I guess I won't be eating Franklin's anytime soon or even before I pass away. $34 per pound! We have plenty of BBQ places around San Antonio getting $20 to $22 per pound. But at any rate, the Black Angus (choice by definition?) sells at HEB for $5 per pound (after recent price explosions), and even after trimming and shrinkage (but excluding your time and wood) costs about $10 smoked to perfection.
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Obviously, paying $250 to have Franklin BBQ shipped to your door is not for everyone. But for some it's worth the price, and they willingly pay that. Why call the company and complain? That's like calling a Ferrari dealership and complaining that their cars are too expensive because you can buy a Toyota that does the same thing for less than half the price. It's capitalism. They charge what people are willing to pay. They're not aiming to be your every day source of meat. I've never had real Texas brisket, and I may never have the opportunity to visit Franklin's. For me, if I were to order it, it would probably be a once in a lifetime experience. That might be worth $250 to me. I can qualify for quarterly bonuses at my job, so that would be just extra money that I could spend on a trip, more MCS or maybe a sample of authentic Texas BBQ from a Hall of Fame pitmaster. It might not be your choice of how you would spend some extra money, but why complain if someone else does?Comment
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I never understand people blasting companies online. If they can't get $250, they wouldn't charge that. If they can get $250, they'd be dumb to take less.Comment
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Worthy of note too- a 5lb brisket, cooked, started out as about a 10lber pre-trimmed, pre-cooked. I'll send you 7lbs of central Michigan brisket for $200. Now there's a deal!Comment
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I think I agree with most of you it's something you treat yourself to every once in a blue moon. Remember renting a tux and a limo to bring old Rosie R. to the prom? In today's dollars it's extravagant. But how many senior proms do you go to and how many chances do you have to score with Rosie, so you go for it!!
I'm pretty much a fish fanatic and got it into my head that I wanted some Alaskan King Salmon fresh from the spring run on the Copper River. For those who don't know that's the Franklin of fish, best in the world. I think I paid something like $60/lb and you had to order a minimum of 5 pounds, plus overnight to get it here. Do the math, it was almost $400.
Was it worth it? Meh. But it was damn good !!! Bottom line, I'll never do it again but sometimes you gotta bite the bullet and splurge. Old Rosie would have appreciated the gesture !!!Comment
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Troutman Here in the PNW we view the Copper River label as brilliant marketing. Good fish, no doubt. But.......
Any line caught Alaskan King (Chinook) is delicious. And, I have grown very fond of an Icelandic farmed Atlantic salmon that a local small upscale grocer chain (Metropolitan Market) has the local exclusive import agreement. Something about that cold cold water.
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So, who in the San Diego area wants to split an order of brisket from Franklins?Comment
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I'm just a bit off-put here. I'm pretty sure everyone of us, no matter the argument for or against Franklin's shipped pricing, has spent 'without regards to cost' on something.
This is the first 'repost' of an attack on a vendor that I've seen in the Pit. I guess I'm not suprised at how much discussion has ensued. What I don't want to be surprised by is that this starts to trend.
A simple suggestion and a simple ask - if you have issue like this, please keep it to yourself. Thanks so much in advance. You've messed with my calm.Comment
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JGo37 That's why you see so much push-back. And, back of envelope (front of napkin?) calculations demonstrating that while expensive, it's not exploitive. I agree, not fair to attack the vendor. -
They (the vendor) handled him with respect in their replies, Dr. Pepper even tho he was a total asshat to them.
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Wow, I had no idea that I would open up such a Pandora's Box.
Since I started this, let me clarify a few things regarding the post.
1. It was not directed at Franklin's. It was directed at Goldbelly
2. The reason for the post was to show how lame an excuse Goldbelly provided when I emailed them. They simply could have said the brisket shipping price to NYC is $50 for 2-day delivery - or whatever the hell the cost is and that would have been the end of it. By combining the brisket and shipping, and again, for a 5-pound piece of meat, at $249, any rational person would question it.
3. As for Franklin's food. I have never tried it. I am sure it is good and whatever one can afford or wishes to pay, is how a product is valued in the eye of the buyer. Personally, I would never wait 5 hours to buy anything nor would I ever pay $45-50 pound for anything - no matter how (supposedly) great it might be
4. To the person who said to keep my complaints to myself, well, the point of an open forum is to do just that, provide opinions, feedback, etc., so that others can discuss it in a civilized format. That is exactly what happened regarding this discussion. I will continue to do this.
I hope this clarifies my position.
BTW - this is my last post on this particular subject.Comment
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I know that waiting in line for hours seems strange, or down right insane, but I have to say after waiting in Franklins back in 2015 (4am arrival) and Snows (2021 meat up!!) that waiting in line is an AMAZING way to meet people and have some great conversations. Heck, after Snows, we went to Bretts, and the couple standing in front of me had been at Snows as well, and it was fun to share our individual takes on Snows; that's a big part of waiting in lines for me - that random interaction with -
What an interesting and great perspective on the whole "waiting in line" debate. Quite shocking coming from a young whippersnapper such as yourself. 😂 Kidding, good point!Last edited by Panhead John; July 13, 2021, 11:28 PM.
