You guys who have sold to their route guys before is it really just a small window you put your skins in? Ever had a problem if you didnt like the price getting them back? From that video someone posted doesn't look like they have much room in there to put stuff till the trapper gets to hear the offer. In that video there wasn't even an offer. Guy just handed green coons through the window and waited outside for a check. Is that how it is done? In that video there was a pile of green coon but nothing put up. Why is that? I will have to drive 40 miles one way to meet them and if I do I don't want to have to say no to the offer.

If you watch the one they had in Elkader, Iowa. They have window (2x3 maybe) you look in, they grade your fur by size, color, damage, primeness. Goes into piles on the counter. Make sure it stays on the counter and not tossed over the short wall. Let them know you have an amount in your mind what you are willing to accept. I make sure my fur was put up so I can walk if the offer was lower than I thought. You can haggle with them.

Only one bidder on your fur.

Maybe, but you can always walk away. I have sold to them 4 times and they never held my fur for another auction or until they went broke. I compared what I got to auction results and I feel I did as good or better. There is no commission, shipping fees, drumming fees, or unwanted magazines. Just a good check on the spot. Everyone can make up their own mind but I will be waiting in Harrison Michigan on December 20th to get paid....

But their checks don't bounce!

You are more than welcome to take any pile you want back. If you give him 10 coons and he says 2 are $15, 3 at $10 and 5 at $2. You can ask for the 5 coons at $2 back or the $10 or $15 ones. They will gladly hand them right back.

Danny,
Been selling to them for over 50 years. You know I only green skin so has always been my best option and feel they have treated me right over the years. Give those coyotes heck. I am letting my worthless coons rest some.

Hey Strike, where do you see them going to Harrison..? The schedule on their website does not show that at all..?

Sorry, always used to be Harrison, I now have to go to grayling, looks like Standish is closest to you.

Thanks, just wanted to make sure I wasnt missing something...

I have sold to them for 4 years now. Yes, my buyer uses a truck with the small window that you hand furs thru. Twice, I felt the offer wasn't enough and wanted them back. Buyer asked me what I was thinking for price. I felt I was being fair and he agreed to the price.Last year my buddy sent his fur north, GFW paid me $15 average better than NAFA did for his. I got my money on the spot and the check didn't bounce, my buddy's did. GFW will get my business until I feel they aren't fair.

im not afraid to say no i just dont want to drive 40 miles to meet a buyer in the parking lot of a bar and not want to sell cause price is low or get grief if i decide to keep looking

I've always just shipped to them. Petska will do the same. I've never had them shipped back if that tells you anything. They've always done me very well. I don't send Groeny cat's though. Petska has done me very well over the years. Usually meet Petska on the route. I know you know putting them up gives you more options and they know it too.

Danny you take a chance at the auction house don't you give these guys a chance been selling to them for years now have had no problems.

Well If your selling green your going to have to take his offer or walk away and look for another source to sell your fur.

Back when I sold to gorney I had a 108 coon green frozen. Groney likes fully laid out green frozen fur. I ended up with a pile of 20 some $20.00 coon. The rest were all over the board I think there were 4 piles. I said I wanted my 88 coon back. I said I'd take the $400.00 for the 20 coon. Well he told me If he couldn't buy them all he wasn't buying any of them. So I walked with all of them .
Unless things have changed I don't think your going to do any cherry picking when It comes to what your selling and what your going to take home.
I will give credit where credit Is deserved. Groney Is a great business man.

Well done Beav. Sounds like you are the great business man. Now if only you could get everybody to do this we could make some progress.

Know what you have and your count, look at your check before you leave the truck. I enjoy selling to them but during the recent “fur boom” the lines were long and they were grading fast. Shorted me on a big pile of coons, which I had to go back through the line to get a check for. He did not remember how many or the grade so I just settled.
Most recently I was shorted on rats, which I caught when he read the grade back to me. I do not blame him the line is long and they only have a short time, just make sure you have your count and grade if you know it.

I've never tried Beav's method of cherry picking after they've been sorted by the guy in the truck, but it doesn't surprise me it wouldn't fly. My guess is not all the coon in the $20 pile were really worth that much, and some of the ones in the lower dollar pile were worth more. Do that long enough and it would get pretty easy to know if a guy threw down 100 skins in front of me, if I want to pay a $10 average, how many need to go in each pile.

Not saying that's what happens, but why else would he not buy the lower priced goods? Would've been interesting to show up with just those 20 coon at a later stop (maybe send them with a different trapper) and see how they get graded.

prices are pretty low everywhere as im sure you know. the difference is if they wont pay enough you can take them back, at the auctions you have no say. Like said above though I feel they give a fair price. Ive sold at auction before and after all the fees I feel they were comparable and sometimes GFW paid better and I dont have to wait 3-36 months for a check. Ive never had them throw my fur into the back of the truck until we agreed on a price. Our buyer is a pretty decent guy. one time I had a count of rats and I thought he came up short, he recounted my pile in front of me 3 times and looked all over the floor and around the truck. I later found my dumb butt left a couple hanging in the shop!
I recommend trying it, if you think its a horrible experience pull your fur and never come back, but im sure you wont classify it as horrible

I have never sold to GWF but was going to try them this year. However their pick up dates in my area coincide with that of FHA. GWF Jan 11 at 6 PM and FHA Jan 11 , 1045 AM.
It looks like Greonwald did this deliberately ? So now I do not have the option of trying them, and if not satisfied still be able to ship to FHA before April 11. I believe this was a calculated decision on Greonwalds part and they will miss out and much fur by doing so. It looks like more furbuyers gamesmanship ?