Our reviewers evaluate products and services based on unbiased research. Top Consumer Reviews may earn money when you click on a link. Learn more about our process.

Gift Tree Review

Sunday, February 16th

2025 Meat and Cheese Basket Reviews

Gift Tree Review 1 Star Rating

Gift Tree

1 Star Rating
  • Over 25 gift basket options
  • Prices range from $59.95 to $250+
  • Discounts offered
  • Reasonable standard shipping
  • 100% satisfaction guarantee

Gift Tree started in 1997 out of a small apartment in Key West, Florida. Craig Bowen and his wife Esther Diez wanted to start an online company, and they landed on the idea of an online gifting service. They went viral that same year when Yahoo featured them on their website, and in the early 2000s, the founders wanted to see the company fill a need in the corporate world by selling a gift service that was specifically tailored to corporate gifting. In the 2020s, Gift Tree seems to have shifted its focus from corporate gifting to affiliate marketing and average consumer gifting, despite the challenges they faced.

Limited options

In the past, Gift Tree had more selections to choose from. Selections are basic, with a large number of customers saying that no matter what is pictured, substitutions are inevitable. Others say that in many cases, items are just missing. Customers also almost universally agree that the basket you get will not look like the one pictured on the website, if it even arrives at all.

Best Meat and Cheese Baskets

Reasonable standard shipping, but limited

When purchasing some of the best selling meat and cheese gift baskets, we found that the standard shipping rate of around $18 was not unreasonable. There are only certain dates with standard shipping available, however. Expedited and next-day delivery were much more expensive, and any shipping to arrive on a Saturday was exorbitant. Based on what we found, we wouldn't recommend paying for a specific date of arrival, as there is a very high probability it won't arrive on time, will arrive too early, or it won't arrive at all.

Website is incomplete, no social media updates

Gift Tree completely revamped the website in 2021, yet its FAQ page is still in development. With "lorem ipsum” text filler and the answers to every question being cut and pasted copy, we wonder why this isn't complete. At the time of this review, the Facebook and Instagram channels had not been updated in over a half a year. This does not engender a lot of confidence in the Gift Tree website. As an exclusively online retailer, social media channels and the website should be updated regularly.

Discounts offered

Gift Tree consistently offers pop-up discounts. Unfortunately, many customers report that they won't honor the discount when they try to apply it at checkout. Worse, some customers believe they have gotten a discount at checkout and then get charged full price.

Satisfaction guaranteed

Gift Tree claims a 100% satisfaction guarantee but is vague about what that actually means. The returns policy is basically a store credit policy. No actual refunds are given, just store credit minus shipping. We weren't really thrilled about this policy, considering that most complaints are about missing baskets, subpar quality of food, or baskets that are misrepresented on the website. With only a store credit, it doesn't compensate the customer if it is a quality issue or an issue with misrepresentation, especially since the customer is covering shipping for a company error or shipping mishap.

Best Meat and Cheese Baskets

Viscerally angry customer complaints

When reading about Gift Tree customer experiences, we were pretty surprised at the high level of actual anger consistently expressed. Customers were not only left feeling scammed with a high level of misrepresentation, but when they finally did get to talk to a customer service representative, they said they were treated with no respect and, in some cases, hung up on.

A gift basket company to avoid

Gift Tree's past is built on an idea to give high-quality gifting services to clients, but somehow that has been replaced with misrepresentation of products, shipping delays, missing packages, overcharges, rudeness to customers, and more. We sadly can no longer recommend Gift Tree as an option for meat and cheese gift baskets. We suggest looking at other options that we've reviewed for a great gifting experience and hope that positive change will come to Gift Tree in the future.

Where Can You Find the Best Meat and Cheese Gift Baskets?

Gift-giving can be a daunting task. With the trending popularity of charcuterie boards, a meat and cheese basket can be the perfect gift. After all, whether for a birthday or client celebration, there's a meat and cheese gift basket that will cover it.

Valentine's Day? There is a meat and cheese basket that comes with chocolate and wine. What about a romantic gift for your husband? There are heart-shaped boxes full of laser-engraved hearts for him. Additionally, a variety of gift baskets are available to accommodate any budget, ranging from under $25 to extravagant arrangements priced at $400 and beyond.

The Best Meat and Cheese Baskets Compare Meat and Cheese Baskets Compare Meat and Cheese Basket Reviews What are the best Meat and Cheese Baskets Best Meat and Cheese Basket Reviews

