Very rude, stupid or lazy butcher encounter at Costco

Austin Egghead · March 2015

SIL & BIL are up for the weekend. Choice for supper was either steak or mexican. Steak won and off to Costco we went. I asked the butcher if they had a 3pound Prime rib roast. He looked at me and in a very condesing way told me I didnt need Prime, there was no difference between prime and choice and he could prove it. I wasnt going to argue, but i did tell him beef was graded for a reason. As he was closing the glass panel he said there were some cut prime ribeyes in the case and if i needed anything else just tap on the glass.
This is the first time in my years of Costco membersip that i have meet an employee that unhelpful.
I buy meat from Costco because It is close to our house. I could just as easily drive the miles to Marion or Hutto and fillup the Pelican chest.

MJG · March 2015

You find jerks everywhere. For all of my years of membership at Costco I find their employees very helpful and they seem to have a great attitude. I think that Costco pays their employees well compared to other retail type businesses and I like the fact that they keep reasonable hours and don't make folks work all the time. I'd just chalk it up to that one dude being a jerk.

lkapigian · March 2015

There is help at Costco?...WoW...other than the people making snacks, I've never found any

travisstrick · March 2015

Trying to tell an egghead that prime meat doesn't matter is like trying to tell the pope there is no Jesus.

You may be right but either way you're wasting your time.

Lit · March 2015

lkapigian said:

There is help at Costco?...WoW...other than the people making snacks, I've never found any

The butchers are always back there. They won't do things like publix will like split packages but if they don't have a certain item out if you ask sometimes they have them in the back. I have asked them to split a 4 pack of steaks before and also tried to get a single tri tip and they won't do it unless that's how they packaged it originally. Its crappy because my local Costco always has 2 packs of steaks but the one I used to go to never did so its not like a rule or anything.

SmokeyPitt · March 2015

I'm sure his supervisor would like to know that he was rude AND trying to talk a customer out of buying Prime grade beef.

DoubleEgger · March 2015

Just like Golden Corral and Ruth Chris taste the same....

SGH · March 2015

Austin Egghead said:

He looked at me and in a very condesing way told me I didnt need Prime, there was no difference between prime and choice and he could prove it.

This is amazing. In less than 24 hours this is the 2nd post about poor customer service. The other was a warranty issue and now this. Sounds like this guy needs a education in both manners and meat quality. I recommend a good a$$ whipping. You will be surprised how people's attitude suddenly change for the better when they are picking their teeth up off the floor. It just seems to work wonders as long as you don't get caught. After you knock his teeth out, be sure to tell him that he didn't need those teeth just like he told you that you didn't need Prime.

TarHeelBBQ · March 2015

You should email Costco. I can't stand how customer service has died in the country.

DieselkW · March 2015

Here's what to say to this "prime-ate"

"Prime is the same as Choice? Good to know, now take this Prime Rib Rack back there and put a price sticker on it for the same weight in Choice."

Suddenly Prime will gain some value to him, won't it?

Terrebandit · March 2015

R.E.L.A.X. and head over to HEB. Their butchers always aim to please but you will pay a bit more for it, unless the cut you're looking for is on special. Great meat, however.

stlcharcoal · March 2015

So then, why do they sell prime strips and filets at Costco if it's all the same??

tjv · March 2015

Last thanksgiving weekend I stopped at Costco to pick up a brisket, place was busy. First thing I noticed, the brisket packaging was all wet. I then saw the meat case thermometer and it read 50 something degrees. Just then the meat guy from behind the glass opened the glass to put out more meat. I asked him what's up with the temps. He said the freezer problems started couple hours ago but a guy is on the way to fix it. I asked him why is the meat even out, all the meat cases were full. He said because my boss said put it out. Last question for him was, how long have these briskets been out. His response was couple hours. I found the store manager on duty and had a short chat with him. He seemed to rely on the butcher's call to have the meat out. I walked out empty handed.

t

Terrebandit · March 2015

I will tell you that a USDA Choice rib roast is darn good. Not sure the prime grade is worth the extra cost, IMO. For regular steaks, I prefer the prime. I know this seems weird but it could be the way I cook them.

henapple · March 2015

I've got one of those ar my Publix. I refuse to work with him. Everyone else is nice. I always get small quanties to grind for burgers. He basically told me to buy ground beef.
On the flip side most are very helpful. When you praise an employee to the manager they get some sort of benefit.

DieselkW · March 2015

@henapple - I like to grind my own beef as well - gives me control of quality, fat content, and flavors.
Tell your Publix "butcher" if that's what he really is, that a typical 1/4 lb ground beef burger can represent up to 40 different cows in that mix. That's 40x the chances of having some tiny little nasties in that grind vs. a steak...

If I grind a chuck roast and a rump roast with some rib meat, that's three cows from cuts that were not likely to have hit the slaughterhouse floor where the intestines and fecal matter reside. Who knows where the original chuck that became ground comes from?

Ever see them make sausage or hot dogs?

caliking · March 2015

I've usually had good experiences with the Costco meat guys. If I don't like the cuts in the case they have always offered to cut steaks for me the way I want. Maybe that guy was the lone doofus there.

I decided many years ago that it was not my duty to enlighten the idiots of the world. Whether one needs prime beef or not is a different matter. If you want it, they have it, and you've got your wallet out, then end of story!

henapple · March 2015

The guy at publix kept insisting the 4lb flat was a whole brisket...he'd never heard of the term "packer".

Mickey · March 2015

Joan we could all meet for lunch, go by there and cut up out cards. Hell the AX cards are ready to give up the ghost anyway.

