Alexander-King Farm

Initial Business Response /* (1000, 17, 2016/03/29) */
Reference: Case # XXXXXXXX. Ms. [redacted]
It is our feeling that Ms. [redacted] purchased her 1/4 beef with us with the proper knowledge for the purchase and then had buyer's remorse. The date of slaughter and many other very...

specific details are listed in Ms. [redacted]'s contract. We feel that she had adequate time and information before she made her purchase with us. The contract does state that on all beef purchases, a 50% non-refundable deposit is required to make an reservation with us. Ms. [redacted] paid Alexander-King farms a total of $475 to pay her 1/4 beef in full and she is entitled to a 50% refund of that portion if she so desires.
[redacted]
Owner
Alexander-King Farms
Initial Consumer Rebuttal /* (3000, 19, 2016/04/05) */
(The consumer indicated he/she DID NOT accept the response from the business.)
There is no buyer remorse. I told the lady not to run my card when I saw the hog date April of 15 which was past and was told that was a typing error and would be corrected then saw Oct 16 for beef and asked if that was a type error and she said no and was put on hold and when she came back said it was too late the card had been run. I asked her to reverse the charge and she said she did not know how to do that I would get a call within two days. I received the call and was told no refunds they would give me back half of what I paid but not all.
At this point I just want the next person that checks out this business to see you are paying a year in advance for your meat. Buy from your local farmers and get your meat a LOT QUICKER AND DO NOT PAY UP FRONT.
I have bought a cow and will need more meat by Oct 16.
Still waiting to see if we get the hog we paid for with the wrong date.

BUYERS BEWARE
Final Business Response /* (4000, 21, 2016/04/11) */
Ms. Pannybacker is eligible for the refundable portion of any order that she is referring to. However, there is a non-refundable deposit that is required when making a reservation with our company because of expenses that our business will incur while raising our animals that cannot be undone. We do have about a 6 month wait with our company when making a reservation.

Initial Business Response /* (1000, 7, 2016/04/21) */
Mr. [redacted] has spoken with our office on several occasions. We had a butcher date set for him and he decided that he did not want to continue with the process which is particularly the reason that we take a non-refundable deposit. Mr. [redacted] has...

paid his $100 non-refundable deposit and did not pay his remaining balance due on his account by the due date of 3-15-16. When he was approached to pay his remaining balance and his butchering fee, he informed us that he did not want to continue with the process. Please see attached contract/invoice. Deposit is stated as Non-Refundable in the body of this contract/invoice.
Initial Consumer Rebuttal /* (3000, 9, 2016/04/22) */
(The consumer indicated he/she DID NOT accept the response from the business.)
The contract attached from AK farms is not the original contract I was mailed with my order, which I attached. In my contract it does not state the remaining balance is due by 03-15-16. The contract says my butcher date was set for 03-31-16 and I would be contacted when my hog went to the locker. I was not contacted once by the company and I called them after 03-31-16. Before calling AK farms, I learned of the business' bad reputation. I called and asked for a refund of my deposit because they were asked me to send them $180 to close out my order. The original contract also states butcher fee is $100 paid directly to the locker but when I called the company they said I owed $115 to them for butcher fee. I was told by Beth a refund would not be issued. I researched the company and spoke with the butchering company they used to use and was told to stay clear of AK farms. I also called the Chief of Police in Atkinson, IL and was also told to not do business with the company. I called AK farms yesterday 04-21-16 and spoke with Pat King and asked for a refund of my deposit because of all the complaints filed against them. He said they could not offer me a refund. After speaking with Pat, he offered to waive the locker fee of $115 and said all I owed was $65. I again told Pat, I did not feel comfortable sending them more money. I even requested they work with me and issue a partial refund and he said no. I told Pat, I would be happy with a 50% refund, which I think is fair. I never signed a contract and if the company is as reputable as they say they would issue me a partial refund. I understand a full refund cannot be issued but AK Farms is unwilling to work with me.

Initial Business Response /* (1000, 10, 2016/04/08) */
Leslie [redacted]: Leslie is set to receive her refund in full of $155. Her refund check will be sent 4/15/16.

Initial Business Response /* (1000, 5, 2016/04/12) */
[redacted]: We have no customer listed under [redacted]. Is there a different name that the customer is listed under or a corresponding invoice number?

Initial Business Response /* (1000, 5, 2016/04/12) */
[redacted]: Set for full refund of $270. Will be issued 5/20/16.
Initial Consumer Rebuttal /* (3000, 7, 2016/04/22) */
(The consumer indicated he/she DID NOT accept the response from the business.)
Alexander King Farms has had a pattern...

of either misleading or false statements made to me since I first entered into dealings with them in June of 2015. I no longer believe anything that is said by any of their representatives and this includes what I feel is a hollow promise of a refund to me. If they are going to issue me the entire amount owed to me, why can't they issue it now instead of a month from now like they are claiming they will do? No, I do not accept their response to my claim because I feel their statement claiming they will do so is just another lie.

Initial Business Response /* (1000, 5, 2016/04/12) */
Ms. [redacted]: Ms. [redacted] made a reservation with us for a whole Berkshire Pork. She paid the $200 non-refundable deposit and her hog was set to go into the butcher Approximately April 30th, 2016. She does have a remaining balance of...

$130 on the Account in order to have her hog go to the butcher on time. The $200 is a non-refundable deposit and is listed as such in our invoice/contract. Encl.

