Great Idea; Problematic Follow Through
Here's the deal: I joined in July and I love the idea and had all of my friends sign up because it was such a great service and deal. This was a glowing, 5-star review. But after months, it's just tough to keep widely recommending them. I docked two stars because they have some deep, deep issues in their communication and delivery. Then another when they took ages to process a refund for a box that never arrived. I believe in supporting local. And since I signed up I have given them a LOT of leeway to work out the kinks in their systems since they are a new company. And I really wanted to keep supporting them because the veggies were very fresh, and it was such a great idea.
My issues are twofold and I docked a star for each:
1. They don't deliver when they say they will. Sometimes it works flawlessly. But I have now spent 6 entire days over the past two months waiting in my apartment for "confirmed" deliveries only to be left on read on WhatsApp with no response, or just not even read even though they're online. They don't seem to realize that sitting in the house for the entire day waiting for something that never arrives is ... frustrating. Then you have to do it all over again the next day to actually receive the box. Both of my friends using the weekly delivery have reported this exact situation as well.
2. The quality seems different. I don't know if they had to adjust the fruit/veg to stay profitable, and I know the seasons have changed, but I receive SO many potatoes—more than one person could possibly eat in a week. In the beginning, there was enough vegetables to last the week, now there are less non-potato veg. And there is a lot more fruit... again, the proportions are just off for a single person and it no longer works well to order a box and be good for the week. Instead I have too much fruit for one person for a week, and I'd be stuck eating potatoes for lunch and dinner to get through them all. Additionally, while you used to receive garlic and ginger and some other great things sporadically in your box, now it really is just some basics and any extra weight they need to fill is filled with potatoes.
So, in short. I can't knock the mission and the company—they are great. When the service works, it's really fantastic. But I reached my limit and sadly will be heading back to my local organic grocer for my weekly shopping.
Update: I docked another star because it took me harassing after a week of no box to issue a refund. They took my money—and they have not responded to my request for delivery of my box, and then for a refund since it never arrived.
I found another company in Barcelona, I Love Food, that offer shorter delivery windows, they show up on time, and the boxes have more variety of actual veg (spinach! cauliflower! green beans!).
August 3, 2020
Unprompted review