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North Star Steaks

North Star Steaks review: rip-off, Scam 7

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5:37 pm EDT
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I did something incredibly stupid the other day. I was outside of New Richmond, WI and cashed a $50 check for a salesman from North Star Steaks. The guy was desperate, needed gas and swore the check was good and he really appreciated it and blah blah blah! Well, a few minutes later a State Patrol officer told me the check as bad (he tried cashing one at the gas station) and that he didn't even have a valid license. They had pulled him over, gave him a ticket but they didn't know at the time that he had wrote me a bad check so I'm still out of luck. I checked with the company and they said he doesn't work there any more and stole the van. They said "he's back on the crack pipe." They also said he was a great employee and even managed the Rochester store. I have one of his drug arrests below (Bryan James Wekseth) so you can what kind of guy they consider a great employee.

My lost money is my own stupid fault but what I lost is nothing compared to what people lose every day when they deal with North Star Steaks. First, do you really want to invite an ex con, drug addict in to your home? Do you really want to feed your family food you just bought from an ex con, unlicensed, drug addict? Do you know how the meat has been handled, who handled it and was it handled safely? Do they have a license to sell door to door in your city? Since they don't do background checks or maybe they just don't care, should you let one of these people in to your home? Do you really want them near your wife, children, valuables? IS IT WORTH IT? BY THE WAY, THE MEAT IS THE LOWEST GRADE AND THE CHEAPEST CUTS YOU CAN FIND - I WOULD NOT GIVE IT TO MY DOG!

Door to door steak sales is nothing new and if you google "Door to door steak sales scam" you can see what they are all about. They usually make up stories like "We were just delivering to some local restaurants and have left over stock to sell" or "My freezer just broke down so I need to sell these steaks right now at a huge discount." It's all crap just like their substandard product that isn't fit for a dog.
The Minnesota Better Business Bureau has them rated at 'D" because of numerous complaints. See for yourself http://www.bbb.org/minnesota/business-reviews/meat-retail/north-star-steaks-in-cottage-grove-mn-96062578?&language=1

Here's a link to someone who was ripped off by these people. You can also google "NORTH START STEAKS SCAM - RIP-OFF" for more

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=160x32589

They are located in Rochester, Blaine and other locations but they drive all over so they could be in your neighborhood today.

Business Contact and Profile

Name: North Star Steaks
Phone: [protected]
Address: 8144 Joliet Ave. S.

Cottage Grove, MN [protected]
Original Business Start Date: April 2007
Principal: Mr. Michael Gott
Customer Contact: Mr. Michael Gott - [protected]
Email Address: [protected]@comcast.net
TOB Classification: Meat-Retail
BBB Accreditation: This company is not a BBB Accredited business.

Additional Addresses
9993 Davenport St. NE
Blaine, MN [protected]
Tel: [protected]

Additional Phone Numbers
Tel: [protected]

Iowa
[protected]

Minnesota
[protected] Minnesota
[protected]

Minnesota
[protected]
We are fully licensed in the states of Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin.

Bryan James Wekseth
DATE: 10/16/2006
DEFENDANT: Bryan James Wekseth
DOB: 7/27/1974

CITY/RESIDENCE: Minneapolis, MN
AGENCY: Forest Lake Police Department
CONVICTION: Controlled Substance Crime in the Fifth Degree
SENTENCE: The defendant received the following sentence: 15 months in prison, execution stayed for 5 years on the following conditions: 1) Supervised probation for up to 5 years; 2) Serve 180 days in the Washington County Jail, with credit for 174 days served; 3) Pay a $50.00 fine and surcharges on a schedule to be determined by Court Administration; 4) Abstain from the use of mood altering chemicals, including alcohol, and submit to random urinalysis at his own expense; 5) Attend AA/NA meetings three times per week for six months and provide written verification to the supervising probation agent; 6) Have no same or similar offenses, remain law abiding, and cooperate with standard conditions of probation; 7) Cooperate with the transfer of supervision to his county of residence; 8) Provide a baseline urinalysis today, and 9) Provide a DNA sample.

