SOUTH AFRICA: NB Safaris In SA - The Good, The Bad & The Ugly (Hunt Report)

[Hogpatrol]

I'm running out of popcorn.

 

[leslie hetrick]

and just what did you expect? hugs and kisses. at the first hint of trouble you had the chance to nip it in the bud and choose not too. do you want a little cheese to go with the whine.

 

[Neil Barnard]

100% agree. This is what I can’t wrap my head around. I’ve already agreed at this point to have a US taxidermist inspect the mounts - but why should it have even come to this?!

I’ll commend Neil for sticking with this thread and responding to comments. It’s not easy to go up against a large group of people who clearly disagree with the way you’ve handled a situation. But to still, at this point, not even admit he sees an issue with the mounts and wants to see them in person before agreeing to a resolution is mind boggling.

As I stated, I was a parts and service rep for a auto manufacturer - I would authorize full vehicle repainting, which is $10-15k, based off pictures alone if they clearly showed the defects in question.

Jeff, I have nothing against you my friend and I will gladly help and work with you. It was just that I felt that I was not going to be able to deal with one matter at a time with you and wanted us to get things settled in a way that is binding and final... let’s get to inspecting your mounts with a Taxidermist that both of us approve off. And I will go one further... let’s get it sorted!

 

[Neil Barnard]

P

and just what did you expect? hugs and kisses. at the first hint of trouble you had the chance to nip it in the bud and choose not too. do you want a little cheese to go with the whine.

Pretty funny Leslie, I will take that one. It is deserved.

 

[Hogpatrol]

@Hank2211 Surely not telling a barrister anything but out of court settlement before the dirty laundry is aired is usually the preferred course of action, wouldn't you say? Unfortunately this case is now in the court of public opinion and the winner will still lose.are

Also, instructing your alleged "fanboys" to sign on and post glowing reviews? I'm sorry but those witnesses have zero credibility, photos or no photos.

 

[Neil Barnard]

@Hank2211 Surely not telling a barrister anything but out of court settlement before the dirty laundry is aired is usually the preferred course of action, wouldn't you say? Unfortunately this case is now in the court of public opinion and the winner will still lose.are

Also, instructing your alleged "fanboys" to sign on and post glowing reviews? I'm sorry but those witnesses have zero credibility, photos or no photos.

Your opinion is respected.

 

[Neil Barnard]

Hi guys, I have sent a proposal to Jeff.
I hope he is in agreement. Him and I hit it off wrong and after reviewing all the above I think there is yet a lot we can solve. I would like to thank each and everyone that chimed in on this post for their input. I was taken aback by how I was just crucified in the beginning. And I am unfortunately not one to back down from a fight. Lessons learned moving on. One thing no one can say is that I hide. LOL!

 

[Deleted member 15212]

I see a lot of back peddling from Neil whom is now in the 'playing victim' stage.

Jeff doesn't even live in LA area and I know that... you might have even known that had you taken a look at all the paperwork associated with coming to Africa. Haha.

Was his kudo left in the field for pickup as is pretty common practice of yours?

If you knew conditions weren't prime for the time of year then why not make sure things were taken care of properly?

I have shot coues deer in Arizona in 95f weather.. I dont have hair slip on the mounts...

There is no reason you need to go and personally inspect the mounts... Jeff isn't a liar.. he may shoot bobcat out of your area that you show him without you, and ask you to skin it properly for him , but he won't lie to you about where it came from.

Regardless of Jeff being a friend of mine, I'd have chimed in for anyone else. Also might encourage people going to Africa to actually learn some of the language there. Hahaha.

There is also no reason to get George involved over a gembuck issue. So stop getting off topic. George has no play in this! Best to keep him out all together.

If you're going to involve anyone else it should be Karen Barnard, supposed 'African expressions taxidermy' who is in fact just a broker... and the actual taxidermist gerhard riekert of burns taxidermy, who actually mounted the stuff.

I'm not even sure why Neil is involved in all this... he's well past the elbows in this... but why?

It's the same thing that happened to me.. when I wanted some mounted there and some not, they made up excuses on why it can't happen even though I proved otherwise with actual regulations from customs and USFW! Playing me off as an idiot. Then Karen threw Neil in the mix and i never heard from Karen again. Why is that? So Neil can try to bully people and tell them bogus answers as exactly what's been going on here?

