Price increases

[Bos en Dal SAFARIS]

I would just like to see how many clients have recieved news from their outfits that there will be a price adjustment on their already booked hunts because of the rand vs dollar exchange rates?

I have browsed through the deal section and if i look at the prices i am not sure how the outfitters cover cost in some of the deals?

My best

 

[firehuntfish]

I have browsed through the deal section and if i look at the prices i am not sure how the outfitters cover cost in some of the deals?

I have been wondering the same thing for years....

This topic has been intermittently discussed here for years, and it has always been controversial among the outfitters. With the exception of a true "deal" now and then from a cancellation or similar reason, I personally always question how those that offer these unbelievably low prices across the board plan to sustain such business models in the long run...? The flood of outfitters in the market in recent years has precipitated some very competitive if not desperate marketing "strategies".

 

[Bos en Dal SAFARIS]

I can see how prices was lower the last year or so with the ramd trading at 14:1 against the dollar. What happens now??

 

[mdwest]

I didn’t see any noticeable price increases this year at DSC...

There were some pretty crazy “show specials” being offered as well.. one lodge I spoke with was offering 7 day all inclusive buff hunts (SA) for $7995.. Sable for $3995.. or both for $11,500...

 

[Bos en Dal SAFARIS]

I didn’t see any noticeable price increases this year at DSC...

There were some pretty crazy “show specials” being offered as well.. one lodge I spoke with was offering 7 day all inclusive buff hunts (SA) for $7995.. Sable for $3995.. or both for $11,500...

That is crazy cheap

 

[Shootist43]

Prices depend a lot on the number of hunters expected. Outfitters need you to book a hunt to stay in business. With 2 animals booked for a 7 day hunt there is an excellent probability that you will be taking more animals. That is when the outfitter will make up some or all of what he may have left on the table initially. This isn't their first Rodeo.

 

[BRICKBURN]

It's always an issue.
It's a bloody tough industry because it looks so lucrative (and is in comparison to other available options) everyone wants in.

There are huge permutations in Expenses:

The FB cowboy's or someone more established. Huge difference in expenses.

90KM one way trip or 390 KM trip. (Both of these are as the crow flies.)

Owning the game vs hunting rights
Mortgages vs hunting rights
Finding farmers who are willing to sell to the Outfitter at Biltong prices vs International prices. Sure changes the Outfitters cost structure.
Put and take operations vs self sustaining: Feed, vets, poaching, security.

Two examples I can readily access.
One small lodge vs 4 large lodges and staff.
Comparing expenses for a property that has a 5 KM perimeter vs 47 KM perimeter (estimated)

 

[CAustin]

Gerrit are you asking if a Price adjustment on an already booked hunt has been made? No sir not in my world.
Isn’t the agreeded upon price why both outfitter and hunter benefit from a hunt booked in advance? The hunter knows what he is paying in advance and agrees to same. The outfitter makes a judgement in advance as to what currency fluctuation can be tolerated, if not he has made a serious error, and sets the price accordingly....then agrees to a price with the hunter. The outfitter has assured that he has filled a time slot and thus taken a deposit on the hunt. Something is earned even if the hunter backs out at the last moment. If the rand improves against the dollar the outfitter improves his margin. If the rand falls against the dollar the margin decreases. To adjust the price after the deal is struck would not be good business and to my way of thinking unacceptable unless a clause in the agreement recognized in advance possible currency fluctuations!

 

[wesheltonj]

I didn’t see any noticeable price increases this year at DSC...

There were some pretty crazy “show specials” being offered as well.. one lodge I spoke with was offering 7 day all inclusive buff hunts (SA) for $7995.. Sable for $3995.. or both for $11,500...

PM me who had that deal. Thanks.

 

[mdwest]

Ill dig through my bag of stuff I brought home and see if I can find their show flyer... Cant remember the name of the outfitter off the top of my head.. It wasnt anyone I have talked with previously.. but they had a nice booth, some very well put together marketing material, etc.. I got the impression they were well established and are probably known to some others here..

