Outfitter Dilemna in New Mexico - You may want to read this ! NEED ADVICE

Some of you may be aware of my situation for my elk hunt in New Mexico. Well tonight I spoke to the outfitter as a follow up and getting the emotions out of the way and then asking for what I felt was fair..

I was in Unit 16b/22.....I love hunting in that unit, however I think I will be finding a new outfitter as I called them tonight.....here is the conclusion I came too.

We signed up for a 2 on 1 hunt which the cost was $3800 for a 6 Day Wilderness Hunt. As presented, this was to include being packed into a spike camp, with a giuide going the wranglin', cooking and calling. We had 3 hunters in camp with only 1 guide.....which he took the other hunter the first 3 days....(which he tagged a bull on the 3rd morning)

To say I didn't get something the first 3 days would not be accurate. What I did get for those 3 days was a drop camp style hunt. A guide in camp to wrangle the horses & mules, cook meals and pack an animal if need be...for that the average price in the Gila is $1200, half of that is $600...we paid $3800 for our hunt, half of that since we had a guide for 3 days is $1900....my total should be the sum of the $600 & the $1900...with the difference from $3800 & $2500....refunded to me $1300...I think that is fair. When I asked for that I was told they were going to talk...question is they knew we were not satisfied so what did they do since we left camp Friday night until today ? Guess they never talked about what they needed to do in order for us to be made right...

It took me another 35 minutes to have the same conversation I had the night I returned from my camp..to be told they need to talk. The only difference is at camp I had no idea what a drop camp would cost so to give a figure would of been fair. I wouldn't ask for half back because like I said, I did get something.

I was informed at the end of my conversation that I do not understand emergencies not, sure what that means, other than the fact that the guide we were to have had an emergency and could not make it...

Like I said before, we never had any options....they were made for us...we were told the guide would be in the first day...he never showed...heck the guide we had wasn't told by the owner to rely any inform...he was left, like us to assume he wasn't coming..

Your thoughts ???

 

You should pay for what you received, that's it. Sounds like your outfitter doesn't understand emergencies. If he couldn't provide a guide, as contracted, then he should have canceled the hunt and refunded your expenses. He didn't. Each party made the decision to make the best of the situation. Naturally, a compromise should be reached (win, win). If he cannot do that, then he's a lousy businessman. It'll cost him more than $1900 in the end (lost business and a bad name). Stick to your guns!

That's my two cents

 

I am with Will, pay for what you got. Have you mentioned to him how far your story can reach?

 

your getting shafted

 

Yes I did...and that is when the reply of "Good news spreads just as fast as bad news."

I feel that $1300 is a bargain, as I could never put a dollar amount on what was actually lost. I will never make up this hunt. I will have better, but this year was a disappointment...

 

Funny thing is that upset customers will go out of their way to share their experience, happy customers generally share if asked. It would be a shame if his Guide Service's #1 Google hit was a story about a guy traveling out to fulfill a dream hunt only to be left abandoned and stuck paying for services not rendered.

 

agree 100%

 

By chance did you use a Credit Card to make the payment to the outfitter? If so, you should be able to dispute the charges for services not rendered. If you payed by check or cash then you are probably at the outfitters mercy unless you wanted to go through the trouble of small claims court.

I totally agree that you got the shaft for sure. If they don't make it right, I'd be sure to report them to the Better Business bureau, then make sure to let every one know who they are and how they didn't make their contractual commitment.

 

I agree with you and I'm sure the many others that will reply. It is not your job to prepare for the what if/emergencies that fall upon the professional(or lack of) business that you paid for their services.

My initial response would have been, yes, I understand emergencies. Had I had an emergency situation I understand that I would have forfeited my expenses as it was not at fault of the outfitter. However the outfitter should be prepared in the event of an emergency. How would a hospital react to a surgeon being involved in an accident rushing into a trauma event? Tell the family of the patient that there was an emergency on their part and they could not perform the operation, I think not.

