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Choice prime rib price question/survey

RRP
RRP Posts: 26,453
edited November -0001 in EggHead Forum
While planning our Christmas feast with guests I've started to shop for boneless prime ribs of choice or better. Thus far from three reputable butcher shops I've gotten quotes of $7.49 a pound, $11.99 and $16.99 a pound. All three say they are wet aged. How can there be a $9.50 a pound difference from high to low? Maybe I better go take a look at each, huh? BTW even our Kroger is offering boneless, but it's select at $5.99.
Re-gasketing the USA one yard at a time 

Comments

  • FrankC
    FrankC Posts: 416
    Last Friday I picked up two 12lbs boneless, choice roasts for $7.49/lb. They were great!

    The next day, I was in a grocery store not 2 miles away from the butcher shop that I bought them from, and the grocery store was $9.99/lb...also choice.

    I think it's just a matter of the store being able to charge what they charge, and whether or not people will take the time to shop the price.

    fc
  • Celtic Wolf
    Celtic Wolf Posts: 9,773
    I had a local butcher here try to convince me that because the package said Platinum Select on it that it really was Prime.

    He backed off when I asked him to show me the USDA Prime label.

    I suspect that the 16.99 a pound is actually Prime. The 11.99 is probably top choice. That 7.49 a pound is either a great price or you called my local butcher by mistake.
  • fishlessman
    fishlessman Posts: 34,580
    some butchershops only carry top choice. another thing to watch for is which end your getting if your not buing the full roast. i prefer the chuck end but the majority of those that know what they are buying want the loin end. the loin end is more consistant and more tender
    fukahwee maine

    you can lead a fish to water but you can not make him drink it
  • fishlessman
    fishlessman Posts: 34,580
    i should add, go buy a 3 inch chunk of the 7.99 stuff and cook it tonight and if its good go buy the roast. i see prices under between 8 and 10 for good ribeye. right now i think the local place has 45 day dry aged for around 23 a pound
    fukahwee maine

    you can lead a fish to water but you can not make him drink it
  • $24.99/lb 24 day dry aged prime out here.

    GG
  • tjv
    tjv Posts: 3,846
    couple things to consider:

    wet aged -- how long and by whom;
    proximity to competition, Sams, Costco or other mega-mart nearby;
    type of butcher store -- high end retail center vs. butcher owned shop;
    sales volume of butcher;
    butcher's vendor - all three working from same supplier
    type of cattle - grain feed, grass feed, all natural

    It's a holiday, so no doubt different butchers take a different approach to the increase in retail traffic: less volume & higher price vs. more volume & lower price.

    that's all i got, T
    www.ceramicgrillstore.com ACGP, Inc.
  • Our local Safeway or (Vons) has bone in prime rib, choice for $3.87. I kinda like the bone in better and if not, the butchers will usually cut if off for us. Also Albertsons has them for the same price.See-Yaa
  • tjv
    tjv Posts: 3,846
    my local alberstons had pork butt at $0.99/lb yesterday. The prime rib was Select grade and cheap. T
    www.ceramicgrillstore.com ACGP, Inc.
  • RRP,

    Our beef grading goes Prime, AAA, AA and A cause we're to dumb to remember all those words. We generally get AA or better on sale from $4.99 to 6.99. Prime is usually in the $14.00 rnge unless it has been aged a long time which can double the price.

    Steve

    Steve 

    Caledon, ON

     

  • Difference could be the trim. If the tail has been trimmed by 1" could add to the price or the cap has been trimmed. You didn't state if you were purchasing the whole rib or just a portion. You should get better prices on the whole rib before they break the cryovac, yeild loss from moisture in the bag then the cut and trim process. IMHO Costco still offers the best quality for the best price.
    Best Doug