Omaha Steaks Warning (was in Praise of Omaha Steaks)

[Tab]

Caveat: These people do great things with Filet Mignon, a cut most self-respecting cooks want nothint to do with, but put on the menu becuase customers expect it.


THey have 100% guarantee - love the producct or get 100% credit toward anything eise in their catalog with their copmpletements - and they mean it. What they won't tell is is that they will send you a letter that since you are obviously not pleased with their order, to please never order from them again. They will not accept their order.

I had ordered from OS for year, but had one bad order, and returned it. For that, I am forever blacklisted.

So, keep this in mind. There are other, though not as well-known, quality processors out these. Next time, I will choose one of those.

- Tab

[Paper Roses]

1. My personal opinion? Not worth the money. An order was

sent to a family member last year. The report from them to me, not the giver, was that the meat was dry and not up to billing. The smallish package was $54.00. I could do wonders in the meat department at my grocery store with that same money.

[Rabrrrrrr]

2. Eh, their beef tastes like shit anyway. And for the price, it's ludicrous.

Total piece of shit enterprise.

Go to a local butcher - you'll do way, way, way better than that overpriced shithole.

[Inchworm]

4. omg.. Rabrrrrrrr in C&B

Slummin?

:rofl:

:*

[pengillian101]

3. Sorry you had that experience.

We have ordered from Omaha Steaks for quite a few years. I have called to complain a couple of times, and always was more than satisfied.

You must have reached a crabby customer service person that wasn't in a mood to help you.

Call again. They will most likely satisfy with either a money refund or new product.

[katkat]

5. did they actually

refuse to honor our credit,or was it the next order that was refused?

(Not defending them, just curious. I'm a vegetarian, anyway.)

[Tab]

6. They honored the credit

and commpanied with a letter to please never use their service again, since we were obviously unhappy.

[pengillian101]

7. Gosh, Tab, that is just so weird.

Was it your first order or something? Honestly, I have had really good customer service over the years (but we buy a few times a year).

I remember once I called to complain about the stuffed sole - no problem. I didn't want a replacement because I didn't like it to begin with. Got a credit towards something else.

I have since learned --- buy beef from beef folks and fish from fish folks.

Another time, a customer service rep gave me free shipping, even though I only ordered a bunch of add-on items. People are people and sometimes you just get a crabby one, eh?

At any rate, I have called about a couple items. And got satisfaction.

***********

Now, let me tell you of my latest - happy experience. I ordered some things for Christmas gifts. The boxes were not packed flat, liked usual, but upended so stuff fell out and 3 of the 5 boxes were opened/semi-crushed/not perfect and the meat was still well-packaged but not in the boxes anymore.

The steaks were still fine, good and frozen, but I wanted nice boxes to wrap for gifts.

I called and explained. She said, well if we sent you the three boxes, would that work for you? Yes, absolutely and thanks.

Well, lo and behold, a few days later the UPS gal came with a whole big heavy cooler. The boxes were full of steaks. OMG! :-)

I called and explained everything and she said, well, you were't charged for it. I said no, but if I didn't call you, it would be like stealing. She said "Merry Christmas."

Now, how nice is that, eh? My experience is that they have great CS. Yours was a fluke experience I think.

PS - my absolute favorite from Omaha is their pot roast - the best I ever had! You can use coupons from the book or google for coupon codes to save some $ for items. They offer free shipping 4 times a year.

[hippywife]

8. Dear Gilli

I wish you would consider something more local where you can get to know your farmer and his/her practices. It seems a shame to spend so much at Omaha when that same amount or maybe even less can help keep a small family farm going and still give you a fine product you can really trust. :hi:

http://www.localharvest.org/search.jsp?st=25&ty=1&nm=beef

[pengillian101]

12. Thanks for that link!

I agree that buying locally is always the best. However, there aren't many farms around here in upper MN.

I searched for "all" and beef for my zip code, and the map looked like it circled outwards 100 miles or so. Here's what popped up.

"We found 177 matches for "beef" in our online store. No listings matched your search for "beef" in this area. Please try again, or try zooming out to search within a larger area."

However, searching for on-line beef looked interesting to check out because they ship. I would much rather buy from a small independent farmer, so thanks alot. :hi:

[hippywife]

9. While we are on this subject

and regarding my response to pengillian earlier this morning, I gotta tell you all, I fixed the most amazing bison tenderloin fillet from our coop the other night. It was a later than usual evening and I didn't really have anything quick to fix Bill for dinner. I did have this one 1/2 lb. tenderloin fillet in the freezer. Would trying to cook it under these conditions ruin it?

I took it outta the freezer, thawed it a few minutes at a time in the microwave. Threw together a little marinade (balsamic vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, capers) so it could at least have the time I was preparing other sides. I pan seared it in butter in the cast iron skillet to medium rare when the other sides were ready.

From raw to finished product, I have never experienced a more tender cut of meat...ever! I don't think I COULD have ruined it, well unless I threw it on the floor and stomped on it until it was slime.

Bill absolutely loved it and was disappointed that we had no more in the freezer and he'd have to wait until the January order to have any more. I am, too, since I only had a couple of bites to make sure it was done and tender enough still before I served it.

Just an amazing piece of meat all the way around.

[Tesha]

10. Wow. I think if I wanted to do business with them again...

I'd call, ask to speak to a customer service *SUPERVISOR*, mention
my buying history, and then bring up "the letter", asking them
if they really wanted to lose my business forever as the letter
stated.

If they do, well, then, so be it; lots of people sell steaks (including
Omaha Steaks stores!).

But I'll bet that if you were a steady customer, they'll have a
different suggestion ;).

Tesha

[Phentex]

13. Not to speak for Tab, but this is an older

complaint. He talked about this last year so I think he was just giving us the heads up again this year.

I had a similar experience with Harry & David, the ones who claim they've got this fantastic guarantee. I was a good customer for years. Then we tried the fruit of the month for my mom and they were horrible to me. I won't order from them again. However, I know plenty of people who have great luck with them.

[Neecy]

11. They are relentless

I ordered one of their packages that came with a big discount a couple of years ago, and was kinda meh about the whole thing.

I didn't know it then, but Omaha Steaks was about to become my BFF.

First, like all good friends, they phoned me constantly, trying to sell more more meh stuff. I finally told them to stop calling.

My BFF next wrote to me frequently, sending exciting new offers in the mail almost weekly that I would immediately pitch.

Not to mention the emails that I ended up blocking.

These people are the most aggressive marketers I've ever come across bar none. I still get crap in the mail from them constantly. They're relentless. Avoid them if you can.