REPORT: My bad experience with Highveld Taxidermists/Oxi Logistics

[enysse]

I think Highveld is overrated too! Average work at best.

 

[Glferman]

There is a lesson in this story for the new hunters going to Africa. The low prices on the price sheet of the African Taxidermists look pretty attractive when you are adding up the costs. By the time you add up all the bs charges and port fees, etc., you are only saving around 10-15% by having them mounted in Africa. and you are taking a substantial risk if you have issues. I have seen many examples of African Taxidermy and it just doesn't compare to the quality produced by a top US taxidermist that does a lot of African Taxidermy.
I use the Wildlife Gallery in Michigan even though I live in Florida.
I have never been disappointed by their work. I strongly recommend to all of the hunters that I send to Africa to dip and pack and mount them over here.
Always ask for a copy of the insurance prior to shipping and then cross your fingers. It is not easy to collect.

 

[CAustin]

It is interesting to me that the outfitter Cruiser Safaris doesn't have more influence with the logistics company. You say you have no issues with them but they did hook you up with the taxidermist and thus the shipping company as well. In early April 2014 I received my trophies from last years hunt. Eight shoulder mounts and various back skins made into leather. Logwin Logistics took care of the shipping. Well right before I left for this years hunt at the end of April I get a bill from the import company in Chicago for $900. What's this I asked? I had paid for all shipping from the Taxidermist to my house. Emails confirming this with Logwin agents. Not fair says I. Not only did my taxidermist Mike Smith at Capricorn get involved but so did Andrew Harvey at African Sky Safaris. Both of these fine people fought for me in South Africa. In the end the bill was greatly reduced to just the U S Customs inspection fee and a couple of days storage.
These logistic firms sound questionable from start to finish. Logwin also nearly got me fined by US Government by not filing things the right way. The US import firm had to dance fast to correct the errors of Logwin Logistics. The emails that went back and forth amount to 32 pages. No joke!
Thanks for warning everyone about Oxi and trust me when I tell you that Logwin is no better at all.
First time hunters should study this site for a lot of good advice and warnings. I'm very thankful that African Sky was so professional and looked out for my interests. Mike at Capricorn is a very honorable man and his intervention was critical to me ultimately getting fair treatment.

 

[PARA45]

Well, Highveld/Oxi Logistics went on and replied to my comments on other forums. I think they did to safe face and credibility. However, after what some of the members had to say, they have not been back. The truth hurts after all. I'm also curious of why they have not been on this site at all?? CAustin, you are absolutely correct sir, I don't know why Cruiser is not helping more. I'm going to write another e-mail to Cruiser and express my dissatisfaction with them for not being more proactive with this issue.

I thought I had done a good research on Cruiser, but I didn't dig enough on Highveld/Oxi Logistics. Lesson learn for everyone on this forum and to do a thorough check with whom we are hunting & who is taking care of our animals after the hunt.

 

[jeff]

I also was disappointed with Highveld, they did a dip and pack and shipped the wrong wildebeest and also almost had my shipment seized by US customs for a bug problem. Even when I received the shipment several bugs came out of my other wildebeest horns that were still alive, They also did not mark the crate as to what kind of wood it was constructed out of so customs rejected the crate and it had to be recrated at port and the old crate shipped back to SA. In their defense though they did pay for recrating and the extra storage delays at customs. But it still scares me how close we came to having our shipment burned at port, if it hadn't been for our customs broker going the extra mile!

 

[jduckhunter]

James is probably right and what he says about costs etc is true. However in planning for my upcoming hunt, contrary to the last 3 times, I had planned to have a local taxi do my work, knowing it would likely be a fairly small order. When I got info from the brokers, and freight houses etc, here, and a little whining from the taxi about having to got to the airport to clear my stuff for a small amount of taxi work, I said to hell with it, and told them all I changed my mind. I like being able to pick up my own shipment from customs and FWS and pay a small fee and take my finished trophies home. Cant do that with raw animal parts.

Ses, why can't you pick up a dip and crate shipment yourself? I just did, I gave the FWS inspectors an advanced heads up and they had all the paperwork done for me before I got to the airport.

 

[sestoppelman]

I was under the impression that only a taxidermist or "agent/broker" could pick up raw trophies. Perhaps I was mistaken.

 

[enysse]

I was under the same impression as sestoppelman.

 

[jduckhunter]

I was under the same impression as sestoppelman.

