I was wopndering what you do if you ever have a customer that takes too long to come pick up his mount? I currently have two mounts, a canada goose and a bear rug for customers that I notified of completion over 100 days ago. Yes, I take deposits of 50% before I start any work. The man with the rug owes me a only a little less than $400.00 so he already has a large investment in the rug. Both have told me when they would come pick them up and niether one have showed up. Now they just let the machine take my weekly call. In my contract that they both signed it states that their mount may be sold within 15 days of completion if they do not pick it up. I may mail them a registered letter informing them of this but the problem is in the state I am in, F & G prohibits selling a bear and none of us can sell a mogratory bird. Should I send a letter hoping that the customer does not know this and maybe they will come get their mount? I have never done any previous work for either one of these customers. Both came with a good recommendation from clients that have done business with me for years so I had never met either guy before. (I don't mean to sound rude but I try to screen out people that seem flakey and not take their work in my shop.)
I would appreciate any advice you may have. I thought my contract made it clear to people when they drop their mount off so I have been fortunate and usually only needed to make a second phone call to notify someone of their completed mount.
Thank you all for your time with this lengthy subject.
Jon
Return to Taxidermy Training Category Menu
If you donate the duck to a school or musuem you will get a large write off against your taxes. I have done that years ago. Good luck. Sell the bear out of a state that allows there sale, recoup your money due plus.
I've been in business now approaching ten years. And I've yet to have a customer stiff me. I have one customer now that left fish w/o a deposit and it looks like they're blowing off doing them. BUT, I have no time invested in them other than sticking them in the freezer and writing them up. And this is the first customer that has ever done this in nearly a decade.
Personally, I certainly could beef up my display room a bit. If it were me, I'd hang them up and figure I just got paid a decent amount for decorating my own wall! IF they were ever to come back looking for them, I'd charge them a reasonable storage fee on top of their bill and final payment would be in cash only.
Now, if your display room is already pretty impressive, I'd still wait ahwile and do the registered letter deal and then eventually donate them for the tax deduction...
to quit calling and bugging them and store their mounts in the back room, they will be by sooner or later. (unless you are broke or out of room) although you contract clearly states that stuff, your still better off (pr) to hold their stuff rather than sell it.
Keep you end of the contract and sell it.
...on the 3rd attempt I called his buddy(the one that referred him to me) and in a calm voice asked him.."whats up with your friend ,Mike. I need to know if he's gonna pick up his fox..if not, let me know..that way I can get the paper work started for the court...I'm not pissed off or anything, but he still owes $400.00...I cant just let that go."
Guess who came over later that SAME day...
I'd rather take the calm direct approach..ie..no yelling or idle threats, perhaps even keeping the option open in their minds that we can still do business again. (yeah right!)
Rest assured that the day AFTER you sell "their mount"...they are going to call with "good news"...and that they are already on their way over.