Bad Service from our Meat Processor - Beware

[86er]

This year we recommended Medina Valley Wildlife to our clients for meat processing. Some folks chose them for taxidermy work too. They were very accomodating and had circumstances that warranted the business. The owners son had a liver transplant and a kidney transplant at two years old. He is doing okay and has a newborn sister now. The owners sister works there. She was living in her car with two teenage sons. They got better situated but still lived below the poverty level. Well, we can help them all we want but that doesn't take care of our customers needs and is no excuse for their unorganized business affairs. RJohns94 and his brother Alnitak, and AWP101 had a bunch of issues with their services.

I apologize to our clients that had a bad experience with Medina Valley! Let this serve as a head up to others....

For years we used R&R Alsatian Sausage and Meat located at 1031 Country Lane Castoville, TX owned by Richard and managed by Desi. We never had a problem with them. There were issues with couriers on occasion but refunds were made and replacements were issued where appropriate. We also used Keep it Real Taxidermy on US90W in Castroville, TX. Corey is a little slow and mid to high priced but his work is great. If you can get past the personalities Keep it Real has been 100% for us. We will be switching back to R&R for processing and will be giving a choice of three taxidermist to our customers from now on.

Here's what AWP101 experienced:

there are bigger problems in the world and come to think of it, this isn't even the biggest problem in my life right now but it's irritating as all get out.

Disclaimer #2: None of this is 86er's fault, I don't hold him at fault, responsible or anything else. He and his crew are tops in my book.

Back in August, I went on the Summer Safari in South Texas. Bagged a nice Blackbuck Doe, made new friends and came back with a lot of good memories.

The processor told me the meat would ship 18AUG for delivery on 19AUG. Nothing had arrived by 21AUG and I called him back. He told me there had been a mistake and mine had not shipped but rather than ship right then and take the chance of it sitting over the weekend he would wait until 25AUG to have delivery on 26AUG. He was leaving town that weekend but would make sure it shipped.

As of 27AUG, nothing had arrived and I called back. I spoke with a girl in the office who had no idea and could not contact the processor but she would call me back which she never did. I called again on 28AUG and spoke with someone who needed to call someone else and would call me back, which he did. He told me it would ship 02SEP for delivery 03SEP.

Nothing had been delivered by 04SEP so I had to call back yet again and got another person. I explained the whole thing all over again and she acted surprised, telling me she had not heard about any of this. I was assured it would ship 08SEP for delivery on 09SEP.

When I spoke with her I did something I rarely do, I asked what they were going to do to make things right due to the delays. First she offered a gift certificate for the next time I used them. Once I explained the odds of me ever using them again were slim and none she agreed to send me a check refunding my pre-paid shipping. She also said she would call me Monday with a tracking number.

I DID receive a message Monday from them with a tracking number but when I went to track the package on Tuesday I found out it hadn't even been picked up until 11am Tuesday. I was tracking it when the status changed from "En route for 10SEP delivery" to "Cannot locate recipient" and FedEx couldn't tell me why. Got it the next day, turns out the last two digits of my ZIP Code were reversed when the info for the shipping label was printed. Why FedEx didn't call anyone to figure out why they had a bum Zip Code is beyond me. No ice of any sort and yes, the meat was thawed. I called the processor, he said he'd contact 86er for a replacement.

I got the replacement 24SEP and the address was correct but , THIS batch was thawed as well. No dry ice or ice of any kind was packed with it. It was just put into a duct taped Coleman picnic cooler. I immediately called the processor as soon as I opened the cooler. He said he would contact 86er to arrange another and it would be shipped in ice/dry ice. He also said he'd refund what I paid for processing without me asking. He said he'd contact me when the second replacement shipped.

Called 10OCT since a couple of weeks had passed with no contact and was told the owner was out, but he'd return my call. Never heard back.

Called 13OCT, to try and make contact. He told me he had a customer coming in with several animals and if the customer didn't want the BB he would send it to me. (I have to wait until someone kills one they don't want?) The refund had not been sent since he wanted to send everything at once even though he couldn't tell me when the BB would ship. I asked him to send the refund now.

For the first time in any of our conversations I reminded him I have been waiting since Aug, and he got huffy claiming he's trying and I shouldn't be bringing dates up. I explained he needed to understand my frustration and he said he was frustrated too. I get the feeling I'm an inconvenience and his frustration is more important than mine.

