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Whether you’ve been using an online grocery delivery service for years or you’re a newbie, one thing is true: It saves time in your busy day! Some weeks, it’s tough to keep your fridge stocked with groceries to whip up meals or snacks when you need a quick pick-me-up, especially if you’re a working adult. And if you have kids, packing everyone up and heading to the grocery store is a chore. Luckily, there’s FreshDirect — a popular delivery service with thousands of products you can schedule for delivery. Our design director, Danielle Giarratano, tested FreshDirect to learn more about it. Ahead, read her honest thoughts.
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FreshDirect is an online grocery delivery service that provides customers with meals and boxes packed with their favorite foods and snacks when needed. Launched in 2002 in New York City, its headquarters are in the Bronx, so the food is shipped locally. The brand offers high-quality food by buying directly from farms and providing plenty of organic options and local ingredients.
Shopping is easy on FreshDirect. You begin by filling your car with essential ingredients like milk and eggs; you can add them as you go. The best part? Even though they’re offered, you don’t need a subscription to shop. Reviewers love that the groceries arrive cool and protected in reusable bags and use special padding that ensures that delicate items aren’t broken in transit.
According to our team and hundreds of other reviewers, FreshDirect is worth it. Multiple customers praise the on-time deliveries, top-notch quality of the food, and the products available on the website. “They’re expensive, but quality is always top-notch. They have a lot of prepared foods, which are pretty good, too. Good customer service. In the rare event, I ask for a credit for something, it’s always no questions asked,” a Reddit reviewer shared on a FreshDirect thread.
What makes FreshDirect different? We’re so happy you asked! FreshDirect doesn’t require a subscription. In fact, you can purchase groceries as you need them. The only catch is you have to place a $30 minimum. The grocery supplier does offer a six-month and one-year subscription to ensure you always have your favorite foods. FreshDirect is also different since it uses direct sourcing for products from farmers, fishermen, and producers, “which helps maintain quality and freshness while reducing costs,” the brand says. The products also come in vacuum-sealed packaging so that it arrives at their freshest state possible.
FreshDirect has a variety of pricing options. You can choose a six-month discount, which costs $79 and includes unlimited delivery orders, unlimited reservations, and no delivery fees. You can also choose the one-year membership that costs $129 and offers the same unlimited perks, plus you’ll never be charged a delivery fee. If you don’t want to commit to a subscription, you can always place single orders. Just note that the minimum required to place an order is $30, which includes delivery fees and taxes. None of the subscriptions include driver tips.
Currently, FreshDirect is available in many NorthEast regions, including New York (Brooklyn, The Bronx, Manhattan, Nassau, Queens, Rockland, Staten Island, Suffolk, Westchester), New Jersey (Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Morris, Ocean, Passaic, Somerset, Union), Connecticut (Fairfield), Jersey Shore (summer season only), the Hamptons (summer season only).
Our design director, Danielle Giarratano put FreshDirect to the test. “It was incredibly easy to order things online, the user experience was so simple and if any products were out, they did a great job with recommending new ones,” she says. “There were so many options to choose from, I was honestly surprised! Anything from produce to cleaning and even health and beauty products. It felt like I could have done all of my shopping through FreshDirect.”
She also adds “When I chose a timeslot, they arrived promptly in the morning to drop off my package and we’re very communicative about when it would arrive. I think the only critique I have is that there was no ice pack/cooling agent inside of the box to keep any refrigerated or frozen items cold. I know the point is for you to be home when you receive this box, but if an emergency came up, that would be a bummer to have to discard some items due to them not being refrigerated. Other than that, it was a great experience, and I will absolutely use them again!”
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