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Gift baskets are a lifesaver for people who want to give thoughtful, customized presents without spending hours shopping, wrapping, and coordinating. Whether you're celebrating a loved one's birthday, sending a thank-you gift to a business associate, or expressing sympathy during a difficult time, a gift basket can convey your message with care and creativity.
These curated packages are convenient and personal, solving the common problem of not knowing what to give or how to give it in a way that feels meaningful. Gift baskets vary widely in style, contents, and price, so you have the flexibility to find one that suits your recipient and your budget.
Monday, February 10th
Whether you're a homesick Michigander, gifting to one, or just interested in the finest-quality foods, you should check out Zingerman's gift baskets and boxes available for order online. This Ann Arbor-based business began as a non-kosher deli that started taking shipping orders in 1992 and hasn't looked back. They emphasize that their packaging is done in-house - they're slicing cheese from the wheel before they ship it to you, not grabbing it off the shelf from a distributor's warehouse. If you want to be sure the food you're gifting is fresh, handcrafted, and tasty, Zingerman's is the place to shop.
Compelling branding that demonstrates confidence in their products
When we landed on Zingerman's website, our first thought was "Oh, that's different". Rather than promotional photos of their gift baskets, they represent them with charming illustrations. (Don't panic, though - you can still find photos and videos of some baskets deeper in the product listings.) The descriptions of every one of Zingerman's products sparkle with wit and personality, too. Take their Bacon Club description: "Even vegetarians have joined in: seven to date. That's how many I know personally who've fallen off the bandwagon thanks to the bacons from this club." It's clear that Zingerman's confidently walks their own path rather than following their competitors - because they know their approach works.
Pricing is comparable to competitors
Zingerman's offers over 150 gift baskets and boxes. In general, prices range from $30 to $350 for gift baskets. One of their bestsellers is the "Almost as Good as Grandma's Baked Goods Gift Basket," priced between $120 and $185, depending on serving size. It contains cinnamon raisin bread, brownies, pecan blondies, currant and lemon scones, a variety of cookies, honey, and English preserves. Each item comes individually wrapped and can be frozen for later.
Gift a Michigan-themed basket
There's also the "Made in Michigan Gift Basket” for $175 - a wicker basket filled with American Spoon sour cherry preserves, a Crow & Moss chocolate bar, Koeze's Cream-Nut Peanut Butter fresh from Grand Rapids, and several more made-in-the-"mitten” sweet, savory, and hearty treats.
Find the perfect gift for picky palates
Be sure to hover over the dropdown menu options at the top of your screen so you don't miss categories like "Gifts for Adventurous Eaters”, "Gifts for Picky Eaters”, "Gifts for Major Wow Factor”, or "Gifts for Folks Who Are Hard to Shop For”. The latter category features over a dozen customizable gift baskets filled with snacks, breads, coffee cakes, meats and cheeses, and pastries - and you get to handpick every item that goes into your basket.
Free shipping options, paid 4-day shipping starts at $12.99
Zingerman's generously offers free shipping on dozens of their gift boxes, which makes up for a few of them being a bit pricier by volume than what some other gift basket retailers charge. Their paid shipping options include Four Business Day Relaxed, Two Business Day, Two-Day Saturday, One Business Day, One Business Day Priority, and Priority Overnight Saturday. There are different shipping rates for all of these, and they also depend on the merchandise total of your purchase, starting at $12.99 for four-day and reaching 40% of your total order plus $20 for overnight Saturday delivery. You can read their shipping policy - written in plain, easy-to-understand English - if you're interested in the finer details. Online orders are also available for pick-up from their warehouse in Ann Arbor. At checkout, you can add a gift message up to 600 characters.
Stellar "returnless” policy
Zingerman's has a "Returnless Guarantee”, which means your satisfaction is guaranteed with no strings attached, not even having to send back your gift basket or any of its contents. Whether you had an issue with customer service during the ordering process that led to being sent the wrong item, something was past expiration, or you just didn't like the taste, Zingerman's says they'll take whatever action you would consider making it right - and that they see it as their honor to do so. Your giftee will receive the same treatment. This kind of assurance is a rare gem in this industry, and makes Zingerman's a great choice if you can't afford not to impress the person you're shopping for.
Our top pick
While there aren't many customer reviews specifically about Zingerman's gift baskets online, and their website doesn't feature product reviews, you'll find thousands of glowing recommendations about their delicatessen locations on Yelp and Tripadvisor. They often include customer testimonials within their product descriptions, and with an "A+" rating from the Better Business Bureau, Zingerman's reputation is in great standing. Zingerman's is our top pick for your gifting needs.
As the name suggests, Design It Yourself Gift Baskets offers unparalleled control over every aspect of your gift-giving experience. Unlike mass-produced gift baskets offered by their competitors, they craft each basket to order with carefully-curated items. This Houston-based service doesn't warehouse perishable products, meaning you won't need to worry about accidentally gifting expired food items.
Three ways to create a gift
You'll find three distinct ways to send a gift basket. First, there's the signature "Design It Yourself" option, where you're in control - select your theme, container, and every product that goes inside. Choose from popular themes like Gourmet Enthusiast, Coffee Lover, Tastes of Texas, That's Italian, Chocolate Lover, Golf Enthusiast, Spa & Pamper, New Baby, and Wine Connoisseur. (We do wonder at this limited selection of basket themes - no custom Christmas, Mother's Day, or Birthday-themed DIY baskets?) Since you're the designer, prices vary based on your selections, but you'll see the amount calculated throughout the process. If you prefer a guided approach, try Gift Express - simply set your budget and pick a theme, and let the experts handle the product selection. If you're interested in a quick and simple gift basket, browse their Standard Designs collection of pre-assembled baskets.
