Can't believe shipping costs

[Tbitty]

My South African taxidermist quoted me a stupid high amount last month for shipping my trophies.
I asked him to get a quote from https://www.ahgshipping.com/

AHG came back 40% less than his usual shipping company.

He then went back to his usual shipping company and they beat AHG by a $100 and asked if we could use them. I agreed. But pushing back saved me way over $1000.

I was about to post a similar event and suggestion. Saved about $800 using AHG on my shipment in progress.

To the OP- that seems high, but not completely ridiculous given current fuel markets. You could certainly save on shipping costs to have the pedestal base built by a local taxidermist or wood-worker near you. Or by doing a shoulder / wall pedestal mount. That pedestal base adds a lot of volume to your crate and therefore more cost.

 

[Sabre]

My South African taxidermist quoted me a stupid high amount last month for shipping my trophies.
I asked him to get a quote from https://www.ahgshipping.com/

AHG came back 40% less than his usual shipping company.

He then went back to his usual shipping company and they beat AHG by a $100 and asked if we could use them. I agreed. But pushing back saved me way over $1000.

It would frustrate me that by getting another quote the original shipper could now magically do the same shipment for way over $1,000 less. Because that means they were knowingly taking advantage of me the first time.

I hate that stuff. Getting something shipped back shouldn't be like negotiating a car sale.

 

[Kalahari Ferrari]

Seems like the consensus is to forgo the actual pedestal and get another quote, sounds like AHG is who I should get a quote from and use it to hopefully get a better rate or shipper altogether.

I'm already torn between the pedestal and shoulder so maybe I just do the shoulder mount. Although the taxidermist did say they can prep the shoulder mount with a hole at the base of the mount if I wanted to go that route which I thought was interesting.

I'll undoubtly go back to Africa in the future but not committed to any date currently so I'd rather get it over sooner than later once its finished. Granted the mount hasn't been started so that could change by the time its completed.

 

[Sabre]

Seems like the consensus is to forgo the actual pedestal and get another quote, sounds like AHG is who I should get a quote from and use it to hopefully get a better rate or shipper altogether.

I'm already torn between the pedestal and shoulder so maybe I just do the shoulder mount. Although the taxidermist did say they can prep the shoulder mount with a hole at the base of the mount if I wanted to go that route which I thought was interesting.

I'll undoubtly go back to Africa in the future but not committed to any date currently so I'd rather get it over sooner than later once its finished. Granted the mount hasn't been started so that could change by the time its completed.

I'm curious what led to only wanting the Kudu shipped back. Did you only hunt Kudu? You didn't want the Euro mounts of any other animals you hunted if you hunted any?

 

[Hunt anything]

@Kalahari Ferrari , unless you’re 100% sure on a plain shoulder mount I would get a wall pedestal mount done. If later on you want you can easily have a pedestal made or buy one from a taxidermy supply shop and put it on it.

I’ve shopped with McKenzie taxidermy supply and they could have just what you want. I put a blesbok WP mount on one of their faux termite mounds and I think it turned out pretty well with some added vegetation.

 

[Hornedfrogbbq]

If you are close to Houston, it approvals much cheaper to drive down and pick it up there.

 

[coreydb]

Sad but true. I just received a crate of trophies from SA; over 300kg, and it cost me as much as my hunt.

 

[dchum]

Find another shipping company and get another quote.
Agreeing with first price is how they get you.

These shipping companies love a fat margin lol.