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As an early Goldbelly customer, who lives in a city that they export many things from, my walk up price is always much better. It makes no sense to get Stan's Donuts, Buona Italian Beef, a Malnati, a Pequod, or a Vienna Beef Hot Dog kit, because these things are readily available here. I've been to the Vienna Beef factory store, been to a couple different Stan's, been to Pequod's a few times, wouldn't bother with a Malnati again, but can get one at the grocery, and had Buona for lunch just yesterday...
As an example, an 8" Sugargoat cake by Stephanie Izard can be had for order at the bakery for $55, and $99 overnight shipped by Goldbelly. The $44 Goldbelly's profit plus overnight shipping and handling. My time to get one, especially since I can have one delivered with DoorDash, is a better deal, but I live near Chicago.
Now, I grew up in New York City, and we used to go get cappuccino and pastries from Ferrara Bakery... 8" Tiramisu cake at $56 feels absurd, but getting one otherwise, in good shape, is just nowhere near cost effective. If I feel the need to scratch that nostalgia itch, or try something from some place I never lived, then maybe it makes sense.
I think you are 100% within your rights to object to their pricing. Everyone gets an opinion, and everyone can express those opinions as they see fit. I think most of us think your opinion is some level of uninformed, which is within our rights.
I've purchased from them a few times, gotten as gifts, given as gifts... never unhappy.Comment
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Hey look……a puppy!Attached FilesLast edited by Panhead John; July 13, 2021, 10:29 PM.Comment
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No namecalling please.Comment
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I'm going to report you, ComfortablyNumb ! And, you win the 'Best Comment' of the day award. ðŸ†
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Daba's BBQ I saw you’re introduction post and I feel for you. You and your family have obviously had a rough year. It sounds like you are trying to find or expand some new passions in life and this is a great place to start. However, I’ve seen you post his on multiple forums and get similar feedback other places as well. Is it possible with the struggles you’ve gone through and possible limitations life has thrown your way that you are understandably frustrated with some things and maybe looking for ways to vent? Walking into a party and immediately discounting (blocking) other party goers is going to close a lot of doors to great virtual friendships and knowledge these people have.
Franklin’s from Goldbelly is not for everyone. Compared to his restaurant prices, the Goldbelly cost to get 5lbs delivered next day is not absurd. As pointed out not many would consider it a regular thing, but maybe a once in a lifetime opportunity or a special occasion treat.
Personally, I hope your back continues to mend and the pain lessens each day. I hope you find happiness in your pursuit of throwing your energy into cooking and I hope you stick around and discover how great the crowd here is. You won’t always agree with everyone, but if you keep an open mind there is so much to learn here, just stay away from synthetic protein topics if you want to avoid drama.Comment
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Wow, everybody got a little touchy here. I agree with the general sentiment - I don't know that I would pay that much for a brisket from Franklin; on the other hand when we were in Florida a couple months ago we dropped something like $500 on fresh seafood. Let's take a look at my deck - a kettle, a WSM and a Grilla Chimp, plus an UDS in the garage and a Traeger Ranger (or something like it) under the RV. And let's not even mention the cost of owning and operating the RV. Like they said, it's all in what you want to pay for, but I can understand Daba's BBQ point.
I felt that way a few months ago when I looked at Edgewood Locker's shipping rates. They have come down some now though.Comment
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Price is what you pay, value is what you get. Personally, I don't get the whole mystique that surrounds Franklin's BBQ, and wouldn't pay that much (and wouldn't stand in line for more than an hour) for his BBQ. Obviously there are many who will, so maybe there is something transcendent about his brisket! I'm sure it's tasty, but it's BBQ after all, and not donkey's cheese. The whole enterprise just seems a little too bougie to me, esp. given the origins of BBQ. I don't begrudge him his success--I just don't get the hype. $250 buys me a lot of quality meat. But hey, it's your dollar, spend it on what brings you joy!Last edited by Beefchop; July 13, 2021, 08:50 AM.Comment
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I hate to say it, but if I ever get out to Texas on a road trip with the wife, she would never stand for spending 6 hours in line at the crack of dawn to get lunch somewhere like Franklin's. So the only way I'll ever taste it is to get the shipped order or pre-order take out. I am a cheap skate, so will likely never do it, but if I had the spare cash, the thought is tempting.
However, as good as I am sure Franklin's is, I am more likely to pursue other less crowded options on a pilgrimage to Texas.Comment
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Beefchop - I owned a wine bar in NYC. we sold single malt Scotch, bourbons, etc. I had Pappy. Trust me, it is good, don't get me wrong, but it is all about the myth than the actual product. Funny story - some guy took a picture of the bottle on my shelf and posted it on his social media accounts saying "Cafe Chardonnay (my place) has Pappy!". No lie, the phone started ringing and people started to come in. Truly mind-boggling what people will do for something that they either really love or are
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