‘Generally I Try To Not Buy Meat At An Auto Parts Store’: Couple Buys $700 Worth Of Meat ‘Off A Truck.’ Then They Realize Their Mistake Too Late

One might think that “Don’t buy meat in a parking lot” is pretty obvious advice.

Somehow, however, this appears not to be the case. If you drive across America for long enough, you’ll be sure to see signs advertising meat—usually steak—for rock-bottom prices.

Selling out of the back of a parked van, sellers of this marked-down beef will claim that you can get an incredible amount of steak for a terrifyingly low price. Twenty ribeye steaks for $40? Who wouldn’t say yes?

The answer is “anyone who’s done a bit of research.” Still, if these trucks are still present across the country, it means that people are buying the meat. Now, a user on TikTok has shared her own story about buying, and eventually returning, this meat.

What Went Wrong With This Steak Purchase?

In a video with over 2.2 million views, TikTok user America (@americagracee) shows herself and her partner in the parking lot of a Napa Auto Parts. The pair are buying a substantial amount of meat and loading it into their car.

“The saxophones getting louder when we realized we were scammed $700 of ‘meat’ off a truck,” she writes in the text overlaying the video, referencing the viral “hearing the saxophones” meme.

America later posted a follow-up video explaining what happened and how the pair realized that buying meat from a van was a bad idea.

According to America, she and her partner were first drawn to the meat truck with a “20 for $39” deal. After talking with the salesman, however, they got convinced to buy more and more meat. Eventually, they had accrued around $700 in meat.

“We literally load it all up, and I make a TikTok about it, ’cause I’m like, ‘Oh my gosh, this is such a good deal. Like how did we get suckered into $700 of meat?’” America recalls.

She Realizes There’s A Problem

“We’re sitting in our driveway at home, and I’m getting ready to post this TikTok, and I’m looking at all the hashtags of, like, what I can do that relates to the algorithm and that. And, I look up the account, and I see everyone saying, like, ‘Oh, I got scammed; oh, it’s terrible meat; oh, it’s dairy cows; oh, it’s this,’” America continues. “And I look at Brandon. I’m like, ‘Brandon, everyone’s saying this meat sucks.’ And he’s like, ‘Don’t say that.’ And I’m like, ‘No, like, they’re saying it.’ He said, ‘Don’t read the comments. I don’t wanna know.’”

Eventually, the pair decided that the best course of action was to try to return the meat. While the salesman tried to talk the pair into keeping a few boxes “to try,” the couple refused. Finally, they were given all of their money back.

“Don’t buy meat from a truck. Go to the butcher,” America concludes. “It just sounds so stupid when you say it, ’cause I think in my head, I’m like, ‘Duh! That’s, like, the biggest red flag ever!’”

What’s The Deal With These Steaks?

As previously covered by BroBible, these cheap steak deals are common—and frequently disappointing.

The “steaks” on offer have been unfavorably compared to hamburger meat. Not only that, but buyers have reported that the steaks are fairly small. Some steaks, buyers say, can be as little as three ounces. This means that, if one does the math, they’re not actually getting that great of a deal.

Regarding the company America purchased from, Backyard Butchers, one internet user complained that their steaks are “paper thin and taste like rubber.”

The business is not accredited by the Better Business Bureau. Still, on the BBB site, the business has an F rating.

Commenters Say You Shouldn’t Trust Parking Lot Steaks

In the comments section, many users mocked the TikToker for loading up on the budget meat.

“This has been a scam since the 90s,” noted a user.

“Generally I try to not buy meat at an auto parts store,” joked another.

That said, some admitted that they, too, had fallen for the allure of cheap steak.

“I bought ribeyes one time for this 20 for $40 things or something. I had to use at least 10 at a time they were PAPER THIN,” recalled a commenter.

“We bought them too,” confessed a second. “Now I specifically warn people not to waste their money.”

BroBible reached out to Backyard Butchers via email and website contact form, and America via email and Instagram direct message.