Internet Ads

James hays · Aug 12, 2018

When reading ads on safari offers can you really know what your getting and what you’re going to pay? I have noticed various different marketing techniques which can be a little misleading.
1. 7 DAY SAFARI read the small print and discover that pick up and return days are included (it’s a 5 DAY SAFARI)
2. Pick up and drop off fees flat rate, per person, per vehicle?
3. Trophy handling fee?
4. Charge for first night in camp (a different approach to those 7 days on a 5 day safari)
5. 7 days hunting/6 nights accommodation? (either it’s really early pick up or we’re road hunting from airport to lodge)
In no way am I accusing outfitters of deceptive trade practices. Everyone has different ways to describe different things. A simple call to the outfitter will clear up any questions or doubts one might have. A side note to outfitters that don’t list trophy fees and rates, I’m not going to give you a call to find out. Unlisted rates and fees are like a fancy restaurant that has no prices on its menu. I’m not going to waste your time listening to your sales pitch only to find that I can’t afford you. Recommendations/reviews are real important but unless you know them personally, take it with a grain of salt. Ads on the internet should be just a guide. Communicate, communicate and communicate before you hop on that plane and you’ll have a great hunt.

wesheltonj · Aug 12, 2018

James hays said:
When reading ads on safari offers can you really know what your getting and what you’re going to pay? I have noticed various different marketing techniques which can be a little misleading.
1. 7 DAY SAFARI read the small print and discover that pick up and return days are included,
other words it’s a 5 DAY SAFARI.
2. Pick up and drop off fees flat rate, per person, per vehicle?
3. Trophy handling fee?
4. Charge for first night in camp (a different approach to those 7 days on a 5 day safari)
5. 7 days hunting/6 nights accommodation? (either it’s really early pick up or we’re road hunting from airport to lodge)
In no way am I accusing outfitters of deceptive trade practices. Everyone has different ways to describe different things. A simple call to the outfitter will clear up any questions or doubts one might have. A side note to outfitters that don’t list trophy fees and rates, I’m not going to give you a call to find out. Unlisted rates and fees are like a fancy restaurant that has no prices on its menu. I’m not going to waste your time listening to your sales pitch only to find that I can’t afford you. Recommendations/reviews are real important but unless you know them personally, take it with a grain of salt. Ads ont the internet should be just a guide. Communicate, communicate and communicate before you hop on that plane and you’ll have a great hunt.

I disagree about no prices listed. I was at DSC 4 years ago. Picked up Kalahari Rangers brochure. No prices listed. Like you I would have round filed it. However, they were listed as a Leica Safari Lodge, so next year I talked to the owner/operator of farm. He hand me his price list, when totaling everything up, he was cheaper then my first choice. I had no doubt everything would be first class being a Leica lodge and it was.

Divernhunter · Aug 12, 2018

The 7 day that is really 5 days is very common. I found a great outfitter/PH/owner with great prices that 7 days means 7 FULL day of hunting. So you need to figure 9 days at their place. You can not hunt all day if you desire. It is also spot and stalk which I like.
I also will not even bother with an outfit that does not list prices. Rarely would I consider one that charges for pick up and such( maybe if the hunt area is a very long ways from the nearest airport) or extra fees to take care of game shot. Of course dip and pack where needed is extra.
I always ask a lot of questions and if they act like I am wasting their time then they are wasting mine and I move on.

James hays · Aug 12, 2018

Divernhunter said:
The 7 day that is really 5 days is very common. I found a great outfitter/PH/owner with great prices that 7 days means 7 FULL day of hunting. So you need to figure 9 days at their place. You can not hunt all day if you desire. It is also spot and stalk which I like.
I also will not even bother with an outfit that does not list prices. Rarely would I consider one that charges for pick up and such( maybe if the hunt area is a very long ways from the nearest airport) or extra fees to take care of game shot. Of course dip and pack where needed is extra.
I always ask a lot of questions and if they act like I am wasting their time then they are wasting mine and I move on.

We’re on the same page. Both safaris I’ve been on were right at 3 hour drives and were not extra. I’ve booked a hunt in April and another 3 hour drive included in price. I’ve found that custom packages are always less than the sum of trophy fees and daily rates. If they are not, request a discount or keep on shopping. Business is business.

Dinsdale · Aug 12, 2018

Some outfitters do a better presentation of their hunts than others.

Frankly I could careless how its structured, just make it clear on days and fees and I'll compare apples to apples. I just want a nice clear bottom line.

I have no issue with transfer fees,non hunting days, gun rental charges,observer rates,booze, game scout fees, etc....just give them to me up front and we'll go from there.

I've booked last 4 years trips (and #5 again this Nov) from ads seen on line and its no coincidence that I received a clear quote for everything right off the start with the companies I chose.

If you automatically disregard companies, you're going to miss out on some excellent opportunities without asking questions.