Every time I spoke with them, I was polite and willing to chat. As time went on, I became more to the point and matter of fact but I was always polite. Now it's two and a half months later, still no word from the processor and I've got bupkus.

Am I being unreasonable here? Have I made a mistake somewhere along the line?

[O.S.O.K.]

Uh, man. So, what about the taxidermy? I have my mount, my buddy has his - but RJohns has a bunch - what do you recommend at this point?

I can get there and pick up our mounts and get my deposit and take it all to a new taxidermist....

Thanks for the heads up on this.

[awp101]

Many thanks 86er! You've been more than helpful and accomodating in this matter. It's still too early to worry about the hide that I'm having tanned...

I wasn't aware of the health issues but that's still no way to run a railroad.

Folks, 86er is truly a stand up guy in my book!

[86er]

The owner of Medina Valley (Andrew) is an artist. He is meticulous in his work. There are 11 taxidermist on HWY 90 in one 30 mile stretch. Andrew is the most talented by far. I would expect your mounts to be outstanding - but I would not be surprised if they are completed at a later date than promised and if you are having it shipped I'd bet is leave at least a week or two after you were told it would. They do ship in great wooden crates and they are insured. We never had a problem with the actual taxidermy work from them, just the turn around time. I was told a duck would be ready July 1st. It is not even mounted yet. I'm waiting for an Impala that was to be completed in June. Nothing yet. I am confident they will be completed to perfection but the waiting is frustating and it is only fair that our customers are aware since we probably steered you there.

[El Chivo]

"Cannot locate recipient" and FedEx couldn't tell me why. Got it the next day, turns out the last two digits of my ZIP Code were reversed when the info for the shipping label was printed. Why FedEx didn't call anyone to figure out why they had a bum Zip Code is beyond me. No ice of any sort and yes, the meat was thawed. I called the processor, he said he'd contact 86er for a replacement.

I had something similar happen with Fedex (though not with meat!) they lost two out of three packages, it would have been three out of three if my mom hadn't handwritten my real address on the box. The Fedex label was addressed to a different address four miles away.

I'm surprised they didn't use ice, maybe you should order jerky next time and send it regular mail.

[O.S.O.K.]

The owner of Medina Valley (Andrew) is an artist. He is meticulous in his work. There are 11 taxidermist on HWY 90 in one 30 mile stretch. Andrew is the most talented by far. I would expect your mounts to be outstanding - but I would not be surprised if they are completed at a later date than promised and if you are having it shipped I'd bet is leave at least a week or two after you were told it would. They do ship in great wooden crates and they are insured. We never had a problem with the actual taxidermy work from them, just the turn around time. I was told a duck would be ready July 1st. It is not even mounted yet. I'm waiting for an Impala that was to be completed in June. Nothing yet. I am confident they will be completed to perfection but the waiting is frustating and it is only fair that our customers are aware since we probably steered you there.

Thanks for the info - I don't think he even promised a date! But that's OK, I know how that goes anyway - they rarely meet a date. Just as long as the mount is well done and such - thanks!

[dr walker]

I have only had 2 animals mounted the one took 3 years longer than what I was told. The other (a beautiful Bobcat) was lost, and then my contact info was lost and then the taxidermist moved. That was when he found my bobcat 5 years later than what I had been told. It still took him over 6 months to ship it.

Sorry to hear about others bad experiences, but to me it seems like it is just the way it is when dealing with taxidermists.

[awp101]

I'm surprised they didn't use ice, maybe you should order jerky next time and send it regular mail.

Makes for a tough steak though...

I guess I need to call tomorrow since it's been a little over two weeks since the last call. I don't want this to turn into calling everyday but I may just have to.

[rjohns94]

we had lots of delays in the shipping of the meet. I had four coolers show up with no dry ice left and the meat was starting to thaw but i quickly through it in the freezer and saved it since it was vacuum packed. I am a patient person in most cases so I am not worried about the wait of the Bison shoulder mount, bison back rug, foot stool, Nilgai "zebra rug", gun rack, and shoulder mount for the goat. I will also state that all the people involved in the lever gun hunt, those that hosted, those that helped, those that participated were all great. It was a great experience. I have done two shoots with 86er and have been eating from those shoots for two years. I plan on keeping on using his services to knock off the game animals on my list of must hunts. Feb, black buck, later, pronghorn etc. I trust Joe as I do family. He is that good.