If you want to see Jeff and look him in the eye to talk about some other supposed "BS" he said or whatever, then I'll be there too and we will all have some words bub.

 

[Neil Barnard]

I see a lot of back peddling from Neil whom is now in the 'playing victim' stage.

Jeff doesn't even live in LA area and I know that... you might have even known that had you taken a look at all the paperwork associated with coming to Africa. Haha.

Was his kudo left in the field for pickup as is pretty common practice of yours?

If you knew conditions weren't prime for the time of year then why not make sure things were taken care of properly?

I have shot coues deer in Arizona in 95f weather.. I dont have hair slip on the mounts...

There is no reason you need to go and personally inspect the mounts... Jeff isn't a liar.. he may shoot bobcat out of your area that you show him without you, and ask you to skin it properly for him , but he won't lie to you about where it came from.

Regardless of Jeff being a friend of mine, I'd have chimed in for anyone else. Also might encourage people going to Africa to actually learn some of the language there. Hahaha.

There is also no reason to get George involved over a gembuck issue. So stop getting off topic. George has no play in this! Best to keep him out all together.

If you're going to involve anyone else it should be Karen Barnard, supposed 'African expressions taxidermy' who is in fact just a broker... and the actual taxidermist gerhard riekert of burns taxidermy, who actually mounted the stuff.

I'm not even sure why Neil is involved in all this... he's well past the elbows in this... but why?

It's the same thing that happened to me.. when I wanted some mounted there and some not, they made up excuses on why it can't happen even though I proved otherwise with actual regulations from customs and USFW! Playing me off as an idiot. Then Karen threw Neil in the mix and i never heard from Karen again. Why is that? So Neil can try to bully people and tell them bogus answers as exactly what's been going on here?

If you want to see Jeff and look him in the eye to talk about some other supposed "BS" he said or whatever, then I'll be there too and we will all have some words bub.

Thanks Aaron

 

[BRICKBURN]

@Neil Barnard The initial reaction from members tends to be negative and strong regarding any fellow hunter experiencing what ALL hunters fear. Trophies showing up damaged or in poor condition after paying hard earned money.

This scenario reminded me of one of my own nightmare taxidermy shipments. Here is the link to my thread on the subject.


https://www.africahunting.com/threads/christmas-in-october-trophies-are-at-the-airport.6559/

...... Over all, I am pleased with the taxidermy work done by Erongo Taxidermy in Otavi, Namibia.

After my obvious initial anxiety about the error, I am very pleased and impressed that they stood up and took responsibility for the shipping error. They made it right and took care of the entire cost of reshipping, repeated customs brokerage, trucking, etc.
This cost will be well beyond anything they charged me for all the work done. Outstanding.

They also offered a discount on my next trophies.
I plan to take them up on it upon my return to Namibia.

I hope you guys work it out to your mutual satisfaction.

 

[Neil Barnard]

@Neil Barnard The initial reaction from members tends to be negative and strong regarding any fellow hunter experiencing what ALL hunters fear. Trophies showing up damaged or in poor condition after paying hard earned money.

This scenario reminded me of one of my own nightmare taxidermy shipments. Here is the link to my thread on the subject.


https://www.africahunting.com/threads/christmas-in-october-trophies-are-at-the-airport.6559/




I hope you guys work it out to your mutual satisfaction.

Hi Brickburn, thank you for sharing. I appreciate you sharing and their is a lot to learn there. I have suggested I pay double what he requested in the beginning for Jeff and $1000- for his father. Then I have offered them each a week in the South where there is big Gemsbok including the Gemsbok each all in as per website. This hunt will take place with a good friend of mine and they will not need to deal with me. I have since learned where our miss communications have roots. Many thanks.

 

[wesheltonj]

Again, I would be will to settle this dispute. The items in question are north of DFW, I will be at DSC, easy enough. Many ADR methods that could resolve this dispute.

 

[Neil Barnard]

Again, I would be will to settle this dispute. The items in question are north of DFW, I will be at DSC, easy enough. Many ADR methods that could resolve this dispute.

You want me there I will gladly make it.

