anybody tried Hello Fresh?

[Kali]

we had Plated for a couple of years, and while it was a little expensive, I really liked it (not the least because the offspring were trained to cook when we got a box ) but they went out of business. after a year of no boxes arriving I told my son we could try something else and we went with Hello Fresh.

the one box we got was pretty good, but man! the delivery and customer service is sure not anything like Plated was. they screwed up our first order and I wasn't too worried because EVERYTHING is weird for us, and it was during that freak storm in Texas (our boxes are coming out of some suburb of DFW), then our first/second box made it OK and it was pretty good, definitely less packaging than Plated and that was good. Now they lost our third/second box already. For soem reason it went to Kansas City and then Tucumcari, and has been sitting in Rimrock AZ since last night. Never got a shipping notice (supposedly should have on Thursday) until this morning, then a few hours later got a notice that the delivery was cancelled due to damage.

I don't like that they have upgrade menu options randomly in the selections so you look at the picture and listing and start drooling and then see that one is 5, 7, 12 bucks a SERVING more than you are already paying! and you pay shipping. and there are too many carrots and potatoes in too many selections LOL

The ingredients and quality were fine to excellent in the ONE box we got, but getting a hold of customer service is wacky and a 3 dollar garlic bread isn't really compensation for losing 2 meal planning days and the hassle of tracking and trying to find out what went wrong.

I was posting this to get opinions but I think while typing it out I have concluded that I am not really wanting to give them any more chances. Thanks anyway!

[Docreed2003]

1. Lol we did...

We signed up and then cancelled after the trial...except they kept sending us a box weekly for like two months after we had cancelled. So, yes, their customer service is the pits.

It's fun. I could see how it would be nice for a couple who were cooking for two and needed the simplicity of the package. At the end of the day, while we loved the recipes, it wasn't something that was cost efficient for us.

[Kali]

3. I can't even get the trial done!

def not cost effective unless I compare with going for take-out. I liked being forced to push my picky-eater tendencies and the slavery aspect of someone else cooking.

these are a GREAT way to train non-cooks/kids. but I think this company is needing some improvement.

[Croney]

2. My daughter has had Hello Fresh for over a year and likes it.

She has three kids and works full-time so it's convenient. She gave us a few free meals and we enjoyed the novelty of it, but would never buy it for just us two old people who eat very simply.

I'm sorry you've had so much trouble with them; I'm surprised those services are still in business at all, given this year of chaos.

[Kali]

4. I think they got even more business this past year

but I'm not having good luck with it myself now. sigh

[Freddie]

5. I'm with you, I can't see myself doing these

I’m retired (watch my granddaughter all day) so I usually have time to cook. DH and I mostly like pretty basic food, he has some dietary restrictions (Crohn's) and I actually enjoy meal planning and grocery shopping. Plus I hear you have to do your own vegetable chopping (the one part of cooking I could do without) so what’s the point. For me anyway. Friends that are more adventurous eaters love Hello Fresh.

[Indykatie]

6. I've Used the Amazon Fresh Option Which is Different than their Whole Foods Option and I Love It n/t

[Kali]

7. I don't have anything like that out here

hell even my nearest (15 miles) Safeway doesn't even do curb service.

[woodsprite]

8. We have had it for the past 4 months.

I like the fact that I can try new recipes and be guaranteed the ingredients. We do 3 meals a week for 4 people. There have been 2 times that the delivery has been right under the wire. One time (during the big east coast snow/ice event) that it didn't get here at all. I called customer service each time. The two times it was late, they gave me a 'bonus' (cookies one time, cinnamon rolls the next). For the time it never arrived, I got a full credit ($126.00). We weren't really happy with our selections last week since everything turned out to be pretty spicy. I don't mind a little spice, so I just cut the measurements in half.

It truly does take 30-50 min. to fix each one so there is not really a time benefit. The benefit for us comes in being guaranteed the ingredients, it lets us try new (almost restaurant quality) menus. I supplement with Instacart for regular needs (lunch fixings, pantry staples, etc.)

So far the only thing we've found that we didn't really like have been their pork chop offerings. They always seem kind of tough. My big takeaway is that sauce is everything in changing up main dishes.

CDL is who delivers in our area NJ-PA-DE. Their package tracking sucks!

[Kali]

10. funny about the pork chops

been trying the whole time to get them, no luck!