Dozens of pre-assembled baskets to choose from
Although the Design It Yourself theme options are somewhat limited, the Standard Designs collection offers an impressive variety. We found gift baskets suited for gardeners, college students, tennis players, summer celebrations, and all major holidays. They even offer gifts for lesser-known occasions like Administrative Professional's Day and Sweetest Day - a 1920s Cleveland tradition started by a candy company employee to distribute sweets and small gifts to those in need. This latter sounds like a marketing ploy by candy companies to sell more candy, but hey - if you're looking for unique or obscure gift baskets, Design It Yourself likely has what you're seeking.
Gift baskets for summer hosting
For example, we were intrigued by the Margarita Craze basket ($99.95), which comes packed with snacks like seasoned pretzels, nut mixes, and a liter of Jose Cuervo margarita mix - perfect for summer entertaining. For the green thumbs in your life, the Bless My Bloomers garden tote ($129.95) combines practicality with treats, featuring stainless steel gardening tools, gourmet snacks, and thoughtful additions like a kneeling pad and sunscreen.
Website needs an update
Design It Yourself Gift Baskets' website would benefit from modernization. While some competitors offer sorting and filtering of all their gift baskets in one place by price, popularity, and contents, this site only allows browsing by category. The gift basket products aren't organized in any discernible order - not by price or alphabetically - making browsing feel random and disorganized. At minimum, price-based categories would be helpful, but currently, you must enter a specific search term to use the price filter to find items within your budget. From what we can tell, their gift baskets start at $50 and can be as expensive as $500, though most fall under $200.
Upgrade the basket's greeting card or ribbon
When it comes to personalizing your gift basket, you'll find plenty of thoughtful options. Your basket will be wrapped according to your chosen occasion, and you can include a heartfelt message with no character restrictions. For an extra special touch, upgrade to a handcrafted greeting card ($7-15) featuring whimsical or elegant designs like pop-up Christmas trees, floral patterns, or even pickleball themes. And, here's a feel-good bonus: all card upgrade proceeds support stray and feral cat protection programs. Want to make it even more personal? Add a satin ribbon with your custom 45-character message for just $8.
Get 10-20% off your first order
The last time we reviewed this gift basket company, Design It Yourself had a Specials & Best Sellers tab where you could find all deals in one place. This no longer exists. They also used to offer seasonal discounts (like $30 off when you spend $200), but we found no such discounts this time. That said, they still offer 20% off your first order - twice as much as many of their competitors. While first-time discount amounts may vary throughout the year, you can typically expect at least 10% off your first purchase.
Next Day Air shipping available
Your Design It Yourself gift basket will be shipped via FedEx or UPS, with shipping rates varying based on the size and weight of your basket. You can choose from several delivery options, including Local Courier (next business day), Ground (3 business days or less), 3-Day Express, 2-Day Air, or Next Day Air. For time-sensitive gifts, they recommend upgrading from Ground shipping since those transit times aren't guaranteed. Residential ground deliveries run Monday through Saturday, while commercial deliveries run Monday through Friday. During peak periods around major holidays like Valentine's Day and Christmas, your order may take an extra business day to ship.
Your satisfaction is guaranteed
Design It Yourself Gift Baskets has a fantastic 100% satisfaction guarantee. If you or your gift recipient aren't completely satisfied, you get to choose how they make it right - whether that's a replacement, refund, or credit. However, you'll only have 3 days from receiving your order to report any damaged or defective items. For product substitutions, they'll replace unavailable basket items with similar ones of equal or greater value, but if the actual basket or container you chose isn't available, they'll contact you to discuss alternatives.
Flawless reputation
You'll be pleased to know that Design It Yourself Gift Baskets maintains an impressive "A+" rating with the Better Business Bureau, where they've been accredited since 2005 without any complaints. Their stellar reputation shines through in countless 4- and 5-star reviews, with customers consistently praising their prompt customer service, beautiful arrangements, and seamless customization process. Real estate agents particularly love using their service for client closing gifts, and appreciate the ability to work directly with a company representative who helps accommodate special requests, allergies, and preferences. Even in the rare instances where customers have raised concerns, the company has gone above and beyond to make things right, even investigating product freshness with suppliers and sending replacement gifts for complete satisfaction.
A great choice
Although we're disappointed not to see the same discounts available from our last review, and we think their website needs a revamp, these are minor concerns. Design It Yourself's pricing is comparable to competitors, but you have much more control over the final gift basket product here. The quality of individual products seems superior, and everywhere we looked, we found evidence that this company genuinely cares about customer satisfaction. They won't blame you if something isn't to your liking - they simply make it right. For these reasons, this company wins second place on our list of gift basket retailers.
Baskits is a woman-owned, Canadian online retailer of gift baskets, in business since 1985. To ensure the best quality possible, they've developed their own product lines of artisanal gift items, including gourmet sweet and savory treats, clothing, baby items, and cooking utensils. They stand out for their high-quality, keepsake containers, a few of which we explore below. Keep an eye out for a pop-up on your first visit advertising 10% off your first order when you sign up for their mailing list.
Easier if you already have some specifics in mind
Baskits' website is a touch overwhelming. It'll help if you already have a basic idea of the kind of gift basket you're looking for. On the homepage, you'll find links to categories that could help you find a baby shower present, a holiday-themed hostess gift, or a basket of gourmet snacks. Otherwise, you can dive in head-first and browse for your gift basket in the "Shop All” category.
Browsing experience could be improved with more filters
Many of Baskits' products are not strictly gift baskets, which is why it would be nice if there was a way to filter by type of gift. As things are, you can only sort by price, popularity, newness, and filter by price range. That said, many of their products would make unique stocking stuffers or "just because” gifts, like a kids' Wordle set for $20, or a "Hangover Helper” kit for $70.