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Update by The Mad Cow
Mar 16, 2010 7:23 am EDT

YOU LET A DOOR TO DOOR STEAK SALESMAN WATCH YOUR KIDS?
This was obviously written by some idiot that works for North Star Steaks otherwise I would be very concerned. DON'T LET THESE DRUG ADDICTED, THEIVING ### IN TO YOUR HOME OR NEAR YOUR CHILDREN. IF THEY COME TO YOUR DOOR CALL THE POLICE, THEY PROBABLY DON'T HAVE A PEDDLER'S LICENSE, MOST CITIES DON'T EVEN OFFER THEM. THEY WILL STEAL YOUR MONEY AND POSSIBLEY WORSE! DON'T TAKE A CHANCE, DESPERATE PEOPLE DO DESPERATE THINGS!

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7 comments
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caramelnsilk
Fridley, US
Sep 27, 2009 11:59 pm EDT

If you took the time and called the USDA you would now that North star steaks is not associated with this break out of ecoli, instead of just reading what one man says because He obviously didnt take the time to research in more depth. USDA has a company USDA # for each shipping company, that number that was E coli back in the year 2003 was the company pararie gold foods, which north star steaks started purchasing there premium meats at a discounted price to sell door to door to consumers as a way to form a small buisness to give the normal consumer meat like you would buy at a resturaunt but at much cheaper prices. North star was started in 2007, So basically its not north star but prarie gold foods which mind you is sold at sams club and other big coporations for more then north star sells them for. It was also the hamberger they believed that was afected with e coli and they still never found out.
As far as the cuts being bad and you not giving them to your dog, how would you know if you never purchased any? From what I ate tonight which was a peice of everthing from each of there packs, it was some pretty good food, better then I would buy at cub, or any where else, that t bone was superb. If you have proof of the meat being the lowest grade and cheapest then please let me know cause I thought it was pretty high grade quality meat.

As far as the liscense to sell, cheak out the USDA they are a lisencened meat seller in WI, MN, and Iowa. As far as having to have a seperate lisences to be a sales associate, NO you do not have to have one to be a sales man only to manufacture the meat and run a buisness.

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mmbnvv21
New Hope, US
Nov 23, 2009 10:54 am EST

I used to work for north star stakes about a year and i knew they were hiding something from me, they told me that they have been around for over 15 years and that meat they get is only about a week old (so every week they got a new load of steaks?) dont make sence does it? Well i never sold much of their meat cuz they teach their sales ppl to push buyers into buying their product, so i dont like arguing with buyers or pushing their buttons to the point where they get so pissed that they gonna call police, to me it was like if you wanna buy then buy if you dont then well have a great day! haha . Now i wish i wouldnt have sold any of their steaks or even worked for them.. Sorry folks

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BESTSTEAKS
ST. PAUL, US
Jan 13, 2010 10:29 pm EST

We have been ordering steaks thru North Star Steaks for years now. The steaks are some of the finest steaks that my family has ever had. If you compare these steaks to the grocerery store you will find your self ordering from North Star as well. There has been three different representatives that we have ordered from over the years. The most recent rep has been to our house several times and seems to be a fine young man. He has even watched my 10 year old and 6 year old on one instance when I had to run to the corner store. These remarks made by other people are so absurd from what I have experienced over the years. I hope that people will determine for them self the quality of steaks and the courteousness of North Star Steaks. It is a shame that people still stereotype in todays day and age. I do know that you will have my patronage and my families business as long as you continue to service us as you have in the past.

" THANKS NORTH STAR STEAKS!"

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BETSMcClure
US
Jun 12, 2010 1:36 pm EDT

We actaully spent $120.00 for the case special that was to be $339.00. We got 39 assorted steaks and 18 patties. To be honest, it was some of the best steak we have ever had and lasted us throughout the summer. The salesman was nice, courteous and did not push us at all. He even took the time to educate us on the best way to cook steaks (from frozen state) which we later tried and agree they do taste much better cooked that way.

Not to say the experiences noted by others are incorrect, but we paid by check and it all worked out. To be honest, I was going online right now to look them up to try and get more.

Perhaps we got a good deal at the right time by the right person, but prior to taking a side on this debate I would simply suggest for anyone interested, educate yourself about the company so you can move forward (or not). One bad experience, or one good (my case) does not generate an overall reflection about a company and/or its sales force.

