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The Lobster Guy Review
Saturday, May 18th
2024 Lobster Company Reviews
The Lobster Guy
- Prices range from $13.99 to $312.99
- Custom gifts available
- Local fishing
- Owner is a fisherman himself
- Ships through UPS
- "A" rating and accreditation with the BBB
If you're looking for a mom-and-pop style lobster store, The Lobster Guy is the best one out there, promising the freshest live Maine lobsters and more. Founded by Captain Tim Handrigan, a seasoned fisherman, The Lobster Guy has been delivering exceptional quality and service for over 18 years. With a diverse selection of shellfish, sea scallops, and shrimp, this store could be your next go-to for great prices on overnight-shipped lobsters. Their award-winning clam chowders, bisques, and appetizers are also a hit. The best part? The Lobster Guy promises that you'll find the lowest prices for live, hardshell lobsters delivered to your door.
The site design gets a "yikes" from us
When you stumble upon The Lobster Guy's website, it may not immediately strike you as the most polished or refined online store in the shellfish market. In fact, you might even question its legitimacy: the website is downright alarming from a design perspective. If using a website that has easy navigation is a must-have, be warned, The Lobster Guy's web experience is extremely outdated, and it's difficult to find what you need among the cluttered text, multitude of fonts, and banner ads plastered across the site. On top of that, with no built-in filters you can't narrow down the options while you're shopping. This was most frustrating when trying to organize the products by price or by size, which would have been helpful to have integrated into the website.
Competitive lobster and dinner prices
In order to compare prices for the different lobster stores in our review, we examined three products at each vendor. We looked at the prices for lobster across the site, the prices for a non-lobster product, and the price for any packages or bundles. The Lobster Guy offers an extensive selection of fresh lobsters, but they specialize in Maine Lobsters, so we checked out the pricing on those listings. Prices start at $24.99 for one lobster to $561.99 for 24 lobsters. As for a non-lobster option, The Lobster Guy offers chowders and bisques, shrimp, and scallops. For the price comparison, we looked at the chowders and bisques which range in price from $13.99 to $40.99 depending on what size of soup you purchase. The Lobster Guy's boxes include just multi-packs of lobsters (from 1-24 individual lobsters), and they also have "Lobster Dinners" . The pricing for the dinners ranges from $107.99 to $312.99. These prices are very competitive for the amount of lobster you receive.
Locally caught
Local is the best part of The Lobster Guy, if you're looking for a place that is family-run and owned by a real fisherman. Captain Tim Handrigan isn't the usual business owner: he's connected to the fishing process personally and only brings in the best lobsters for shipping. Promising the best quality every time, The Lobster Guy does provide high quality for a competitive price, and that's a fact.
Custom gifts available
Of course, you can send anything on the site as a gift, but The Lobster Guy takes it one step further to make it even easier: on every product listing is a checkbox that says, "send this item as a gift certificate". If you're not sure when would be a good day for your lobster to arrive, this is a great way to delight your lucky recipient - without giving them the scare of opening a surprise delivery containing a live animal (or, on the less interesting side, you want to make sure they're home to receive the package, so they can get it into the fridge, freezer, or cooking pot). On top of this, you can contact The Lobster Guy directly to get a custom box or meal organized and shipped as a gift.
Shipping is unlisted on the site
The Lobster Guy notes that they do not offer free shipping, but they are completely transparent about the total costs. They use UPS shipping and ensure that all orders within the continental United States are shipped via UPS for overnight delivery, ensuring prompt delivery to the designated recipients or customers themselves. However, there aren't any listed shipping prices on the website until you get through the checkout prices, and the shipping varies depending on location.
No stated guarantee
To address damaged products, it is necessary to provide photographs of both the damaged item and its packaging. If a package experiences transit delays due to a weather event designated as an "Act of God Clause" by UPS, no refund or reshipment can be issued, as long as the contents of the package remain cold. For any other issues with the package, The Lobster Guy can arrange a refund or reshipment for the specific item(s) in question. However, they don't list any specific guarantee to this effect.
Missing sustainability info on site
One place where The Lobster Guy doesn't compete as well is sustainability (or at least on providing details). While they may be using sustainable lobster-catching practices, there aren't any specific statements to that effect on the Lobster Guy website that we could find. There was a single link to the Maine Lobstermen's Association which "Advocates for a sustainable lobster resource and the fishermen and communities that depend on it," however no particular notices on how The Lobster Guy itself is working sustainably.
Reputation has fallen recently
In terms of customer satisfaction, The Lobster Guy used to be at the top of the pack. However, in recent years, their reputation has lowered slightly. While there are still rave reviews from customers who have trusted him with their most special occasions, knowing that everything would arrive fresh and exactly on time, there are now more and more complaints stacking up. Across the board, The Lobster Guy only has a 3-star average rating from third-party websites.