$850 basket comes in vintage-inspired metal trunk
Baskits' gift baskets (and other products) range from $20 to $850. On the high end, you'll find a "Mommy & Me” basket with stuffed toys, baby wash, picture books, and cashmere Jake & Jill items for baby, and a comfy cable knit blanket and cashmere socks for mom. We were intrigued by the Rosedale Gift Basket for its keepsake metal trunk - two drawers open to reveal decadent treats like coconut chocolate truffles, Brazilian coffee, smoked salmon, and assortments of nuts.
Gifts for all occasions
For $170, you might be interested in Baskits' "Picnic Basket”, perfect for a thoughtful anniversary gift. It comes in a gingham-lined, hand-woven willow picnic basket with silverware, glasses, and dishes. Enjoy strawberry jam, caramel truffles, crackers, brie cheese, mixed nuts, and salami. Or, for $85, you could gift the chocolate lover in your life the "Truffle Tower”, containing 150 European-style, mouthwatering chocolate truffles with a variety of fillings. And for $55, you can pamper a friend or loved one with the "Spa Essentials” gift box, filled with relaxing self-care products like a face mask, bath bombs, a foot brush and pumice stone, and more.
Customization options depend on time of year
You can customize any pre-made gift basket by swapping items for an extra $15, or create your own basket from scratch using the Design A Gift service. For orders of 10 or more custom baskets, you'll need to send Baskits an email. During the busy holiday months of November and December, customization is only available for orders of 25+ baskets. Every order includes a free gift message (up to 275 characters), and some baby gifts can be customized with the child's name on plushies or blankets for no extra charge.
Make sure to observe holiday shipping deadlines
When you order from Baskits, you can track your delivery through a tracking number provided in your confirmation email. For U.S. deliveries, expect shipping times of 3-8 business days, with possible customs delays. If you're ordering for the holidays, there are specific deadlines to meet Christmas delivery: December 18 for West Coast and Central regions, December 19 for East Coast, and December 20 for Ontario and the GTA. While you can select a delivery date, it's not guaranteed, and your package might be left with a neighbor or at a safe location if your recipient is not home. Your shipping costs will be calculated at checkout based on the address. For example, the shipping for a $95 basket to Vermont was calculated at $17.31 or $28.84, depending on the delivery date we chose.
15% restocking fee for returns
If you're not satisfied with your Baskits purchase, you can request a refund or exchange by contacting their customer service team. For non-perishable items that haven't been opened and are still in their original packaging, you have 30 days from your order date to return them, but keep in mind there's a 15% restocking fee and shipping charges won't be refunded. They say that due to health and safety rules, you can't return any food products, but several of Baskits' top competitors will refund you for perishable items despite being subject to the same rules.
Customers are happy with the quality of contents
Fortunately, you probably won't need a refund. Baskits has an "A+” from the Better Business Bureau and zero complaints at the time of our review. On another third-party platform, the retailer received a 4.6-star rating from nearly 200 reviews. We were glad to see a good number of reviews with photos: the nature of gift basket services is that you often don't get to compare the advertised product with its real-life counterpart, and your recipient might be too polite to tell you there was something wrong with it. According to these reviews, all products included in the baskets are as "perfect, gorgeous, and high quality” as the website makes them out to be.
Selection makes up for pitfalls
While you might encounter a few minor hiccups with Baskits' website navigation and their 15% restocking fee is steep, the company's reviews suggest you're unlikely to need that return policy anyway. What sets Baskits apart is their impressive range of options - from affordable $20 gifts to luxurious $850 collections - making it easy for you to find the perfect gift, whether you're shopping for a simple thank-you present or an extravagant special occasion. Given their high-quality products, excellent customer satisfaction, and versatile selection, Baskits earns a solid rating in our review of gift basket shops.
Gourmet Gift Baskets is just the place to shop for the perfect gift for the foodie in your life. Here you'll find an array of baked goods, wines, fruits, candies, nuts, and other snacks that aren't typically offered by competing gift basket services.
Shop baskets with free shipping
Gourmet Gift Baskets' website is modern and aesthetically appealing. From the menu at the top of the landing page, you can choose the occasion you're shopping for, or find all their bestsellers in one place. Be sure to hover over the "Gifts By Type” category if you want to look at collections of gift baskets organized by price, by type of recipient, or if you're interested in seeing all of their gift baskets with free shipping.
Baked goods and unique gift ideas
We really like the "Unique Gifts” category at Gourmet Gift Baskets. Where else are you going to find a "Glogg Wine and Mulling Syrup Holiday Gift”, a "Juice Bar Breakfast Basket,” or a "Christmas Grilled Cheese Experience”? Gourmet Gift Baskets also offers a variety of bakery treats in their gift arrangements, like chocolate whoopie pies with vanilla cream, brownies, blondies, cheesecake samplers, and mini bundt cakes.
Best-selling Christmas gift baskets under $50
Gourmet Gift Baskets' prices range from $34.99 for a product like the "Classic Snack Gift Box” to $329.99 for the "Ultimate Happy Holidays Wine Gift Tower”. One of their bestsellers is the "Taste of Christmas Gift Basket” for just $44.99. It contains Cubetti wafer cookies by Fusion Gourmet, chocolate-covered cherries, peanut butter chocolate chip cookies, red velvet cookies, and crunchy caramel popcorn. This gift basket's product listing has over 100 4- and 5-star reviews, most praising the prompt delivery and the tastiness of the contents.
Upgrade your greeting card for $5
This gift basket service doesn't appear to offer customization options like add-on snacks and personal care products or custom ribbons, but each gift basket comes with a greeting card with space for a message 150 characters in length. For $4.99, you can upgrade this card to choose the design and/or upload a photo to be printed inside.