Austin Egghead · March 2015

DieselkW ..good one... if he every answers the window again I will ask him to cost out the Prime at Choice price.
@Mickey lunch is a go anytime and I am bummed out about AxX cards going away.

Miked125 · March 2015

Maybe he couldn't afford prime so he was pissy?

ImOldGregg · March 2015

He sounds like a big ol' motherlicker.

Jeepster47 · March 2015

Let me make a counter point please. The butcher is just like a new puppy that has piddled in the middle of your carpeting. If you do nothing, the puppy thinks their behavior is appropriate and will do it again. You need to make the puppy understand that piddling on the carpet isn't acceptable. Hitting the butcher upside the head with a rolled up newspaper probably isn't an acceptable training method. However, explaining to the manager that you're displeased with the service/attitude/help from an employee should yield similar results.

Also, like Mr Apple suggests, putting in a good word for employees who provide exceptional service is also a good approach.

RRP · March 2015

Jeepster47 said:

Let me make a counter point please. The butcher is just like a new puppy that has piddled in the middle of your carpeting. If you do nothing, the puppy thinks their behavior is appropriate and will do it again. You need to make the puppy understand that piddling on the carpet isn't acceptable. Hitting the butcher upside the head with a rolled up newspaper probably isn't an acceptable training method. However, explaining to the manager that you're displeased with the service/attitude/help from an employee should yield similar results.

Also, like Mr Apple suggests, putting in a good word for employees who provide exceptional service is also a good approach.

I fully agree with you, Tom!

Eggerty · March 2015

I agree most of my experiences with Costco have been good. Although last time I was there they didn't know what a packer brisket was...

and def didn't carry it.

bweekes · March 2015

RRP said:

Jeepster47 said:

Let me make a counter point please. The butcher is just like a new puppy that has piddled in the middle of your carpeting. If you do nothing, the puppy thinks their behavior is appropriate and will do it again. You need to make the puppy understand that piddling on the carpet isn't acceptable. Hitting the butcher upside the head with a rolled up newspaper probably isn't an acceptable training method. However, explaining to the manager that you're displeased with the service/attitude/help from an employee should yield similar results.

Also, like Mr Apple suggests, putting in a good word for employees who provide exceptional service is also a good approach.

I fully agree with you, Tom!

+1 here. Costco butchers are clueless. Plus their meats are mechanically tenderized. Could be why they think there is no difference between grades.

stlcharcoal · March 2015

bweekes said:

+1 here. Costco butchers are clueless. Plus their meats are mechanically tenderized. Could be why they think there is no difference between grades.

"Butcher" is probably a stretch too......they are not slaughtering or cutting primal cuts of meat. They slicing sub-primals--taking a tenderloin and cutting it into filets, or cutting a rib roast into chops, etc.

So many places calls themselves "butcher shops", but they are really just cutting up the sub-primal cuts they get in cryovac'd packs from Excel or another big meat packer.

No big deal, but I don't expect custom work from Costco. Just give me my whole packer brisket and I'm outta there.

BTW, anyone have a GFS? Just got one in STL, not a bad place. They didn't have much beef, but the prices were close to RD.

Terrebandit · March 2015

Jeepster47 said:

Let me make a counter point please. The butcher is just like a new puppy that has piddled in the middle of your carpeting. If you do nothing, the puppy thinks their behavior is appropriate and will do it again. You need to make the puppy understand that piddling on the carpet isn't acceptable. Hitting the butcher upside the head with a rolled up newspaper probably isn't an acceptable training method. However, explaining to the manager that you're displeased with the service/attitude/help from an employee should yield similar results.

Also, like Mr Apple suggests, putting in a good word for employees who provide exceptional service is also a good approach.

Instead of going directly to the manager on a first offense, why don't you tell the guy directly to his face, in a nice way, and see how he responds? Now, if he continues to be a ****, I can see taking the next step.

Jeepster47 · March 2015

stlcharcoal said:

...
BTW, anyone have a GFS? Just got one in STL, not a bad place. They didn't have much beef, but the prices were close to RD.

We have one close by in Peoria (IL). Since we have several good meat places, I've not checked out their meats nor prices. They do have some great prices on accessories ... poly cutting boards, butcher paper, heavy duty aluminum pans, etc...

Legume · March 2015

Awful long thread for one rude encounter with a butcher at a warehouse store. Could've been a bad day or a million other things. Not an excuse, but I have had bad days myself and been short with people. You're still buying in a warehouse and getting warehouse pricing.

DieselkW · March 2015

Wearing a blood stained white apron lends some credibility - no matter if you were hired to wipe down the counters. To authoritatively voice your ignorance to customers "advising" them they're wasting money buying the premium product vs the mundane... that will get you cutting down boxes in the back corner by the cardboard crusher if I were a store manager.
http://blog.fooducate.com/2013/11/12/what-do-usda-beef-grades-prime-choice-select-actually-mean/

Prime grade is almost never found in supermarkets. This beef is produced from young, well-fed beef cattle. It has abundant marbling and is generally sold in restaurants and hotels. Prime roasts and steaks are excellent for dry-heat cooking (broiling, roasting, or grilling).
Choice grade is still of high quality, but has less marbling than Prime. Choice roasts and steaks from the loin and rib. They are very tender, juicy, and flavorful. They also do well with dry-heat cooking. Many of the less tender cuts, such as those from the rump, round, and blade chuck, can also be cooked with dry heat if not overcooked. Such cuts will be most tender if “braised” — roasted, or simmered with a small amount of liquid in a tightly covered pan.

Very rude, stupid or lazy butcher encounter at Costco

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