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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To report the village butcher

62 replies

Matchstickbox · 24/10/2016 11:20

Am I?
I'm on a budget (like us all) and I'll ask butcher for 1kg mince then I'll go home and weigh it in to portions to freeze.

(Butcher always tell me a portion is more than the 125g I've read else where. He thinks about 200g pp.)

I came home last time and weighed up the two bags of minice to dived up and I'm short. About 125g.
It's been playing on my mind but my neighbour said I'm being sill and should report him...
I think I should, he'll not know it was me, will he, and he should be weighing food correctly, so not unreasonable to report him.

OP posts:
SoupDragon · 24/10/2016 12:08

Report to who?

If you'd read the thread, like a normal person, you would know the answer to this.

Thinkingblonde · 24/10/2016 12:11

I'd report him, I did the same many years ago. The butcher slapped the meat onto the scales and didn't even give the scales to time to level out before whipping the meat back off and into the wrapper. I got home and weighed it to find It short. I took it back and ever so politely asked him to check the weight as it seemed short. He weighed it again and said it was right. I rang trading standards who said they would investigate, didn't hear a thing until I read that he'd been fined for selling short measures. A local pub to me has been done for short measures and also filling Gordon's Gin bottles with cheap gin then selling it as Gordon's so it does happen. Some fish and chip shops were fined for passing off cheap pollock as cod.

LIZS · 24/10/2016 12:17

Trading Standards can check his scales if you report.

Sugarpiehoneyeye · 24/10/2016 12:18

Matchstick, could you not give the Butcher a chance to put right his wrongdoing first.That's surely how things generally work.
If it was a genuine mistake, why tarnish his reputation.
Do you have a personal grievance with him ?

Sugarpiehoneyeye · 24/10/2016 12:19

That's surely.

KenDoddsDadsDog · 24/10/2016 12:22

Is his name Hilary Briss ?
I would do as you suggested and buy something else . If that's short then report him .

Netflixandchill · 24/10/2016 12:24

He should be selling the right weights so people don't over or under cook their meat

plimsolls · 24/10/2016 12:25

I guess the issue with raising it personally first is that if OP doesn't get a satisfactory response, any subsequent visit from Trading Standards about short measures will be a bit less anonymous. If OP is intimidated by him, it will be difficult for her to shop there.

Actually, if his scales were off or it was a genuine one-off mistake, the visit from TS will be fine anyway so no problem!

FurryLittleTwerp · 24/10/2016 12:29

If he's not weighing it in plain view, then it would be easy for him to diddle you.

Does the receipt have the amount of mince on? Or just the price?

I'd be tempted to take my little electronic scales in my handbag & weigh it up in front of him before handing over the money...

Frouby · 24/10/2016 12:30

I used to work in a butchers.

Did you get charged for 1k of mince or did you get charged for 875g? If you were charged for 1k then it's worth reporting.

If you paid for 875g then it's sloppy counter service. And just ask him how much it weighs before he puts it through.

We used to tell the customer the weight and charge theme for what they had. So if someone asks for 1lb of mince and you get 450g you would say 'it's just under is that OK?' rather than fart about with tiny bits on and off the scales.

But our scales had a display facing the customer so they could look themselves. And once they are happy with the amount we accept it and it goes onto their receipt.

LagunaBubbles · 24/10/2016 12:31

I think you are using too much mince though per person. I buy 1lb of mince and put half in the freezer and use the other half 225gms between 4 people bulked out with veg/pulses. I am also on a budget and serving 100-200gms per person is a lot really

Dont think OP asked for diet or budget advice, you post sounds like it should be on the shopping threads that regularly pop up here about how low you can get your shopping bill, featuring magic chickens.

Ditsyprint40 · 24/10/2016 12:35

I would report OP.

BolshierAryaStark · 24/10/2016 12:36

I don't think reporting him without first giving him a chance to rectify his mistake is fair tbh. Be a big girl & speak to him about it.

Redpony1 · 24/10/2016 12:36

Wow, you'd report someone over something so simple, without going and raising it with them first??

Jeez. Put your brave pants on and tell him it was down on the 1kg ordered. Don't be devious without giving him a chance first!

SquawkFish · 24/10/2016 12:40

Does he not weigh it in front of you?

Ours does that. I get he could have diddled his scales but that means he's screwing everyone over.

