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Thursday, November 7th
Harry & David, a gourmet gift company with roots tracing back to 1910, has been delighting customers with their premium fruits and gourmet treats for over a century. Founded by two brothers who inherited their father's pear orchards, the company has grown from a simple orchard to a nationwide purveyor of luxury food gifts. Here's a fun fact: Harry & David's signature "Royal Riviera" pears are so named because they're even more delicious and hardier than their French counterparts, originally from the south of France.
148 choices
Harry & David has 148 fruit basket options, so, thankfully, it's easy to sort and filter based on what you're looking for. Click on the filtering options in the sidebar to narrow down your results to baskets containing specific items such as cheese, specific fruits, savory snacks, Moose Munch popcorn, baked goods, wine, chocolate, and more. You can also filter by occasion and price range.
Baskets range from $30 to $1,500
When you land on H&D's website, you'll be offered 15% off your first order in exchange for your email address. Prices start at $29.99 for the All Smiles Sweets & Treats Gift Basket containing butterscotch candy, cookies, butter toffee popcorn, and chocolate truffles. The highest priced basket at $1,499.99 contains absolutely anything a holiday hostess could need to entertain guests in style, including gourmet foods, wines, and a festive wreath. In any basket, you won't have any trouble finding out what's inside. The individual weights of contents are listed, as well as the net weight of the basket. It seems you used to be able to add on extra items to any basket with the "Make It Extra Special” button, but this feature is apparently no more.
No more "Send with SmartGift”
Another feature Harry & David appears to have done away with is SmartGift, which used to allow you to send fruit baskets without knowing the recipient's address. You could notify the recipient via email, Facebook, or text message, at which point they could input their preferred delivery details. The best thing about it was that they could exchange the gift if it wasn't to their liking. We're sad to see it go.
H&D has ruined their reputation
At this point in our research, we began to get a little nervous about what else had changed with Harry & David since the last time we reviewed them, so we took a look at some third-party review platforms. We discovered that Harry & David's reputation has been in free-fall over the past several years. In our previous review, we noted that an uncomfortable-but-doable 20% of their reviews with a third-party review platform were 1- or 2-star reviews. Back then, the complaints were mainly about orders that arrived with rotten produce or poor presentation, but that ultimately, their customer service responded appropriately with refunds and replacements. Now, however, customer service is nowhere to be found.
Real customer stories
One customer ordered 27 fruit baskets 4 months in advance and at the last minute, H&D backed out and canceled their delivery. Not only was no refund granted, the customer was charged twice for the full order. Another customer ordered a basket with lobsters and steaks, which arrived defrosted and warm. They never received the replacement order they were promised. As of this review, 88% of Harry & David's reviews were 1-star reviews. They are now listed with the BBB as "Not Rated”, where they previously maintained an "A-”. (Yikes, H&D. Yikes.)
A bad apple
We're disappointed to report Harry & David's fall from gifting grace. With a staggering 88% of recent reviews being such a low score and numerous reports of unfulfilled orders, spoiled products, and unresponsive customer service, it's clear that the company has lost its way. Given the current state of affairs, we can no longer recommend Harry & David for your fruit basket gifting needs, although they were highly rated with us in the past. Instead, consider exploring alternatives towards the top of our list.
A fruit basket is one of those gifts that can really make someone's day, no matter the occasion. Picture this: your best friend just moved into a new house, and you want to send something thoughtful but practical - something more unique than flowers, but just as special. A fruit basket could be the perfect answer.
Fruit baskets are a fresh, beautiful, and delicious way to show you care - and makes for a quick and easy snack for someone who might not know where their kitchen boxes wound up. Whether it's for a birthday, a thank-you, a sympathy gesture, or just because, sending a fruit basket is a personal way to brighten someone's day with something they can enjoy right away. Plus, it's a great option for the person who already seems to have everything.
But not all fruit baskets are the same. Some companies offer simple, straightforward baskets filled with the basics - think apples, pears, and oranges. Others take things up a notch with gourmet touches like exotic fruits, chocolates, and even cheeses. These added details can turn a basic basket into something extra special.
A basket with perfectly ripe, organic apples and pears might be ideal for someone who's health-conscious, while a basket featuring tropical fruits like mangoes and papayas, along with some chocolate-dipped strawberries, could be perfect for a sweet-toothed friend. With so many options out there, the right choice depends on the occasion, the recipient's tastes, and how much you want to spend.
When shopping for a fruit basket online, keep a few things in mind:
At Top Consumer Reviews, we've done the legwork and evaluated the best fruit basket companies out there. We hope this guide helps you find the perfect service to send a thoughtful, delicious gift that will make someone smile.
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