What do you look for in a taxidermist?

[Cedar_Flingr]

What does everyone look for when deciding on a taxidermist? Is is quality, price, turn around time, location, etc. etc.?

[txrdkng]

Recommendations!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Brett A]

I look at what is on the walls in his shop as well. But I agree with ^^^^^ that you should ask for recommendations before you get to a shop. The last thing to consider is the price. This is not something that you will want to get a bargain on.

[MAP]

Quality, creativity, then turn around time.....

[MountainMan]

I've always heard it said that in the taxi business that they can give you Quality, Price, and Speed, but you only get to pick two.

Personally, if and when I use a new taxi I'm not really picky about time. I look for a good quality mount at a fair price. Good recommendations are important as well. More importantly though, I look for a guy that WANTS & APPRECIATES my business. I've found too many taxis that think they are doing me a favor by taking my animal and my money. Not the way I see it.

My current taxi is one of those guys who knows you by name, takes the time to talk to you about life, asks about your family, wants to hear the story behind the animal, etc. I like that alot, that shows some personal service and that he appreciates my business. I never call to bug him and I usually let him have some creative liberties with how he does the mount. He's the artist, not me, so I let him do his thing. I never want to be "that guy" that calls incessantly and complains if it isn't done in a month or if it isn't the way I would have done it. If I have a specific pose in mind, I'll say it.

I also make sure that I'm a very loyal customer. Once I find one I like, I only will use him and I make sure that anyone I meet that is looking for a taxi calls Don. I've been using my current taxi for almost 10 years and I've only taken 1 mount somewhere else and only because it was a fallow in velvet and it wouldn't have survived the trip home.

All in all, if he does good work for a fair price, takes the time to talk to me as a person and wants my business, he'll get the nod every time.

[Kingslayer]

Word of mouth!!! Price... You dont have to pay tons of money for quality work!!!

[bassmatt72]

I agree with Mountainman. I'm also very lucky that I know two taxi. and consider both friends. Both have done mounts for me and we were able to do buisness and remain friends!

[billinkb]

Quality