Pricing, have your cake and eat it?

[wildfowler.250]

Folks how would you play this going forward on a first safari?

My outfitter has given me a price for a kudu and some plains game a year/year and a half ago. The kudu has gone up by maybe $500 dollars this year,(I’m guessing as don’t have the prices to hand). Some animals like wildebeest have gone down this year by $100 since I’ve booked/was quoted.

I’m expecting the outfitter to honour the price given for kudu as when booked. Would you expect to still pay the original higher $100 price for a wildebeest or since that has gone down, would you expect the new lower rate/best of both worlds?

Not sure I can cherry pick the best of both prices. Only curious as there’s a list on a form I have to complete prior to going of animals I wish to hunt with a price to fill in beside it. So I’m just getting the general consensus on which prices I should write on list to save embarrassment.

 

[LivingTheDream]

This is just me, but prices as agreed to when booked.

 

[318AE]

You both made an agreement/commitment when you booked.

 

[Tbitty]

I would go by whatever is on your contract / signed quote. If you only booked a hunt for X days of PG hunting, expect to pay the then current trophy fee prices at the time you pull the trigger. ... if you had a package for hunt with animals X, Y, & Z, expect to pay for that package price as agreed, plus any new adds at the then-current price list.

 

[318AE]

I would go by whatever is on your contract / signed quote. If you only booked a hunt for X days of PG hunting, expect to pay the then current trophy fee prices at the time you pull the trigger. ... if you had a package for hunt with animals X, Y, & Z, expect to pay for that package price as agreed, plus any new adds at the then-current price list.

I’ve never booked a hunt and discovered what they trophy fees were later when the hunt actually happened.

 

[375Fox]

I expect an outfitter to honor the daily rates I book at. Trophy fees I expect to be the current year’s trophy fees. Daily rates are fully in their control. Trophy fees are only partly in their control subject to the landowner or government depending on the country.

Edit: I just reread your post. What does that mean you have to write prices? Usually an outfitter has a standard trophy fee list available.

 

[Red Leg]

I have always paid the contracted daily rate and trophy fee. If the outfitter wishes to raise trophy fees that is fine, but that should have no effect on our contract. Often I have added an animal not priced in the contract and that might be from a current trophy list or a handshake at the moment.

 

[3chunter]

They should honor the agreed quote as long as you didn’t push any dates or anything.
Many though do have language that says they reserve right to change prices,etc.

 

[318AE]

I expect an outfitter to honor the daily rates I book at. Trophy fees I expect to be the current year’s trophy fees. Daily rates are fully in their control. Trophy fees are only partly in their control subject to the landowner or government depending on the country.

Edit: I just reread your post. What does that mean you have to write prices? Usually an outfitter has a standard trophy fee list available.

You and I see eye to eye on many, many things. In my experience, if an outfitter can’t commit to trophy fees one or two years out, then they should not book hunts that far out. I’ve always had both daily rates and trophy fees locked when booking.

 

[wildfowler.250]

Thanks folks. It’s the agreed quote then by the sounds of it which is what I thought. I think it’s still in my favour because the kudu price has gone up quite a lot and only a couple of the plains game has come down by $100 each so still works out pretty similar

 

[VertigoBE]

Unless you postponed your trip, or requested big changes like another location, there is no reason the original contract should not be upheld.

 

[Tally-Ho HUNTING SAFARIS]

Folks how would you play this going forward on a first safari?

My outfitter has given me a price for a kudu and some plains game a year/year and a half ago. The kudu has gone up by maybe $500 dollars this year,(I’m guessing as don’t have the prices to hand). Some animals like wildebeest have gone down this year by $100 since I’ve booked/was quoted.

I’m expecting the outfitter to honour the price given for kudu as when booked. Would you expect to still pay the original higher $100 price for a wildebeest or since that has gone down, would you expect the new lower rate/best of both worlds?

Not sure I can cherry pick the best of both prices. Only curious as there’s a list on a form I have to complete prior to going of animals I wish to hunt with a price to fill in beside it. So I’m just getting the general consensus on which prices I should write on list to save embarrassment.

if it was me, u get prices as per agreed contract
but i am a handshake kind of guy
if you didnt sign a contract, then just have a chat, meet somehwere
some animals are now cheaper others have gone up, work out a package thats same total as before(swings and round abouts)

happy days....you are going hunting

 

[ACE (in CT)]

Did you pay a deposit? I wouldn’t expect an Outfitter to guarantee me a price from several years ago if I hadn’t left him a substantial deposit. That said, If you trust your Outfitter, I’m sure you can work out a price that makes you both happy. A successful negotiation or transaction leaves both parties satisfied that it was fair. I’d hate to have “won” at the negotiation, by leaving the other side feeling beaten. Talk to them, explain why you’re not sure, he may even offer you a price better than you’d expected. Or he may say something like, “if you are OK with $XXXX price, I’ll throw in an Impala and Warthog for free”.

 

[wildfowler.250]

Thanks folks. I’d have taken it as prices were as agreed,(and deposit paid) so it is really swings and round abouts at the end of the day with some going up a bit and some down. That’s pretty much how I felt about it and good to see the comments have mirrored this. Cheers!

 

[jomw10]

Just make sure that trophy fees for all animals you want to hunt are in the contract.
Sometimes there is only a subset of them, specially when you sign for a package hunt. In that case, usually the contract stipulate that you pay the current rate at the time of the hunt for any additional animals.

 

[Charles de Ribeau]

I've done 3 safaris (2 plains game and 1 DG). Didn't have a contract for any of them and they didn't want a deposit. It was all just handshake deals. Didn't have any problems.

 

[318AE]

I've done 3 safaris (2 plains game and 1 DG). Didn't have a contract for any of them and they didn't want a deposit. It was all just handshake deals. Didn't have any problems.

I’m glad that worked out for you. I don’t think it’s a best or recommended practice. We’re likely talking about tens of thousands of dollars, one to two years out, with changing exchange rates and inflation, and numerous potential adders (transportation to camp, dip and pack, permits etc) that vary by country, which are likely unclear to the client. I really like having something in writing.