I busted another taxidermist throwing away my business cards

[22Fathoms]

I swear, some people.  I went to my local sporting goods store today to check on my business card supply since it is currently bow season, and rifle season is knocking at the door.  I have two spots where the cards are (main store and the archery section), so, I go over to the archery section and I see a guy with is back to me, throw something away.  The only reason I noticed him was because he was in my way to my cards.  At first, I had no idea what he threw away and I could have cared less.  I excused myself and filled the empty card holder up that was 10 inches in front of his belly.  As soon as I started filling it back up, his girlfriend looked at him and I got this strange feeling like I had a rip in my pants or something and they were noticing it. 

Then, in part of a second, I glanced into the garbage can as I was turning and saw something familiar, but did not realize it was some of my cards until I took another step back.  I moved forward to retrieve them and you could have cut the tention with a knife, so it clicked that he was the dude who actually just got done throwing my cards away.  I looked at him and since I am terrible at coming up with awesome on-liners on the fly, I just said, "Oh, wow, somebody threw my cards away."   

I left wishing I would have made a scene, but instead, while I was getting into my truck, I noticed that a truck with big taxidermy decal on the back window, and the cynic in me thought the worst, so I sat in my truck and waited for him to leave the store to see if it was indeed that taxidermist.  I have never seen him before today.  Sure enough, they come out and get into the truck and that was that.  I don't like confrontations and it is always seems like a smart thing for me to avoid anything that could escalate into something illegal and immature, but man would I have like to done something.  I also don't get it, because he is $150.00 less than me on deer heads and I am sure he has never had to spend money on any taxidermy association dues.  I did call him a poopy head under my breath though.

Sorry I wrote so much, but I had to get if off of my chest and what better place! 

[John_NY]

Did you go back in the store and see if he replaced your cards with his, or just tossed yours away again? If he left some of his, toss-em in the trash. The creep deserves to get something done to him.

John

[Kerby Ross]

**I did call him a poopy head under my breath though.**

Don't you think that was a bit harsh??

LOL



You took the high road.

Kerby...

[Cecil]

I suspect I have had this happen too. Cards running out way to fast which I found suspicious. People that do this kind of crap rank up there with bad mouthing a competitor and making up bad things about them. Been there done that too.  Really low class. 

Not really a solution but I glue a card on a card holder which is attached to a mount. If all the cards are gone this one card is still there.

Maybe you could put a note there on the one affixed card that says something like, "Please ask management for card?"

[Asher]

22Fathoms .... I thought your picture there was you taking care of the situation, LOL!! 

I agree with Kerby and Cecil ... you did the right thing showing you are the bigger man!! If he is $150 less on deer heads he probably doesn't have a great quality product, plus if he is lowering himself to throwing away cards I would suspect that you have or are putting a hurt on his business.

Have you talked to the management of the store and let them know what is going on? Does he advertise there as well? Cecil had a great idea with pasting a card to the holder letting customers know to ask for a card.

Good luck!

[Evelyn Billington (Superpig)]

JC you are the bigger man for it. That other guy may lay low from now on because he knows he got caught red handed. Look at the positive. That guy is so afraid of you that he has to go around and throw your cards away. I hope you did go back into the store to see if he did it again. Yer may want to call him up one day and tell him on the phone that if your cards disappear like that again you may just have to make a visit to his shop which wouldn't turn out too pleasant for him.

People like that are weasels and cowards. That guy, when confronted, probably would tuck his tail between his legs and run like a whooped dog. Don't worry about him, he'll soon disappear or quit doing it. 

[Evelyn Billington (Superpig)]

 Ooops, sorry I callyed you JC. My bad, not enough coffee in my system yet. 

[mike welch]

And remember what comes around really goes around... you did the rite thing and you will be blessed for it, and no wrong ever gets blessed so keep on doing the rite thing,  lol  BUT you need to wash out your mouth with soap, after that bad language   ROFL

[Ken Edwards]

Ooops, sorry I callyed you JC. My bad, not enough coffee in my system yet. 

Evelyn, you know you can edit and correct any mistakes in your own posts, don't you?  

[Evelyn Billington (Superpig)]

I do know now Ken, especially since I had another cup of coffee.    thanks

[mrdux]

I have brought this scenerio up here before. I have this very thing happen lots of times. Any time my cards are removed and replaced by another taxidermist cards they are always the same competitors cards. It gets harder each time to bite my tongue when I get snide comments every time I'm in this particular guy's presence.

I went this week and pulled all my mounts out of a store that is less than 100 yards from the front door of my shop because this guy hangs out there all day, every day bad mouthing me and my work to anyone who will listen. He also was trying to convince the store's customers that he mounted every piece that is in the store when all my pieces have my name on them where it can be seen.

You did the right thing by not confronting the guy. I hope I can contiinue to do the same thing.

BTW, I have 2 other store that want my work displayed in their stores as soon as I can get it delivered. One of them is the top gun store in my area and the other is a Gander Mountain store.

I feel that if you put out  quality work in a reasonable time period, the customers will see thru the other guy. My customers also know if they need to find me they can come by my studio rather than the local greasy spoon or sporting goods store. Wonder why it takes 2+ years for the other guy to get  his work out?

[George Roof]

I'm humbled that there are still people with class  like you displayed out there.  It's easy to be an ass, but it takes a real concerted effort to do what you did.  I think you acted exceptionally well.

[Jim Tucker]

I'm humbled that there are still people with class  like you displayed out there.  It's easy to be an ass, but it takes a real concerted effort to do what you did.  I think you acted exceptionally well.

I agree.

Guess what?  Guys that bad mouth, pitch cards, undercut etc. never succeed.  At least in my area.  the only guys able to stay in business for more than a few years are the guys who are the up and up.......they worry about WHAT THEY DO, not what everyone else is doing.

[22Fathoms]

Thanks everyone for the nice words.  I did not handle it with class as much as I didn't handle it at all, but oh well, I feel better about it now.  Thanks

[DZ]

Throwing away someone elses cards...now that is just plain low!! I often wonder when I go to check mine and they are empty??