Got my elk back from butcher...somethings fishy

[jnutzalot]

Getting ahold of said employee who cut up the elk means nothing...like this guy is going to remember that elk! when there was probably multiple being done at that time and who knows how many he cut up!

The other question is why didnt the OP call sooner? thats the bigger question...3 weeks had gone by Id be on the phone

If you read back, I called at 3 weeks and several times after.

[Fullabull]

Wow, you should have had your meat back in a couple weeks at most! I think they messed up BIG time on your order, gave away some of you meat to another hunter by mistake and should compensate you for your loss or meat. Maybe, find out how much meat you lost in weight and ask for it in beef (various cuts of course)...

[Jarhead Chase]

Getting ahold of said employee who cut up the elk means nothing...like this guy is going to remember that elk! when there was probably multiple being done at that time and who knows how many he cut up!

The other question is why didnt the OP call sooner? thats the bigger question...3 weeks had gone by Id be on the phone

Just to clarify, he said he did try to call 1-2 times per week from week 3 on.

[huntnnw]

and no anwser?? then drive your butt over there! couldnt imagine

[Becky]

Getting ahold of said employee who cut up the elk means nothing...like this guy is going to remember that elk! when there was probably multiple being done at that time and who knows how many he cut up!

The other question is why didnt the OP call sooner? thats the bigger question...3 weeks had gone by Id be on the phone

Just to clarify, he said he did try to call 1-2 times per week from week 3 on.

  To get a better understanding people need to read the comments from the OP specifically, not necessarily all the commentary in between... a lot of questions are asked multiple times that he already answered.

[elk247]

jnutzalot,  you have my sympathy, and sincere hope for some satisfaction to "make things right" on your terms.

It is not productive , nor does it right a wrong to publicly tear down a business, that  possibly already has some serious problems.

That being said,  I have been in a very similar position and it really burns to have your patience and understanding taken for granted, it seems that you have been very patient and persistent with reasonable expectations from the beginning. 
Most of my life, I've been in some kind of "customer service" business, retail, wholesale, courier, shipping, and more.
 When the customer is habitually ignored and the responsible party -management or owner- avoids accepting the responsibility for his business and employees, the natural and correct conclusion is trouble.
I hope you can, and do pursue satisfaction, your story is heart braking, and I am sure going forward you will at least be wiser for the experience.

I have not disclosed the name of the business nor will I if they make a reasonable attempt to remedy the situation. However, if they do not make it right, I'm not going to keep quiet - I'll make every attempt to share my experience and the name of the business.

look at how many people have viewed this thread. All you said was this butcher was near Packwood. It would suck to see an honest guy loose business by association.  I don't know any meat cutters in the town of Packwood (are there any?) but I can assure you there are many guys that hunt lewis county on this forum. In fact, only one butcher shop comes to mind, and it isn't in Packwood. I am not suggesting a witch hunt (I mostly respect the way you handled it) but this is a bad situation for more than just you if you scare business away from innocent folks in these small towns. Sorry about your bull, its a real good looking animal.

Well maybe that wasn't fair but I was trying to be nondescript. What I meant to say is that I was hunting in the packwood area, and the butcher is somewhere between there and home. The butcher could be in one of the many towns along hwy 12, 508, Hwy 7, maybe even as far as I5, or clear to Yakima. There are lot's of good butchers in any number of the several towns on the way as well (I know because they have since been recommended). I just managed to find one that I had a bad experience at...

Thanks for the clarifacition. Again, I'm sorry this happens to your bull. Nobody deserves that, the Bull defiantly didn't deserve to be wasted like that! You worked hard to provide the best food for your family and it was taken from you. Can I request the name of the butcher via p.m. so I can be sure to not let my family get ripped off. Not interested in gossip or drama, Thanks.

[huntnnw]

hopefully this will spur him to process his own meat in the future

The drive alone would for me...not to include the cost of gas could bought something to start processing

[csaaphill]

Been reading about bad butcher care a lot these days. Do these people know they corner the market so they don't care anymore or what? Hope if asked your Pming people who this guy is so they don't have that same mistake in the future. hate that since htis is a dying breed and art cutting and and wrapping, and butchering game meat people think they can just mess with people like this. This sucks.

I don't see how Butchers have a corner on the market? 

There are several good butchers out there.  The one I use I have never had issue with. I have not heard any bad reviews from the people I have sent to him.

Didn't say there aren't good ones, but I have been reading on different forumns how they got screwed on Elk, and other game meats. They do kind of corner it nowdays for it is a dying business. Theres only one or two near us, and only one that will take game meat, the other wont even touch it. The on I liked he died and went out of business his son klled himself so ya aint no one to take his business anymore. he actually only did it for us because he knew us, but he'd quit doing game meat years before. So yes they do! Seems like I see at least one, or two on here every year. The other forum I've been going to just had one where he was missing meat, and just like this was more likely not his elk he'd braught in. Meaning he the butcher mixed his meat with others etc...
So yes it's a dying bread much like Taxidermists not a lot of call for them as it used to be, or ferriers (people that show horses) Not a huge demand for them either only in selective markets. Obviously on the Wet side and over there there may be a few more than here, but most here will only do cow and pig and rarlely sheep, htey don't even touch game meat anymore. If I dont use the guy down the street from me I'd have to drive well over 50-60 miles out of my way to get one that actually does game meat.

