Unmarked mystery ribs from Sam's Club - Page 3

mchar69 · 01-17-2019, 04:49 PM

Those "Extra Tender" ribs are gross and mushy.
There was a huge thread in the Competition section about them.

dadsr4 · 01-17-2019, 05:21 PM

I guess I should consider myself blessed in what I have personally experienced.
I can remember a pickup truck pulling into my grandmother's yard with a tarp over a bed of meat to sell.
I am still at awe, after several decades, at the language she used to describe the parentage of that person. In fluent German and in English.
Ever since, I've paid attention to what I've purchased.

Scared for life!

smoke ninja · 01-17-2019, 07:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mchar69

Those "Extra Tender" ribs are gross and mushy.
There was a huge thread in the Competition section about them.

I've read that thread front to back several times and still can't tell if guys seriously compete with those or are just trolling us plebs.

Jason TQ · 01-17-2019, 07:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smoke ninja

I've read that thread front to back several times and still can't tell if guys seriously compete with those or are just trolling us plebs.

They are serious. We don't do it much now, but had 6 events last year and two 1st places. So 33.33333% of the time, it works every time..........

I would take that 1st place % if we did it more all day long.

Charny · 01-18-2019, 05:33 PM

Stopped at Costco today. Their back ribs were the Premium Smithfields. My hankerin' is still unsatisfied, so I picked up a pack.

If I leave a comment card at Costco asking for an alternative, what should I ask for? IBP? Something else?

I don't know why I always want to smoke when the temps get down bitterly cold. This weekend will be the coldest yet this season. A low of 5F tonight, 8 at 11AM, high of 13 tomorrow. And a high of 7 on sunday. Hmpf.

A nice surprise during the visit, the prime ribeyes were on sale, $10 off a package at checkout. The price was $14.99/lbs, so that worked out to about $10/lbs for what I bought. Got a couple packages of cap/deckel.

Probably should have just made chili.

Edit to add: The ribs were $2.89/lbs. Prime packer briskets were $2.99. I need to go back for a brisket soon, maybe after it gets above single digits.

pharp · 01-18-2019, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charny

Stopped at Costco today. Their back ribs were the Premium Smithfields. My hankerin' is still unsatisfied, so I picked up a pack.

If I leave a comment card at Costco asking for an alternative, what should I ask for? IBP? Something else?

I don't know why I always want to smoke when the temps get down bitterly cold. This weekend will be the coldest yet this season. A low of 5F tonight, 8 at 11AM, high of 13 tomorrow. And a high of 7 on sunday. Hmpf.

A nice surprise during the visit, the prime ribeyes were on sale, $10 off a package at checkout. The price was $14.99/lbs, so that worked out to about $10/lbs for what I bought. Got a couple packages of cap/deckel.

Probably should have just made chili.

I would be excited to have picked up some of those. They are great ribs.

Joe Black · 01-19-2019, 01:38 PM

I am in Greenville, SC a Sams and Costco. I haven’t been in Sams since Costco opened. Before that, I was buying ribs at the grocery store. I now buy baby loin back ribs at Costco exclusively. They are Swift’s Premium, 3 to a Cryovac and the membrane is already removed. I have had excellent results with them and my friends really like them (I do not compeat).

I have noticed that the spare ribs at Costco are Smithfield. But, all I cook are baby backs.

Charny · 02-16-2019, 02:19 PM

A bit late on my update. The Premium Smithfield back ribs (from Costco) were excellent. Very nice flavor and texture. I'll keep buying them from Costco.

Unfortunately, the snow the in the yard is knee deep and it is a long way to retrieve the smoker from the back shed. Last time, the snow was only a few inches and I was able to bring it up on a hand cart. I don't have a sled, or a team of dogs. The offset box smoker is hibernating for winter, well oiled and covered. That mostly leaves smoking on the gas grill, with pellets or chips for smoke, which is okay.

I had occassion to call Smithfield customer support with some questions. They were extremely helpful and friendly, and right here in the USA. I couldn't ask for better customer support from a company. With so many companies using generic overseas call centers, with mindless non-native speaking call-takers who know nothing of the product and who just read scripts and type feedback, it was a nice surprise. I'll admit to some concerns when I heard that Smithfield was bought by a Chinese company, but it is no longer a present concern for me.

Fwiw, I was at Sams a week ago and they still only had the unbranded Smithfield's. The price is roughly the same that Costco sells Premium. Seems like Sams is trying to increase their margins by selling a lower grade product at the same price. They're under a lot of pressure since Costco came to town. There has been an obvious decrease in traffic at the store and most of the checkout lanes have converted to self-checkout.