Shipping costs will depend on your circumstances
Gourmet Gift Baskets is one of few companies that guarantees their delivery times for most of the year (excluding the holiday season), and you can track your order from your account. Make sure to read their shipping policy for specific delivery information if you're sending a gift basket to a college, hospital, or business. Shipping costs range from $10.99 to $30.99, depending on the price of your order and the turnaround time you need.
Up to 20% off your first order and volume discounts for corporate orders
Gourmet Gift Baskets offers you 10-20% off your first order. (We saw a pop-up offering 10% on our first visit, and 20% on our second.) They also offer volume discounts for corporate gifting and will assign you a specialist to help you every step of the way in picking out the best gifts for your employees or clients, paying special attention to your industry and your brand.
15 days to request store credit
Gourmet Gift Baskets' return and substitution policies are average. For chocolate-dipped items you're not happy with, they'll replace them free of charge. For shelf-stable items returned within 15 days, you'll get store credit minus shipping costs. However, perishable items that come back undeliverable aren't eligible for credit. Instead, you'll be given 20% off a replacement order. If anything arrives damaged or missing, you can let them know within 15 days for a replacement, but it's not clear if this is a replacement for the whole basket, or just the missing item. Sometimes Gourmet Gift Baskets makes substitutions for items they don't have in stock, so you may not receive a replacement if this was the reason for a missing item.
Balanced picture of customer experience is hard to find
This company has an "A+" rating from the Better Business Bureau, which is commendable. However, their Trustpilot listing needs attention, with 73% of customer reviews being 1-star reviews. These negative reviews cite issues like poor-quality food items - cheap snacks substituted for advertised gourmet products. Other customers report that when they sought help with late deliveries or lost orders, customer service representatives were dismissive about providing refunds. That said, Trustpilot only shows around 30 reviews, while Gourmet Gift Baskets features nearly 17,000 testimonials on their own website. While their self-published testimonials are likely curated to show only positive experiences, and Trustpilot's extremely negative picture may be skewed by the small sample size, the truth - supported by their BBB rating - probably lies somewhere in between.
Needs to improve return policy, but rates well
Gourmet Gift Baskets wins points for their user-friendly website and unmatched variety of gourmet treats, but their return policy gives us pause. Unlike competitors who will overnight a completely new basket if there's any issue, you won't have much recourse here if you're unhappy with perishable items. However, Gourmet Gift Baskets' selection is unmatched when it comes to baked goods, leading us to give them a high rating.
Canterberry Gifts is a family-owned company that has been offering gift baskets since 2018. You can choose from nearly 100 different options, including themed baskets for movie nights, spa days, and game days, along with classic food and fruit arrangements. Whether you're shopping for someone who loves to pamper themselves or a friend in need of a snack-filled care package, you'll find something that fits the bill. Be on the lookout for an offer for 10% off your first order.
Bang for your buck is good, but your favorites might be out of stock
Canterberry Gifts' baskets start at $45.95 and go up to $295.95. The value for money seems better here than some competitors. Take for example the Vanilla-Lavender Luxe Spa Collection, one of their most popular gifts. For only $135.95, you'll get a pair of slippers, a hair towel, various body lotions, gels, and scrubs, sheet spray, bath caviar, and more. We've seen similar baskets going for $200+ on some competitor websites. However, there's one issue: the basket was sold out at the time of our review. So were several other of their most popular options, with no estimate for when they would be back in stock or a way to filter out unavailable items from search results.
Some empty tabs
Another issue we noticed while browsing Canterberry Gifts is that many of their categories are empty. When browsing the Gift Baskets section, you'll find a sidebar listing other categories like Golf, Special Diets, Football, and more. However, several of these categories contain no products, creating a misleading impression of the site's variety. While these empty categories might be placeholders for future products, it's frustrating to click through and find nothing there, especially if you've already gotten excited about hitting a hole-in-one with your gift.
Shipping for $9.95
When you've picked out your gift basket, you can select the shipping date (not delivery date) from the product page and add a custom gift message up to 150 characters. To estimate the delivery date, check the shipping transit map at the bottom of each product page. Orders ship via UPS Ground from New Jersey for a flat rate of $9.95, taking 1-7 days depending on your location. Next-day and 2-day shipping options are available for an additional fee, but they don't ship on weekends or deliver on Sundays. The $9.95 flat shipping rate beats many competitor prices. It's true that you can't choose the exact delivery date, but it isn't a significant drawback - even services that offer date selection often fail to meet their promised delivery times. Plus, Canterberry Gifts provides package tracking, which helps offset any scheduling concerns.
Corporate customization options
While you can add a message to a single gift basket, that's the extent of individual customization options. Unlike some competitors, Canterberry Gifts doesn't create bespoke baskets for small orders. However, they excel at corporate gifts and branded items. They offer hundreds of thousands of promotional products that can be customized to your company's specifications. Their past corporate projects include themed baskets such as s'mores kits, game night snacks, tailgate essentials in coolers, and grilling gift baskets.
15 days for returns
You'll have a pretty restrictive return window at Canterberry Gifts - just 15 days after delivery to send back unopened items. Due to a confusing typo in the policy, it's unclear whether you'll get your money back or just store credit (minus shipping costs). Also, they wash their hands of any responsibility for packages that go missing after delivery.
Good customer service
Canterberry Gifts maintains an "A+” rating from the Better Business Bureau, although they're not accredited. Over on Trustpilot, they have a "Great” 4-star rating average from around 170 customer reviews. Customers say ordering is easy and quick and that the company follows up after gift basket orders arrive to make sure everything is to the customer's satisfaction. Where there were 1-star complaints about products arriving damaged, an employee had followed up with an apology, an explanation, and an offer to make it right - often with a full refund.
