trash talking in the taxidermy field

I agree with George, Don't get involved with your competition. I never say anything about my competition, good or bad. Focus on doing a quality job on time for your customers and you will never lack for work. BAD idea socializing with your competitors.

 

Our state association is based on helping your competition. In fact most of our industry and conventions are based on teaching your competition. Its those that stop learning that are in trouble. We have membership drives and do our best to talk our competitors into joing so they can improve. I have over 30 taxidermists within a 30 mile range, so people have a pretty good selection to choose from. You should not fear "socializing" with your freinds in the industry. If they are doing a quality job and on time, its the customers choice.

 

Actually everyone on here is "socializing" with their competitors, learning, and helping each other out.

 

the guys who last and know what there doing don't trash talk.it's usually just the wannabe's and hacks.the paople who deal with them soon recognize them as losers,and it only brings you to their level to respond publicly

 

Some customers like to cause trouble too. There is a taxi up the street from me that's been in business for a long time that's really good, but I've had a few customers come here talking smack about him. I just ignore them.

 

I find it hard to believe some times that the big shops feel that my tiny shop is competition.

 

You both want customers. And the customer gets to make a choice in which taxidermist they take a mount to, then there is always that possibility you would have gotten that mount if they did not take it to the other taxidermist......hence- your competition.

 

I guess I'm just slow. He's not my competition. Most customers are loyal for a reason. Some come to me because I'm higher thinking that means somethng. Others come to me because what they see in my work is what they prefer. Some come to me because of my gentle bedside manner. I gave up "counting" as to see how many freezers I could fill. Now I understand the concept of new people doing this as I was once guilty as well. I've just passed that stage.

 

The customer makes a choice. He/she could take or send their trophy anywhere they want. If you need customers, and if you are doing this as a business then you do, you do compete for customers with every other taxidermist.

 

We'll just agree to disagree. I've reached the point where I don't CARE if they bring it here or there. If I get any more work, I'm going to need to contract more out or hire someone to help. (God I hope not.)

 

And if you happened to get NO work....you would probably be out trying to compete for a little work.

 

he would probably go into consulting,teaching taxidermists how not to be dumbasses

 

Good one Gary!

 

He could also teach spelling!

 

I had to fire a wholesaler after receiving birds that smelled and I had to return customer money on, receiving birds that were delivered wet, and receiving many birds that had to be repaired before they could be delivered to clients. The last batch had 3 birds that couldn't even remotely be delivered. I was going to just leave it alone, but after I told him that I wouldn't be doing business with him anymore, he launched an all out preemptive campaign to smear me all over the country among taxidermists within our specialty. I'm patient, I know the truth, and I don't know how or when, but the truth will come out...it always does.

With that said, the only advice I have for a young taxidermist is to never, never, never bad mouth another taxidermist to your actual or potential customers. It will only make you look unprofessional. When the customer bad mouths the last taxidermist they used, don't say anything that would show you agree. Many are just testing your character. Let your work and your work ethic speak for itself. Good Luck.

 

Very interesting advice KMA. Never bad mouth another taxidermist. I just moved to an area where the local big dog is not happy that I am here. He has run his mouth on forums and even called one of my new customers and went off on him for posting how good of work I do. He told him it "was not proper protocall on the internet". I even reached out to this superstar to tell him I didn't come here to hurt anyones business and that I am an open book. It has been very difficult to take the high road with this guy but has really paid off. I have had a least 30 of his customers call or email me to tell me how out of line this guy is and welcome me here. Twenty or so actually brought me work. What is crazy about this guy is that he has more work than he can do and is still so insecure that I don't even think it has anything to do with losing business. Very interesting to say the least. I acutually hope he keeps it up so I can get some more work.

 

Our Competition is sending big stripers to us. So be nice and work with them it can be all good. The new guys will not be in business for long, they will price their self out of business or that is under price their business out of work.