Door to Door Meat Bundle Scam

Have you been approached, without appointment, by a door to door salesperson selling meat bundles from the back of a truck? If not congratulations as these hustling scammers are like a plague with outbreaks in nearly every community. They are now easy to recognize as the technique and sales pitch is near identical – only the name of the peddler changes. It starts with a knock at the door and there stands a stranger asking if you’d like to get a great deal on steaks? 

Although they are highly trained and usually take advantage of the naive and the elderly, if you were a victim you, don’t be embarrassed as you are not alone as these guys play by a different set of rules and many are experts in the con.

They are taught to first break the ice and justify (aka make a plausible excuse) for why there are there – which usually is something like “we were delivering to a neighbor” or “I had a delivery reschedule” etc – and long story short – have a great deal on cases of steaks. The package is usually a case with 6 smaller boxes of questionable product inside that they get from their company on a consignment basis and go door to door looking for those they can later call suckers to buy on impulse. In many cases there are those called “door knockers” whose job it is to say whatever it takes to get you to just “take a look” at what they have available, is soon followed by the  “closer” or what an insider says they are proudly called “Meat Dogs” with more training to avoid direct questions that would cost them the sale. A simple question like “how much does it cost per pound” is usually deal with by a quick misdirection that it is portion controlled and vacuum packed. When asked questions like “where does the meat come from?’ or “what grade is it?’ they will likely spout off about grain fed, this and that or a worthless guarantee to appease your reasonable skepticism – but will not tell you that most is a grade of product a self-respecting butcher would be embarrassed to sell, or that it isn’t from a steer but instead from an old dairy cow that the processors buy at discount to pump with tenderiser or if not presentable to use for dog food.

Because the product typically comes from large processors sold through brokers of the lowest grade beef pumped up with unpronounceable additives and preservatives it has to be packaged in colorful boxes for presentation purposes, and then sold by the pallet to companies that in turn have their “delivery guys” (AKA meat dogs) to go sell it for a commission. If you search for “variety steak case “, “meat bundle”, “six pack steak case” or “meat scam” – you’ll undoubtedly find numerous companies throughout the U.S that use this approach. Many are being sued, investigated by various enforcement agencies, and an untold number of victims.

For the INSIDE STORY about how it works, you can also refer to our blog post, FOOD STAMP SCAM where in the comments section someone who we understand to have been trained by and worked for one of these scam companies , until his conscious wouldn’t allow him to continue, lays it all out.

We’d like to have a complete list of all the companies that use the door to door “scam the naïve, the elderly, and the impulse buyer” technique, but with new ones, like a rapidly spreading virus, they are incubated in back offices fed by their greed until they are able to spread their own strain. The scam spreads from Company to Independent driver, that later starts another company, and on and on……..

Here are just a few of the companies that advertise meat bundles, variety steak case, or bulk steak package that were found online with a simple search or provided by our readers. If you’d like to have one added, or have been ripped off by one of them, you are welcome to comment with as much detail possible to help out readers avoid the same result. If you own a company that fits this description, or your company is listed – you are also welcomed to express your opinion or try to explain how your business is “different” but are warned – our readers will not pull punches on wolf in sheep’s clothing. Of course we can’t take the time to check out every door to door company our readers provide including those listed – so we recommend that your ask friends, neighbors, and read the comments posted before buying from any company selling door to door. If you ask to see their license – it will likely be a short visit, but if they are really rude or pushy – call the nonemergency number for your local police and insist that they be fined if they do not have a peddlers permit  (Few of them do) and you want a copy  !

Links open in a new window so you can recycle after looking at the comparisons. See any similarities? And these are just a few of the door to door meat companies…

Market Fresh Meat Co Livonia MI
Buckeye Meat Company Hemingway SC
Michigan Gourmet Meat Products Burton MI
Direct USA Foods St. Petersburg FL
Home Meat Market Wood Village OR
Country Fresh Meats Weston WI
Butchers Choice Atlanta GA

We do not want to provide links to all the door to door companies, and unintentionally provide them traffic but the links above should give you an idea. Here are a few more door to door meat bundle sales businesses… there many more – post a comment to have one added.

Great Lakes Gourmet Foods – Lansing MI
Elite Foods – Lansing MI
CDS Foods – Saginaw MI
Cappello Foods – Flint MI
Mega Foods – Flint MI
Market Fresh Meat Co Livonia MI
Buckeye Meat Company Hemingway SC
Michigan Gourmet Meat Products Burton MI
Home Meat Market Wood Village OR
Direct USA Foods St. Petersburg FL
Country Fresh Meats Weston WI
Butchers Choice Atlanta GA

If you or someone you know has been scammed (or they attempted ) by a door to door meat salesman selling meat form a truck – please take the time to comment with as much detail as you can remember to help others ( at the bottom of article after categories). Did you know that many, in direct violation of FNS regulation, use independent contractor drivers instead of employees to now accept food stamp benefits and you are paying for it? Comment if you’ve been approached at your home or business to warn others.  Share this article with Facebook and with your friends and family to reduce future victims !