Room for improvement, but still performs well
In the past, we've docked a half star from Canterberry Gifts' rating because they don't have a satisfaction guarantee - and this is still the case. While customers can apparently get refunds when things go wrong (based on the follow-ups we found on their Trustpilot page), it would be better to have this policy in writing, especially for large orders. Still, the company offers many gift baskets at competitive prices, and being a smaller, family-owned business means more personalized attention if issues arise. For these reasons, we're giving Canterberry Gifts a good enough rating.
A Gift Inside originated from a family-owned fruit orchard in California established in 1850. The company launched in 2009, specializing in gift baskets filled with their orchard fruits, small-batch chocolates, and hand-dipped chocolate strawberries.
29 baskets in the Gourmet Gift Baskets category
A Gift Inside's prices range from $34.95 to $179.95 in the Gourmet Gift Baskets category, where you'll find around 30 options. Their prices have remained stable since our last review. At the lower end, you'll find the "Chocolate Caramel and Crunch Gift Basket" for $34.95, featuring dark chocolate-drizzled caramel corn, chocolate-covered cherries, almond bark, Ghirardelli chocolate squares, pretzels, and more. This basket has earned four 5-star reviews on the product page - including one from a customer who grew up in a candy store and vouches for the chocolate's high quality. This basket is perfect for the discerning snacker.
$180 for comprehensive sweet-and-savory gift basket
At the high end, you'll find the "Generous Gourmet Market Favorites Fruit Basket." It contains pears, apples, oranges, cheddar, olive oil and flatbread bites, fruit spread, fruit cake, toffee, chocolate-covered cherries, salami, and even smoked wild salmon. This all-inclusive basket had not received any customer ratings at the time of our review.
Search function could be better
Something we found slightly annoying about A Gift Inside's website is that there isn't a way to sort or filter your results for criteria like price, popularity, occasion, or allergens. You can navigate to the categories in the side bar (like Birthday Fruit Baskets, California Wines and Ciders, and Sympathy Fruit Baskets) but we think it would be much more convenient if you could look at everything in one place and narrow it down to the results you want.
10% off and volume discounts
Sometimes, A Gift Inside runs a promotion for 10% off when you sign up for their mailing list. We didn't see this pop-up when we visited the site, but it may be worth seeking out the form and signing up to see if they'll send you a code anyway. If you're gifting more than 15 baskets, be sure to get in touch with their Corporate Sales department for volume discounts and more custom gift options.
Ribbon customization available on some baskets
Let's say you've found the perfect assortment of gourmet treats in the "Merry Christmas Orchard Delight Fruit and Gourmet Basket" but your recipient doesn't celebrate Christmas. You have options. On most of their gift baskets, you can either switch to a plain red ribbon and save a few dollars, or choose a "Happy Holidays" ribbon at no additional cost. There are also messages to convey gratitude, sympathy, or wish someone a happy birthday. At checkout, you can enter a custom gift message up to 300 characters to be delivered with the basket.
Shipping costs $14.95 or $49.95
At checkout, you'll see a date-picker tool with the available delivery dates and shipping prices. Standard, weekday delivery is $14.95, while overnight and Saturday delivery costs $49.95. We can't speak to the accuracy of the dates they give you, as there are few third-party customer reviews of A Gift Inside to be found online.
Substitutions specified in gift basket description
A Gift Inside might make substitutions to your order, depending on availability and seasonality. Make sure to read the description of the contents of the basket if this is something you care about, as they indicate here which items are subject to change and what the replacement will be.
30 days to request a refund
A Gift Inside does not accept returns, as their products are perishable. However, if you're unsatisfied, they say you can contact them within 30 days of your purchase and they'll send you a replacement gift or refund you.
Needs more third-party feedback to be trustworthy
A Gift Inside does not appear to have a Better Business Bureau page. We found a couple of listings for the company on third-party review sites, but these didn't feature any customer reviews. While there are over 100 reviews of individual products on A Gift Inside's "Feedback” page, we didn't see any negative reviews here, so we can't rule out the possibility that A Gift Inside only publishes what makes them look good.
Middle-of-the-road rating for this gift basket service
Given A Gift Inside's limited third-party reviews, relatively high shipping costs, and basic website functionality, we've assigned them an average rating. While they offer an appealing selection of gift baskets with quality products from their historic orchard, the lack of verified customer feedback and filtering options makes it difficult to fully endorse their service. Their transparent substitution policies and customization options are positives, but we'd like to see more independent reviews before giving them a higher rating.
The company known as 1-800-Baskets operates as part of the 1-800-Flowers family. Their collection includes gift baskets for every occasion - from holidays and birthdays to sympathy gestures. The selection features wine gifts, spa packages, baby presents, and fruit baskets. You can get 10% off your first order when you sign up for their emails.
Filter for the perfect gift
You can narrow down 1-800-Baskets' catalog by using their "Find the Perfect Gift” tool. Just enter information about the recipient, the occasion, and your budget to be shown the most fitting baskets of the 250 options available. For example, if you need to congratulate a client on a successful business venture with a budget of $75-$100, 1-800-Baskets might suggest the "Congratulations Fruit & Sweets Gift Basket" at $99.99. This basket includes apples, pears, oranges, caramel corn, chocolate-covered cherries, toffee, and more - all tied with a red ribbon bearing a "congratulations" message.