Initial Business Response /* (1000, 5, 2016/04/21) */
Ms. [redacted]'s pig was sent to locker as discussed 4/19/16.
Initial Consumer Rebuttal /* (3000, 7, 2016/05/04) */
(The consumer indicated he/she DID NOT accept the response from the business.)
Alexander-King Farm responded the hog in...

question was sent to the butcher on April 19, 2016; however, I was not informed (via email dated 04-20-2016) until after I emailed them expressing my concerns regarding the lack of communication and product. In the email received, I was informed to call the locker directly to select my cuts, of which I did. At the time of the telephone conversation with the locker, I was informed Alexander-King Farm would contact me again to arrange additional payment AND delivery. However, I informed the processing company's representative, the processing and handling fee was paid on April 12, At which time the processor informed me Alexander-King Farm handled those details and would contact me. However, no additional conversations nor correspondence has been received, including delivery date.
As the customer, I have routinely made the contact with Alexander-King Farm, each time to check on my order. And each time, I have been given either new dates or new amounts due. To be told, the company will contact me with additional details, and then receive no correspondence from said company, is not acceptable.
To say the hog has been delivered to the processor, after more than 9 months of waiting, is not acceptable, as I still have no product in my freezers.

Initial Business Response /* (1000, 6, 2016/04/21) */
Ms. [redacted]'s beef has been delivered as promised. After a follow up call with Ms. [redacted], she stated that her beef was "just fine". AKF attempted to deliver Ms. [redacted]'s pork on another occasion, and delivery was refused due to the timing of the...

hand delivery. My delivery staff can of course attest to the situation. Ms. [redacted] has made arrangements for us to ship her pork to her next week. AKF would like to state that we have been in contact with Ms. [redacted] throughout the entire process and believer that we have absolutely completed our due diligence in this matter. We are a bit set aback as to why a claim was filed with your office.
Initial Consumer Rebuttal /* (3000, 8, 2016/04/22) */
(The consumer indicated he/she DID NOT accept the response from the business.)
This issue will not be resolved until my pork is received. My pork was to have been originally delivered November 25, 2015. The delivery driver was not going to arrive to my house until 2:00 am the 26th of November. This was not acceptable. The agreement was to have my pork delivered the same time my beef was delivered. I spoke with 3 different employees of AKF on 4/15/2016. Not one of them could assist me and advised the owner would call me on the 18th. An follow email was sent and a voicemail left. They did not respond to either. I had to call them which I did on the 19th of April. I was advised it would be sent next week. This is the same thing they told me 3 continual weeks with my beef. This will not be resolved until my pork is received or my money refunded. Prior attempts for delivery of my pork should have been made prior to now if they were not going to include it with my beef!
Final Business Response /* (4000, 11, 2016/05/02) */
Ms. [redacted] did receive her order from us. Ms. [redacted] Also did reject the delivery of her order on an earlier date. We did attempt to deliver Ms. [redacted]'s Order in a timely manner.
Alexander-King Farms
Final Consumer Response /* (4200, 13, 2016/05/03) */
(The consumer indicated he/she DID NOT accept the response from the business.)
This is the email received from [redacted] King Farms I do not accept their response. Delivery was going to be at 2:00 am and that is totally unacceptable and poor planning so I advised it would need to be rescheduled. The driver concurred. I have photos of how severe the ice is on this meat. Meat does not get this way 5 months in the freezer. I can send if you provide a link.

Alexander King Farms
Tue 5/3/2016 8:35 AM
To:
[redacted]@live.com);
You replied on 5/3/2016 9:26 AM.
Evernote
You refused your order the first time, and told us to send your hog with your beef. We mistakenly forgot to send it with your beef. Your meat sat in our freezer for quite sometimes. That is the reason it looks the way it does.

Initial Business Response /* (1000, 6, 2016/04/21) */
Mr. [redacted]'s hog was expected to go in approximately March 30th, 2016. His Hog was ready to go into the butcher, and we had a spot reserved for his hog to go in this week, the week of April 18th. Mr. [redacted] refused the slot when we told him...

that processing charges would be $230 for his hog. As a fourth generation farm, we want to make sure that our customers are happy, however, we have not defaulted on our agreement.
Initial Consumer Rebuttal /* (3000, 8, 2016/04/22) */
(The consumer indicated he/she DID NOT accept the response from the business.)
My paperwork clearly states, "Butcher date is set for March 30th, 2016. AK Farms will contact you when your hog goes to the locker. At that time you will have the opportunity to communicate with the locker....
In my opinion any deviation from the 3/30/2016 butcher date should have been communicated before I started trying to find out where my pig was. When I asked [redacted] when my pig would be going to locker, I was told, "soon, it's not big enough yet." SOON is not a date.
Furthermore, in their paperwork under:
[redacted]NOTATION: THE PROCESSING CHARGES ARE ESTIMATED AT ABOUT $150-$200. THIS IS AN ESTIMATE. THE LOCKER WILL CONTACT YOU WITH YOUR ACTUAL PROCESSING TOTAL. CUSTOMERS WILL PAY THEIR OWN PROCESSING CHARGES DIRECTLY TO THE LOCKER.....
It does not say I will pay AK Farms for processing nor does it say AK Farms will give itself a minimum tip of $30.00.
Additionally, on 4/19/2016 a detective from my local sheriff's department contacted AK Farms. He spoke to [redacted] early in the day and she said I would be receiving a refund of $310.00. The check would be cut on 5/20/2016. He also requested that the owner, Beth Alexander, contact him. Beth Alexander did return his call and assured the detective that AK Farms would cut a refund check on 5/20/2016 and that I would receiving it shortly after. When he inquired as to why it was going to take so long, she said they only cut checks once a month.
As a "fourth generation farm" Alexander-King Farms should be making every effort to correct its issues and satisfy its customers. It should not be creating a situation where people from multiple states are having issues with timing, price changes, and quality of the product received.
Please do NOT close my file. I am not satisfied. My complaint to the Revdex.com stands as does my complaint to the FTC and my review on Yelp.