Butcher substituted my turkey

[LML1989AL]

Okay, so maybe I’m just wanting to rant.

I received a text (yes, a flippin’ text) from the butchers saying my Christmas turkey has been substituted for 12 turkey breast roulades and my collection time will be between 4pm - 5pm on Christmas Eve

I rang them, as firstly I’d booked the 9am collection (and paid £5 for the privilege) and most importantly I don’t want 12 turkey breast…. After much back and forth (and very little apology from them) I asked for a refund which they agreed to, however was told “this most likely won’t be processed until the New Year”

Please tell me what would you have done, DH thinks it’ll be in my bank my Monday, and I know I can go to a supermarket but I’m still really annoyed, I’ve been Googling ways to cook turkey roulades and when you read they’re often really dry… as was half tempted to just accept them

Did not think this would get so many replies.

To add a few things….

It was really annoying at the time, but honestly I’m over it now, this was my first butcher order at Christmas (usually do the supermarkets) maybe I’ll have better luck next year.

Bird Flu, yeah I’m sure that has affected some butcher suppliers, possibly mine. It’s a butcher in a farm shop, but I’m pretty confident that they don’t source the birds from their own heard/flock.

I really think the “your refund may not be processed until the New Year” is bull crap, I’m sure it’ll be in my bank, someone mentioned if I paid on credit card, I didn’t it was debit.

I have an Ocado order booked for the 23rd. It’s saying out of stock on most of the turkeys (that we want) but I’m half tempted to wait until cut off time for ordering and see if any pop up in the flash sales they do - might me a bit risky though

I can certainly tell when preparing and cooking it. Last time I got a Sainsbury's crown which was supposed to be fresh, bronze, organic but looked nothing like the quality of the Waitrose ones I'd had previously and looked like it had been frozen and defrosted.

I once got charged three times for lunch in a cafe (debit card) and was told I needed to wait for the owner to get back from their two week holiday to issue a refund. In the end my bank reversed the charge hassle free. Might be worth speaking to yours. Good luck!

That's terrible service then as October gives plenty of notice and time to sort a suitable alternative. The butcher should have been checking in with the farmer to make sure the turkeys are meeting the weights ordered and if some are not on track they should be looking at finding alternative birds. Or at least phoning you to explain the birds are looking to be smaller so would you also like a turkey crown/ alternative meat?

That’s rubbish, although I usually have to pay a deposit w the butcher they’ve never subbed the turkey! Def go back and get that refund and I hope you can source a nice bird!

There’s been a lot more bird flu this year compared to than the past few yrs?

They won't be busy much longer if this is how they treat their customers.

The meat-packing companies start slaughtering 'fresh' turkeys for Christmas at the end of September. They are then kept ultra chilled at about -1C (just below freezing) before going out on to the shelves this week. That's why so many of them turn green and rancid when they finally spend even a couple of days in your 7C or 8C fridge. At the very best it's a lottery.

A frozen turkey will have been frozen on the day of slaughter and, slowly defrosted over the course of 72 hours, will be in far, far better condition than the vast majority of the 'fresh' ones.

Have you considered a goose if you can't source a turkey? A million times nicer in my opinion and supermarkets usually have good quality fresh ones the week before Christmas.

I haven’t eaten meat / poultry for twenty years - but I’m still outraged that they feel it’s ok to keep your money until NY.

Sorry, that's amazing for your butcher to do, he sounds fab but some of these jobs sound jobs your husband should be doing to help you...

@Icecreamandcoffee I think your butcher liiiiiiiiiikes you. 😄

happened to us
reason was that due to bird flu their main supplier had to cull all their geese.
we were offered 2 whole chicken as substitute (which we accepted) or a refund.

Think you'll get your money no problem. The amazing thing is how a professional family butcher could possibly think that some Turkey breasts are a substitute for what was wanted/ordered.

I'd be fuming if you order a Turkey .. you want a turkey end of.

This is ridiculous. And I’ve never heard of a paid-for £5 collection! Your butcher’s dodgy.

Contact Trading Standards and report them. They should have offered you a refund before the text message. They are not providing what you paid for.

Id be at the shop demanding my money there and then and also an explanation as to why they havnt hit your
Turkey. They then would never see me again. That's disgusting to let anyone down this close to Christmas.

That might be because of avian flu, my butcher said when I ordered that all their turkey was pre-ordered a month in advance and frozen this year because they can't be sure of supply in late December. They were expecting many butchers to come short on the actual Christmas week.

Neither of which are suitable - they have said the refund will be in the New Year - they owe it now. OP has given the money therefore they have it so should hand it back with an apology. Terrible service - he does not know OP's circumstances she may not be able to afford to go and buy another somewhere else for all he knows and also may bhe short of time or be working most of the time. The roulades are only a suitable alternative if that is what OP finds acceptable - and she doesn't.

This

Theres a shortage of turkeys this year, these things happen, why go beserk with the butcher, its christams, tske the refund and go to the supermarket….

There were plenty of fresh turkeys in Sainsbury’s yesterday.

We live close to Derek Kelly’s farm so for over 30 years we have always ordered and collected from there. They never fail. One year we got it home and there were no giblets. Absolute disaster! Their response on being called was to send some round immediately. We could easily have gone back but they insisted.

They are quite expensive but certainly high quality and worth it for once a year. Never a dry tasteless bird.

I believe there are plenty of outlets that sell them now or a supermarket free range bronze is likely to be good.

Yes, this. They've had plenty of time to make sure they had enough turkeys, you've paid and you have a contract.