 

[Bos en Dal SAFARIS]

Gerrit are you asking if a Price adjustment on an already booked hunt has been made? No sir not in my world.
Isn’t the agreeded upon price why both outfitter and hunter benefit from a hunt booked in advance? The hunter knows what he is paying in advance and agrees to same. The outfitter makes a judgement in advance as to what currency fluctuation can be tolerated, if not he has made a serious error, and sets the price accordingly....then agrees to a price with the hunter. The outfitter has assured that he has filled a time slot and thus taken a deposit on the hunt. Something is earned even if the hunter backs out at the last moment. If the rand improves against the dollar the outfitter improves his margin. If the rand falls against the dollar the margin decreases. To adjust the price after the deal is struck would not be good business and to my way of thinking unacceptable unless a clause in the agreement recognized in advance possible currency fluctuations!

Charlie

Exactly my point. As i see it an outfitter can not alter the price if the hunt was set and booked. Now with prices i have seen lately e.g Sable for $3999 with 7 days and and the other day i saw on facebook buffalo with 5 days for $5999 or something silly. I would have guessed that there are clients that have experianced this that maybe a hunt was booked for lets say a sable hunt with 7 days included @ $4000 in 2017. The client paid $1000 deposit to secure the hunt. The hunt was marketed at an exchange rate of R14.5 to $1
This would have brought in the outfitter R58k
Now the it is R12.31 to $1 so it will bring in R49k
Please dont get me wrong i totaly agree that the price is fixed as to when the hunt was booked. I just wanted to see if there was any such cases with silly prices we saw the last couple of months.

Thanks for your input
My best

 

[ActionBob]

Wayne really hit on it. Every business has a different business plan, different overhead, different operating costs, different profit expectations, etc. Granted too many fly by nights don't have a business plan....

However, if a contract is agreed upon it would seem very detrimental to an outfitters long term prospects to break it and even contemplating such a thing without a clearly defined snd undestood claus to that effect, waves warning flags to some of us.

 

[mdwest]

buffalo with 5 days for $5999 or something silly

Wow! that is a crazy price.

 

[Bos en Dal SAFARIS]

Wow! that is a crazy price.

Someone is going to get burned

 

[BRICKBURN]

If an Outfitter starts playing the exchange rate game to create a minor discount they are taking a huge risk.

Someone is going to get burned

 

[Bos en Dal SAFARIS]

I guess it all comes down to book with reputable outfitters who can give proper referances in the end?

 

[BRICKBURN]

That is the safest thing from the hunters side.
Price is the easiest way to distract the consumer.
It's harder work to determine all the details and sort it all out. Apples and Oranges.

 

[jacques smith]

In my opinion there are many variables that influence costs and consequently hunt prices. There are buff hunts and then there are buff hunts. I imagine if you have expectations of size you can throw out most specials. In Dallas I talked to maybe twelve separate outfitters and when I expressed my own expectations the price and commonly the hunting area would change to the upside. I’m not looking for guarantees just the possibilty. With regards to sable I believe it’s simple supply and demand or possibly they were too expensive to begin with. Some places have too many sable or too many buffalo so specials tend to thin hunts. Point being do not expect to take 42 inch of either for those prices. With regards to changing prices, I would not stand for it. Cheers and to all, have a great and prosperous new year

 

[CAustin]

With regards to sable I believe it’s simple supply and demand or possibly they were too expensive to begin with. Some places have too many sable

Econ 101....... as supply increases while demand remains relatively constant..... price will ultimately fall to a point where demand may rise.

Five Years ago outfitters were asking $10,000 for a Sable and that was just the trophy fee. At the time I wouldn’t even consider paying such a price. I was on another hunt when we visited a farm where the Owner had over 100 young sable he was raising in various camps. He had mature males spearted from females except where one stud male could be seen with a group of several females in a breeding camp. Large males were kept together and well away from the females and the young on the other side of the property. It was an impressive operation. That farmer knew he could get top dollar at the time when selling mature males to be hunted on other farms. Times have changed and I suspect there have been many breeders who had operations just as big if not bigger than the one I observed. That being the case there must be an over supply of Sable at this time.

 

[accipiter]

I have browsed through the deal section and if i look at the prices i am not sure how the outfitters cover cost in some of the deals?

Hi Gerrit!
Are you referring to the Eastern Cape plains game packages? I am also surprised at the low pricing for those hunts.