SOUTH AFRICA: Leopard Valley Safaris aka Dave Davenport

[VonJager]

@BRICKBURN oh snap

 

[TTundra]

I agree with Phil as well.

I work in the shooting, hunting, fishing, outdoor industry and am in the product development category. We rely heavily on reps for product and brand promotion as a manufacturer. Once a rep loses credibility to a segment of current, let alone perspective, customers, there is only one option. We are too tight of an industry to allow that behavior. I just cannot fathom why a company would want to be represented by such a disingenuous representative, let alone one who promotes poor ethics and blatantly lies to its customer base.

 

[kgesch]

Make that at least 3.
I have contemplated replies to this thread on multiple occasions, but have ultimately kept my mouth shut and moved on. Figured I would see where this all went and make an assessment when the facts were in. It now seems that they are.
When it comes to people’s behavior and actions, they can usually be assesed by asking a couple of questions.
Constructive or Destructive?
Honorable or Dishonorable?
I believe we have our answers.

My best wishes to @daved (Leopards Valley Safaris), Hunters Hill Safaris and @One Day... I empathize with the difficult position you have found yourselves in and wish you nothing but the best.

+1

 

[AB2506]

I have a copy of the Agents Deposit slip outlining the agreement with the OP. Daves Email to the OP reiterating the same details of the agreement and the prices.

I'll help out a a little bit here.
Think PACKAGE, then the Hunter wants to add a different species to his list. Hence the change.

Example of the type of situation in many offers:
View attachment 270154

The OP's package in question was: KUDU OR GEMSBOK

(The hunter main reason for going to Africa was Gemsbok, as noted in the quoted noted from FB.)

Then a few days before arrival wants to take a Kudu as well. (Detailed in Emails from the OP to LVS)
The Kudu is not included, the OP knows it and wants to "Swop" (his spelling) a Kudu for other species in the package. Apparently, that was not agreed to.
The OP took a Gemsbok AND Kudu.
What does that do to the final invoice balance?
Along with adding other items.


Choosing to blame the Outfitter for:

1. Not changing the agreement to do your swap?
2. for you taking another animal?
3. for you Choosing an expensive animal?
4. for you changing your package?
5. for you adding people to your trip?

This indicates to me that there was no reason for hard feelings on the OP's part in the first place. If you get bent out of shape about the outcome, you didn't do your homework and have no understanding of how a safari contract works. This also shows that LVS did nothing wrong. SOP. OP needs to remember that there is no such thing as a free lunch.

The apology is a little light IMO. As Royal27 has said elsewhere in the thread, Huntershill is hurting their business by continuing their association with the OP. While it is nice to give people a second chance, there are times where the error is egregious enough that there should be no second chances, it is a business, not junior high.

There are many well established booking agents out there that have operated for decades. They do not behave in this fashion. If you want a booking agent, I would search out a reputable one, not one who acts as if he is a fly by night outfit. Buyer beware.

 

[gizmo]

Wow this guy is something else! First he attacks someone’s reputation using lies then gets caught and is forced to apologize but........ his apology at least implies that his the blatant bold faced lies he’s been caught telling are still legitimate.
Let me help you out Michaelh or Jared or whatever your name is. This is what you need to apologize for
1. Telling a bold faced lie in an attempt to destroy someone’s reputation and further your business.
2. Tarnishing the reputation of a company you are supposed to be representing by lying.
3. Giving a bull shit lame “apology” that has no meaning. As stated earlier it’s pretty obvious the only thing you are sorry about is getting caught.
4. Wasting everyone’s time with your shinanagins
5. Acting like a flat out low life lying weasel
Short of coming out and apologizing for and admitting to each of these points I will never consider anything you say as even remotely credible and will do everything I can to ensure any time your name comes up in any conversation here or anywhere that people involved are made aware of this thread.
It is people like YOU that give this industry a bad name and your kind of skumbags need to be weeded out. I’ve been in the industry for well over a decade and met some of the best people and friends I’ve ever known. 99% of everyone in the industry are honest good people. The 1% of trash like you ruin it for everyone.

 

[RogerHeintzman]

If you check out the 1950.00 special from Affordable Hunts, it is a cull hunt.

 

[Speedster]

Gizmo don't hold back. Tell us how you really feel.

