I have a customer who doesn't seem to want to pick up his Whitetail mount. I've called him 3 times and each time it's "I'll be over in a few days" That was last month. this month it's "I shot it, but my friend wants it for his cabin, so he's going to pay for it" I'm pleased with the work I've done, its a nice 150 score and I'm sure if he sees it he'll be pleased. My wife's on my case because it the last of the 6 I've done for the season. He even offered to give me a hundred down when he dropped it off but I was polite and refused. Live and learn I guess.
GPo
Yep, live and learn---
If you agree to mount an item, your first rule should be "never turn down a customer's money" as you have learned, you might never see it again.
In addition to having a set amount for a deposit, always take whatever the customer is willing to pay.
You can approach is as" My MINIMUM down payment is----",
Here's some positive news---I doubt seriously that you will lose any money.
a 150 class head in good condition is probably worth more than this guy owes you.
The first thing you should do is check with your state wildlife office and find out when you can legally sell the critter,
(in La, you must keep it 12 months before you "own" it)I'm sure each state is different.
Just to keep the locals and your customer happy, your best solution is to resolve things with him.
I suggest that you call the guy back, and with a friendly and understanding tone, say "I really need to get paid for this mount, I have to recover my costs and might have to sell it if you can't pay for it"
**there is no need for you to tell him WHEN you can legally sell it, just let him know that you intend to do so**
this guy will probably do one of the following:
1. he'll say OK, go ahead and sell it.
2. he'll say I'm coming in on "x" day to get it.
3' he'll give a sob story and beg for more time.
if he does anything but give you permission to sell,then you can say,
"well ok , I'll agree to wait until "whenever" , but if you don't show up on that day, I Will sell it to recover my costs" then make sure that he understands and agrees with that.
If you follow those steps, you will usually avoid any "bad-mouthing"
and at the very least, you can have a guilt-free conscience.
If it comes to selling:
if you know any collectors in your area, contact them.
otherwise, this forum has a "for sale" section,
also, Ebay has a good taxidermy market--a 150 class buck that looks
good will sell for 400.00 to 500.00.
Just know that you have those options available.
Good Luck
Dave
In addition to what Dave wrote, here's some additional advice. Write a letter to your customer telling him that if he doesn't pick up his mount and pay for it in full within 30 days, it will be sold. Send the letter via certified mail and require his signature. Even if he refuses your letter, you will have a record that you attempted to reach and inform him. Keep a record for your files. If, by chance, he sends someone else to pick it up, make sure you print a statement on your invoice or workorder (I assume you have them) that so-and-so picked it up. Have this person sign and date it. This is especially important if this person pays in cash. If you don't have a record, the original customer can claim he never sent anyone. If the third party pays with a check, make sure you get his full name, address and driver's license number which you should copy off the license. Don't let anyone read it off the document to you. This is in case the check bounces, and should be done with all checks you receive. It's been my experience that when a customer poses a problem, they are apt to pose more if you give them the chance. It's unfortunate, but that's the way it is and you have to protect yourself. Good luck. Let us know how things turn out.
P.S.
To all: Never let a mount leave your shop until it's been paid for in full. If you do, you may have an extremely difficult time getting
the remainder of any money that's owed to you.
When a customer drops off an animal be it deer, fish,or bird,I always require that a deposit be paid in advance to any work being done at all.This deposit is no less than 50% of the total bill and is nonrefundable so that once work is started this covers costs of skinning,storage and of course material for the project,That way even if the customer fails to pick it up you still have everything paid for and nothing comes out of your pocket.I also have a policy that
the customer has upto 30 days after completion to pick up the mount and pay the balance (if any)or else 5% of the total cost gets added to the bill per day until pick up. After 90 days the mount is considered abandoned and can be sold for the remaining costs OR it becomes property of the taxidermy shop.
CHUCK
All of the above are good, Wedo the same as chuck ,but we take it one step more .When the mount becomes property of our shop ,we hand it over to small claims court and get a jugement against the coustmers property ,house, car, or whatever.Then we let it ride we use the mount for show or sell it.Butt when he goes to sell something .THERE WE ARE! all jugements must be paid befor sale of property.we only hade to do this two times. most of the time they get a court date they calland want to pay for it. at that time they owe you cost of mount your 5% for the 30 days cort cost. plus 50.00 for our paperwork and time most will pay to keep a lean off their home. I had one coustmer that owed a bill of 100.00 could not get him to pick it up. wrote cit. letter to him was going to take it to court,day of court he was a noshow got a jugement agenest him. did not hear nothing more about it used his mount for show 9 years later got a call from a lawyer he was selling his home and could not untill he paid us off went to the lawyers office to pick up the check. i was happy walking out of his office 3000.00 richer. so get a order form put your term on it make the coustmer read them and sign his name. Then take it to court and do it by the law.
your work constituted a mechanics lein on the item, which you were in posession of. there was only $100.00 due on the item. the value of the item exceided the ammount due(unless it was so bad it was not worth $100.00) You elected not to sell it. there by purchasing it for your self for the ballance due. I can not believe you then had the unmittigated gaul to file a judgment against the customer for the ballance pluss obviously interest, court cost etc. noyhing like fleeceing the poor guy. But what I find realy amazing is you are dumb enough to post your business name on the response to the forum. who do you think wants to deal with a thief who braggs about being one. had you done that to me not only would I have showed up for court but I am sure I would have won the case. while at the same time made you look like a complete ass. then I would have sued you for attorny fees, lost wages, mental anguish, and any thing else I could think of. I would also have made sure that there was pleanty of publisity on the matter. Protecting yourself from losses is one thing, But using peoples Ignorance of the legal system for monitary gain is deplureable. How do you sleep at night
Wow, I caused quite the stirr. didn't think this would get blown out the way it has. But 90 days later I got paid, Yahoo, all be it a cheque, we'll see if it clears. I may be adding to this post yet.
Thanks people
GPo