 

[Chago]

What are we talking about here ? No one needs to fly anywhere. And no we don't need Operah to solve everything.

The customer and guide both posted the same pictures with the same bald spots. It's 100% not the hunters fault. It's 100% not the shippers fault as the guides pics were the same. It's either the taxidermist or the guides fault. But in this case he is both. But slippage is rarely the taxidermist fault in the first place. I'm not expert of Africa or African animals. But I don't need to be to know what hair slippage is and what causes it. I've skinned enough animals in my life to know which ones I got back without hair slippage and which ones I did. And what caused it.

 

[TXhunter65]

@Gater...sorry you had to go through this. No one ever wants the memories of a safari tarnished by their trophies arriving home looking the way these look.

Personally, I’d find a local taxidermist, order a few new capes, get a wonderful product, wash my hands of this experience and never give it a second thought. Chalk the lost money up to life tax and never deal with this outfitter regardless the offer.

 

[Hank2211]

@Hank2211 Surely not telling a barrister anything but out of court settlement before the dirty laundry is aired is usually the preferred course of action, wouldn't you say? Unfortunately this case is now in the court of public opinion and the winner will still lose.are

Also, instructing your alleged "fanboys" to sign on and post glowing reviews? I'm sorry but those witnesses have zero credibility, photos or no photos.

@Hogpatrol, you're right, as a rule. Settle before the dirty laundry is aired. Exceptions tend to be made though when one party feels themselves particularly aggrieved, and that seems to be the case here. As many have pointed out, Mr. Barnard (apologies for the earlier mis-spelling) would have spent far less money just re-doing the taxidermy or refunding the cost than he is proposing to spend to see who is right and who is wrong. In a sense, I respect that. As a (very ) young lawyer, I was once sent by my firm to small claims court to represent our client (one of the then "Seven Sisters) which was being sued for damage done to a car engine, allegedly caused by their motor oil. They could easily have settled the matter for the $1200 or so (if memory serves) that was being sought. But they believed in the quality of their product and refused to acknowledge, in any manner, that it might have been responsible for damage to an engine. So off to court we went. So, the short answer is, yes, but it all depends.

As for the "fan boys", I have absolutely nothing against someone bringing in "character evidence" if their character is called into question. How much weight you give that is entirely up to us, the jury. You would give it very little weight, and while I respect that, I give it some weight.

As I see this matter, we have a good faith dispute between two parties, and one is proposing to allow a neutral third party (it seems) to determine liability. Seems like as good a way to deal with a matter of principle as any, and a better way than most.

I don't feel any burning need to disparage either Gater or Barnard for this, unlike the situation in many other threads involving disagreements between hunters and outfitters.

 

[leslie hetrick]

I hope both parties learned something out of this cluster fuck.

 

[Mekaniks]

I was going to be bad mouthed regardless.

I disagree with this statement. If you had come out of the gate taking responsibility and making a genuine effort to make it right, this thread would have been over in about 3 pages. And you may have even picked up some new potential clients. We have seen it here before......

 

[PARA45]

It's a shame that this happens way too often. I have been a victim of this scam, and paid a bunch of money for some piss poor taxidermist work, that even me without any experience could have done much better.

I just finished reading all 7 pages on this post. On the bright side, I think that NB is learning from all this, and he is trying to salvage some of his reputation by now trying to work with the customer. Late or not, I'll have to give NB the benefit of the doubt, and that he is being genuine about reimbursing the cost of the taxidermist to the customer. I believe the OP should get a couple of quotes on what it would cost to fix these animals, and have NB pay for those repairs. At the end, everyone is happy.

I wish Highveld Taxidermist would have suggested that to me. Highveld's fix to their piss poor taxidermist was for me to ship the animals back to him (on my on own dime), so his business could fix them, and then I would have to pay for those mounts to come back to America. Yeah, that really made a lot of sense.

For anyone new here who is reading this post, my recommendation for your trophies would be to bring them home, and have someone in the states do the work. If the work is piss poor, you are in the same state/country to fight back and get your stuff fixed. Learn from all this, like some of us have learned the hard way.

Good luck to both parties, and hope you guys can reach a satisfactory fix to this nightmare.

 

[spike.t]

When

Well... if that's how it's going to be..

How about proof of sending in the goons?
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