PatAttack · 02-16-2019, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charny

A bit late on my update. The Premium Smithfield back ribs (from Costco) were excellent. Very nice flavor and texture. I'll keep buying them from Costco.

Unfortunately, the snow the in the yard is knee deep and it is a long way to retrieve the smoker from the back shed. Last time, the snow was only a few inches and I was able to bring it up on a hand cart. I don't have a sled, or a team of dogs. The offset box smoker is hibernating for winter, well oiled and covered. That mostly leaves smoking on the gas grill, with pellets or chips for smoke, which is okay.

I had occassion to call Smithfield customer support with some questions. They were extremely helpful and friendly, and right here in the USA. I couldn't ask for better customer support from a company. With so many companies using generic overseas call centers, with mindless non-native speaking call-takers who know nothing of the product and who just read scripts and type feedback, it was a nice surprise. I'll admit to some concerns when I heard that Smithfield was bought by a Chinese company, but it is no longer a present concern for me.

Fwiw, I was at Sams a week ago and they still only had the unbranded Smithfield's. The price is roughly the same that Costco sells Premium. Seems like Sams is trying to increase their margins by selling a lower grade product at the same price. They're under a lot of pressure since Costco came to town. There has been an obvious decrease in traffic at the store and most of the checkout lanes have converted to self-checkout.

Same here. Costco is 8 miles down the road with a better product all around. Don't think I'll be renewing my Sam's membership.

Charny · 02-16-2019, 05:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PatAttack

Same here. Costco is 8 miles down the road with a better product all around. Don't think I'll be renewing my Sam's membership.

No doubt, Costco is a much better store and business in every way. There are just a few things. Sams is my most reliable source for bone-in butts, and I like their 2 lbs bags of pre-cut slaw. Costco only has boneless and no slaw. Sams also does photo printing, which Costco does not offer locally.

Oh yeah - Costco does not have Sy Ginsberg corned beef this year. It is a seasonal item. I was *really* looking forward to that. I have not had better. Instead they have paddy o'neil's at the same price ($4.49, IIRC), but with a huge volume of excess curing liquid in the bag. SG does not put excess liquid in the bag. I haven't tried the PO, and couldn't find any info on it online. It looks like a newly created brand. Sams at least has Grobbel. Still too much liquid, but it is quite good, and a respected brand. Grobbel bought Sy Ginsberg last year, which is unfortunate.

Forgot to mention, when I was at Sams they were sampling prime tenderloin. It smelled good. How could it not be good? But when I tasted it? Liver! Yuck. I can't image if I prepared that for a meal and it tasted like that. I should have told the guy but I didn't want to be negative, since he is just the server. And I am not a terrible snob or anything - I ate a hot dog on the way out. I am convinced the Sams dogs have more and better flavor than Costco. The Costco dogs really seem to lack flavor.

Burnt at Both Endz · 02-16-2019, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PatAttack

Same here. Costco is 8 miles down the road with a better product all around. Don't think I'll be renewing my Sam's membership.

I have a business membership to Sam's, if I go early Sat mornings, I get free coffee and a muffin.

16Adams · 02-16-2019, 06:32 PM

Question: so people select and purchase meat. They drive home look it over May or may not be treated right cared for etc. When you take it back is it returned to the for sale bin?

smoke ninja · 02-16-2019, 07:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PatAttack

Same here. Costco is 8 miles down the road with a better product all around. Don't think I'll be renewing my Sam's membership.

the only thing I liked better about Sam's last time I was there was the lack of a crowd.......they were all at Costco

Charny · 02-17-2019, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 16Adams

Question: so people select and purchase meat. They drive home look it over May or may not be treated right cared for etc. When you take it back is it returned to the for sale bin?

Can't speak for other stores, but only what I've seen at Sams and Costco - absolutely not. They don't know how they have been handled, etc. The risk and liability would be enormous.

When I returned the unmarked ribs to Sams, I said to the service counter person "those have always been refrigerated and are fine, I hope an employee will take them home." Nope, she says they must be disposed of, and she tossed them into the trash. I kinda assume that practice also applies to non-perishable food, and maybe to a lot of non-food items. Once it leaves the store you just can't be certain what is coming back.

For that reason I really try hard to be certain about my food purchases and not return. For those un-branded ribs I really hesitated. Should have followed my gut at the store but at that moment really didn't want to return to costco for a second time in one day.

Norm · 02-17-2019, 12:33 PM

I used to have both Sam's and Costco memberships.

The employees at Sams acted like they could care less if you shopped there, Costco was the exact opposite. The Sams in Des Moines has a great meat counter but seems like they could man more than 3 checkout lanes.

They closed the one in Madison, Costco outdid them in almost every way.

