Shipping quotes lately??????

[Mwag]

Has anyone received any recent shipping quotes on finished taxidermy from R.S.A. to U.S.?
Some of the pricing that I looked at back in Mar was scary.
Thought maybe with more flights in and out of JNB that shipping may have come down a little.

 

[chashardy]

I just wired the money for my dip and pack and then just got the invoice for shipping. Only six animals in my crate, but the cost of both dip and pack and shipping are higher than on my two previous safaris in 2018 and2019. Up by about 20%.

 

[leslie hetrick]

well some know they got you by your short hairs and that you and your mounts are at their mercy. i chose just to get hides and horns, and ton,s of pictures. a lot lower than full mounts.

 

[R.M.C.]

Trophy shippers quoted me 2500 for air, plus 500 for local delivery, and 400 for customs. That was for 3 shoulder mounts and few euros and hides tanned. Mounts would be wildebeest, wart hog , and bush pig. Shipping from Johannesburg area, to JFK , then about 5 hour drive from there to my house. I'm planning my first safari so I can't say whether the process is getting more expensive but I definitely didn't think I'd need to budget $3400 for shipping lol. Hope this helps!!! Quote was in August of this year

 

[BourbonTrail]

Shipping is insane right now due to the holdups in port. I don’t know about taxidermy, but I ship equipment ocean freight and it is wearing us out. 9-11 weeks shipping from Japan (used to be 6). Need to lift restrictions and get the longshoremen back to work with enough staff. Air shipping goes up accordingly as all mercantile traffic switches to make up for lost time.

 

[CoElkHunter]

Trophy shippers quoted me 2500 for air, plus 500 for local delivery, and 400 for customs. That was for 3 shoulder mounts and few euros and hides tanned. Mounts would be wildebeest, wart hog , and bush pig. Shipping from Johannesburg area, to JFK , then about 5 hour drive from there to my house. I'm planning my first safari so I can't say whether the process is getting more expensive but I definitely didn't think I'd need to budget $3400 for shipping lol. Hope this helps!!! Quote was in August of this year

Helps me! That outrageous amount of money for JUST the shipping of trophies back PLUS whatever the taxidermy costs there, helped me decide the only trophies I will bring back from my first Safari, will be digital. And, what's up with $400 for customs? Just to check some paperwork? Crazy!

 

[R.M.C.]

Helps me! That outrageous amount of money for JUST the shipping of trophies back PLUS whatever the taxidermy costs there, helped me decide the only trophies I will bring back from my first Safari, will be digital. And, what's up with $400 for customs? Just to check some paperwork? Crazy!

Copper smith charges $550 for customs clearing for cites animals. Its wild lol

 

[JimP]

Usually the customs charge is for a bonded warehouse where your crate will sit for a few days before customs can even get to it before it is shipped to another destination

Right now I am debating on having a mount done in SA or shipping everything home, but I am also planning a couple of euro mounts and that will delay shipping while they complete them in SA.

But as far as shipping quotes, how can anyone give you any quotes not knowing what is being shipped? A elephant is going to cost a lot more than a impala. It all depends on the size of the crate and what the packing company can cram into it.

 

[CoElkHunter]

Copper smith charges $550 for customs clearing for cites animals. Its wild lol

Yeah, well copper is close to all time highs right now. Maybe you should try Lead Smith? Ha! Ha! Absurd!

 

[CoElkHunter]

Usually the customs charge is for a bonded warehouse where your crate will sit for a few days before customs can even get to it before it is shipped to another destination

Right now I am debating on having a mount done in SA or shipping everything home, but I am also planning a couple of euro mounts and that will delay shipping while they complete them in SA.

But as far as shipping quotes, how can anyone give you any quotes not knowing what is being shipped? A elephant is going to cost a lot more than a impala. It all depends on the size of the crate and what the packing company can cram into it.

I think R.M.C.'s quote from Trophy Shippers WAS for what he planned to bring back?

 

[JimP]

I think R.M.C.'s quote from Trophy Shippers WAS for what he planned to bring back?

I figured that and that is one reason that I am up in the air right now on having the taxidermy done in SA vs back here. A lot of trophies can be crammed into a lot smaller crate than a shoulder mount would take up which would equal out to less shipping fees.

But when it comes down to it if you want the trophies back here in the US you just bite the bullet and pay the fees. Sometimes it does come as a shock to those who don't plan on it.

 

[R.M.C.]