Add a custom message
1-800-Baskets doesn't allow for quite as much customization as some of their competitors. You can add a "complimentary greeting message” at checkout, which is limited to 29 characters or 3 lines. Not sure what to write? They've helpfully provided a few pre-written suggestions for most occasions, which we can imagine being useful when the right words are hard to find, like when expressing sympathy for the loss of a loved one. (If you're sending your significant other an anniversary or Valentine's Day gift basket, you should probably err on the side of romance and write your own message.)
Shipping between $9.99 and $19.98 with rush options for extra fees
When you order from 1-800-Baskets, your shipping cost will depend on your order total, ranging from $9.99 for orders under $19.98 to 17% of the subtotal for orders over $199.99. If you need faster delivery, you can choose special handling options like 2nd Business Day ($7.99 extra) or Next Business Day ($15.99 extra). Keep in mind that someone should be home to receive the delivery, though drivers may leave packages at the door if no one is present. You can track your order with your order number, your recipient's zip code, and the billing zip code. You should know that we found many customer complaints about gift baskets arriving earlier than requested, late, or not at all.
Items may be substituted
1-800-Baskets says they might occasionally substitute items in your basket with similar components of equal or greater value if needed. It doesn't seem like they allow you any input on what these replacement items will be. If you're not satisfied with the basket your recipient receives, you can call their customer service department to request a replacement.
Satisfaction guaranteed through return policy
If you're not satisfied with your purchase from 1-800-Baskets, you have a 100% satisfaction guarantee. The company promises that both you and your gift recipients "must be delighted” with the purchase, or they'll make it right through either a replacement or refund. If your shipment arrives damaged or there's any problem with your order, you can contact their customer service immediately to arrange for a replacement.
Poor ratings from customers
Under their parent company, 1-800-Baskets has an "A+” rating from the Better Business Bureau. However, they only receive an average of 2.5 out of 5 stars from customer reviews there, and only 1.7 stars out of 5 on Trustpilot. Complaints include orders not arriving, items missing from baskets, and difficulties getting in touch with customer service to rectify these issues - which effectively renders the promises in the satisfaction guarantee moot.
Doesn't compare favorably to alternatives
You might want to explore other gift basket companies that have better customer reviews, more reliable delivery services, and cheaper shipping rates. If you do choose 1-800-Baskets, just be prepared to keep a close eye on your order and be ready to contact customer service if issues arise.
In business since 1977, GiftTree specializes in both corporate and personal gifts. They offer the services of a dedicated Business Gift Advisor for corporate orders. Their selection includes holiday gifts, wine and champagne gift baskets, and fruit baskets.
Gift options between $25 and $300
The gift baskets category here offers 64 different options. If you can't find what you're looking for there, explore other categories like holiday gifts for even more choices. Many of GiftTree's products start at $70, but there are also small gifts like a "Holiday Hug in a Mug Cocoa Set" for $24.95, which comes with a packet of cocoa mix and peppermint bark, or a "Farmer's Market Soothing Soap Trio" for $34.95. The "All the Best Gourmet Gift Tower," costing $69.95, contains Lindor truffles, caramels, popcorn, almonds, hard candies, and more. On the higher end, you'll find the "Veuve Clicquot Tasting Basket" for $299.95, containing brut champagne, chocolates, drizzled caramel popcorn, orange chocolate slices, and sweet and savory nut mixes. The majority of Gift Tree's gift baskets are focused on food items, so if you're looking for a baby shower gift, you'll need to look elsewhere.
Get 15% off - maybe
GiftTree offers 15% off your first order, which seems better than competitors at face value. However, be cautious - many customers report being told at checkout that the advertised 15% discount doesn't apply to their particular order.
Customized ribbons available for extra fee
GiftTree offers fewer customization options compared to its competitors. You can pay an extra $8-$10 for a personalized or "occasion" ribbon for your basket, and at checkout you can add a 240-character message. However, you cannot choose add-ons or swap out basket items to accommodate your recipients' preferences or dietary restrictions.
Shipping costs $17.43 but delivery window isn't very specific
GiftTree charges a flat rate of $17.43 for all shipping. For gifts containing alcohol, there's an additional $4.95 signature fee required by UPS and FedEx per package, and someone over 21 must sign for delivery. You can't select a specific delivery date - instead, you'll receive an estimated delivery window and tracking information. Unfortunately, GiftTree doesn't guarantee arrival times due to potential transit delays, noting that November and December are especially challenging months for timely delivery.
Return policy doesn't cover most of their products
While GiftTree advertises a generous 100% satisfaction guarantee and a 30-day return window for non-perishable items, your actual experience might not match these promises. You can technically return non-perishable items within 30 days for store credit (not a refund), but you'll have to pay for return shipping. Fresh, perishable, personalized, or fragile items (chocolates, fruits, alcohol) can't be returned at all - which, we'll remind you, are the majority of GiftTree's offerings. If you're unhappy with the quality, GiftTree says they'll provide a replacement, credit, or refund - but customer reviews tell a different story. Many customers report being ignored by customer service when requesting returns or refunds, receiving damaged replacements, or getting no response at all to their complaints.
Customers rate them poorly for false advertising and missing orders
Considering their lackluster return policy, it's not surprising that GiftTree is rated poorly by most customers. On Trustpilot, customer reviews average 2.2 stars from nearly 4,000 reviews. Beyond refund difficulties, customers report receiving cheap, fake replicas of advertised high-quality products in their gift baskets, orders that never arrive, and deceptive product descriptions that exaggerate quantities. For example, what appears to be a 2-foot tall tower of candy-filled boxes might arrive much smaller than pictured, with each box containing only a single serving of candy or cookies - quite a disappointment for both gift-giver and recipient.