01-17-2019, 05:21 PM	#32
dadsr4 somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 02-08-10 Location: Howell, MI	I guess I should consider myself blessed in what I have personally experienced. I can remember a pickup truck pulling into my grandmother's yard with a tarp over a bed of meat to sell. I am still at awe, after several decades, at the language she used to describe the parentage of that person. In fluent German and in English. Ever since, I've paid attention to what I've purchased. Scared for life! __________________ Two Weber daisy wheel kettles A: 1979 P: 1993, and an unused ECB

01-18-2019, 05:33 PM	#35
Charny On the road to being a farker Join Date: 08-03-17 Location: Floating on the Great Lakes	Stopped at Costco today. Their back ribs were the Premium Smithfields. My hankerin' is still unsatisfied, so I picked up a pack. If I leave a comment card at Costco asking for an alternative, what should I ask for? IBP? Something else? I don't know why I always want to smoke when the temps get down bitterly cold. This weekend will be the coldest yet this season. A low of 5F tonight, 8 at 11AM, high of 13 tomorrow. And a high of 7 on sunday. Hmpf. A nice surprise during the visit, the prime ribeyes were on sale, $10 off a package at checkout. The price was $14.99/lbs, so that worked out to about $10/lbs for what I bought. Got a couple packages of cap/deckel. Probably should have just made chili. Edit to add: The ribs were $2.89/lbs. Prime packer briskets were $2.99. I need to go back for a brisket soon, maybe after it gets above single digits. Last edited by Charny; 01-18-2019 at 07:52 PM..

01-19-2019, 01:38 PM	#37
Joe Black Babbling Farker Join Date: 12-05-14 Location: Greenville, SC	I am in Greenville, SC a Sams and Costco. I haven’t been in Sams since Costco opened. Before that, I was buying ribs at the grocery store. I now buy baby loin back ribs at Costco exclusively. They are Swift’s Premium, 3 to a Cryovac and the membrane is already removed. I have had excellent results with them and my friends really like them (I do not compeat). I have noticed that the spare ribs at Costco are Smithfield. But, all I cook are baby backs. __________________ 24"x48" Bell Fab offset 22" Weber Premium Kettle Char-Grill gasser

02-16-2019, 06:32 PM	#42
16Adams somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 01-16-13 Location: USA	Question: so people select and purchase meat. They drive home look it over May or may not be treated right cared for etc. When you take it back is it returned to the for sale bin? __________________ Tiernan SOB34, Primo Oval XL, Oklahoma Joe's Bronco, Oklahoma Joe's Highland, Pit Boss Austin XL, Pit Boss Table Top

01-17-2019, 04:49 PM	#31
mchar69 Quintessential Chatty Farker Join Date: 02-22-14 Location: Kensington, MD	Those "Extra Tender" ribs are gross and mushy. There was a huge thread in the Competition section about them.

02-16-2019, 02:19 PM	#38
Charny On the road to being a farker Join Date: 08-03-17 Location: Floating on the Great Lakes	A bit late on my update. The Premium Smithfield back ribs (from Costco) were excellent. Very nice flavor and texture. I'll keep buying them from Costco. Unfortunately, the snow the in the yard is knee deep and it is a long way to retrieve the smoker from the back shed. Last time, the snow was only a few inches and I was able to bring it up on a hand cart. I don't have a sled, or a team of dogs. The offset box smoker is hibernating for winter, well oiled and covered. That mostly leaves smoking on the gas grill, with pellets or chips for smoke, which is okay. I had occassion to call Smithfield customer support with some questions. They were extremely helpful and friendly, and right here in the USA. I couldn't ask for better customer support from a company. With so many companies using generic overseas call centers, with mindless non-native speaking call-takers who know nothing of the product and who just read scripts and type feedback, it was a nice surprise. I'll admit to some concerns when I heard that Smithfield was bought by a Chinese company, but it is no longer a present concern for me. Fwiw, I was at Sams a week ago and they still only had the unbranded Smithfield's. The price is roughly the same that Costco sells Premium. Seems like Sams is trying to increase their margins by selling a lower grade product at the same price. They're under a lot of pressure since Costco came to town. There has been an obvious decrease in traffic at the store and most of the checkout lanes have converted to self-checkout.

02-17-2019, 12:33 PM	#45
Norm Quintessential Chatty Farker Join Date: 02-22-10 Location: USA Name/Nickname : Private	I used to have both Sam's and Costco memberships. The employees at Sams acted like they could care less if you shopped there, Costco was the exact opposite. The Sams in Des Moines has a great meat counter but seems like they could man more than 3 checkout lanes. They closed the one in Madison, Costco outdid them in almost every way.