Jamindux
Welcome to AH...
Did you check with your taxidermist on who they recommended to use in South Africa...
I do know that the few i visited with have a set up in South Africa. You just have to ask the questions before going.
Most of the international Taxidermist that i have talked to have recommended Dip & Pack plus they have shipping recommendations also. This also included the importer in the USA.
When items are shipped and have many stops involved it would be wise to have insurance on your trophies. It also is available and depending on your budget it is well worth the few extra dollars to cover this expense. Insurance companies are like bull dogs when fighting to obtain your goods. Something to consider in the future...
When the Dip & Pack company delivered your crate to the shipper then they have handed your goods to the next leg of your trophies on there way home. Your crate was open you say, Well it is opened and inspected in the USA on arrival before it go onto it's next leg on the way to your label destination.
While i have realized you have suffered a loss, if you do not know where the break down in the shipment came it will be hard for your to pin this on the Dip & Pack Business.
A side note, From what i have seen and the stories i have heard you should be looking to the South African Air shipper and it storage. As i have visually seen items were opened, even my bag this past year the pockets on my checked bag were gone through and items removed. Plus i have read and was informed, plus it is recommended that you have all your items very secure when they are in the Joberg airport.
Now it appears that your items were finished, a zebra rug in good condition sells for about $4,000 USD in South Africa to tourist (i checked in May before my return) and will sell for less on the black market. Warthog tusk are a valued item and also sell on the open market for $$ if they are Large or X-Large. finished products are what the black market parties are looking for.
The communication line is alive and well in South Africa and i do believe that your shipment was probably targeted and followed from taxidermist to Dip and Pack and then to the terminal to sit (days or weeks) waiting to be loaded for export and shipping.
If i were you i would start with the taxidermist and see when it was delivered to the Dip & Pack company and then when they delivered it on to the shipper?
Try and find where the break down occurred, most of these business take pictures when they have items finished and pass along. follow the paper trail to see where it leads.
Example if the taxidermist delivered all items on Day 1 to the dip and pack. Check
Day 2 dip and pack start work on your items. Check
Day 10 dip and pack deliver to shipper. Check
Day 15 Shipper delivers to Airport for shipping. Check
Day 25 items are shipped.Check
Day 27 items arrive in USA. Check
Now find out who was the first to notice the crate was open. and the prior step is the one to begin your chat with.
Hello fellow hunters,
Recently received my trophies from a family South African plains game safari. On the recommendation of PH utilized Big Buck taxidermy and they use Dip-Pack LTD for their shipping. Crate delivered via ocean freight and was opened prior to arrival in the US and your prized zebra rug removed. Completely unprofessional and irresponsible. To avoid this from happening to your trophies, strongly recommend you do NOT utilize the services of Dip-Pack or their agent Andreas. Unable to get response or resolution.
Do not make the same mistake I did.
Happy hunting.
