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Don't know what to do...
This is kinda complicated but please bare with me.
I hang out at a deer processor durring hunting season and their are two deer skinners their. One of them hates me and I don't know why. The other one is a pretty nice guy and he shot a 16 point and asked me to mount it for him. Well I left early on Thu night and came back friday evening and the deer skinner that doesn't like me wasn't their but the nice one was and so was his dad and mom ( hang out up their all the time). The dad made the comment that him and his son caught a bunch of flack from The deer skinner that doesn't like me becasue he brought me the 16 point. I was told by both of them that the deer skinner that doesn't like me was telling everyone that I was a novice taxidermist  and that I didn't know what I was doing. I am absolutly positive he was saying other crap about me but I wasn't told this. I found out today that he was running his mouth other places and kinda turning potential customers away from wanting to try me. The funny thing is " HE HAS NEVER SEEN ANY OF MY WORK IN PERSON" . I have showed him a few pictures and thats it. He is the ONLY person I know that has said that they don't care for my work.The deal is he has a taxidermist that does excellent work and has won some awards in the past. Some how the deer skinner is convinced that if you havn't won any awards or your not a GTA Member than you ain't sh**. So the deer skinner who doesn't like me is taking buisness away from me. I have never seen him do this but I have a very strong feeling it is going on. I think that when someone comes up to the processor asking me to mount their deer and I am not up their he is pushing them to his Taxidermist.[/align] |
RE: Don't know what to do...
 I wouldn't let him get your goat Michele. I'd just stay focused and one day  |
RE: Don't know what to do...
your work will speak for its self, and word will travel. dont let him get to you, just keep doing your best.
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RE: Don't know what to do...
Do some work for other, let is carry through word of mouth than start your own business and run him out of town...lol
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RE: Don't know what to do...
I just recently took this years buck to a taxidermist that does not advertise at all, not even a sign at his house. I found out about him word of mouth. I saw his shop and can say nothing but wow! Impressive. I talked with him awhile and he mentioned that the "popular" taxidermist on the other side of town shut down this year, apparently because of the quality of his work. This "popular" guy did a deer mount/butchering of a deer last year for a buddy of mine. I feel sorry for my friend because the only "butchering" was the cape itself. Lesson here, a smart, informed customer will see this downgrading for what it is. Your customers will set the record straight for you about your work!
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RE: Don't know what to do...
ORIGINAL: Michelles_Taxidermy This is kinda complicated but please bare with me. I hang out at a deer processor durring hunting season and their are two deer skinners their. One of them hates me and I don't know why. The other one is a pretty nice guy and he shot a 16 point and asked me to mount it for him. Well I left early on Thu night and came back friday evening and the deer skinner that doesn't like me wasn't their but the nice one was and so was his dad and mom ( hang out up their all the time). The dad made the comment that him and his son caught a bunch of flack from The deer skinner that doesn't like me becasue he brought me the 16 point. I was told by both of them that the deer skinner that doesn't like me was telling everyone that I was a novice taxidermist and that I didn't know what I was doing. I am absolutly positive he was saying other crap about me but I wasn't told this. I found out today that he was running his mouth other places and kinda turning potential customers away from wanting to try me. The funny thing is " HE HAS NEVER SEEN ANY OF MY WORK IN PERSON" . I have showed him a few pictures and thats it. He is the ONLY person I know that has said that they don't care for my work.The deal is he has a taxidermist that does excellent work and has won some awards in the past. Some how the deer skinner is convinced that if you havn't won any awards or your not a GTA Member than you ain't sh**. So the deer skinner who doesn't like me is taking buisness away from me. I have never seen him do this but I have a very strong feeling it is going on. I think that when someone comes up to the processor asking me to mount their deer and I am not up their he is pushing them to his Taxidermist. [/align] Why not post some of your work on here and maybe have a website built to your business with some of the work you do. Let the site do the talking for you and advertise the site in local and state papers. It takes money to make money. I wish you the best of luck with your business. I have always wanted to take up taxedirmy but not real sure about how to go about it to get started. |
RE: Don't know what to do...
Wis_Bow_Huntr
I posted some pic's on here in the Taxidermy Forum. I also have a website: www.michellestaxidermy.zoomshare.com |
RE: Don't know what to do...
Heres an idea.
Take a bunch of pictures of your work and put them. In as many local sporting goods stores you can. With letters from your past custmers and what they think of your work. If they were satisfied or not. And let them make up there minds. And check with a lawyer to find out what, Legal options you have about this guy. What he is doing is slander and is ilegal. I hope this helps Good Luck |
RE: Don't know what to do...
Well to tell you the truth..........very nice work.
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RE: Don't know what to do...
You are interfearing with the kick-back he is getting from the other Taxidermist! Have you offered him a percentage of each customer he sends you?;)
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RE: Don't know what to do...