 

[BRICKBURN]

Gizmo don't hold back. Tell us how you really feel.

Damn man. Thanks for the laugh.

 

[gizmo]

Gizmo don't hold back. Tell us how you really feel.

Oh believe me I did hold back and at least kept it PG-13.

 

[Royal27]

Oh believe me I did hold back and at least kept it PG-13.

BPAC

 

[gizmo]

BPAC

Abso#%*%#lutly.

 

[gizmo]

Excluding the OP, I apologize if I’m abrasive towards this but..... I can’t imagine someone doing something like this. It’s just unbelievable. We’ve certainly had pissing matches over the years between folks on this forum but this is the only time I can remember someone just flat out lying in an attempt to discredit an outfitter for personal gain. Just truly wrong on so many levels. I’m all for airing things out if a reasonable solution can’t be achieved in a legitimate dispute but to completely fabricate a BS story for personal gain..... jiminey crickets

 

[TTundra]

I do hope he did in fact reach out to @daved and offered an apology. Also that it was more of an apology than he posted here which was little more than a runaround and not admitting fault. I hope Greg views that last post and judges it for himself.

 

[Speedster]

Not trying to make light of a serious situation. It just struck me that your response was probably what many on here are thinking. One of the things I like on this form is the innocent until proven guilty attitude. Let's hear from both sides. And Brickburn, kudos to you for going the extra mile to get to the bottom of this. This is a man's life being messed with.

 

[tarbe]

BPAC

Dang, even the Urban Dictionary couldn't help me with this one.

I am pretty sure you are not referencing the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee....so exactly what is this?

 

[Royal27]

Dang, even the Urban Dictionary couldn't help me with this one.

I am pretty sure you are not referencing the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee....so exactly what is this?

I will send you a WhatsApp message. Oh, wait.....

 

[AB2506]

I've thought a little more about this.

There seems to be a concerted effort by some media and some somewhat unidentified parties to discredit South Africa. Between reports of farm attacks, rapes and homicides and the controversy about the proposed private land transfer, there is genuine fear about travelling to the RSA. One of our morning radio hosts was recently on a trip to the RSA. He loved the trip, but complained about the poverty and luggage broken into at the airport. It is at the end of this podcast. https://omny.fm/shows/the-morning-news-with-gord-gillies/gord-reports-in-from-cape-town-south-africa

From what I can determine, it is business as usual. I am satisfied enough I am on a trip in April, but it is difficult to convince others. They think the RSA is bordering on being instant Zimbabwe.

Having negative controversies about and between various outfitters will not assist any one outfitter in obtaining more business in the RSA. That makes me sad. I consider my friend Patrick's farm my second home. I am at peace there.

 

[LivingTheDream]

I have never felt more at peace then when I am in RSA or Zim for that matter. Totally different experiences but it does wonders for the soul. I think that is what has everyone so upset, LVS is a good outfit from everything I have ever read. We dont need the good ones being dragged through the mud.

 

[One Day...]

I consider my friend Patrick's farm my second home. I am at peace there.

I have never felt more at peace than when I am in RSA or Zim for that matter. Totally different experiences but it does wonders for the soul.

These two comments capture entirely what Safari hunting is to me. I do not go to shoot or kill, I do not measure the animals I collect, I do not care about the body count, and I have had as much pleasure resting on top of the Mountain at Huntershill smoking a cigar in the peacefulness of the setting sun, chatting with the PH and trackers, as I have had, stalking a buff at 30 yd with them, a double .470 in hand.

Africa to me is a state of mind, an almost lost paradise, a break from the daily and too often frenetic and superficial routine of life, the "secret garden" in my soul that carries me through the endless and often meaningless monotony of weeks and months, and I feel more attachment for a few places and a few people I have seen there for only a few weeks, than I do for countless nice enough people I have been dealing with here for years or decades.

This is what I want to cherish and preserve, and this is what I hope as many of us American, Canadian or European hunters as possible can discover, so that my grand son, who is only 2 years old and will soon start shooting the mini .22 lr Cricket that I started his mother on 30 years ago, also has the opportunity to experience the magic of the word "Safari."

 

[gizmo]

Dang, even the Urban Dictionary couldn't help me with this one.

I am pretty sure you are not referencing the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee....so exactly what is this?

Uh no, not bicycles. Lmao