FAQ

WHAT IS THE AVERAGE PRODUCTION TIME ON ORDERS?

Time required to complete a skeleton is based upon the production schedule at the moment we receive your deposit or payment.  A skeleton that may only take 60 days to build might not fit into the production queue until 4 months from now.  Generally, the larger the skeleton, the longer it takes to build. Please plan ahead and discuss with your representative how far out the production schedule is when you place your order. 
 

WHAT ARE YOUR PAYMENT TERMS?

In general, TPI collects a 50% deposit at the beginning of your project with the remaining 50%, plus shipping, being collected once the order is complete and ready to ship. Alternatively, you are welcome to pay in full in advance, plus shipping or c.o.d. (if known). If your project is a multi-faceted, large order through which multiple skeletons are to be assembled, it may be billed differently over a period of time (upon mutual agreement).
 

HOW DOES CRATING AND SHIPPING WORK?

You will notice that all of our prices are “plus crating and shipping”- and there’s a reason! Shipping is calculated once the crate size and weight is known. Since every skeleton we build is custom-posed, crate sizes and shapes vary greatly, with each crate being custom built and strategically packed for each purchase. Many of our customers like to include multiple skeletons on one order, in which case we can frequently save on crating and shipping charges by combining more than one skeleton in a single crate. Once we know the extent of your order, we can provide an initial estimate of shipping charges; the actual shipping charges being calculated and applied when the order is ready to ship.
 

WHAT IF I AM, OR WANT TO BECOME, A PRIVATE COLLECTOR?

The fossil industry is becoming ever-more dependent on private collectors to keep some of the most precious specimens available for viewing. We have an entire collection of real bone available for purchase through our sister site, www.dinosaursantuary.com

DO YOU OFFER INSTALLATION?

Yes! We take great pride in our installs and have had the opportunity to work with many world-renowned museums on such projects. Our charges for installation include travel and lodging, plus $360 per day per person. For more information on our installation services, please contact us!
 

DO YOU MOUNT ORIGINAL FOSSIL SKELETONS?

YES! We can not only mount your skeletons, but if they are unprepared we can fully prepare and restore them to modern standards. All the mounting is done to your specifications, including the final pose. Scientific accuracy is one of our largest focus points so you can rest assured your specimen will not only look beautiful but also represent the most up-to-date data available on the species. All specimens not collected by TPI our facility will, however, need to have their provenance verified before entering our facility.
 

WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I THINK I HAVE FOUND A FOSSIL?

Call us! Don’t do anything to the specimen but photograph it with a scale reference (a quarter or a ruler, etc.) and take GPS coordinates if applicable. Keep in mind that, if it is NOT your property then it is NOT your fossil. This right goes to the landowner. If it is on your property we still recommend you only take photographs and GPS coordinates. If it is determined the fossil is found on public land, TPI will happily refer you to a qualified repository to coordinate recovery with. Recovering fossils is a very specialized work requiring a unique skill set and years of experience to do properly. Our field team has over 75 years combined experience in fossil recovery, and we are always excited to offer those services to you.

I AM A LANDOWNER, CAN YOU CHECK MY PROPERTY FOR FOSSILS? WHAT IS IN IT FOR ME?

Yes we can! We have licensing agreements with over 35 private ranches in the United States as of 2019, and we regularly scout the outcrops for fossils. With Mike Triebold having been raised in the farmlands of North Dakota, the TPI staff understands the concerns unique to ranchers. We know the importance of being good neighbors and good stewards. Gates will be left open or closed as found, livestock disruption will be minimal, we will report anything unusual during our stay, we have even helped fight prairie fires; We will not only let you know when we plan to be on the property to make sure we are clear to enter but we also will keep you informed of our discoveries as frequently as you would like. In some cases we stop by the ranch headquarters at the end of each day. In others, we only report when an important discovery is made- it is entirely up to you as the landowner. As a final note, we do not begin any Bobcat excavator activity until you have been briefed on discoveries and how intensive the digging will need to be. Initial discoveries are typically evaluated using hand tools and at times small jackhammers; beyond that stage, if the site is promising then further landowner approval acquired before excavation.

We always compensate the landowner for the fossils we sell, and all landowners receive the same royalty percentage. If you are interested in having us evaluate your property please contact Mike Triebold or Jacob Jett. Our landowner relationships have been honored over decades, and we take great pride in maintaining these. We can explain to you in detail how everything works and answer any questions you may have, either by phone or email, or in person at your property.