Price Increase Question

[375Fox]

If you’re determined to go, then go European style. If you’ve got a big group going. Shoot what you want, eat tons, drink gallons, use electricity, enjoy the rides looking for game and decline the shot, then afterwards, don’t tip a single cent.

If he is like WTF? Simply tell him that you couldn’t shoot, eat, drink or drive enough to make up for the extra 42%. Simple.

You are depending on your outfitter and PH to do a lot for you in a foreign country. It’s not a place to play games. There needs to be trust and respect on both sides to have a good trip. Going with this attitude is a guaranteed recipe for disaster. They can play games too.

 

[Mark Biggerstaff]

I am like others. Forget the $1000 and post dates you need and find an outfitter here on AH that can accommodate. I booked in 2019 for a 2020 trip that Covid shut off. Hunting multiple places over 21 days. When finally made in in late 2021 I asked about pricing and increase. Was told none. You have a contract and Everyone is honoring what we had set.
I feel that if you go with the one you have booked you are going to run into all kinds of price variations when you hit the ground and at their mercy.

 

[Betterinthebush]

You are depending on your outfitter and PH to do a lot for you in a foreign country. It’s not a place to play games. There needs to be trust and respect on both sides to have a good trip. Going with this attitude is a guaranteed recipe for disaster. They can play games too.

I know and agree 100%. That’s why I qualified it with if he was “determined to go”. At this point the pitiful truth is; any way you look at it, he’s going to lose. How much? That’s his decision.

 

[wyosteve]

I agree with the others, eat the deposit. I ate a $1200 deposit in 2021 due to Covid shenanigans in Canada. Paid it before Covid and although we could have still done the hunt (waterfowl), the hoops to jump through instigated by the Canadian government made us say 'forget it'. I never lost a bit of sleep over it. $1000 in minuscule in the whole scheme of things.

 

[csmcclain]

After the overwhelming feedback to run, I’ll be curious to know if you go or not. It’s an interesting study in honoring sunk costs.

On one hand, we all know the right answer. On the other hand, it’s against human nature to walk away from something they have committed to and invested in.

 

[BnC 04]

I certainly feel for ya but what I really cant get behind is the fact you dont want to share who the outfitter is. This type of info can, would/will help your fellow hunters from falling into the same predicament your currently in.
You haven't bad mouthed this outfitter, only stated facts about a price increase.
As to your original question, isnt a chance in he** I'd back an outfit that did that. Id pull the pin, recalibrate and get linked up with a AH sponsor.

 

[Kalthoff]

It increased 2100 dollars. We had 1000 dollar deposit.

What reason, if any, was given for the 42% price increase?

Do you deal directly with the outfitter in Africa or via an agent/brooker/middleman of some sort?

 

[TXhunter65]

Create a post on AH requesting a hunt for the exact package with the exact dates you're booked and see if any current sponsors can accommodate your needs given your current travel plans at a reasonable price.

If we have an outfitter who can accommodate your needs, book it.

Contact the outfit you booked with in 2024, ask for a refund of your deposit, if they give the refund good deal, the right thing has happened, go on your safari and enjoy life.

If they don't refund your deposit, add the name of the outfit and specifically who you corresponded with to this thread. Write off the lost deposit to a life lesson and do not book hunts that far in advance again without language locking in the prices advertised at the time of booking.

 

[Mark A Ouellette]

If it's only $1000 deposit you'd lose you can tell him to pack it in his ass and still save $1100 booking elsewhere. @[B]Tally-Ho HUNTING SAFARIS[/B] can help you. Good people, fair, and honest. If the original outfitter is pulling this shit now, I can only imagine what other surprises will come up while there and afterwards. I did that on my first safari, ate the deposit with an outfitter that was not being fair on pricing and rebooked with a good and fair outfitter. I actually saved more in the long run as the animal prices alone made up for the lost deposit.

I can't speak highly enough about Sturat Williams and his @Tally-Ho HUNTING SAFARIS ,
+27 (83) 266-3245

Can him via What's App with your list of desired hunting animals, number if days, guest if any, and ask,
1. What price he can provide this package for
2. If or when their schedule can host you.

If Stuart cannot accomodate you, certainly other AH members' favorite South African operators probably can!

 

[pilar]

I agree with the others, eat the deposit. I ate a $1200 deposit in 2021 due to Covid shenanigans in Canada. Paid it before Covid and although we could have still done the hunt (waterfowl), the hoops to jump through instigated by the Canadian government made us say 'forget it'. I never lost a bit of sleep over it. $1000 in minuscule in the whole scheme of things.