I figured that and that is one reason that I am up in the air right now on having the taxidermy done in SA vs back here. A lot of trophies can be crammed into a lot smaller crate than a shoulder mount would take up which would equal out to less shipping fees.

But when it comes down to it if you want the trophies back here in the US you just bite the bullet and pay the fees. Sometimes it does come as a shock to those who don't plan on it.

Yeah the price is making me reconsider what to get shoulder mounted. In the end though, I don't think I can live with just a skull from a bush pig. It's gonna look just like my wild boar skulls from the US lol.
I'm in the category of people who are gonna bite the bullet and pay to get them home. I was figuring around $2500 but it will probably be closer to $3500

 

[CoElkHunter]

Trophy shippers quoted me 2500 for air, plus 500 for local delivery, and 400 for customs. That was for 3 shoulder mounts and few euros and hides tanned. Mounts would be wildebeest, wart hog , and bush pig. Shipping from Johannesburg area, to JFK , then about 5 hour drive from there to my house. I'm planning my first safari so I can't say whether the process is getting more expensive but I definitely didn't think I'd need to budget $3400 for shipping lol. Hope this helps!!! Quote was in August of this year

BTW, off this topic, but have you checked into the cost for airfare? I'm only asking because I've see some outrageous prices for that too. I too am thinking of a Safari in the near future, but as I add costs up for a $6-8K PG hunt, I'm now having second thoughts. I figure so far it's well over $10K with the hunt, airfare, medical/evac, trip insurance, tips, etc., and I haven't even left my living room yet? For me, bringing back trophies is not on my radar and probably not even bringing my own rifle?
HOWEVER, an African Safari is by far and away in my estimation, THE best value almost anywhere for a hunt with a guide on private property with all accommodations included. An elk hunt here with a guide on private property will cost way more than just an African hunt itself. The fly in the ointment with an African hunt are the add on costs? Many of those costs can be mitigated somewhat though.

 

[Tbitty]

This won't help anyone who already has taxidermy work being done in Africa, but I highly recommend doing dip and pack only, then getting work done here in the states. Current shipping rates may tip the scales further, but even if total cost of work + shipping is equal, you have the ability to verify work and more control if it doesn't turn out.

Anyone in the DFW area who would like a recommendation can send me a PM. The place I used did all the pickup and paperwork from DFW airport at no extra cost to their prices. Very convenient and friendly, good quality work, and surprisingly fast turnaround (about 6-7 months if I remember correctly).

 

[Mountaineer]

Before covid I hunted SA and had my trophies back last February. It cost $5000 to get a couple kudu, eland, spring buck, impala, blue wildebeest back to JFK. I’m not doing that again. Trip was a lifelong dream.

 

[R.M.C.]

BTW, off this topic, but have you checked into the cost for airfare? I'm only asking because I've see some outrageous prices for that too. I too am thinking of a Safari in the near future, but as I add costs up for a $6-8K PG hunt, I'm now having second thoughts. I figure so far it's well over $10K with the hunt, airfare, medical/evac, trip insurance, tips, etc., and I haven't even left my living room yet? For me, bringing back trophies is not on my radar and probably not even bringing my own rifle?

Yeah I booked with Gracy travel and its about $1200 for non-stop flight from Newark NJ to joberg. United airlines. I'm going on a ten day hunt for plains game , taking my own rifle and bringing back trophies. Planning on $10,000 by the time I'm done.

 

[CoElkHunter]

Yeah I booked with Gracy travel and its about $1200 for non-stop flight from Newark NJ to joberg. United airlines. I'm going on a ten day hunt for plains game , taking my own rifle and bringing back trophies. Planning on $10,000 by the time I'm done.

Wow, not bad at all.

 

[JimP]

Wow, not bad at all.

I'll send you some info when I get on my computer.

I've booked my flights for next year with Qatar Airlines and purchased insurance for just under
$3000

 

[jesseneace]

I am planning a plains game trip to South Africa for May 2022. I was planning on having mounts crated and sent to the US on a ship. Maybe 8 mounts in total, things like Warthog, impala, kudu, gemsbuck. Can someone recommend a place to get a shipping quote? This thread has me concerned! I am happy to wait for the boat to bring them home.

 

[shootist~]

@jesseneace
The Taxidermy outfit you plan to use in SA would be your best place to start.
From my thread last spring the savings from going to Port of Houston by ship would be largely offset by Port/Container fees of ~$800, IIRC. Possibly different and possibly worse with the current shipping backup. But that's just a swag.