Can't rate them highly
GiftTree has significant room for improvement before we can give them a higher rating. The high volume of customer complaints and their limited product range (focused mainly on food gifts) are concerning. We think it's a little silly that most of their products aren't even covered by their satisfaction policy. This makes it difficult to recommend them for a satisfying gift-giving experience. Neither you nor your gift recipient is likely to be impressed with their service, which is why we're giving them a lower rating.
The Gift Basket Store is part of the Tenth Avenue Commerce brand family, but there's not much additional information about its background that we could find (and that's already not off to a great start for this gift basket company).
Kosher gift baskets available here
The Gift Basket Store's website is pretty generic. You'll be able to find all the typical categories and occasions - type of gift basket, birthday gifts, holiday gifts, wine gifts, corporate gifts, and so on. The only thing that slightly stands out is that they have a kosher gift basket category. While we couldn't determine the precise number of unique gift baskets they offer, you won't run out of options.
Website needs optimization for better usability
This gift basket website is a bit hard to shop. We wanted to know the price range of their gift baskets, but the sorting feature didn't work and there were no filters. So, if you only want to see gift baskets within your budget, you're out of luck. Also, when you click into some product listings to view more images or read the product listing, the product photo disappears.
Prices are decent
You can expect gift basket prices to start around $60 and reach $290, which makes this gift basket service one of the lower-priced in our review. Gift Basket Store's most popular gift basket is the "Delightful Meat & Cheese Gourmet Basket" for $109.98. It contains biscotti, crackers, a chocolate bar, cookies, almonds, cheese straws, beef summer sausage, and a few other goodies. If you have a bit more budget, you might be interested in the "Party Pleaser Gift Basket" at $246.85, containing English Tea, brownies, cookies, vanilla sea salt caramels, fruit-filled pastries, paprika and garlic rice crisps, pastries, and more. It comes in a striped blue and white basket with a complimentary bow.
Smaller gifts, including plants, under $60
If your budget is under $60, or if you've found the perfect gift basket but want to add a little something extra to really spoil your giftee, The Gift Basket Store also has smaller offerings, like chocolate-covered Oreos and baked goods, plush toys, and even plants like potted orchids, succulent gardens, and poinsettias.
No discount on first order
While virtually every other gift basket retailer we've reviewed offers a discount of at least 10% off your first order, we weren't greeted with an equivalent offer from The Gift Basket Store. The only discount you'll qualify for is $25 off orders of $199+ when you order in bulk.
Limited customization
Gift baskets from this online store are not highly customizable. As far as we can tell, the only personal touch you can give your order is a personalized message to be printed on a card - you can't choose the design of said card, add a customized ribbon, or swap out individual items. If these things are important to you, you'll need to pick a different store.
Same-day delivery available
The Gift Basket Store is pared down in several areas, and that includes their shipping policy - which isn't a bad thing. Instead of charging you based on the weight of your gift basket or its dollar amount, they charge the same flat rate on all of their products, starting at $8.99 for 5-8 day economy delivery and reaching $19.99 for same-day shipping or to choose a specific date in the future.
Refunds not likely for quality issues
While The Gift Basket Store offers a "100% Satisfaction Guarantee," you might want to read the fine print carefully. Their refund policy seems to focus mainly on delivery issues - if your basket arrives late or doesn't show up at all (and it's not your fault), you'll get your money back. They openly state they may substitute items with something "of equal or greater value and similar theme", but there's no clear mention of what happens if you're unhappy with the actual quality or contents of what you receive.
Not much talk about The Gift Basket Store
As far as we could tell, The Gift Basket Store isn't registered with the Better Business Bureau, and the Trustpilot listing only has one review. However, when digging through their FAQ, we discovered that all orders are fulfilled by their vendor, Capalbo's - which maintains a perfect "A+” grade with the BBB. Unfortunately, we couldn't find customer commentary about the vendor brand, either, so it's impossible to determine the quality of The Gift Basket Store's products. We also can't tell you much about what dealing with customer service is like.
Do your shopping somewhere else
We think you have better options than The Gift Basket Store. We weren't wildly impressed by any of their offerings, nor can we place much trust in their commitment to your satisfaction should you decide to order from them. We'd recommend checking out one of our top gift basket retailers instead.
Established in 1910, Harry & David was once a renowned gift-giving service, offering hundreds of gift options - from charcuterie baskets to flowers, fruit baskets, baked goods, and monthly clubs. However, since becoming part of the 1-800-Flowers family, longtime customers have noticed a steep decline in their service quality, which we'll explore in this review.
Over 450 gift basket options
With nearly 500 gift baskets, boxes, and towers available, you'll want to use the filters to narrow down your search. You can filter by occasion (birthday, sympathy, thank you, get well, anniversary), container type (box, tower, crate, basket, tin, tray), contents, and price range. There's also the "Find the Perfect Gift" tool that helps you select gifts based on the recipient (family, friend, coworker, him, her) and your budget.
Gifts from $30 to $1,500
Prices range from $30 for the "All Smiles Sweets & Treats Gift Basket" (filled with chocolate-covered pretzels, wafer cookies, popcorn, and confetti cake batter cookies) to $1,499.99 for the luxury "Spectacular Gourmet Gift Basket with Wine" (featuring an eye-popping assortment of wines, fruits, meats, crackers, cheeses, candies, chocolates, olives, spreads, and snack mixes). Their most popular item is Harry's Gift Box at $59.99, which includes 4 pounds of pears, popcorn, sharp white cheddar cheese, smoked summer sausage, mixed nuts, and crackers.
Seasonal deals plus 15% off your first order
When we visited Harry & David's website, we were greeted with an offer for 15% off our first order and a banner advertising a buy one, get one 50% off seasonal deal.