I know you will have a problem with raw trophies of the swine and primate families ( baboons and warthogs). They require extra treatment at a USDA approved facility upon arrival in the states. But I think as long as your paperwork is in order, you shouldn't have any problem. Just contact the USFWS inspectors in advance and they can walk you thru it. My apologies to the OP for taking this off topic.

 

[sestoppelman]

You may be right but its a moot point for me. What little taxi work I have done this trip I will just have done in SA, likely with Field and Stream Taxidermy.

 

[jduckhunter]

You may be right but its a moot point for me. What little taxi work I have done this trip I will just have done in SA, likely with Field and Stream Taxidermy.

Ok Ses, have a great trip. I just wanted you and everybody to know it can be done.

 

[sestoppelman]

And we thank you for that! I had no idea.

 

[BnC 04]

Ok Ses, have a great trip. I just wanted you and everybody to know it can be done.

Very good info! Another option to consider, thanks.

 

[jeff]

Its also a moot point if you live to far from the US customs point of entry, then your forced to use a customs broker.

 

[jduckhunter]

Its also a moot point if you live to far from the US customs point of entry, then your forced to use a customs broker.

Actually you don't have to be near the point of entry, just near any airport. My point of entry for Delta was Atlanta, once Customs checked the paperwork, manifest and x-rayed the box they forwarded it to Baltimore/Washington Airport per my instructions. It was there that I had arrangements made with the USFWS office to complete the paperwork, and all I had to do from there was walk the papers across the hall to the Customs office.

 

[jeff]

So any international airport would work? I live a hundred and fifty miles from Missoula Mont. and I think there are US fish & wildlife people in town. Thanks jduckhunter for giving me some ideas to research.

 

[Patrick R]

Well, Highveld/Oxi Logistics went on and replied to my comments on other forums. I think they did to safe face and credibility. However, after what some of the members had to say, they have not been back. The truth hurts after all. I'm also curious of why they have not been on this site at all?? CAustin, you are absolutely correct sir, I don't know why Cruiser is not helping more. I'm going to write another e-mail to Cruiser and express my dissatisfaction with them for not being more proactive with this issue.

I thought I had done a good research on Cruiser, but I didn't dig enough on Highveld/Oxi Logistics. Lesson learn for everyone on this forum and to do a thorough check with whom we are hunting & who is taking care of our animals after the hunt.

First of all, sorry about your trophies! I wil lbe pi@#ed-off also..

On Highveld Taxidermy, they have a great track record on trophies, probably one of the oldest taxidermist in Africa, starting in Zambia in the '70's i think...however the freight company i don't know...

I also think it's unfair to the Outfitter (Cruiser) to be held responsible if a 3rd / 4th party is envolved transferring your trophies. As to your previous mail it seems that your hunt was excellent!! I also have seen that they recommended the taxidermy to you and this normally occur probably because of using them often or perhaps of their credibility in the fraternity... Asking Cruiser Safaris to assist in 'steering you on the right track' i think would be fair...

 

[PARA45]

Bushwack; thank you for your reply. I'm not holding Cruiser responsible for what happened, and that is I why I made sure I said what I said about them at the beginning. I have praised Cruiser on every forum I've been, and I'm extremely pleased with the quality of trophies I was able to harvest with them. However, what I do not understand, is if Highveld/Oxi is their preferred Taxi, why not be a mediator in trying to fix this problem? The problem with Highveld/Oxi Logistics is that I purchased insurance (I purchased replacement cost insurance), and I was under the impression that I was buying insurance to my door. Oxi Logistics as my shipper should have been more proactive on protecting their client (me) and advicing on the proper amount of insurance to purchase. After all the cost of a safari, what's another $100-300 worth of insurance coverage??? I might end up getting something out of the trucking company. However, no one in the US will give me an estimate on how much it will cost to repair my Zulu shield. Which, I most likely will end up eating the cost or learning to live with a damaged shield.

 

[Blue Skies Hunting Adventures]

Just a question, but is it my understanding that trophies made it to the USA with 0 problems and from that point, your custom broker took possession and shipped from from entry point from USA to your house?

 

[JGRaider]

Para, I read your thread on the other forum, and I happen to agree with you. I'd be pissed at Highveld as well over the insurance deal. I think they did a piss poor job of getting you the information you deserve. I noticed they made 1 post and hauled azz, never responding to you r question. Tells me all I want or need to know about them.

I also find it ironic that Bwhack is offering advice on what is right and wrong.