Are door to door meat salesmen legit?

Question

Lately I have been seeing a greater number of small pickup trucks with freezers in the back being driven by guys selling meat door to door. They approach me in parking lots, at my office, and when I am outside cutting the grass.

They have a very persuasive sales pitch but I am not so sure that what they are offering is as good of a deal as they want me to believe. Because I am usually caught off guard its pretty difficult to figure the difference between their price and the price in the supermarket.

Are these guys really worth the trouble?

Answer 1

The prices might be right but here are some questions:
Is the meat as likely to be "safe"?
Where did he get the meat ... beef is stolen out of the pasture and cut up and butchered all the time. Hurts the rancher.
Does he have an ulterior motive? Here in Wichita, KS, a policeman told me about a "meat seller" who has been delivering the meat and later robbing the home. He was seen in our neighborhood last week.

I favor buying from verified sources...chances of getting old meat or having problems with ecoli or other hazards and the ability to take it back for a refund if necessary.

Answer 2

I personally would not buy meat out of the back of a truck. I've seen many people buying and selling like that, but meat can be a very dangerous thing to eat if it's not properly stored. I wouldn't chance it. I don't care how good the prices are!!!

Answer 3

I don't know about where you live, but we have them in NC and there is one that we buy from all the time. They are just small company distributors. The meat that we buy is always completely frozen, shrink sealed and in boxes, just like you would get if you ordered from an online company. If you're not sure about price, compare prices at the grocery store or at least make one small purchase of a few steaks to see if it's of value.
Our distributor is just like ordering from omaha steaks but it's much closer to home.

Answer 4

I am in new york city and I never heard of meat salesmen. I shop at the market which has a butcher shop. I think it's best to buy your meats in a place that you know and trust for what you are getting.

Answer 5

Some are, some arn't

Judge based on where they say they got the meat from, such as overstocked deliveries or packaged for sale to you.

The best advice it to question them and request them to return at a latter time, giving you a chance to check out and reseach the deal.

Answer 6

I bought some from them because they said they came from a reputable butcher in our town who I have bought from in the past.

I was unhappy with a couple of the cuts and when I went back and inspected the label I realized that it wasn't the same butcher, but a very similar name.

I'm not going to buy from them again. And I will tell them why.

Answer 7

ew. don't trust them. grocery stores will probably be a little more expensive, but it's also ALOT safer. stores have sanitary standards they have to meet. you have no idea what these guys have done to the meat or if the meat they say they have is beef, but is really dog or something gross.

Answer 8

MOst are legit..actually most have to have a permit...just make sure the meat IS GREEN

Answer 9

NO! Stay away from them.The meat is expensive, of poor grade, not inspected by the FDA, and often tainted!!

Answer 10

If you have to ask you already know the answer.

If you were interested I'd ask for his solicitaion permit, most municipalities require them. If he can't produce one then don't buy and alert the authoritites.