Butcher at Queen Victoria Market Refuses to Sell Specific Weight/Portions

Lnohhongchul on 07/06/2017 - 19:46
Last edited 08/06/2017 - 15:22 by 2 other users

Hi All,

I live by myself and I usually do my grocery run at Victoria Market. I don't frequently cook so as one would expect, I try not to go all out when buying groceries for fear of food wastage and food spoiling if I do not cook at times.

Without fail, there is a specifc butcher shop (shop 4 to be precise) which constantly refuses to sell certain portions of meat - for instance if I am only after 500g of a pork rump, they will ALWAYS refuse to cut down any excess meat. They always refuse to do this and tell me that they can only sell the whole cut and try to convince me it is only a little more anyway. There have been odd occasions where they have reluctantly cut a portion down to size for me but they always give me attitude when doing so.

I am not sure where I stand in regards to consumer rights but this always makes my blood boil as I feel indirectly strongarmed in a sense to either buying too much meat or going without. I am aware that there are a lot of butchers at Victoria Market but this shop appears to be the only one which sell female pork rump and other cuts.

Just to clarify, I generally buy chicken meat and fish for the most part but I like to use pork rump for certain recipes and having to go through this ordeal every time when I am trying to avoid overstocking on meat is really frustrating.

For anyone who is trying to cook specific portions - avoid shop 4 at the Victoria Market to save yourself the frustration.

Can anyone shed some light if this is something I can approach Consumer Affairs or the like? It just doesn't feel right.

Mod: Users are reminded to be respectful to each other in discussions and to refrain from personal attacks and name calling.

Food & Grocery

closed Comments

  • Bunnyburger on 07/06/2017 - 19:53
    +14

    You won't get far on Ozbargain. This is an aussie website, the customer is not always right and don't forget to harden the F up.

    Oh and first world problems are not legitimate problems. Any problem you have is imagined, illusory or greatly exaggerated. /s

  • whooah1979 on 07/06/2017 - 19:59
    +13

    for instance if I am only after 500g of a pork rump,
    I am not sure where I stand in regards to consumer rights

    a consumer's rights is to stop being so entitled. a customer wanting to buy 500g of meat of piece that's 600g is being a pita. it would be difficult for a butcher to sell small offcuts. we wouldn't buy offcuts, even at a discount.

  • bdl on 07/06/2017 - 19:59
    +1

    female pork rump

    • AdosHouse on 07/06/2017 - 21:29

      I picked up on that too. How do you tell when its in cuts?

      • bdl on 07/06/2017 - 22:17

        I am scared to ask

        • AdosHouse on 08/06/2017 - 01:38
          +1

          I don't think I'll ever order a pork loin again.

    • poboy on 07/06/2017 - 22:19

      Sew you picked up on that.

  • frondono on 07/06/2017 - 20:00
    +2

    Just ask for a piece half the size you want.

  • Sinful on 07/06/2017 - 20:04
    -2

    Order all of it and the pork last, when they say they have an issue with it, refuse the whole order.

  • whooah1979 on 07/06/2017 - 20:07
    +3

    we see a nice piece of meat that we like. then we buy the whole piece. the same goes for bananas. we see a nice cluster and buy the whole hand. we can't stand people braking off fingers and leaving singles to be tossed around and bruised.

  • saintmagician0 on 07/06/2017 - 20:25
    +17

    If they are only selling whole cuts of meat, why on earth do you think you should be entitled to only buying part of it? What are they going to do with the other part of it? If they are nice and want to do you a favor, sure. But they don't have to.

    Do you go to chicken shop and want to buy 80% of a whole chicken? Do you go to a resturant and tell them you only want 40% of the steak? Do you tell the bakers you only want 70% of a loaf?

    The shopkeeper offers up items for sale. You can choose to buy an item, or you can choose not to. If they are nice they may be accommodating and will modify their items for you. But they certainly are under no obligation to modify their item such that you pay less and they are left with part of an item that they may or may not be able to sell…

  • JIMB0 on 07/06/2017 - 20:31
    +2

    Bikies.

    But seriously, can't you freeze some to use later or just shop somewhere else?

  • p1 ama on 07/06/2017 - 20:36
    +4

    Can anyone shed some light if this is something I can approach Consumer Affairs or the like? It just doesn't feel right.

    What do you mean it doesn't feel right? By your logic, I can walk into an Apple store and force them to sell me half of an iPhone? Of course what you can buy is dependent on what the seller wants to sell.;

    Ultimately, the right to sell is with the seller and the right to buy is with the buyer. Just use common sense, put two and two together and if they're not selling you what you want, then go elsewhere. They don't have to sell to you.

  • mskeggs on 07/06/2017 - 21:37
    +3

    If the butcher has a price for a whole item, you usually won't get the same price for a portion.
    Do they have pork rump steaks for $1 per kilo more that you can choose as many as you want?

