Us Beef Door to Door Sales
They say trust is dead in America, but I don't believe that. Did you know that 51% of Americans harbor some form of trust in their fellow Americans? That may not sound much, but it should if you consider the current political environment that we are collectively experiencing. I thought the trust factor percentage would be a lot less. Get this – door-to-door meat sellers are actually a thing in the United States.
According to this article from Vice, door-to-door meat sellers are more prolific in rural and suburban locales than urban centers. On that point, I disagree.
I grew up in the South Bronx, and every once in a while, an earnest salesperson would knock on the door and ask if we wanted to buy meat from his car. I politely said no while looking at him like he had three heads.
Then he proceeded to knock on every door on my floor – I remember watching him knock on a few doors after me. And then he disappeared into the stairwell, ostensibly to knock on a few more doors.
I really don't know what I would buy from a traveling salesperson knocking on my door. People used to sell encyclopedias or insurance policies door-to-door when I was a kid. But now we have the internet where you can find such information yourself.
The last thing I would do is buy meat from a complete stranger knocking on my door. Perhaps this was a normal thing to do in 1951, but it is 2021.
However, Americans are more trusting than I believed.
It is not safe to buy meat from door-to-door meat sellers. Before explaining why let's examine the issue.
Door-to-door Meat Sellers
It is not illegal for door-to-door meat sellers to operate in the United States. However, a permit may be required for door-to-door meat sellers to operate in some areas.
The problem with door-to-door meat sellers is that they have all the negotiating advantage once you agree to a sale.
Many people think it is convenient to buy meat at their doorstep. Or they may be hustled into believing that they are buying meat at a bargain.
Many door-to-door meat sellers say that they work at restaurants or supermarkets and are selling surplus meat. They will say anything to make what they are doing seem plausible.
Unfortunately, too many trusting Americans are hustled and suckered by door-to-door meat sellers. Legitimate and professional door-to-door meat sellers do exist.
The problem is that such professionals probably won't be the ones knocking on your door.
As documented in a Vice article on the topic, police authorities in Michigan, Oklahoma, Kansas, and North Carolina publicly warned residents against buying meat from door-to-door meat sellers.
Authorities reported that scam artists targeted senior citizens, shut-ins, single parents, and those who lived in remote areas as victims. The victims would be pressured into buying meat that they later learned was rancid.
Some victims were scammed and molested.
A 64-year-old Oklahoma woman reported that a door-to-door meat seller tried to pressure her to buy a box of steaks for $450. She haggled the price down to $100. However, the salesman wouldn't leave without a hug, which he forced on the woman.
Later, the woman found that the meat was utterly rancid and unfit for consumption.
Here are some reasons why you should never buy meat from door-to-door meat sellers.
Rancid Meat
You have no idea where the meat came from or whether it was USDA inspected. The salesperson might have boxes of unrefrigerated meat sitting in a dirty van or trunk all day while making sales.
Think about it. When you buy meat from a supermarket or butcher, it is refrigerated and individually wrapped.
That salesperson may have chilled the package in a mini-cooler before knocking on your door. And then you won't realize it's rancid until later.
Untraceable Contact
The person who sold you that rancid meat won't be coming back later. You won't know their real name. Even if you ask for a receipt, it might be fraudulent.
Inability to Haggle
Here is a list of prices for food and energy as aggregated by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Informed consumers are empowered consumers.
Whatever price you negotiate or haggle over with door-to-door meat sellers will be based on your gut instinct. Or an uninformed desire to buy on your terms.
If you don't know the basic everyday prices of food, then you have no leverage. How can you compare prices relatives to local store prices?
The door-to-door meat seller will always have the advantage and means to scam you.
Danger
Americans are very trusting. We make ourselves vulnerable every time we open our door.
A person intent on selling you old or rancid meat for a quick buck might be capable of anything.
Remember the 64-year-old senior citizen who got scammed, molested, and only had a box of rancid meat afterward.
You are betting off declining such offers or not even opening your door.
Protect Yourself
You are better off buying your protein at the supermarket, warehouse club, butcher, or even an online meat selling service. You can trace the food chain, get feedback on choices, receipts, and have the data you need if you have a complaint.
Protein sold under professional circumstances is refrigerated and USDA inspected. (You should only buy dry-aged protein from a restaurant or specialty supermarket.)
A pound of ground beef costs $4 to $5 per pound. And a pound of steak costs anywhere between $6 to $9 per pound, depending on the grade.
Compare the prices of local supermarkets, butchers, and warehouse clubs. Learn where the meat you buy comes from. Be an informed consumer.
I was going to say that if you do buy from door-to-door meat sellers, you should at least protect yourself. You could inspect the meat, look for a USDA inspection stamp, ask to see a vendor's permit, get a receipt, and things like that.
But forget that.
Unless you live in a remote area, you have no business buying meat from a stranger who knocks on your door.
And if you live in a remote area, proactively learn about the door-to-door salespeople operating in your region. That way you are won't be surprised. (And you are still better off owning a car and buying in bulk from a supermarket regularly.)
No good will come from buying a box of meat of unknown quality from a stranger knocking on your door. You have no control over the situation as a consumer once you open the door.
What are your thoughts? Would you buy meat from a stranger who knocked on your door? Have you done it before? Leave a comment below!
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Allen Francis was an academic advisor, librarian, and college adjunct for many years with no money, no financial literacy, and no responsibility when he had money. To him, the phrase "personal finance," contains the power that anyone has to grow their own wealth. Allen is an advocate of best personal financial practices including focusing on your needs instead of your wants, asking for help when you need it, saving and investing in your own small business.
Source: https://www.finetunedfinances.com/2021/05/21/is-it-safe-to-buy-from-door-to-door-meat-sellers/
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