Tri-State Taxidermy - Disappointing Mount/Experience

Good Morning folks, just wondering if anyone else has had a similar problem with Tri-State Taxidermy in Houston. I was under the impression Ben ran a top notch shop, but my experience has proven quite the opposite. Even after politely raising my concerns about some major problems with my mount (see pic of email), his apathetic response demonstrated customer service was about as low on his list of priorities as ensuring his customers received a quality product. All things considered I even felt it was worth posting my first review on yelp after such an unfortunate experience. http://www.yelp.com/biz/tri-state-taxidermy-houston

A 9 word response to a well written communication is quite disappointing; as is the bird you got back from the taxidermist. That bill color would bother the heck out of me.

You handled/are handling it the 'right' way.

Just out of curiosity, did he hit your initial estimated delivery date?

No, he told me they were running behind and it would be about 8 months. I received the duck exactly 12 months after I dropped it off.

I applaud you for your well executed email. I wish your professionalism had been mirrored in the response. I agree the duck is subpar.

That's really frustrating. I know the top notch bird guys on here have salvaged a few poorly executed mounts and turned them into fabulous mounts. That certainly isn't the most cost effective method but it would preserve your personal trophy.

some taxie`s dont relize or CARE what the mounts mean to the hunter , all they want is the money and strech out turnaround time way past what they stated when you droped it off , have had many , many bad experances whith basicly the same kind of responce .

Well if anyone has any suggestions for taxidermists near houston that could salvage mine, or I could at least take future mounts to, I'd welcome any suggestions. Appreciate the help/insight fellas.

Howdy,

My name is Ben Cromeens I own Tri-State Taxidermy. I started the business in 1998 and the customer who posted this story was helped by me personally. This story was brought to my attention by friends who had seen it online along with corresponding gossip the original poster has placed on fake business pages that supposedly represent my company. Here are the facts that I know.

1. I did mount the bird for the customer.
2. He picked up the bird in person and dealt with me directly, not an employee.
3. He was thrilled at how his bird looked and at no point did he express any dissatisfaction to me.
4. He paid me the balance due and from all indication left happier than when he arrived.
5. He did send me the email that he posted on these forums.
6. The bird he left with did not look like the photos which he has posted here.
7. He specifically asked for my opinion.
8. With much respect I answered his one single request as directly as possible.
9. He never asked me any other questions or wanted to know any thing else. He never asked If I could fix or change anything on his bird. He never asked for money back. All he has done is spread gossip.


Here is where I am confused. What changed From the time he was here until the time he wrote the email? Why didn't he ask me what could be done differently? What happened to the bird? What did the customer want from the email if he actually didn't want what he asked for?????????


Here are some other facts.

1. I mount hundreds of animals every year for hundreds of clients.
2. Each one of them we take seriously.
3. No two mounts are the exact same no matter how much I wish they could be.
4. I still answer my phone when people call and return my calls EVEN IF IT'S A DISSATISFIED CLIENT.
5. I have never had a year where %100 of my clients were happy. That is an impossible achievement.
6. I will always do my best to resolve problems with clients myself and not pass it off on other employees or vendors.
7. Irrational, illogical, or emotional complaints will not be pandered to.
8. I will be here six days this week just like I have for over 20 years. I will try and be a better taxidermist today than I was yesterday and I expect to be even better tomorrow.


Thank you to all of the clients of Tr-State Taxidermy. There are thousands of you which I owe much gratitude. I look forward to serving you and other new clients over the next twenty years. I really do wish things had been different with this client but I get the feeling him being happy really wasn't the outcome he was looking for in this transaction.

The OP hasn't posted on here in a year and a half, a virtual "drive-by". I wouldn't worry about it.

Well done Ben, you difinatly did justice to a rather drab woodie. You forgot the eyeglasses Ben!
Keep up the good work, and come back to the swamp sometimes!
DC

Why respond now to a 3.5 year old thread? Weird.

He explained that this was brought to his attention by someone else. He didn't know about it until then.

Brought to his attention 3.5 years ago? lol

That is odd.

Howdy,

About six weeks ago a client of mine told me he googled my company name and this post came up in the choices. He told me about it and others related on fake business sites related to it. So I responded.

If I have broken some form of internet protocol by doing so I guess there will just have to be some offended people out there in internet land. I'm a little old fashioned in business and marketing. I guess yall will have to just put up with me. Good news is yall won't see me much. I have piles and piles of work that seem to never end. Anyone is welcome to call me anytime and ask me anything. (713)-465-7388. I know using a telephone is probably "weird" but I still help a lot of people that way and my hands can keep working while I do it.

Hope everybody has a great day out there in the internet wild west and good hunting.

Cheers,

Ben