In Parts 1-4 of this taxidermy series, I mentioned the importance of choosing a good taxidermist, how to find a good taxidermist and what questions you should ask a taxidermist. Dealing with a taxidermist can be complicated for both the customer and the taxidermist because of the uniqueness of the items and services involved. The last thing you want to do is bother, or inconvenience, your taxidermist, so here are some things to keep in mind while being a good customer.
Never ask for a discount just because you might have two animals to mount. Mounting a deer takes a set amount of hours and materials, so why would you ask someone to work for less money when they are trying to earn a living? Would you work for less money at your job just because some stranger asked you to? Nope. Some customers will ask for a discount with the promise of sending the taxidermist future work by buddies. This might sound like a good proposition to you, but it rarely ever pans out and a good taxidermist doesn’t need you finding him or her customers.
Please remember, every taxidermist deals with every customer, so try not to bog down a busy taxidermist with your hunting stories. Most taxidermists are nice people and will humor you by letting you speak, but you should realize that time is money and every minute spent listening to stories are minutes that could be spent working. Don’t burden your taxidermist with your life history.
The urge to call your taxidermist is understandable, but there is no reason to call them unnecessarily. It is okay to follow up on your choice of pose or to discuss a special repair but try to avoid calling just to chat. Refer back to the paragraph above and try to be courteous when it comes to your taxidermist’s time. Besides, if you choose a good taxidermist, you will know almost exactly when your mount will be completed, so try to be patient.
Finally, the big no-no in dealing with a taxidermist is to just stop by unannounced to check on your mount’s progress or to get another look at your trophy rack. This is worse than calling or taking up valuable time telling hunting stories. Most taxidermists are self-employed and the day time is all they have to get their work done, so dropping by at your leisure is not a good way to become customer of the month.