I hate Canadian B.S , I know at least 3-5 guys who had hunts paid for on sheep or other hunts, and got canceled during the pandemic, only to the find the outfits spent the money and the province courts ruled in favor of the Canadian outfitters .

 

[LimbNoMo]

Dump them.

 

[Altitude sickness]

Why would their behavior change when you are in camp and are basically held without your own transportation in their camp. What will they change. Or what else did they tell you that won’t hold up once there.

Walk away quickly

 

[Tanner Lee]

I agree with everyone else a 42% jump out of the blue 40 days out is alarming to say the least. Though you mentioned you have been with them before, if you have a good relationship with them I would try and find out why. If you feel like they are giving you a dishonest answer or the run around then it might be smart to take the loss.

 

[Hogpatrol]

As an opposite example. I was booked in 2021 i think with a forum sponsor. Covid caused that hunt to to be canceled and had to rebook for 2023 due to other plans the next year.
I actually offered to pay any necessary price changes due to over 3 years elapsed since the original booking.
The man refused and honored the original booking price.
Guess who I'll be hunting with again this June?

Had the same scenario. Booked with NIck Bowker in 2019 for a 2020 hunt. Covid shut that down and rebooked for 2021, same price as 2019.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

Last month my outfitter ASKED if I could drop him a $1K deposit for a hunt this August. I waited a while hoping US exchange rate would recover. The international mess only got worse so I finally gave up and wired it to him. Not a peep from him about it. He booked me without a deposit. Last safari he said just wait till I got there and give it to him. This time he said we can figure what to shoot when I get there. How can I not trust a guy like that? I really blew a wad when I was there after COVID broke. He had 32 cancellations that year. He needed the money. I paid full value for everything except a couple of culls and a sable that he let me have at $1500.

 

[SCHUNTER73]

Why would their behavior change when you are in camp and are basically held without your own transportation in their camp. What will they change. Or what else did they tell you that won’t hold up once there.

Walk away quickly

This is exactly what I am thinking.

 

[Rare Breed]

I’ve taken a lot of African safaris and I’ve never had that happen. I’m sorry to hear this for you!

Completely agree! Completely understand any increase due to a government increasing fees but that is not 42%! I have an elephant and buffalo hunt with That’s Africa for 2028 that I explicitly put in my contract any increase in government fees could be passed to me but nothing else! It sounds to me like your outfitter absolutely does not want to honor your hunt price and is hoping you will withdraw…I no question would avoid this outfitter in the future and to help all of us we should know who this outfitter is

 

[Rare Breed]

I certainly feel for ya but what I really cant get behind is the fact you dont want to share who the outfitter is. This type of info can, would/will help your fellow hunters from falling into the same predicament your currently in.
You haven't bad mouthed this outfitter, only stated facts about a price increase.
As to your original question, isnt a chance in he** I'd back an outfit that did that. Id pull the pin, recalibrate and get linked up with a AH sponsor.

I can’t agree with this more!!!!! Peer pressure and protecting our members is part of our forum value!!! Any outfitter should respect the power of our great forum to help them when they are fair and to call them out when they are not. You are doing us no favors by not calling them out!!!

 

[Newboomer]

I wouldn’t consider negotiating in good faith after a 42% price increase is added last minute. If you put a deposit down and sign a contract it’s expected the rates you booked are honored. If prices go up outside the outfitter’s control I’d expect a phone call and a discussion, not just a notification these are the new prices 40 days before a trip. I’m very understanding things can change and I’d want it to be a fair deal for both me and the outfitter, but this seems very one sided.

We can put this in different terms. We all want to think of PHs and outfitters as friends, but at end of day it is a business relationship. 90% of outfitters in South Africa are offering identical hunts to the next outfitter and many times hunting the same properties even. If you were shopping for a used car, found the deal you wanted, and put a deposit down with an agreement to come back next week to find the deal has changed and cost went up 42% what would you do? Thinking you are friends due to previous trip clouds the decision making. Objectively, it’s clear it’s not the way business should be done by a professional outfitter.

Methinks he's pulling a fast one. He thinks it being so close to departure you'll panic and go along with the increase. Take your business elsewhere.

 

[lhook7]

I had a similar experience when I was booked on a full bag hunt in Tanzania in (if I remember correctly) 2007. The government upped all their fees and the price of my hunt more than doubled. I was lucky to be dealing with an honest outfitters, Luke Samaras, who refunded my deposit.

I have not read all the posts in this thread, but I’m guessing you are booked in South Africa, which means your outfitter is either crooked or incompetent.