Reply from Elk USAAug 10, 2019
Good Afternoon Brian: Rich here,
You apparently have read my firm response to a perceived, unfair Trustpilot review, but have ignored our many, many positive reviews. For over 20 years, we have shipped unusual frozen meat products all over the USA, and have thousands of happy customers. When we get an Internet order, we follow up with a call to EACH customer personally to determine their particular shipping conditions. Every order is different. We encourage advance “800” call-ins when small amounts or unusual shipping conditions exist.
We do not charge your card until an Internet order is confirmed, cost estimate accepted, and the box is ready to ship.
In this case, I regret that you have discovered the realities of frozen meat shipment. Your order number 196314 requested 3# of whitetail back ribs shipped from Colorado to South Carolina in August. As per the website and order confirmation page, we disclose " CAUTION: Shipping less than 10 lbs of frozen meat is difficult and expensive! " Our sales rep, Shelly simply pointed out this disclosure. Basically, 3# of meat (particularly with bones) will not stay frozen unless it is shipped overnight with abundant dry ice or gels inside a thick, insulated cooler box, hence, the $110 shipping cost verses $13 meat value. Definitively, this was not a logical shipment for you, or us. Ordering more poundage of frozen product, so as to have a more massive cold sink, allows for shipping in 2, 3 or even more days which results in significantly decreased shipping cost per pound.
edit: "my boy" here again. Brian, other than generalities, you are correct in that the website does not address these various shipping issues in advance, accept for our disclosing " CAUTION: Shipping less than 10 lbs of frozen meat is difficult and expensive! " , and you had a small order. We encourage and maintain respectful, advance dialogue to help fulfill a customers needs. Shelly (aka "honey") apologies for any offense taken.
Please know, we do not inflate the meat cost to hide any shipping costs. A customer's Internet order is approximately the same per pound price as our on-Ranch Store, but exclusive of the transport cost. One can, however, call in advance of an order to check probable shipping costs. Our customer's shipping cost is simply our costs passed along.
Unlike mass shipping of non-perishable items, each frozen order can be radically different in shipping conditions. Obviously, Montana in Summer is much easier(and cheaper) than Miami in the Summer. Besides the website disclosures, on the order page it says shipping "2 B determined Web-Tel-Email". We are not hiding anything since WE TALK to virtually ALL frozen meat customers in advance. So, from our perspective, we are pretty open about our business procedures. On Frozen orders, no one is charged until they give their permission in advance.
