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Tuesday, March 19th
The Pemberton Farms Marketplace was established in 1930 as a family-owned fruit and vegetable shop in Massachusetts. Today, the business has evolved as a specialty grocery store, garden center, and supplier of premium gifts.
We like the site upgrades
Pemberton Farms has made some improvements to their online store since our last review. For starters, you can now jump right to the Fruit & Gourmet Baskets page, instead of having to sift through all of their gift options in the hopes of discovering where the baskets are "hiding" . It's also easy to see exactly what kinds of gift baskets are on offer:
Fun options, especially for New England-themed gift baskets
Prices here range from $29.95 to just over $450, though most fall in the neighborhood of $60 to $150. We really enjoy the options in the New England category, a great choice if you're looking to delight someone with some regional classics. For example, the Bay State Abundance gift basket ($239.95) comes with Boston salt water taffy, Myron's dipping dressing and teriyaki sauce, several cranberry-based items, and many other Massachusetts specialty foods.
Shipping costs are extra, and you can't set the delivery date
Just don't forget to factor in shipping costs as you're deciding what to send here. Because this is a smaller, family-owned business shipping directly from their Massachusetts location, your delivery fees will depend on how far the recipient is from their store. For example, on that Bay State Abundance basket we described, sending it to Florida came with a $15.95 "outside New England" shipping rate: not an exorbitant amount, but not the free shipping you might see with a rival store offering a gift basket at that same price point. There are also options for second-day air and three-day select shipping, but Pemberton Farms only lets you select your requested ship date, not the delivery date.
Lacking in personalization
You also won't find much here in the way of personalization or gifting upgrades. During checkout, you can include a message for your recipient and any comments or special instructions, but that's about it.
Your satisfaction is guaranteed
All gift baskets at Pemberton Farms are backed by a 100% satisfaction guarantee. You'll get a full refund or appropriate replacement if you're unhappy for any reason. That's probably a big part of why this company earns an "A+" rating from the Better Business Bureau.
Good reputation
Most of the reviews for Pemberton Farms are related to their brick-and-mortar grocery store, not necessarily their gift baskets and other shippable items. Most people have glowing praise for this retailer, in-person or delivery, with lots of appreciation for the family-owned feel behind everything sold here. We'd love to see reviews on individual gift baskets - there's a place for it on the site, but the majority of the baskets we browsed had none - but we're confident that there's nothing to worry about if you find an arrangement that gets your attention.
A good gift basket retailer showing solid progress
The company has made some noticeable improvements to the online storefront, and the store's reputation and commitment to customer satisfaction is genuine. This is an excellent choice if you'd really like to send a New England-themed gift basket, or if you just like the idea of supporting a family-owned business that's been around for nearly a century.
Gift-giving can be a daunting task. It can be challenging to find the right gift that is both thoughtful and appropriate for the recipient. Gift cards may be an easy option, but they can come across as impersonal and boring.
This is where gift baskets come in. They are beautifully arranged and full of a variety of items that are tailored to the occasion. Whether it's a child's birthday or a colleague's promotion, there's a gift basket for every occasion. Fine wine and cheese? Absolutely! Teethers and burp cloths for your friend's first baby? You got it! There's a gift basket to suit just about any budget, from popcorn tins under $25 to jaw-dropping arrangements priced at $400 and up.
Gift baskets hit all the right notes no matter the occasion: expertly packaged, beautifully arranged, and full of an assortment of the perfect snacks, toys, or other items designed to match the moment. The sky is truly the limit, with budget-friendly gift baskets that might have a small toy and a candy bar for a child's birthday, all the way up to the most decadent, luxurious array of fine wine and gourmet cheese to commemorate a long-anticipated promotion.
However, not all gift basket companies are created equal. Some offer a wide variety of options, including customization down to the color of the ribbon, while others may provide only a few overused basket designs.
Consider these criteria to help you narrow down the possibilities and find the perfect gift basket for your recipient:
To help you find the best baskets for your gift-giving occasion, Top Consumer Reviews has reviewed and ranked the most popular companies on the market. So, the next time you're struggling to find the right gift, consider a gift basket. It's sure to impress and delight the recipient!
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