made my 2023 import more difficult and much more expensive than my 2019 import. If I go again, I'm not bringing much back, if anything.
But, I after I gave her the purse she walked outside to our covered patio to show me where she wants the Kudu Euro mounts. 
. Hope your local guy can get it back together, or as already noted, get a replica skull.
).
