I sent a pelt off to the tanner and, after a couple of days I called him to make sure that my pre-salting and skinnig look O.K. He assured me that it looked good and he would be able to tan it.
Six months later I get me tan back, the front legs have been cut off and the tail is missing about 2/3rds of it's length? I sent the pelt tubed and with all of it's legs.
I call him to ask what happened to the legs and the tail? He says they were not able to save those, remind you I called and asked if it was workable before he even started the project?
Is this typical of the tanning process? Do they just do the tan and not tell you before that they could not save some of it? I would have bever even had him do the tan had I known it was going to be missing its legs and 2/3rds of the tail.
A little help PLEASE.
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It is absolutely unacceptable that a tanner would go ahead with a project without consulting with you. Is this some kind of Joe Schmoe down the street or a reputable company? This is very disturbing and I am sorry for you. Unfortunately, those of us who ship out are at the mercy of the tanneries. I would suggest never using this place again. It's too bad we get burned sometimes before we wise up. Believe me, I've been where you are. The tannery I use now is just awesome and they call me about EVERYTHING, if they have a question. Good Luck to you...hang in there!
I just got my skins back today too (not from a tannery, but just from tumbling). and I am P*SSED. There is mold growing on the insides of the ears and inside the faces, the skins are like little boards, the ear cartilages are still limber and wet, the faces are mushed, the fur is curled in some spots and matted in others, and the tumbling caused severe matting in some skins. I could have, and have done, about 100 times better doing these by hand, but I heard that tumbling was the only way to make skins soft. Whoops! Guys and gals, it's not all it's cracked up to be.
Anyway, dude with the tannery F-U skin... see, here's what you do. BEFORE you send the skin out, you take a picture of it and you write down every little flaw it has. Then you call your tannery and say, 'I have photos of this skin and I know every little flaw it has. I am holding you to a high standard. Be good to my skin. You must return any unsalvageable part(s) along with whatever skins - as ALL PARTS belong to me.' The tannery may not just randomly keep your extra "bad" tails, feet, etc. If the tannery can't follow those instructons, call your attorney.
After all, a mechanic that you paid to fix your car, if they messed up your car, you'd haul them to court. Bad haircuts, bum chiropractic, medical malpractice (vet. or human) - all of these service related professions have LIABILITY that you must hold them to. If I rip someone's fur coat while I clean it, I have to fix it for free, or face the wrath.
Mistakes of tanning are not always the nature of the beast. Bare ears from over-tumbling do happen *occasionally*. One repairable slip on your average fleshy under-cared-for pelt, with the round knife, is excusable with some 'splainin. Any more then that and you put them on the line.
Hey kevin, I feel for you.. That is definately NOT the way a tannery should opperate.. The one thing I would like to see is a posting of all the goods and bads out there.. Post that tanneries name on the forum so that everybody will know and nobody else will have that problem with that guy..
I had a friend that posted bad comments about a tannery and it got yanked. So, if you do post the name expect it to disappear.
Did you take the bone out of the tail, and remove the bones from the feet? Also, I noticed, that you only sent one pelt. Are you a beginner Taxidermist? I usually dont see many boxes come in with one skin, where I work. Some of you guys are ready to hang the Tannery, when you dont even know whats going on. Think about this,does an experienced Taxidermist need to call the Tannery, and ask if his skinning and salting are OK? Maybe its just me. Maybe Kevin got a bum deal, but the post makes me suspiscious.
Most folks have to start somewhere. I sure as heck am not going to send off all of my stuff to one tannery if I am trying to find the one I like best. As a matter of fact I only send things that belong to me and not customers things to a tannery I have never used before.
Just starting out could his problem. I noticed my questions were not answered. I saw nothing in his post that would make me believe he was tannery shopping. Do you call or would you call your tanner to ask if your skinning and salting are up to par? Probablly not, unless you were new at this, and were not sure. Not downing the guy, just wanted more info. You wouldnt believe the crap I see new Taxidermists send in. Ears not turned, bones in tails, noses not split or salted, lips not split, eyes not split. We had a guy not that long ago that sent about 6 wt capes, and didnt turn the ears, because he said his instructor told him not to. Called him and asked if we could the ears, he said no. Three of six slipped hair on the ears. One, I rejected it was so bad. Him getting bad advise costs him business in the long run. Im just saying, that it aint always the tanners fault!
very true. I at least did a bunch of research and started tanning skins before I started Taxidermy. I felt that what George Roof said is a good idea about learning to tan before going into taxidermy. At least I know exactly what I am looking for in the tannery. My wife calls it taking Baby steps and it has sure paid off, literally. A few ruined skins due to my own ignorance. At least they didn't belong to customers. I know a guy that jumped right in with both feet and I sure hope his mounts last cause he's gonna have a few pissed off customers.
As a part timer I kind of take your comments with a bit of insult. I send out most of my capes one at a time as my schedule permits. Most of my capes are rush jobs but I do still have the knowledge to properly prep them beforehand. One of my tanneries has in fact said that I do too much prep! I understand you're covering this from a tannery reps standpoint but do remember those of us who are educated enough to do things properly. It sounds like this guy dealt with a "substandard" tannery and got what he didn't pay for. If Kevin did in fact prep this properly and it returned in that fashion then I believe he learned one of the key elements of life and taxidermy transactions...research! Hope the Carolina life is treating you good OS. I'd really like to see your shop in action some time. The numbers you quoted the other day were quite impressive. Got Stretch! Peace. Jeff F.
Every time I give my opinion on here, I try to leave myself an "out". Hence the comment- maybe Kevin got a bum deal, but the post makes me suspicious. I know quite a few part time Taxidermists, and they have been part time for 10 years plus, and are darn good Taxidermists. There is one guy, that you see on here every once in a while, that took a blue ribbon at the world show, and is a Michigan state Trooper. Many have full-time jobs, with good benefits, and also good money, that dont want to give up the bird-in-the-hand for the one in the bush. I was actually hoping Kevin would come back and answer my questions, then we all would have known that bad prep wasnt the case in this instance. I know that there are crappy tanners out there. We probablly re-tan someone elses crap job, every couple of weeks! Got stretch? Those figures you mentioned should have answered that question. Without it, your dead in the water. Send me a whitetail cape, and I will pay the tanning and shipping on that cape, and all I will ask in return, is your honest opinion, on this forum, of the skin you get back. Thats how sure I am. Have a good one!
if their was mold on the ears,maybe after the oiling the ears where not inside out and not tumbled enough.Tail and feet missing, it could be from the staking machine.
Sounds great! Next cape out of the freezer is coming your way. And I did know that you meant nothing personal. I also assume you were speaking of mitrooper about the world show. Good for him. He seems like a good guy. Jeff F
I think OS was talking about Five-O when he referenced the MI Trooper.
YES, YES, and NO I am not a taxidermist. I harvested a nice coyote that I wanted tanned, just a soft pliable tan to hang on the wall. What I got back was not what I sent in, that should answer all of the questions. I have never send anthing to a tannery before this. That is why I wanted to make sure that I sent in something that was workable that is why I made the phone call. He assured me that is was just fine, but i got back 1/3 of the tail, no front legs at all. He should have called me to ask if i heven wanted it, don't you think?
Thanks Guys for the comments
Yes, they should have called you, especially since you probablly paid more than a Taxidermist does for his tanning.