James hays · Aug 12, 2018

Dinsdale said:
Some outfitters do a better presentation of their hunts than others.

Frankly I could careless how its structured, just make it clear on days and fees and I'll compare apples to apples. I just want a nice clear bottom line.

I have no issue with transfer fees,non hunting days, gun rental charges,observer rates,booze, game scout fees, etc....just give them to me up front and we'll go from there.

I've booked last 4 years trips (and #5 again this Nov) from ads seen on line and its no coincidence that I received a clear quote for everything right off the start with the companies I chose.

If you automatically disregard companies, you're going to miss out on some excellent opportunities without asking questions.

How many of the 5 that you booked did not have trophy fees listed? Like you I look at the bottom line and that’s why I said communication was important. I’m booked for a 7 day in Eastern Cape in April. Eland, bushbuck, nyala, mountain reedbuck and duiker for $5,800. This price was much lower than the sum of daily rates and trophy fees posted on their web site. I think I’ll take your advice and call some that don’t list prices. If they’re too high, their loss not mine. Thanks for your input.

JPbowhunter · Aug 12, 2018

James hays said:
How many of the 5 that you booked did not have trophy fees listed? Like you I look at the bottom line and that’s why I said communication was important. I’m booked for a 7 day in Eastern Cape in April. Eland, bushbuck, nyala, mountain reedbuck and duiker for $5,800. This price was much lower than the sum of daily rates and trophy fees posted on their web site. I think I’ll take your advice and call some that don’t list prices. If they’re too high, their loss not mine. Thanks for your input.

Thats a damn fine deal

James hays · Aug 12, 2018

JPbowhunter said:
Thats a damn fine deal

Huntershill Safaris. Saw them on The High Road Show on Pursuit Channel.

Dinsdale · Aug 12, 2018

James hays said:
How many of the 5 that you booked did not have trophy fees listed? Like you I look at the bottom line and that’s why I said communication was important. I’m booked for a 7 day in Eastern Cape in April. Eland, bushbuck, nyala, mountain reedbuck and duiker for $5,800. This price was much lower than the sum of daily rates and trophy fees posted on their web site. I think I’ll take your advice and call some that don’t list prices. If they’re too high, their loss not mine. Thanks for your input.

Never any harm in asking IMO; you never know until we do. That looks like an honest deal.

2 didn't list any TF's, one no day rate, and the other just day rate and like you both cut a better deal on both when I told them days and animals I was looking for on a hunt. Both had very good reputations, and all the hunts were terrific in every way.

On the other hand I had 3 replies for comparison that are remarkable for how poor they were both to not answering my questions and to all required pricing. One off a booking agent that frequently uses another hunting forum for offers was nothing short of ridiculous. One price on forum; another in email with a substantial amount of additional fees, another by email from the outfitter direct, and a week later the outfitter posting the hunt on that same forum. All 4 numbers different for the exact same hunt with a swing of $1500 on what is about a $12K hunt.

Got a curt message on my phone when I pointed that out; so a month later when doing the hunt with another outfit, I sent him trophy pics from camp with "wish you were here" attached. LOL

BobT · Aug 13, 2018

Divernhunter said:
I also will not even bother with an outfit that does not list prices.

This practice usually leaves me suspicious also, it hasn't automatically excluded any outfits that I recall but when I did get prices from a couple of outfits I culled them pretty quickly. Online adds give me an idea of what's out there but when push comes to shove I'm a face to face kind of guy, I like to look people in the eye while I'm asking questions. I don't mind paying a little more for good quality but it's like shopping for a new car, I'm most likely to go with the best price.

James hays · Aug 13, 2018

Dinsdale said:
Never any harm in asking IMO; you never know until we do. That looks like an honest deal.

2 didn't list any TF's, one no day rate, and the other just day rate and like you both cut a better deal on both when I told them days and animals I was looking for on a hunt. Both had very good reputations, and all the hunts were terrific in every way.

On the other hand I had 3 replies for comparison that are remarkable for how poor they were both to not answering my questions and to all required pricing. One off a booking agent that frequently uses another hunting forum for offers was nothing short of ridiculous. One price on forum; another in email with a substantial amount of additional fees, another by email from the outfitter direct, and a week later the outfitter posting the hunt on that same forum. All 4 numbers different for the exact same hunt with a swing of $1500 on what is about a $12K hunt.

Got a curt message on my phone when I pointed that out; so a month later when doing the hunt with another outfit, I sent him trophy pics from camp with "wish you were here" attached. LOL

I pissed a guy off also. He advertised a real bargain on a package hunt so I contacted him and he sent me his trophy price list. After I gave him my trophy list he came back with a package deal that was 20% higher than the sum of daily rate plus trophies listed. When I asked him about it he said that trophy list was mainly a guide that concession prices had changed. When I told him thanks for the quote and that I had to pass he said thanks for wasting his time. I told him you’re welcome.

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