*Edited 10/1/2013
Quite a while ago I reluctantly stopped ordering from Happy Cows Butchery. I loved their product, the pricing was very reasonable and their service was excellent. The only problem was the delivery service.
Chill Refrigerated Couriers were contracted for the delivery. I ordered through Qld Natural Beef and Happy Cows Butchery 3 times. Every time I had problems with the courier. Every time the problems could have been rectified with a simple phone call. The very first time there was a problem the courier was efficient and called through to say the delivery would be delayed. Easily dealt with.
The second time the manager rang to say it would be more convenient for them to delivery my order on Monday morning rather than Saturday and quoted a delivery time of between 10am and 12noon. I happily agreed as I did not require the meat for the weekend and it wouldn't inconvenience me. Unfortunately, the meat was not delivered at the quoted time. At 1pm I rang to enquire about the whereabouts of the delivery. It transpired that the delivery driver had no information about a specific delivery time. I was on his delivery list but he couldn't give me even an approximate time of when the delivery would be made. I eventually received it at 4pm.
The third time a delivery was expected I stayed at the house on Saturday morning to receive the order while the rest of the family went about their regular activities. The day came and went with no delivery and no phone call. I eventually contacted the butcher who had also not been informed that my order would not be delivered. To say I was livid would be an understatement. We contacted the couriers and the order was eventually received late Monday afternoon.
I rang the butcher and explained that while I loved their product and service, the courier had let them down and I wouldn't be placing any more orders. I then emailed Chilled Refrigeration informing them that their delivery service had failed a family business and they were the sole reason I wouldn't place more orders. I didn't receive any reply.
Unfortunately, the Happy Cows Butchery were unable to secure an alternate refrigerated delivery service. Sadly, It appears they are no longer offering their product online.
Edit:
Quite a while ago I reluctantly stopped ordering from Happy Cows Butchery. I loved their product, the pricing was very reasonable and their service was excellent. The only problem was the delivery service.
Chill Refrigerated Couriers were contracted for the delivery. I ordered through Qld Natural Beef and Happy Cows Butchery 3 times. Every time I had problems with the courier. Every time the problems could have been rectified with a simple phone call. The very first time there was a problem the courier was efficient and called through to say the delivery would be delayed. Easily dealt with.
The second time the manager rang to say it would be more convenient for them to delivery my order on Monday morning rather than Saturday and quoted a delivery time of between 10am and 12noon. I happily agreed as I did not require the meat for the weekend and it wouldn't inconvenience me. Unfortunately, the meat was not delivered at the quoted time. At 1pm I rang to enquire about the whereabouts of the delivery. It transpired that the delivery driver had no information about a specific delivery time. I was on his delivery list but he couldn't give me even an approximate time of when the delivery would be made. I eventually received it at 4pm.
The third time a delivery was expected I stayed at the house on Saturday morning to receive the order while the rest of the family went about their regular activities. The day came and went with no delivery and no phone call. I eventually contacted the butcher who had also not been informed that my order would not be delivered. To say I was livid would be an understatement. We contacted the couriers and the order was eventually received late Monday afternoon.
I rang the butcher and explained that while I loved their product and service, the courier had let them down and I wouldn't be placing any more orders. I then emailed Chilled Refrigeration informing them that their delivery service had failed a family business and they were the sole reason I wouldn't place more orders. I didn't receive any reply.
Unfortunately, the Happy Cows Butchery were unable to secure an alternate refrigerated delivery service. Sadly, It appears they are no longer offering their product online.
Edit:
Qld Natural Beef is now owned and operated by the butcher who worked with the company. The new name is:
That picture is seriously fun and cute!
*****************************************************************
I placed my very first order with Qld Natural Beef and had it delivered yesterday in time for a BBQ last night. We decided to throw Tbone steaks and sausages on the barbie.
I can't describe to you how much flavour there was in this beef. It was tender, it was beautiful. The sausages were out of this world. Melt in your mouth I've gone to heaven and I'm not coming back goodness.
I'll explain how it all works.
This is a family run farm. The cattle are grass fed free range. The way they are naturally meant to be. The family uses a local butcher and sells their beef themselves so they can trace exactly what has happened to the beef through the entire process.
The online ordering process is simple, easy to navigate and easy to use. There is a $15 delivery fee so I decided to clear out the freezer and place a bulk order. I ordered 17 kg of meat/chicken/bacon for the princely sum of $225.00 That averaged out to $13/kg. This is included a 2.5kg bulk pack of Tbone steak for $45. As a comparison... the local butcher/supermarket sells Tbone steak for $20-$25 a kg. The local organic butcher sells it for $50 a kg!!!
Some more comparative pricing:
Sausages from the local organic butcher $9/500g - I paid $8/kg
Organic Chicken Thighs from the local organic butcher $14/500g and Organic Chicken Thighs from Coles Supermarket $14/kg- I paid $13/kg
I think there is a pattern/trend emerging. I'm happy to pay a little more for a good quality product (in Coles's case it was less!!) but I refuse to pay such astronomical prices and have believed all along that there must be a cheaper option. Now I've found it. Even taking into account the delivery price, I paid less for beef/chicken/bacon that I would at the local supermarket/butcher. The quality is better, the flavour is better and I'm supporting local primary producers, reducing my carbon footprint and providing quality, healthy food at my table.
I would urge everyone to keep searching, keep looking for information. Primary producers are recognising that people are looking for an alternative and are starting to provide it. If at all possible, talk to primary producers. Tell them what you want. Get your family and friends together and approach them to see if they will supply a bulk order. It is worth the effort.