Additional fees may apply to shipping charges
Standard shipping (4-7 days) costs $8.99 for orders up to $15, increasing to 17% of your order subtotal for orders over $150.01. There are quite a few additional charges for things like club subscription shipping, express shipping, PO boxes, and wine deliveries. If you're on a tight budget, you should review the shipping information carefully and note holiday shipping deadlines to avoid costly surprises - one customer reported shipping charges that amounted to 40% of her total order.
Return policy is just for show
Harry & David's return policy is difficult to locate, and when found, it's suspiciously brief and vague. The entire policy consists of one sentence: "You and those who receive your gifts must be delighted, or we'll make it right with either an appropriate replacement or refund." It's followed by a direction for customers to contact them online, but if you've read any recent customer reviews, you'll understand how much of a joke this is. With customer service now outsourced overseas, reaching a representative has become nearly impossible. One customer even said that the chat system has no queue or estimated waiting time - miss your moment on screen, and you'll lose your chance to connect.
Your order won't look like the photos
And the likelihood of experiencing issues with your order is high. On Reddit's "r/ExpectationVsReality," we found a post showing a diaper cake baby gift basket that bore little resemblance to the advertised photo - commenters joked that it looked like a Temu product, with the advertised adorable plush teddy bear and keepsake brush replaced by what appeared to be a carnival toy and dollar store brush. Other customers complain that portions of edible items are ridiculously small, with excessive cellophane and straw packaging seemingly used to mask the minimal quantities.
Earns their low rating
We would urge you to think twice before ordering gift baskets from Harry & David. While they once maintained a solid reputation with mostly high ratings on Trustpilot, their current standing tells a different story - a baffling 89% of their 1,000 recent reviews are now 1-star. Customers have reported products arriving looking drastically different from advertised photos, unannounced delivery delays for monthly fruit subscriptions, orders that never arrive, and perhaps most alarming, instances of double-charging with slow refund processing. Add to this an almost unreachable customer service team, and you're looking at a risky shopping experience, especially during the holiday season when you can't afford to have your money tied up in disputed charges.
Some are filled with gourmet foods like artisanal cheeses, chocolates, and wine, perfect for foodies or a romantic celebration. Others focus on themes, such as pampering spa products for a relaxing treat or practical items for new parents. While a few gift basket retailers allow you to create custom baskets, all offer pre-designed options for most occasions.
Not all gift basket companies are created equal, so it's important to be aware of differences in quality, delivery options, and pricing. Some gift basket services specialize in high-end offerings with luxury packaging, while others focus on affordability and practicality. Still others masquerade as high-end, baiting-and-switching customers with dollar store products instead of the gourmet treats they advertise. It can be hard to tell what kind of company you're dealing with on appearances alone, so it's important to look at what their past customers have said about them online.
When shopping for gift baskets online, keep the following considerations in mind to make sure both you and your giftee have a good experience:
To make your gift-giving experience easier, Top Consumer Reviews has evaluated and ranked the best gift basket companies available online. Whether you're looking for something elegant, practical, or whimsical, we hope this review helps you find a service that meets your needs and makes your gifting experience stress-free and memorable.
The giving of gift baskets can be traced to ancient Greece. In 19th-century England, gift hampers were routinely delivered by hand to denizens of the country by visitors from London. These English offerings were meant to denote a degree of sophistication on the part of the giver, offering as they did products and wares country dwellers were hard pressed to find. They might even have included novelties and delicacies from the reaches of the British Empire.
Today, gift baskets are enjoying a healthy resurgence stateside. Why are gift baskets so popular? Their variety, versatility, and visual appeal render them a welcome offering to friends, family and acquaintances on most any occasion.
Variety and Number
Since a gift offering is nearly always appreciated, as an offering of multiple gifts -- neatly packaged in a single container - it is a can't-lose proposition. Offering more than one gift at a time can result in a sharing of the gift with friends of the recipient -- a move that cannot fail to boost your reputation. This strategy can be very effective with gifts of food, flowers,
and even non-food themed gifts. A small business owner's sharing an office gift basket is de rigueur, almost cliche.
But think of how the baby goods gift basket you offer to a friend might be shared with other new moms. A themed gift basket to a knitting or crafting hobbyist, for example, might be shared with an entire crafting circle. Similarly, a bowling-themed basket might end up benefiting an entire league team. Of course, the more thought you put into the content of the basket, the more suitable the design and conception, the better.
Adaptability
In an age where business and personal friendships are formed via various types of media -- where your best friend forever might be an Internet acquaintance you have never met -- gift baskets make an ideal choice. For one thing, they can be as personal or as impersonal as you like. For a new business client, a basket of wines that are generally judged to be of good quality is perfectly
suitable. For your spouse or significant other, a basket filled with items that suit her tastes - right down to brand, flavor and color -- strikes just the right note of intimacy, indicating a high degree of interest and attachment on your part. Indeed, gift baskets come in such variety and are formulated with such creativity that they can make ideal gifts for everyone from newborns to centegenarians, from new neighbors to the dearest of friends.
Visual Appeal
Even the English gift hampers of yore were generally decorative standouts. Gift basket packaging has only gained in visual elegance since then. Many purveyors continue to offer basket-like containers adorned with colorful shrink wrap. But more originally designed offerings are truly on the rise. For example, some specialty retailers package gifts in reusable containers -- perfectly
in
line with the eco-consciousness of the moment. Other companies have been known to employ containers of stoneware or earthenware for a rustic feel. Glassware and clear polycarbonate material offer the recipient an easy view of what's inside. Decorative materials may include anything from burlap and jute to satin, silk, and crystal.
Gift baskets are projected to grow in popularity through the next decade. Whether you are shopping for intimate friend or brand new acquaintance, there's sure to be a selection that is perfectly appropriate.
Select any 2 Gift Basket Companies to compare them head to head