Let me end by saying I am not affiliated with the company or any employees what-so-ever. Just a regular working homeowner that got approached to buy the product.

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capi580
Buffalo, US
Jan 18, 2011 10:25 pm EST

Ok here is the story on North Star Steaks. I do not work for the company but I used to for about 3 weeks. I will attempt to explain how this company opperates. First off most of the sales guys have been out of work for some time like I was and came accross the add in teh Star Trib. that reads $900 a week or so with a company van. Sounds inviting to someone to is looking for a way to feed the fam. You show up for the interview at this building/loading area and are immediatly offered a job, can you start tomarow? Thats got you thinking this a good day things are finally turning around. The next day you learn you are going to work Mon-Sat. Show up at 0900 to get your truck assignment and go over you pitch. Next up load your truck with your beef, or maybe some chicken or sea food if there is any around but probably not. So you and your partner in crime head out and pool together some gas money to throw in the gas hog you you are driving for the next 13 hours. Once you put the gas in its off the the races trying to off load the product. Here is how this will play out you drive and drive untill you find a neighborhood to sell at. One of you knocks on the door while the other one sits and waits so you dont have to split and possible sale that might coem aroud so you trade off everyother door or one guy gets one side of the street the other guy gets the other side. This explains why so many of you saw the other guy just sitting there. So lets bring on the product. The meat is actually pretty tasty and most of it is brought up in MN so thats a plus. Now many of you will do an online check of the lot number and find a news feed involving tainted meat or ecoli. Yes this did take place, but it was a few years ago and all that meat was recovered and the problems where fixed. So rest assured you are not buying tainted meat that will harm you or your family. The sales pitch is generally all the same starts at 339.00 or somthing on the flyer "broucher" and then gets lower and lower and lower . Now there is alot of things going on here you see these drivers cant go home untill they offload all the product that the have or its like 10pm at night. That is one reason why the seem pushy along with the idea of trying to bring home some much needed money. Granted I wouldnt call any of these guys suave but they try. Now lets pretend they get a sale now its all about payment and cash is king! You see the driver gets paid everynight based on the cash he brings in. So if he gets a check or a credit card he wont see any of that money and it will sit on the "books" until he brings cash back in the office. So that is why the tend to ask for the check to be written to them so they might cash it on the way to the office so they can bring home some money and have money for gas for tomarows deliverys. Now as far as the products price goes the flyer says 339.00 but that driver is into that box for atleast 80.00 depending on howmany he has left to sell it could be as much as 110.00. That means that whatever he sells the box for he owes the company 80-110 dollars and whatever he has after that is his. (Providing he brough cash back to the office otherwise he is out of luck.) So lets say he sells out the truck and finally gets back t the office, all he has to look forward to is going home with maybe some cash unless its Thursday then he hase to unload a truck of fresh meat at the office then he can go home to a family that is already asleep just to get up and do it agin tomarow.

If you have any questions feel free to ask I will answer the best I can. I gave them a three star raiting because the meat is good and the guys are just trying to make ends meet, but the company pretty much sucks . There was more than a few times in the 3 weeks i just took a box of steaks at cost to settle my books so i could feed the fam. So if one of these guys show up tell them to relax and go slow, they talk fast because there nervus.

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NDIrish
Balsam Lake, US
Jul 28, 2011 3:27 pm EDT
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I bought a box last year and they were terrible! They use some kind of tenderizer solution that gave the meat a vinegar-y taste, and it wasn't pleasant. And after you thaw them out, the meat is a grey color that is not the most appetizing thing to behold.
If you do some reasearch and shop around, you can get a much better deal (and fresh not frozen meat) from a local meat store. Even if you have to drive a bit, you can do much better. Even at Cub or Rainbow you would be better off than with NS.
They happen to stop by yesterday again, which is why I'm researching them here today, and I emphatically said "No thank you".

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racqetac
Paso Robles, US
Mar 21, 2013 6:28 pm EDT

I have to agree that this product is less than par and the guarantee that the salesman claimed the company has is non existent. I was foolish to make such a purchase and have learned from this costly mistake. The meat is full of grissle and turns grey when you cook it.
Central Coast California

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