Are you a fan of food, what about seafood? If so, then you might want to consider getting it delivered straight to your door. There are lots of different companies that will provide this service but one of the best in Maine is Maine Lobster Now. The company provides a lot of unique benefits to clients who love delicious seafood whether it’s live lobsters or even oysters.
Who Are Maine Lobster Now?
Maine Lobster Now is a company that was founded back in 2012, in Saco, Maine. They predominantly work with seafood, specializing in lobster, but they also have a handful of other offerings for their customers to explore.
They are an overall ethical, and sustainable business, working hard to maintain the high standards that they began with all those years ago, and continue to supply the people of Maine, and the world, with fantastic seafood.
What Do They Offer Their Clients?
Maine Lobster Now provides a lot of different services to their clients. This includes:
- Live lobsters, lobster tails, and various seafood (clams, mussels, etc.) via an online store
- Shipping to regions across the U.S., offering (for orders over a certain threshold) free overnight or “next‑day air” shipping from Maine.
- Bulk orders for restaurant supplies
- The company uses ocean‑salt water in their lobster tanks and filter systems to keep the lobsters alive and healthy
- Seafood is wild‑caught (for lobsters), antibiotic free, and hormone free
What Did We Like About Maine Lobster Now?
There are many positives to Maine Lobster Now, with one of them being that they are able to handle bulk orders, making them available for both business owners, and non-business owners alike. As such, if you’re buying for yourself, you’re covered, and if you’re buying for an event, you run a restaurant, or you just want to make a really big order, Maine Lobster Now have got your back.
We also liked the fact that you are able to easily order online. A lot of people find online shopping to be a tiresome pain in the behind, but that is not the experience you will have with this company. You can order from them directly, and they ship with next-day shipping, ensuring your order stays as fresh as possible.
Something that sets them apart from the other companies especially if the fact that they offer live lobster shipping with the lobsters in good condition upon arrival. This is a difficult task to complete, as generally if you live in-land or nowhere near the coast, you won’t be able to get this.
Speaking of condition and quality, this is another pro point for this company. There have been many reviews previously praising them for their incredible products and the freshness at which they were delivered.
Maine Lobster Now also has a large focus on traceability and sustainability, so you know for sure that all of your lobster came from Maine. On top of that, sustainability is a huge plus for this company, especially from those people who are concerned about their shopping habits relating to the environment.
We also liked the fact that the website doesn’t simply focus on the products that it provides, but also provides inspiration. There are recipes on Maine Lobster Now’s website, allowing you to get some fresh ideas for your fresh seafood, which we think is fantastic.
What Did We Dislike About Maine Lobster Now?
As with any other company, there are of course downsides. Maine Lobster Now deals with the delivery of live lobsters so you run the risk of dead crustaceans arriving at your door. There are many cons to ordering from this company and here are just some of the reviews that previous customers and clients have mentioned.
There have been several reports of live lobsters not being delivered ‘live’ and the smell isn’t well received at all. Customers then can’t use these lobsters so they just have to throw them away. This isn’t only a waste of lobsters but a waste of clients money as well. Be aware when ordering from Maine Lobster Now that your delivery might not be great when you get it.
Leading on from the previous point, when customers have issues with orders they often contact the company for a full refund or return. Being a company that deals with perishables and live food, returns aren’t accepted. However, customers will likely be offered a coupon or money off the next order. Quite a few will have problems with this and have commented on this, they would prefer to be taken seriously and offered more compensation.
When a business is listed as not resolving complaints and issues with customers then you could be put off from ordering. Nobody wants to deal with a company that doesn’t seem to care about client wellbeing, especially when live lobsters are being delivered. Food poisoning is a real risk here, and Maine Lobster Now has been cited as having the worst customer service ever.
While the business highlights “wild‐caught” and “responsibly harvested,” it’s worth noting that the Maine lobster fishery has faced sustainability certification issues. So if you are buying for sustainability pedigree, this may require deeper checking.
Another issue to be aware of is the cost of this service. While you might think that this solution is going to be priced to remain competitive, this isn’t quite the case. In reality, the cost of their services, particularly ordering live lobster and similar possibilities is always going to be quite expensive. This is something that you should absolutely think about if you are running a small business.
One final issue that has been reported on is the claims process. If there is anything wrong with the lobsters received then buyers must report this within four hours of receiving. This is an incredibly small window and not everyone has the time to do this.
Our Overall Opinion
Ultimately, Maine Lobster Now is a great company that focuses on delivering high quality services and the best seafood straight to your door. While there are certain issues to be aware of here, including questions regarding sustainability, ultimately, it’s always going to deliver significant benefits that you absolutely want when choosing a solution like this.