Sounds like you are friendly with the folks that run the place. Ask them if you can display a head there. Nobody can argue with a quality mount right there for them to look at.
You can ask the guy just what his problem is with you if you want, but it probably won't get you anywhere. |
RE: Don't know what to do...
Your mounts looked good to me. Just keep trying and you will do well. Good luck.
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RE: Don't know what to do...
The non-confrontational approach is to simply ignore him and let the quality of your work speak for you. Like the others have suggested, try advertising via flyers that contain testimonials.
However, please be aware that his spoken statements might be legally actionable. It sounds like you might have a case for "defamation of character". Simply put, defamation of character is spoken or written words that falsely and negatively reflect on a living person's reputation. If a person says something about you that is understood to lower your reputation, or that keeps people from associating with you, defamation has occurred (slander is spoken, libel is written). In order to prove defamation, you have to be able to prove that what was said or written about you was false. You may also bring a defamatory action if the comments are so reprehensible and false that they effect your reputation in the community or cast aspersions on you. Doing all this is a hassle, as you have to collect witness statements and waste your time meeting with attorneys and go to court for God-knows how many times and how long. However, if this is affecting your livelyhood, it just might be worth it. You might want to talk to this guy in a calm manner, and explain to him that you don't care if he doesn't like you, and you don't know and don't care what kind of beef he has with you, but because his false statements are affecting your reputation and your livelyhood, you will consult an attorney if he does not stop. |
RE: Don't know what to do...
:)WOW, really nice work. I'm impressed! I hope someday I can have something nice mounted by you.
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RE: Don't know what to do...
Nice work, I say just keep up the good work and it will speak for itself.
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RE: Don't know what to do...
Is it possible that this processor will let you post an advertisement along with pics of previous works? If the "other" guy doesn't rip it down, then maybe more people would at least visit your shop, based on the pics, and then get a true understanding of what your work looks like.....thus, giving you more business. Just my $.02
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RE: Don't know what to do...
i wouldnt worry about it much...just get your work out there...and get your please customers tospread the good word....and i agree....sporting good shops...gunshops...butchers ect would be a good place for you to possible show off mounts...make a little plaque or something with your name...makes their shops look nice...and gets your name out....my taxidermist is having trouble getting his word out....hes EXCELLENT....he keeps his prices low...and does excellent work...he treats each piece as if it was going to be in a competition....he rambled on to me for a good hour about detail....and showing me things wrong with other mounts from other guys ect...he knows his stuff....just alottttt of competition around here and guys dont know about him...i meet him on a diffrent forum...id definently ask the butcher shop owners if you could display a mount or 2 there.......your webpage looks good....time will build your business....just dont let bad mounts get out....and keep your customers happy.....go win an award or 2....and show it off lol......good luck.....i wouldnt worry about one guy...but id definetly work hard to get my work known... heck.. my local dic!s sporting goods store has a bunch of mounts displayed done by a local taxidermist...you replied to my post on the taxidermy forum...SAME GUY......hes getting ALOT of business from that alone i bet.....he got his name on a old looking piece of wood in big black letters.....
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RE: Don't know what to do...
Congrats on the beautiful taxidermy work!! Your work speaks for itself. Maybe try advertising in your local new paper. There always seems to be hunting sectionsthat could list your name and internet site. I would ignore the fellow at the butcher shop. He obviously must be getting somekind ofkickback to send prospective clients to the other taxidermy. Good Luck!!
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RE: Don't know what to do...
Well Michele let me start off with one of my first thoughts. You're kinda hot and he's upset cause he doesn't stand a chance with you so he puts you "on the other side of the fence". He's more and more upset because he sees you communicating with this other skinner in a meaningful manner and he is anable to enjoy the same. I would bet he is generally a negative (Bad vibe) sort of person. He has "issues", one of which is probobly jealousy. He's making $5 or $10 a skin and that's it, his job is done (how much pride in a good skinning?) You're making much more money and he knows folks will respect/appreciate your work. Maybe right - maybe not.
But what he is doing is indeed slanderous. Short of legal action you might want to speak to his boss and let him know you're hearing from folks that he undeservedly speaks with an evil tongue about you at their workplace. "On the clock" he is an agent and representative of their business. Maybe they'll tell him to grow up or get out. I'll end with this........ YOU GO GIRL ! |
RE: Don't know what to do...
I think the first thing I would do would be to get eye ball to eye ball with this guy and find out why he has a hard on with you ... maybe if you just have a talk you will find out it might just be a misunderstanding on his part ... I mean it HAS to be SOMETHING that has made him dislike you ... if it where me and I knew I had done nothing to piss him off I would want to know what his beef is...maybe there is someone ELSE in the shop that has told him something about you or maybe his buddy the Taxi has talked bad about you to him ..discuss it like two adult males ... Im sure you guys can work this out between yourself .... good luck
DD |
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