[woodsprite]

12. The pork loins have been awesome. Pork chops, not so much. nt

[piddyprints]

9. We tried them.

They’re not nearly as good as Blue Apron. The recipes weren’t as interesting and the customer service sucked. Also, you have to supply things like butter and other ingredients. Our stuff came mushed and leaking and wilted, and all they could say was, “oh well.” Needless to say, we didn’t stay with them for long.

We were with Blue Apron for over a year, but then they made some changes we didn’t like. Now we just cook from the recipes we collected while we were still with them. They had some unique and interesting flavor combinations that we still find surprising and fun. Also, the absolute only ingredient you had to have on hand were olive oil, salt, and pepper. They even sent things like butter and cream. We haven’t ruled out returning to them, but will never try Hello Fresh again.

[Kali]

11. I think I am going to do something similar with the Plated cards we have

and to give myself the little "treat" I will drive a little further to a Safeway that has curbside service. that will be almost like getting a box of ingredients to me.

[Solly Mack]

13. Talked yourself right out of it! Love it! I do that a lot.

Decide while explaining and asking for advice.

I do Imperfect Foods. Weather caused an order to be super late in delivery and they threw the charge out, then gave me a 10 dollar credit as well as free shipping on the next order.

I do it for the vegetables and some specialty items.

30 buck minimum. Cold food arrives cold. Lots of packaging, though. Protects the cold foods and the vegetables.

No recipes, no thrills, but I usually plan out a menu and check weekly with Imperfect Foods for items on my list.

You can skip any week you want to skip and they have a variety of items from meats/deli/plant based alternatives to canned goods. Lots of healthy/healthier snacks. Some items change but the rotating specialties are a treat. You can get quinoa at a decent price as well as lentils and wild rice. Produce is their biggie though. Big on organic, of course but conventional items are also available.

Some items are more expensive and some are less as compared to local items. Some are about the same. But some items are available through shipment that are not available at all here.

Cats love the boxes. DH loves the snacks. I love the goat cheese. My weekly menus are designed for two people and they help me to keep food waste down.

I get the 2 people box of food. You can get more for larger families. Ships from California.

They let you know well ahead of time if something changes with your order. They don't add an replacement and charge you for it either.

I may or may not stay with them long term but I have been pleased so far.

[Kali]

14. I haven't heard of them, will look into it later for sure.

Sounds interesting.

Today I am going for my very first curbside pick up of groceries. I did two orders last year for something at Tractor Supply but it just feels so decadent to me. (I have no life LOL)

[Solly Mack]

15. lol! Love it! One tractor supply place went to "by appointment". Sounds fancier than what actually

happened.

You parked in your time slot. 9AM - Noon. Had an order form placed on your window. Got your form, filled it out and dropped it in a box.

You came back a few hours later to pick up.

Had to have your form in by Noon though.

Except for big items or large quantities. Those took a few days. And those could be delivered or picked up.

Pay information and farm/livestock tax info had to be supplied. All business done by debit/credit only.

They kept all their workers though. Not a single lay-off. No Covid 19 cases either.

This was the smaller mom-pop store. They have a lot of loyalty.

The big name store went online only and curbside pick-up.

[Kali]

16. I'm back and OMG I am hooked!

had to drive an extra 30 miles (one way) but it didn't take any longer than me shopping and I got to listen to NPR and sit on my ass the whole time.

why didn't I start doing this a long time ago????!!!!

[Solly Mack]

17. Imperfect Foods or by appointment shopping? :)

lol

[Kali]

18. safeway curbside

I just looked at Imperfect's website and it looks great, but doesn't deliver to me. close - they do deliver to Tucson but not out to where I am. Oh well maybe eventually. for now I am going to have fun doing my regular shopping on line and driving to have somebody load it in my car! wheeee!!!

[Solly Mack]

19. And I thought I was in the boonies.

Small population in a village but we're close to larger cities.

[Kali]

20. I-10 runs right through the ranch

so technically just about everything goes right by my house, (and there is a Union Pacific line just a couple miles away too) but not all of it stops here LOL

nearest hamlet (where my pobox is) is 6 miles, nearest neighbor is 2, nearest town with like a couple streetlights and actual stores is 15, nearest city is 50+.

[Solly Mack]

22. Sounds peaceful. We bought with no near neighbors in mind.

It's not that we don't like people but it's not too far off the mark.

[ailsagirl]

21. Every time I go on YouTube I see their ads

Thank you for your review. I couldn’t help wondering if all the hype was true - now I know.

[Kali]

23. seems hit or miss, for sure