redriver
AH senior member
- Joined
- Feb 23, 2011
- Messages
- 74
- Reaction score
- 38
- Member of
- SCI, NRA
- Hunted
- SA, Zimbabwe
The following is a detailed account of damage that was done by Delta Airlines to a recent shipment of my mounted trophies from South Africa:
Taxidermist: Trans African Taxidermy S.A.
Shipper: Tracker International Freight Forwarder S.A.
Contents:
hippo shoulder mount & skull
white springbok shoulder mount
Roan pedestal mount
Blesbok shoulder mount
Caracal lifesize mount & skull
Blue duiker lifesize mount
wildebeest Euro mount
common springbok skull & skin
I had arranged for the crate to be shipped to Baltimore, MD as it is a USDA port of entry where my import
broker would handle the import process. The crate left South Africa and arrived in Atlanta, GA undamaged.
In Atlanta, Delta Airlines Cargo loaded the crate onto a truck to be shipped to Baltimore. When it arrived in Baltimore, Delta Airlines Cargo immediately alerted my importer and USF&W of the damaged crate. It came in from Atlanta on Delta's truck smashed, either intentionally or by negligence.
Basically it looks like someone dropped the crate off of a building then wrapped it in plastic in an attempt to somehow cover it up. The crate was smashed from the side and top. Several pieces of lumber were cracked or missing including the entire corner of the crate. The top of the crate was gone and many of the mounts were lying in the crate unsecured. Again all of this occurred between Atlanta and Baltimore while being handled by Delta Airlines Cargo
list of damages:
hippo skull: front left tusk cavity crushed and lower jaw cracked (a massive force had to cause this damage)
Roan: entire nose piece is smashed and torn thru the hide and into the form
duiker: ripped entirely from the base, base destroyed, totally broken front leg, broken horn, broken hooves
and face /hide scratched in several places
Caracal: ear split and smashed
white springbok: skull plate broken inside of mount, horns are independent of each other
blesbok : skull plate broken inside of mount, horns are independent of each other AND the shoulder
mount form is broken totally thru the mount leaving the neck and should separate inside the cape!
Obviously I am beyond pissed about this situation having well over $10,000 invested in taxidermy and shipping. I immediately contacted the shipper and Trans African taxidermist and over the last 3 weeks they have assured me that they will see me thru this. This is a very clear cut case of negligence and/or vandalism by workers at Delta Cargo from Atlanta.
Here is the problem that I am facing now. I told the shipper that I want the amount that I paid for shipping (almost $3000) to be refunded to my credit card right away and if that meant withholding funds from Delta, so be it. The response from Tracker International is that they would not do this and that I have to wait 90 days for Delta to decide if they will reimburse me and how much. The shipper did file a claim and complaint to Delta on my behalf and is monitoring the situation but he will not withhold funds because Delta cargo is too important to his shipping business.
I understand his point but keeping in mind that I paid my taxidermy and shipping bill exactly when due I find it insulting to tell me to wait another 90 days for a decision from the company at fault, Delta Airlines. A decision, that in light of Delta's recent stances against trophy hunting, may not go my way.
I know in my business if I ship something to a customer and it arrives damaged I cannot tell my customer to wait 90 days to see IF they will be reimbursed. I need to make it right asap and I deal with the party at fault. I would be out of business if I did this to my customers but according to the shipper and Trans African taxidermy I must wait the 90 days, period, end of story.
In my view, Tracker International should refund the shipping fees to my credit card and in 90 days Delta can tell me if they are going to reimburse me for the taxidermy fees that I paid for the damaged animals.
am I out of line to want immediate reimbursement for shipping??
What do you guys think should be done in this situation??
Taxidermist: Trans African Taxidermy S.A.
Shipper: Tracker International Freight Forwarder S.A.
Contents:
hippo shoulder mount & skull
white springbok shoulder mount
Roan pedestal mount
Blesbok shoulder mount
Caracal lifesize mount & skull
Blue duiker lifesize mount
wildebeest Euro mount
common springbok skull & skin
I had arranged for the crate to be shipped to Baltimore, MD as it is a USDA port of entry where my import
broker would handle the import process. The crate left South Africa and arrived in Atlanta, GA undamaged.
In Atlanta, Delta Airlines Cargo loaded the crate onto a truck to be shipped to Baltimore. When it arrived in Baltimore, Delta Airlines Cargo immediately alerted my importer and USF&W of the damaged crate. It came in from Atlanta on Delta's truck smashed, either intentionally or by negligence.
Basically it looks like someone dropped the crate off of a building then wrapped it in plastic in an attempt to somehow cover it up. The crate was smashed from the side and top. Several pieces of lumber were cracked or missing including the entire corner of the crate. The top of the crate was gone and many of the mounts were lying in the crate unsecured. Again all of this occurred between Atlanta and Baltimore while being handled by Delta Airlines Cargo
list of damages:
hippo skull: front left tusk cavity crushed and lower jaw cracked (a massive force had to cause this damage)
Roan: entire nose piece is smashed and torn thru the hide and into the form
duiker: ripped entirely from the base, base destroyed, totally broken front leg, broken horn, broken hooves
and face /hide scratched in several places
Caracal: ear split and smashed
white springbok: skull plate broken inside of mount, horns are independent of each other
blesbok : skull plate broken inside of mount, horns are independent of each other AND the shoulder
mount form is broken totally thru the mount leaving the neck and should separate inside the cape!
Obviously I am beyond pissed about this situation having well over $10,000 invested in taxidermy and shipping. I immediately contacted the shipper and Trans African taxidermist and over the last 3 weeks they have assured me that they will see me thru this. This is a very clear cut case of negligence and/or vandalism by workers at Delta Cargo from Atlanta.
Here is the problem that I am facing now. I told the shipper that I want the amount that I paid for shipping (almost $3000) to be refunded to my credit card right away and if that meant withholding funds from Delta, so be it. The response from Tracker International is that they would not do this and that I have to wait 90 days for Delta to decide if they will reimburse me and how much. The shipper did file a claim and complaint to Delta on my behalf and is monitoring the situation but he will not withhold funds because Delta cargo is too important to his shipping business.
I understand his point but keeping in mind that I paid my taxidermy and shipping bill exactly when due I find it insulting to tell me to wait another 90 days for a decision from the company at fault, Delta Airlines. A decision, that in light of Delta's recent stances against trophy hunting, may not go my way.
I know in my business if I ship something to a customer and it arrives damaged I cannot tell my customer to wait 90 days to see IF they will be reimbursed. I need to make it right asap and I deal with the party at fault. I would be out of business if I did this to my customers but according to the shipper and Trans African taxidermy I must wait the 90 days, period, end of story.
In my view, Tracker International should refund the shipping fees to my credit card and in 90 days Delta can tell me if they are going to reimburse me for the taxidermy fees that I paid for the damaged animals.
am I out of line to want immediate reimbursement for shipping??
What do you guys think should be done in this situation??