Littleballerina · 24/10/2016 12:42

Just say 'can I have the full amount this time please' next time you go in. Explain that you measure it in to portions when you get home and have noticed that you aren't getting what you have paid for.
Reporting him rather than pulling him up on it seems slightly ott.

DubiousCredentials · 24/10/2016 12:46

I would stick to your plan of seeing what your next order weighs and reporting if that is short.

Seeline · 24/10/2016 12:46

If this is the first time that it has happened I'd probably give him the benefit of the doubt.
Next time you go in, I'd confirm that he has bagged you 1Kg (or whatever you have asked for) before paying and then check at home. If it wrong again I would report to Trading Standards - he had his chance when you queried it.

PigPigTrotters · 24/10/2016 12:48

Most butchers I've ever bought for have a price per kg, so you pay for the exact weight of meat you've paid for. The scales weigh the meat and calculate the cost of the meat. So no comparison to buying pre-packaged and weighed meat from the supermarket.
There are cases where meat is pre-weighed and pre-packed, but these have to be labelled with dates and weight on.

Most butchers whether scary or not will not have everything in display, as there simply wouldn't be room, plus things like mince will be in high demand so extra will be stored in a larger fridge.

If you don't trust the butcher not to spit on your food (which sounds ridiculous, as this would actively put his business at risk) go to a different butcher.

On the basis of your op, I would let it go for now, but if you go again, check how the butcher does it. At that point you can ask him to add more to make it up to the 1kg you asked for. If you are being charged for 1kg but not getting that amount, then report to trading standards. He won't know it's you, if he is doing this, he won't be singling you out.

Scaredycat3000 · 24/10/2016 12:58

I avoided my local 'Ye olde sweet shope' as the staff were so rude. New boss, same owner, so I give it another go. The law is very simple, goods sold by weight must be on or over weight charged for. 98 grams is not 100g. If you're going to blatantly rip your customer off maybe not have such clear scales visible to the customer. All she needed to do was not take that last sweet off the scales and it would have been legal. I think they also included the paper bag in the 98 grams, I'm not sure that's right ether.
I know it sounds petty, but the shop is the one in wrong, when does it stop being petty, 2-5% loss petty, 5-15% loss annoying, 15-25% loss have a word, 25-50% loss complain? These consumer laws are there because shop keepers have abused their customers trust since trading began. Go and weigh a bakers loaf out of a supermarket. it will weigh more than the label says, so that they are within the weights and measures laws. OP report away, you might start getting the right weight but he'll still be devious and rip off all his other customers.

Badbadbunny · 24/10/2016 12:59

Next time you buy, ask for it to be weighed in sight of you to check.

It is an option to report to TS, but they may take weeks/months to go out and check, so in the meantime, you'd be continuing to risk buying short.

Far better to nip it in the bud by tackling direct.

Original poster
Matchstickbox · 24/10/2016 13:02

I told him I wanted 1kg. He did not say it's under. Just popped it in the bags.
The only receipts this shop gives is the card machine one & I've not paid cash yet so don't know if I'd get an itemised for that.
I also tell him I portion it out at home.
He's nice but you know not to cross him, the type that can be charming but when crossed are obnoxious.
See previously I've only got two peoples worth of mince from him and just frozen or cooked. Last month I decided to get more (clearly) so weighed it myself.
I'm 99.9% positive the scales read correctly but at home I was less.
I have as previously stated checked mine.
I think I'll buy normally this month and if it's out again, tough, I'm reporting him.

OP posts:
Chinlo · 24/10/2016 13:07

The question you haven't answered yet is how much are you PAYING for? The meat must have a cost per kilo, right? So are you paying for a kilo (in which case he could be deliberately cheating you out of money), or is he giving you 875g and charging you for 875g ? (in which case he's probably just not bothered about weighing to exactly 1kg, which although kind of annoying, is not a crime)

MimsyPimsy · 24/10/2016 13:09

To those saying tell him first, I disagree. If OP tells trading standards, they will check, and if he does it to them, he will be prosecuted. If he doesn't, then he won't. If OP tells the butcher, he'll just not do it to her again, but carry on doing it to others.

He would surely be able to tell by eye that the amount was wrong, as it was out by so much.

button10 · 24/10/2016 13:16

If this butcher diddles every customer like this just think of the money he's making dishonestly? Also this behaviour would make me question everything about the business and wonder where else corners are being cut.

I would give them 1 more chance and if it happens again use it as evidence and report to trading standards. Everyone deserves to be treated fairly (customers & retailers) and if they have nothing to hide there won't be a problem.