    If you want the bulk discount, you need to buy in the bulk size, even though it might make your blood boil.

  • chumlee on 07/06/2017 - 21:39
    +6

    Definitely contact consumer affairs. Also cc in ASIO & Federal Police.

    • bdl on 07/06/2017 - 22:17

      Get some pork on your fork

      • poboy on 07/06/2017 - 22:20

        Some ribs on your hajibs.

  • altomic on 07/06/2017 - 21:42
    +4

    Consumer rights ?! If memory serves correctly the Korean war was fought on this very issue. I'm glad you've named and shamed so that I'll never buy from them in the future (though, I live in Brisbane and am a vegetarian). I've started a petition on change,org and have written to the premier of Victoria.

    Edit: this post is one of the most pathetic and anal that I've yet to read on ozbargain.

  • chumlee on 07/06/2017 - 21:50
    +10

    There's a bakery at Vic Market that refuses to sell me 4 slices of bread. They insist I buy the whole loaf. It's just ridiculous. OP maybe we can start a class action against Vic Market

    • altomic on 07/06/2017 - 22:14
      +3

      I once wanted to 3/4 of an avocado from stall 26. They refused. So count me in for the class action.

    • JIMB0 on 08/06/2017 - 11:20

      I went to a place today and they wouldn't sell me half a dairy, they insisted I buy the whole thing even though January through May is completely useless to me now.

  • Ughhh on 07/06/2017 - 22:19
    +1

    I am not sure where I stand in regards to consumer rights

    You got no rights in this particular matter. Seller has the right to set the sale conditions (as long as it's not misleading), if you don't agree, leave.

    Lolol at the sense of entitlement.

  • [Deactivated] on 08/06/2017 - 08:25

    Come and see me, I'll happily buy the whole portion… Cut it down to your desired weight… And on sell to you for only $350 per half kilogram

  • [Deactivated] on 08/06/2017 - 08:31
    +1

    Maybe you could get 1kg instead, then cut it in half and put half in your freezer.

  • Baysew on 08/06/2017 - 08:57
    +3

    I live by myself

    No surprises there.

  • Tiller76 on 08/06/2017 - 10:21
    +1

    Is there a Commissioner to defend all the poor male pigs that aren't allowed to get sold at sexist butchers?

  • marcusv on 08/06/2017 - 10:30

    Because you live by yourself you could buy a pig for company. When it gets to big or starts to get annoying you can butcher it yourself just the way you like it.

  • [Deactivated] on 08/06/2017 - 10:34

    I've been in there before and he won't sell me just the meaty part off the end of a chicken drumstick. why would he expect me to buy the bone part? I don't eat that bit. also refuses to sell half a sausage. can i join your class action suit OP?

  • jackspratt on 08/06/2017 - 10:58
    +1

    Give the OP some credit - he/she joined OzB specifically for this first post, just to warn us and to pass on their tale of woe.

    For those who suggested freezing - it may be the case that there is insufficient room for a fridge under the bridge.

  • woodwa on 08/06/2017 - 12:26
    +1

    Try to look at this in a butchers eyes.

    I get a whole rump. ($10 a KG)
    trim the fat(use in sausages)($8-$10 a KG)
    cut the odd sized bits off(cut up as diced/stir fry or in sausages)($12 a KG)
    slice up the prime cuts to sell at a higher price.(this is where the profit is made not the sausages) ($20 a KG)

    Customer wants me to cut 100g off one of my prime cuts with a higher margin.. effectively destroying my margins.(do I charge the customer for the 100g that I effectively am devaluing to a lower grade.. or easier refuse the customer).

    not to mention I need to use another chopping board and clean my knife afterwards.

  • onetwothreefour on 08/06/2017 - 12:41
    +1

    I always peel bananas before paying for them, why should I have to pay for that horrible yellow stuff when I'm not going to eat it?

  • Moderatorneil on 08/06/2017 - 15:22

    Users are reminded to be respectful to each other in discussions and to refrain from personal attacks and name calling.

  • GaryG on 08/06/2017 - 19:19

    To try and respond in a more constructive tone, I don't think it is an unreasonable request in general but it is also not unreasonable to refuse when the original piece is 600g. That would leave them with 100g piece to sell which may be much harder to sell.

    Now if it was a 1kg piece and you only wanted half, that would seem more reasonable to me.

  • Wallace on 08/06/2017 - 19:27

    You would only ask for precise weight for minced meat, even then it maybe a few cents/grams off.

    Overall, nothing worth getting angry about.

  • [Deactivated] on 08/06/2017 - 21:03

    I assume that you joined this forum just to post this questionable story.
    I smell a troll.

  • Moderatorneil on 08/06/2017 - 21:05

    OP has had their question answered. Comments closed.

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