Lately there has been a rash of posts in this category of people slamming two or three of the top tanneries in our industry. Phil noticed that the quality of information has been going downhill also.
Here is my observation: A couple large tanneries took in a huge amount of work this year and are behind now. Normally, this time of year, tanneries are working on African safaris and getting their shops and equipment maintained and ready for the coming Fall season. Is it really necessary to come on the Forums and bash people like Oldshaver and Nate for being behind when there are 38 other tanneries listed in the suppliers section that could have been working to get your hides out? Soon this all will pass and folks will make new decisions about where they will be sending their work.
I am expecting the usual replies about inferior work from small tanneries that have been in business for years and such. I am just looking for a way to get the forums back to useful information instead of everyone pounding one another over long turnaround times and poor quality.
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Sir, I have listed a common problem with this process. Time, turnarround time is slow at many tanneries. I have not posted any negative information on "quality of product". As a customer of this process and industry, It would best serve the taxidermist community if vendors post usefull inforamtion. If the tanning industry can give us information on our goods, then we can inform our customers. We are in the situation of producing quality work for our customers, if a tannery cannot keeps it's customers happy, then how can we taxidermist keep our customers happy?
Looking for feedbacks. I have sent 2 items already and the corsican was really nice, the elk had slip on 1 ear and I swear that cape was fresh, it was killed and skinned hours earlier and it was freaking cold that day and I went to work on it same day. Nice stretch on the wet tan though. Appeared shaved fine, both hides. I just sent a bison hide with cape attached to them. Quoted turnaround was 90 days and 900.00. Carolina wanted 1100 and who knows how long to take. But I love Carolina for their wet tan capes and their bears, and also sent them a bunch of fur animals for LS. Prob see them in dec LOL. Just 1 problem, a batch of 60 days- invoice dated 3/29 and they are just now sending me the bill? Customer service was great though, next day a lady called and said 1 flat deer hide got put in regular rotation by mistake and was holding the other hides up, which she said were done. Believe it or not, I am not mad. Customers not bugging me again yet LOL, guess thats why.
Your question was "What is a normal turnaround?" I think that depends mainly on the time of year and next the quality of work from a reputable tannery. My general guess is two months in the off season and as high as six months in the peak season.
I did notice that you did not take a shot at quality. But, there are others that have and the comment was directed in the general direction of the overall atmosphere of these forum categories.
I know that folks have their favotite tannery and sometimes things go wrong. I would hope that those times are the exception, not the rule. My suggestion would be that people use their experiences to make a valued judgement next season.
Your point about customer service rolling upstream to more customers is very valid. And well taken.
That many tannerys are advertising a faster turn around on African items. If they took in more work from the fall and winter, are the people who send in deer, bear, furs and such getting shafted with slower turn around times? Or is every one getting a slower turn around time? Why isn't someone standing there going "Oh crap! We have too much work... better get the web site updated and let our customer service reps know we are running a few months behind." Why? Because no one wants to loose a customer. Every taxidermist that I have spoken to that does African game is running behind. A lot of people who outsourse tanning for native game are waiting to get there capes and skins back so they can get to work. This time of year we should all be doing fish or African game. Not waiting for capes that were sent in December.
I do agree with you Mr. Patton. Their is a lot of other tannerys to choose from. The 38 you speek of are just linked to this web site. Their are many more to choose from. Stop sending ALL your work to just one and keep track of who is giving you the best price, quality, speed, and service. "A dog only knows what he feels" (Aldo Leopold)
I guess some people just get off slamming the services they use. I do it as well. I only complain about chevy when my truck breaks down.
Joe