Customer feedback
Some customers complained about dealing with customer service representatives who "didn't care" about their concerns. Others were blocked from making complaints on the Lobster Guy website. On the other hand, The Lobster Guy's listing with the Better Business Bureau is still fairly high. While it has gone down from an "A+" to an "A" rating, the company still has excellent standing with the BBB, which may be good to keep in mind against the other negative reviews out there.
Best prices available
While there are a few things we don't love about The Lobster Guy, specifically the poorly built site, this remains a highly competitive retailer for getting you or your loved ones a lobster treat. With an owner steeped in the fishing industry as well as a guarantee to have the lowest possible prices for live, hardshell lobster online today, The Lobster Guy is a fantastic place for your next lobster fix. With the website and reputation taken into account, we can't give this retailer our top spot, but it's still worth a high place in our reviews.
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Where Can You Find the Best Lobster Stores?
Whether you're a lobster aficionado, or someone who simply relishes a delectable shellfish feast, finding a trustworthy online lobster store can feel hard to do. Modern lobster catchers offer tons of options, including live lobster, lobster tails and meat, lobster rolls, and even fun extras like chowder, bisques, or steaks for a surf and turf dinner.
Exploring the diverse array of lobster stores is made easy with the convenience of online shopping, enabling you to peruse and select from the comfort of your own home. While some people worry about buying something like lobster online, with next-day shipping practices it's now much easier to get lobsters from the ocean to your table with no risk of spoiling.
Lobster Company FAQ
Continued from above...
Shopping for seafood online offers distinct advantages in terms of freshness and quality. Reputable vendors prioritize the freshness of their products through rigorous quality control measures, often sourcing their shellfish directly from fishermen or sustainable fisheries, thereby embracing a farm-to-table ethos. Moreover, online lobster stores frequently provide access to rare or specialty dishes that may not be readily available locally, granting you the opportunity to indulge in exceptional culinary experiences.
Lobster holds a special place in the hearts of many. Considered a high-end meal with tons of options out there for species and preparation, lobster is a culinary masterpiece. With a vast assortment of products, online lobster stores enable you to explore a diverse range of species and savor novel flavors or combinations. And not only can you enjoy lobster in your home regardless of where you live, but most stores also allow you to send gifts of lobster treats to your loved ones too.
For those who are thinking about sustainability, don't worry. Sustainability plays a crucial role in the lobster industry, ensuring the long-term viability of this beloved seafood. Lobsters are a valuable marine resource, and responsible practices are essential to maintain healthy populations and protect the ecosystem. The industry has implemented various sustainability measures, such as size limits and trap limits, to prevent overfishing and promote the growth and reproduction of lobsters. Additionally, the best lobster stores online are making efforts to minimize bycatch and protect sensitive habitats.
With an abundance of online lobster stores to choose from, making a decision can be overwhelming. If you're unsure where to begin, fret not. We're here to assist. Here are some factors to consider that will help you select the best online lobster store to meet your specific needs:
- Price. Price is a significant consideration for many individuals when it comes to shopping for lobster. Already considered a premium seafood, the affordability of lobster can determine how much you can buy and how often you can enjoy it. Being mindful of your budget and extra costs like shipping or paying for live lobster helps you decide which retailers have the best price for your wallet.
- Variety. Are you just looking for some lobster tails? Or do you want lobster shipped live to cook yourself? Do you want extras like chowders or maybe a surf and turf meal? It's important to look at the kind of variety offered by lobster stores and make sure they have what you want for your meal.
- Shipping. Shipping is a two-pronged issue for lobster. While you want to make sure you're not paying hundreds of dollars for shipping, it's also very important to balance the shipping price with how fast you can get your live or perishable lobsters. Keep an eye out for shipping policies that have a satisfaction guarantee.
- Sustainability. For those customers who prioritize sustainability, it is advisable to assess the eco-conscious practices of the lobster store you are considering. Pay attention to the specific measures they take to emphasize sustainability within their business framework. See if they have certifications or partnerships with sustainability-focused institutes.
- Customer satisfaction. Customers aren't 5-star chefs or lobstermen (unless you're very lucky) but the average customer can provide clear insight into a company's practices. Keeping an eye on verified reviews can help you decide which companies do what they promise and really prioritize customer satisfaction.
To make your next gourmet meal a real catch, Top Consumer Reviews has evaluated and rated the best options for lobster stores on the market today. Hopefully, this helps you enjoy your shellfish fix and focus on deciding just how many lobster rolls to buy for your next family cookout!
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