Meat and Cheese Basket FAQ

Most meat and cheese baskets also contain savory accompaniments like nuts, olives, dried fruits, and more. They are basically charcuterie in a basket. There are even vegetarian options! In recent years, charcuterie boards have entered the market and have been wildly popular and aren't going away. There truly is a charcuterie for everyone's taste - and everyone loves a charcuterie board. It's a great gift idea!
We recommend looking for baskets according to the event you are commemorating. You can also base your choice on what the recipient prefers. If you can't find exactly what you're looking for, most companies offer add-ons and customization, so the possibilities are endless!
The most popular type of meat and cheese basket is a truly gourmet offering of exclusive meats and cheeses combined with a few sweet treats. Look for brands that you can't find at your local market.
Yes! You can add a special note, hide the cost, and many companies also offer an option to include a personalized card with the order. A few companies offer an instant e-card, so your recipient knows to look out for a gift basket!
Absolutely it is! Meat and cheese gift basket companies agree that wine is a great pairing and offer wine add-ons or include wine in their baskets. You will be charged a small fee, and someone 21 or older must be present to sign for the delivery.
One of the main advantages of purchasing a meat and cheese basket is there is a basket for every budget! Expect to pay as little as $30 up to thousands of dollars for luxury baskets.
That depends on the vendor you select. Some companies offer a selection of "shipping included” baskets, if you're looking to save a bit of money.
The only limitations that may occur are the gift baskets that contain alcohol: there are certain states that don't allow delivery of wine. Most companies allow for international delivery, but some require certain ways to place orders for international delivery.
Compare the Best Reviews

Continued from above...

Meat and cheese gift baskets also come with picnic hampers, beautifully carved and crafted wooden charcuterie boards, sturdy, well-made crates, and more. Some companies specialize in creating unique presentations for gift baskets, while others offer a more straightforward option with high-quality foods at a discounted price. You can get a plain block of cheese and sausage or go for a decadent array of fine wine and gourmet cheese and meats to commemorate a long-anticipated promotion.

Not all gift basket companies are created equal, though. Some companies misrepresent baskets in online pictures: when the gift is delivered, it is much smaller than anticipated. Still other companies may overpromise delivery dates and times, and you end up with a ruined event because the gift basket didn't arrive when it was needed

Consider these criteria to help you narrow down the possibilities and find the perfect gift basket for your recipient:

  • Variety and quality. Are the items in your basket high-end or gourmet? Are they exclusive to the company or something you would find at your local grocery store? Is the basket, crate, or container a quality-made item that can be kept and used or repurposed?
  • Price. Is it a good value for the money? Don't forget to compare it with similar options at other stores. Will the gift basket store offer free shipping, discounts, or coupons to sweeten the deal? Are there any hidden fees?
  • Shipping. Are the shipping fees very high? Is there a shipping club or discount that you can apply? Is shipping guaranteed? Can baskets be delivered on the weekends? Is last-minute overnight or next-day shipping available?
  • Customer service. Check out the company's reputation. Do customers say that the experience was a positive one - both for themselves and for their recipients? Does the company have lots of repeat customers who are consistently happy?

To help you find the best meat and cheese 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 meat and cheese gift basket. It's sure to impress and delight the recipient!

Compare Meat and Cheese Baskets

Select any 2 Meat and Cheese Baskets to compare them head to head

best-meat-and-cheese-baskets
  • Boarderie
  • Harry & David
  • Williams Sonoma
  • 1-800-Baskets
  • Wisconsin Cheese Company
  • The Gift Basket Store
  • Gourmet Gift Baskets
  • Hickory Farms
  • The Swiss Colony
  • Gift Tree
Boarderie vs Harry & David Boarderie vs Williams Sonoma Boarderie vs 1-800-Baskets Boarderie vs Wisconsin Cheese Company Boarderie vs The Gift Basket Store Boarderie vs Gourmet Gift Baskets Boarderie vs Hickory Farms Boarderie vs The Swiss Colony Boarderie vs Gift Tree Harry & David vs Williams Sonoma Harry & David vs 1-800-Baskets Harry & David vs Wisconsin Cheese Company Harry & David vs The Gift Basket Store Harry & David vs Gourmet Gift Baskets Harry & David vs Hickory Farms Harry & David vs The Swiss Colony Harry & David vs Gift Tree Williams Sonoma vs 1-800-Baskets Williams Sonoma vs Wisconsin Cheese Company Williams Sonoma vs The Gift Basket Store Williams Sonoma vs Gourmet Gift Baskets Williams Sonoma vs Hickory Farms Williams Sonoma vs The Swiss Colony Williams Sonoma vs Gift Tree 1-800-Baskets vs Wisconsin Cheese Company 1-800-Baskets vs The Gift Basket Store 1-800-Baskets vs Gourmet Gift Baskets 1-800-Baskets vs Hickory Farms 1-800-Baskets vs The Swiss Colony 1-800-Baskets vs Gift Tree Wisconsin Cheese Company vs The Gift Basket Store Wisconsin Cheese Company vs Gourmet Gift Baskets Wisconsin Cheese Company vs Hickory Farms Wisconsin Cheese Company vs The Swiss Colony Wisconsin Cheese Company vs Gift Tree The Gift Basket Store vs Gourmet Gift Baskets The Gift Basket Store vs Hickory Farms The Gift Basket Store vs The Swiss Colony The Gift Basket Store vs Gift Tree Gourmet Gift Baskets vs Hickory Farms Gourmet Gift Baskets vs The Swiss Colony Gourmet Gift Baskets vs Gift Tree Hickory Farms vs The Swiss Colony Hickory Farms vs Gift Tree The Swiss Colony vs Gift Tree
Compare the Best Meat and Cheese Baskets
- VS -
Review the Best Meat and Cheese Baskets
The Best Reviews of Meat and Cheese Baskets