Costco meat prices vs. Wild Fork

[wrgilb]

Just placed my first order with Wild Fork after going to my local Costco yesterday and seeing their new prices.

Costco's babybacks $5.99/lb.-WF Berkshire BB's $6.98/lb.
Costco's St. Louis Ribs $5.49/lb.-WF Berkshire St. Louis Ribs $6.58/lb.
Costco's Prime Tri-tip $13.99/lb.-WF Prime Tri-tip $8.48/lb.
Costco's Choice Chuck roast $7.49/lb.-WF Choice Chuck roast $5.18/lb.

Also bought a Black Angus Choice Picanha from WF for $8.98/lb.

I'll let y'all know how my order turns out. With WF's Berkshire ribs only being $1.00/lb. or so higher than Costco's Swift brand ribs, I'll take the Berkshire.

[rickgregory]

Yeah I went into Costco for the first time in a while yesterday. Prices were high (compared to normal, brisket at $5.49 ) and there wasn't a lot out. Now, they're also not seeing runs on meat for longterm freezing either so... maybe the quantity is more normal.

[Huskee]

I remember about a year ago Sam's (similar in nearly every way to Costco, if you're not familiar) briskets went from ~2.98/lb for Prime to ~$7/lb nearly overnight. I was just telling my wife I need to go get more before that happens again. Looks like I might be too late. Sam's & Costco tend to do the same things at the same time. I have 4 briskets in the freezer but, you know, MORE MORE MORE!

[jfmorris]

Huskee you've waited too long. Brisket was $5 a pound at my Sam's last weekend, both choice and prime, double what it was in April. Flank steak there has gone from $5.99 in April to $7.99 in May to $9.68 this past Saturday.

[Huskee]

Aww mannnnnn jfmorris

[jfmorris]

wrgilb thanks for saving me a trip across down to check Costco's prices. What you are quoting is pretty much in line with what I saw at Sam's Club this past Saturday. All the beef aside from ground was about doubled since the last time I bought some in late April or early May. And I don't buy ground beef at Sam's anymore as they don't seem to carry 80/20 anymore, which is what I want for burgers. The 90/10 stuff is too dry.

Ribs at Sam's this past Saturday were in line with what you saw at Costco - and I paid $1.89 for untrimmed spares back in April! The untrimmed spares were $4.99 a pound Saturday.

For what its worth, I was in Fresh Market yesterday, and they had 3 packs of their "prime pork" baby backs for $3.49 a pound. Still very high, but much lower than Sam's and Costco. So I walked out with a 3 pack. A few days earlier, the local Walmart had Tyson St. Louis cut spares for $2.89 a pound, so I got a couple racks of those as well, to one of the garage freezer shelves is packed full of ribs at the moment!

[johnec00]

Around here at least, Fresh Market is still selling their freshly ground 80/20 chuck for $2.99 every Tuesday. I've been expecting that to end, or for them to put a quantity limit on it like they did earlier in the pandemic.

[jfmorris]

johnec00 I've also been grabbing chuck at Fresh Market versus anywhere else. I prefer fresh for doing smash burgers, but the price is right, and I'll thaw when needed, or make patties and freeze that way.

[bbqLuv]

This sounds like something out of the Book of Revelations.
I will check out Wild Fork, shopping day is Friday, and if I have space in the freezer . . .
Sure I upgrade my pellet grill and this happens. I guess "If it weren't for bad luck, I wouldn't have any luck at all".
Happy Grilling to all.

[leol2]

You will be happy with the quality. I have ordered several times recently and the quality was very good. Shipped in dry ice in a styrofoam container. Also came UPS instead of Fedex which means I got it on time.

[Willy]

I would ask how shipping costs added to the total. Thanks!

[Uncle Bob]

That will depend on how you play their game. First order is no charge promo deal. After that the shipping charge could have a significant (somewhat) impact depending on how much you buy. Or, you can join their "Club" and pay a $29 annual fee that entitles you to no charge shipping for orders over $50. I've done 8 purchases from them so far over 8 months, so my average could be calculated under $4 per, so far. My order average is around $120, so minimal impact.

[latenight71]

A contributing factor. this was two weeks ago. it's higher now.

[wrgilb]

latenight71 That's a good price, Costco's choice was $11.99/lb.

[jfmorris]

Wow! It's still around $2.80 here.

[Bkhuna]

jfmorris - Same around here. Of course, we're not paying sin taxes to fund California's insatiable drive to tax citizens to oblivion.

[radiodome21]

I just bought back ribs at Costco (3-pack)....$3.99 / lb on the Chicago border tonight. So I paid $40 and change. Our local Mariano's (Kroger owned) had a sale over Memorial Day which was buy one get one free. Their racks of ribs were about $13 or so a rack. Seemed like a wash cash wise, but I like the quality better from Costco and they're already silver skin free.

[HawkerXP]

Yep, Costco here in VA had St Louie and BBacks at $3.99 lb.

Only one full packer in the bin.

[LA Pork Butt]

Years ago a friend of mine told me he taught his children to read restaurant menus from right to left. That pretty much is how I shop for meat. When the price is low I buy and when it high I do without. Last week I picked up a choice brisket for $1.71 a pound and this week it is Boston Butt at $.97.

[jfmorris]

My local Kroger has Boston Butt for $0.99 a pound through the 15th with the membership card. Not my favorite pork, but I will probably pick a couple up for the freezer anyway.

[leol2]

I would ask how shipping costs added to the total. Thanks!

Shipping is $29 for the year if you join not 39. That is what I did. Order has to be at least $50 for free ship

[Dewesq55]

FWIW, I got not frozen full spares at Wally World this week for $1.94/lb. It's the first time I've seen sub-$2/lb ribs of any kind in a very long while.

[jfmorris]

Apparently not many folk are buying the ribs at Sam;a Club at prices of $4-5. I was in there today and prices in the main meat counter were still high. Then I came across and end cap unit that had a bunch of spares marked back down to the original price of $1.89 for quick sale, as they had to be used or frozen by this weekend. I snagged a couple of 2 packs of full spares and shoved them in the freezer this afternoon.

[Dewesq55]

Nice score, Jim.

BTW, how's Yvonne doing? I might have missed an update, I'm not sure.

[jfmorris]

Dewesq55 Thanks for asking. She has been home for a week and a day, so I guess at this point only has 7-9 weeks of non-weightbearing with her left leg. Physically she is doing much better, but it is frustrating to stuck in a recliner all day. On the plus side, she is getting daily weekday visits from nurses, PT and OT, and getting the help she needs. I'll post a full update elsewhere.