Fresh Market Mis Labeling
 

I went to the Fresh Market in the Villages, Florida to redeem the $20 gift
card I was provided to compensate for finding bone-in New York Strips being
sold as Porterhouse steaks a few weeks ago. Today...it was the same!!! I watched a man in
the cutting room put steaks on the tray and place it in the display case.
Each and every one of the steaks was a bone-in New York Strip. When I
objected, the older man behind the counter said they were porterhouse. I
said I wanted porterhouse...he was most disagreeable, but did finally go
into the cooler and tell the man with the long bushy sideburns to cut me
some porterhouse steaks. The man took another cryovac of short loin,
opened it and cut me steaks. I spoke with the meat manager who seemed
irritated that I raised the issue and said he would change the sign.
Another fellow beside him said it was his fault and that the steaks were
T-bones which are actually better. The sign, I told him did not say "
T-bone". When I went back later the tray was empty.
I spoke with the store manager, Jeff who said perhaps the product was not
delivered and he wasn't sure what the difference was and wasn't sure what
they were selling, but he would go to the corporate book to see. After we
talked, he walked to the produce section and continued to break down
boxes.
I took photos of the case and the signs that I saw today.
This is the second incident I have found. Perhaps the store is taking the
fillet from the steaks to sell at a higher price to increase profit.
Regardless, it is clear that the fraudulent practice continues.

You must be the Meat Police and I believe this is the first post complaining about Fresh Market, a store we love.

I've had mistake made at the meat counter too

This was not a "mistake". It was done on at least two occasions: Nov. 8 and Dec. 7 2016. USDA regulations "Item No. 1173 - Beef Loin, Porterhouse Steak - The steaks shall be prepared from any IMPS short loin item. The maximum width of the tenderloin shall be at least 1.25 inches (3.2 cm) when measured parallel to the length of the back bone. Item No. 1174 - Beef Loin, T- Bone Steak - The steaks shall be prepared from any IMPS short loin item. The maximum width of the tenderloin shall be at least ½-inch (13 mm) when measured parallel to the length of the back bone

No fillet was present on any of the cuts displayed on the special $9.99/lb. tray

photo of bone-in New York Strip labeled as Porterhouse
 

see attached photo

I don't know what to make of your complaint. I does seem you are very particular on your meat cuts. Fresh market is one of my favorites and I have not had an experience
like yours. It might be best for your sake to find another market.

If you know meat so well, just look in the meat case & buy the cut of meat you want. Problem solved. :)

No........if you went to a store to purchase diamonds and were sold glass it would be a form of stealing. It's not a matter of store loyalty. It's a matter of honesty. An inferior, less valuable product is sold as if it were a higher grade. It's a form of stealing. Merely going to a different store ignores the matter rather than seeking a resolution which benefits all parties.

I have noticed the same problem on a regular basis. I have seen steaks they allege as Porterhouse with no tenderloin portion at all on the steak. Others with minimal tenderloin which would barely qualify as T bones.

It appears they rely on the lack of knowledge of some customers and if they don't ask for a specific steak in the counter, they'll just pass off one of the "alleged" porterhouse steaks and charge the premium price.

Bonny has the correct answer, but for those not knowledgable they are getting ripped off and that's the point of the OP.

It's not just about "ME"
 

These public discussions help to inform the unsuspecting to help avoid being victims of those less ethical.

How about a lawsuit ?? You may be able to force them to close.

:icon_wink:

Publix does the same thing all the time. When I questioned them they said it was all the same???? I think they were trying to build the store's profit for a better yearly bonus.

At Fresh Market, the amount charged for meat at the register was higher than the marked price at the meat counter on three separate visits. I always double check that when I shop there.

I believe that false or deceptive advertising is illegal.

I had the same thing happen in November. I wanted the "on sale" porterhouse and saw NO filets on any of the cuts. I told them no thank you.

It could be that you are all comparing apples and oranges. I lived most of my life in the Boston area and the meat I could buy in Boston was very different from the meat I purchase here. I always shopped at Market Basket and just purchased what looked good to me from the case. Then we retired to NH and my local store did not have the same cuts as in Boston. After a while I found a real Butcher in a small market in Center Harbor and he would cut to order.

On moving to Florida I found the meat was totally different, both in flavor and cut. I cannot get "steak tips", when I ask at the meat counter they ask me what sort of steak I want, I was never asked that before. I was used to fatty juicy pork chops with the big bone in, that cut is not available here, I guess Southerners do not like fatty pork, which is fine - when I visit my kids I get fatty pork instead of the thin cut, no fat, dried up pork chops available here. I used to be able to get pork joint with skin, which (when properly cooked) turns into pork crackling - we used to fight for the crackling. Not available here.

Things are different in the South. Mexican food and Chinese food are different here than in the Northern States. Philly Steak is different here, and I could go on and on. Italian food is very different.

But, the one big difference is, I am not shoveling snow from November to May.

By the way, there is a butcher in Wildwood, you may be able to get what you want there.

That is called stealing,, Or robbery with NO GUN.. PLAIN AND SIMPLE

Sensei

you are perfectly correct, some of the replys are due to lack of knowledge, you are quite right to complain about being ripped off.
I am really disappointed in the comments you received to your post. Especially the one about a lawsuit. You try to educate people and because they happen to like the store, they take offense, but have know idea how some businesses operate.
Sensei thank you for bring this to my (our) attention

Fresh Market is not the only store that does that.....they know that most of us aren't experts and believe what they tell us or represent. We trust but don't verify...then when some one does we crucify the messenger. His only message was to be careful if you choose to, if you don't then take what you getbelieve what you want to believe and be happy. Personal choices.

Spoke with a representative of The Fresh Market at their corporate headquarters who has viewed photos of the mis-labeled steaks. They report that they will take immediate action.

Good for you for following through with the right people! :bigbow:
Some of the responses were not funny but rude. Namaste.

The Fresh Market corporate office has promised to contact the store and end the fraudulent practice.

Nice job, doing the right thing, contact the the right people. Nice to see you didn't listen to the person that told you to just go and buy another cut of meet. Also like the way you explained the difference between a diamond and glass. Well done

I applaud your passion for doing the right thing and your persistence in getting something done about it. I'd pick you on my team any day. Peace out...

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Thank you. When you're right... you're right.

There was a steakhouse chain with a franchise location in Cincinnati popular with out of town visitors, as well as the locals, one time that advertised an $ 5.99 chopped steak luncheon special every Tuesday. The problem was when you finished your meal and were presented with the check the chopped steak would show up on it for $ 7.99. It was explained away as a computer error the first few weeks by first the server and then the manager. The only problem was about three months later the special was still being advertised at $ 5.99 and when the check showed up the price was $ 7.99. A compliant to the county DA's office solved the problem. Theft is theft. Apologists and rationalists for it delude themselves and make society worse. I really do not think it matters where you live in the United States. Filets are filets, T-Bones, T-Bones and Porterhouses, Porterhouses. Kudos for the OP whos actions will prevent others from getting ripped off.

Whoa! A form of stealing? :thumbup: I've been led to believe that no one steals here in The Villages.

I'll second that. :thumbup:

Maybe they just misplaced the steaks! Oops...

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Sensei:

Gratitudes

Awesome! :1rotfl: :1rotfl:

A vice president of The Fresh Market corporation phoned yesterday and said that vendors were not sending what was necessary. He agreed that The Fresh Market should not label products as something they are not. He reported that he would phone the Villages' store to reinforce that concept.

I am grateful for the many supportive notes.