You "hired" the outfitter for a service that was not met. You didn't buy an animal, you hired them to give you a guided hunt. You are not guaranteed to take an animal on any fair chase hunt, guided or not, but you should be entitled to the services for which you hired them to perform.

My first thought would be to first file a complaint with your credit card company if you paid any part of it that way. They can really help the consumer in certain situations. I would then follow it with a complaint to both the Better Business Bureau and the States Attorney General.

You can have a 2nd, 3rd and even 4th voice contacting this outfitter.

You're going about it fairly, not asking for more back than what you received yet you're not wanting to pay more either. No sense in letting them think they can continue it with the next person. They may even have several complaints against them already, which could only help you further.

 

Rob, I've followed your dilemma and it really sucks. I'm sorry you're having to go through this...

I agree with Will... also, good advice about the credit card; I'd look into that if that's a possibility.

You may want to show him this thread, reminding him that you've kept his name out of the fray -- so far. You may also want to mention to him that there's people reading this thread that write for national magazines, including Field & Stream, Inside Archery and others.

That same person and others are pretty darn adept at social marketing, including being able to reach thousands through media like Facebook, and attends the Archery Trade Association show annually as do others on this site. Word WILL get around if we deem it necessary.

 

PM me the name of the outfitter and I will gladly do an "outfitter review" for SCI on your behalf. Businesses which conduct unfair trade practices need to be exposed. Your outfitter is right about the good news traveling just as fast as the bad, though. However, people tend to remember the bad situations longer than the good. "Bad" introduces reasonable doubt. Ask him if he's prepared to deal with that.

 

I have in the past always shared my good experiences. Never really had an issue until now. What is disappointing is the lack of empathy by the guide to recognize its their responsibility to make it right, not mine.

3..thanks

I paid by check, via mail....I did talk to the Attorney General's Office in New Mexico along with New Mexico Game & Fish and they are sending me forms to file should I not be reimbursed.

My thoughts exactly, we have over 60 minutes of talking with no "Ok, here is what we are going to do"..I have to ask...its like if I give a low figure ok, maybe he will be satisfied with less that what we are willing to give.

Needless to say my figure is based on information on services in which I received. I only want back what is fair based on facts, not on the emotions...emotions would say reimburse me more ......but that is why I waited till after the hunt to discuss it..my disappointment and emotions were all over the place.

 

If you don't get some type of compensation from these folks I would do whatever you can to SMEAR their name all over the internet! It really surpises me that an outfitter in a region as well known as the Gila would pull what's being pulled on you. That's a top shelf destination! It takes all kinds I guess.

Off topic, but what does one have to do to aquire an elk tag for the Gila region? It's a draw tag isn't it? Or, can one be had for the right number?

 

The guide who did not show up emegency is not your problem. I agree with what you asked.

 

Greg and Will gave some very good points! Well said guys!! This Is why guided hunts scare me. I've read and heard too many bad story's when talking elk hunts.

Best of luck to you, hope you get something out of It.

 

Rob,
I think you are being 100% reasonable. Truly. I can see them haggling the refund a bit, but you definitely should get a good portion of the money back, or at least $ off of your next hunt. Let's face it, some of these guys can't afford to lose the money, but he should have tried to work something out.
I've been there. It sucks. Using the internet though, I was able to have my bad reviews of the outfitter be #2 on google right behind his website when you searched for the business name. That was what he got when he would not compromise and be reasonable. I think you could do the same or better if you wanted to.
Good luck!



Jim Davis
3G Tactical
www.3gtactical.com

 

hey pm me the outfitters exzact name and i will make sure the work gets spreaded i can get it put as a sticky on archery talk and do some outher things

 

In order to get a tag one must make application with NMG&F . New Mexico does not have a point system and with that currently gives a great opportunity to hunt quality bulls.

 

Agreed.

 

I never experienced anything like this and its amazing on how they defend the emergency...which I may be beating a dead horse, but that is there issue, not mine....