There are quite a few Butchers around me.  Just off the top of my head I can think of Stewarts, Heritage, Western, Beef Shop, Littlerock, and a few I can't think of the names of but are fairly local.  That the slaughter trucks will deliver to from my location.  Not as many people raising and slaughtering beef for themselves since you can buy it in the store.

There are actually more Licensed Taxidermists today then there was 20 years ago.  Now a days anyone with a computer and access to YouTube can watch a few videos, thrown a set of eyes and a skin on a manikin and call themselves a Taxidermist.

Where? none around me taxidermists I mean. Only Taxidermist I know of other than heading to Seattle or that sides is like 170 miles away. That doesn't mean their taxidermists it just means they take the time to utilise the internet. Heck there are a few on here that advertise, and heck theres enough information on here that one can get if they search this site hard enough they can do their own too, that's not the point. thepoint is other than youtube and other such sites there are not a lot of Taxidermists around any more. Maybe in your neck of the woods but not near me. there used to be one close by but he closed. So now If I want taxidermist done and not wanting to troll youtube for hours i'd have to drive 170 miles at least.

Your area may not support a Full time Taxidermist.  But I guarantee you there are more taxidermists today by far then there was 20 years ago.  I have a lot of friends in the business in many states some have been doing this 4x longer than I have and they will say the same thing.  We get into this discussion a couple times a year.

not to keep arguing but I highly dobt it. I was watching a show hunting show on the outdoor chanel and they were stating that taxidermy is a dying art.

Please don't tell me you believe everything you hear on TV. 

The reason they say Taxidermy is a dying art is because the market has become so advanced that pretty much anyone that gets ahold of a few taxidermy videos or you-tube videos can put a pair of eyes on a form with a cape and they call themselves a Taxidermist.  Taxidermy Suppliers have come up with detailed inner noses, jawsets, pre made earliners, preset eyes already installed in forms, etc.  It makes it easy for people to get started.

It's when you get into doing Life Size, African, and Specialty poses where there are no forms you find out who the real taxidermists are.

Taxidermy is a dying art because it wasn't to long ago they were still making there own forms out of the real skull and paper mache with lead earliners.  Take a guess as to how many taxidermists can or could do that today?  Back then if you wanted an open mouth anything they used the real jaws and teeth.  Some lifesize were actually the entire cleaned skeleton wrapped and the skin mounted over.

Yes I would agree that "Real Taxidermy" is a dying art.  As far as the number of Taxidermists today?  No, there are more Taxidermists today then there was 20 years ago.

it was a bit on taxidermy so i guess i would, but dont matter as they state this is about a butcher issue. wasn't trying to jack the thread.

[csaaphill]

hopefully this will spur him to process his own meat in the future

The drive alone would for me...not to include the cost of gas could bought something to start processing

if possible

[jnutzalot]

The butcher called me back today. He agreed that they were at fault. He also agreed to replace my meat with Farm Elk. We agreed on 92 pounds of rounds and burger, and 40 lbs of tenderloins and backstrap. He stated he would be docking the pay from the employee that mishandled the meat and apologized.

Now comes the part to see if he follows through.

[h20hunter]

Well that is one heck of a step up on their part. Sounds like a full admission and above effort to make amends. Excellent and great news for you. Now....like you said, they just need to follow up. Thats huge.

[Band]

The butcher called me back today. He agreed that they were at fault. He also agreed to replace my meat with Farm Elk. We agreed on 92 pounds of rounds and burger, and 40 lbs of tenderloins and backstrap. He stated he would be docking the pay from the employee that mishandled the meat and apologized.

Now comes the part to see if he follows through.

Wow, good for you!  And good for him for admitting his mistake and working to correct a grievous error.

Hopefully he uses this experience to make a correction to his business practice so it doesn't happen again.

[jnutzalot]

If anyone could name some of the local farms (I can't imagine there are that many) that would be helpful so I can verify I'm getting legitimate Farm Elk meat.

[jnutzalot]

The butcher called me back today. He agreed that they were at fault. He also agreed to replace my meat with Farm Elk. We agreed on 92 pounds of rounds and burger, and 40 lbs of tenderloins and backstrap. He stated he would be docking the pay from the employee that mishandled the meat and apologized.

Now comes the part to see if he follows through.

Wow, good for you!  And good for him for admitting his mistake and working to correct a grievous error.

Hopefully he uses this experience to make a correction to his business practice so it doesn't happen again.

Yea, he said the employee didnt follow procedures for removing the meat from the game bags and examining the meat with the customer, and improperly storing the meat in the game bags. He also stated it should have never taken that long to receive the meat. 

[bobcat]

Domestic elk meat would have to come from out of state. Elk farming is not legal here. I'm surprised he wouldn't just give you beef. But if he follows through on the agreement- great. It'll cost him a lot of money, no doubt.