Need opinions on Elk meat debacle

[Big E]

I will try to make this short. I know there are a lot of hunters here, so I would like to get some opinions if I may.



I took the elk I got this year in Colorado to a local meat packing company. They were backed up for a few weeks since it seemed to be a good hunting year. Since I couldn't wait around for the meat I asked if they could ship it to me when done. They said that this would be no problem, and they would call me when they were ready to ship. Six weeks later I had not heard from them. I called and the person there said they tried to call but the phone was busy. Anyhow, they said they would pack it up and overnight FedEx it to me that day. A week later i still had no meat. It was during Xmas week so I figured maybe they held off till after the holiday. I called after Xmas and they told me FedEx was supposed to have called me. Apparently the meat went to the hub in Memphis where it was delayed by weather. The meat had thawed and was disposed of by FedEx.



Now, the owner of the meat packing company says that they do not owe me a refund since they did their part and that FedEx was to blame. She also claimed that FedEx does not honor their service guarantee's if the delay is weather related.



So basically I am out the $270 for processing and was also charged $157 for the shipping.



My question is; Does someone here owe me a refund? or am I just S. O. L.



Your opinions on this matter would be greatly appreciated.



Eric

 

[jandtjil]

Big E

Sorry to hear that.

FedEx's failure to contact you is the issue for me, busy season, couldn't get ahold of you, bla, bla, bla. For $157, you paid for a phone call. Weather... what a convenient excuse!

You mention Memphis, as in TN. If so WHY would a package sent form CO route through TN to California.

It certainly begs for a thorough complaint to the better business bureau.

Am unsure about the Sac stations but I do know that the L. A. FOX station has a guy "Bogey" who goes out and confronts shoddy business deals.

It's a bit more work, but if you bone/quarter in field, you can drop the meat in coolers , then drive/fly home. gives you the freedom to do it locally or DO IT YOURSELF($270 will buy most/all of your eqpt needed). Good luck E!



JJ

 

[illflem]

My feeling is the meat packer screwed up somewhere and is blaming it on Fed-Ex. F-Ex probably would have still sent the package even if it had thawed. The packer in CO obviously BSed you before, they probably sold the meat to someone else or lost it. I'd want documentation from Fed-Ex. You probably can place blame on the packer but the only way to collect would be small claims court since the packer is dishonest. If you file in small claims court in CA they will have to travel to defend themselves and probably won't, you win.

 

[TPCDrafting]

I use Fed Ex for my business. Everything I have ever shipped has gone through their main hub in Memphis. Even if I overnight something from here (Cheyenne) to Denver it goes to Memphis first. If you have the fed/ex shipping label, you can punch in the tracking number at fedex.com and see every move you package ever made. When it arrives in a city, when it leaves again, etc. Check when it left CO and when the meat packer said it left. Sounds to me you are SOL, but worth checking into anyway.

 

[Rman]

270 bones to process an elk! wow! That sounds like a pretty bad deal. I'd try and push the problem on Fed-Ex. Write letters and make phone calls. One issue to me is the length of time the elk was there at the meat processor. 6 weeks is a long time for meat. I always let my deer/elk hang for atleast a week to 2 weeks. Then promptly cut it up and freeze it. Did they just freeze the whole animal then process it 2 months after the kill? Seems kinda shotty to me. Good luck.

 

[BV]

Elk Meat

Sorry to hear this. I think my first step would be to get the tracking numbers as proof the cutter actually shipped it, then proceed from there accordingly.

 

[Hohn]

BV is onto something here. EVERY reputable company I have dealt with furnished tracking numbers to me, whether they ship FEDEX or UPS.



I think that this baby belongs to the Meat Packers, and you should pursue them first. Also remember that you are more likely to get satisfaction by going after the little guy, since he can't hide behind mountains of lawyers and customer no-service bureaucracy like the big boys.



HOHN

 

[Big E]

Thanks to all that responded. The packer says that Fed-Ex has given two different stories. The first being that it was delayed in Memphis and thawed, and the second is that it made it all the way to California, where it was found to be damaged and thawed.



The packer has submitted damage claim forms to Fed-Ex to try to get all of my money back.



We'll see what happens...

 

[jwdeeming]

I'd like to know who the meat packing company is, for future reference. I prefer to do my own, but time doesn't always permit and I like to know who I'm dealing with. There are some bad apples. PM me if you don't want to post it here.



I'd say the packer filing claims with FedEx, rather than making you do it, is at least a good first effort on their part. Please keep us posted as to how the follow-through is.



They weren't pulling your leg about it being a good year. Meat packers and taxidermists were swamped this year - and from the sounds of it, the herd size is still above ideal so next year could be just as good.



Sorry about your mishap - hope you come back again anyway!

Jim