FreshDirect.com
August 29th, 2006
Fresh direct is an online supermarket that delivers groceries to your door. I’ve been gleefully using them for about a year, and I now consider non-virtual shopping completely barbaric. No more forcing shopping carts through crowded Manhattan grocery stores, no more buying only what I can carry 10 blocks home.
Now, I simply sit on my duff at my computer, and go to Freshdirect.com. I quickly skim through categories like, “organic,” “dairy,” “grocery,” and “frozen,” and click on the items I want. After I have finished virtually shopping, they present me with a list of everything I have in my cart, and show me a price total that will be charged to my credit card. All that’s left is choosing a date and time for delivery.
It might not seem like the most inexpensive way to grocery-shop, but my savings in time and energy is notable. A lot of their prices are actually competitive with Manhattan’s already high prices. It’s mainly their organic fruits and veggies that I’ve found to be a bit steep, but when I receive organic apples which have been packaged in plastic containers that keep them so well protected they don’t have a single scratch or bruise, I feel like I’m getting my money’s worth. Plus, they offer items like bottled water and paper towels in bulk, so there is some savings there.
My only complaint is that they don’t have a very large selection of organic food, and very few organic sundries, so trips to Whole Foods are still necessary for me on occasion. Also, I have never ordered any of their meat, seafood, or poultry, so I can’t personally vouch for any of that.
One of their best features is “quick shop,” which allows you to look back at past orders and re-order with one click. This is great for me, because I buy practically the same staples every two weeks.
If you live in a city, I say give it a try with some of your staple grocery items to begin with; delivery is free. I bet you’ll become a fresh direct addict like me in no time.
- Jen
Entry Filed under: Videopinions
17 Comments Add your own
1. jose | September 20th, 2006 at 5:30 pm
i live in the bronx do you delivered there yes or no
2. Mercedes Osgood | September 21st, 2006 at 6:09 am
This is a very good idea. Are you located in Manhattan?
3. Jess | September 21st, 2006 at 8:04 am
Freshdirect is currently available in Manhattan however at this time is not delivering to the Bronx. Check their website often to see new delivery locations at http://www.freshdirect.com.
4. Daphne | September 22nd, 2006 at 6:25 am
Hey, we also use it in the office in Manhattan. They have a separate program to deliver to offices. We stock our work fridge (I am extraordinarily picky about the drinks in our office fridge) with them. You can buy cases of drinks.
5. MARYELLEN | October 7th, 2006 at 12:43 pm
HI. DO YOU DELIVER IN NORTH PALM BEACH. ZIP 33408.
I HAVE AN APT IN MANHATTAN ZIP 10028. DO YOU DELIVER THERE. TELL ME SO I WILL KNOW WHERE TO LIVE PERMANTLY.
6. Jess | October 9th, 2006 at 11:00 am
Freshdirect delivers in NYC! Don’t think so for Palm Beach currently.
7. elsie dockery | October 14th, 2006 at 5:36 am
i live in east elmhurst,n.y. do you deliver there?
8. Jess | October 16th, 2006 at 9:40 am
it doesn’t look like they are delivering to East Elmhurst yet.
9. hreingold | October 19th, 2006 at 11:59 am
I live at 100 central park south, cor 6th avenue
do you deliver there. I received a coupon fromTime Warner. Do I presume you do and will honor their offer of $25 each for first two orders.
Hreingold
10. Jess | October 23rd, 2006 at 8:22 am
Freshdirect does deliver to the city, however you would have to contact them directly to find out if they are accepting the above mentioned coupon.
11. Daphne Kwon | October 23rd, 2006 at 3:20 pm
hey, Fresh Direct started a “delivery pass” program at freshdirect.com/fddelivers. You can buy ‘bulk’ delivery charges, and they throw in some for free. I just bought 15 deliveries for $74.25 (which seems like delivery is about $5 per), and got 10 extra deliveries for free (which brings it down to about $3 per). I just got the flier in the mail, and it ends Nov 15, 2006.
12. Nani | February 7th, 2007 at 10:54 pm
FreshDirect.com Discriminates!!!
FreshDirect is the most convenient way to shop for groceries in NYC…unless you live in a Public Housing building- they won’t deliver to you!
I attempted to order from FreshDirect on two separate occasions, both times using addresses for Public Housing buildings. After having my orders rejected by their website due to their inability to deliver to the addresses, I decided to test the site with different addresses throughout Manhattan (privately owned residential buildings, corporate office buildings and city owned residential buildings a.k.a. Public Housing) to see which addresses were accepted for delivery. Note: I am fully aware that there delivery is sometimes limited (so indicated by the asterisk on the zip code list found in their website.)
Since I know several different people who live in Public Housing throughout the city, I tested the FreshDirect service with some of those addresses. Some of the zip codes I used were 10002, 10025, 10026, and 11101. I started with 11101 (Long Island City – about 10 minutes from the FreshDirect warehouse) – I was shocked when this address was rejected, being located in such close proximity. When I called customer service, they explained the limited delivery and I pointed out that the website didn’t indicate this zip code had limited delivery. The only thing they could do was give me a lame apology for the inconvenience. I again attempted to place an order (this time for my 84 year old grandmother) using the 10025 zip code and, again, the address was rejected for delivery. This is when I decided to investigate this a bit further because; the 10025 address was rejected even though a block away, I have personally witnessed FreshDirect trucks making deliveries to privately owned residential buildings two blocks away on Central Park West, on Amsterdam Avenue, 100th Street, 103rd St., 96th St., etc. The same happened with the 10002 address, except they deliver to a privately owned residential building less than a block away. The 10026 address was also rejected, although, again, they deliver a few blocks away in the same zip code.
Ironically, I recently received a postcard from FreshDirect.com with a $50 dollar coupon to try their services….I won’t be able to use it because I too live in Public Housing and they won’t deliver to me!
I don’t see why their delivery areas are limited in such a peculiar way. I cannot believe that of all the residential addresses I entered, the only ones that are not part of FreshDirect’s delivery areas all happen to be City owned Public Housing buildings. ISN’T THIS CONSIDERED
DISCRIMINATION?!
Why does FreshDirect REFUSE to deliver to individuals residing in Public Housing???? UPS, FEDEX, DHL, USPS and many other companies deliver to them.
I think this NEEDS to be investigated. As a matter of fact…it MUST be investigated. How dare they refuse service to so many individuals! We’re in 2007…and DISCRIMINATION is apparently ALIVE AND WELL IN FRESHDIRECT!
13. jason | April 24th, 2007 at 4:15 am
I don’t think it’s discimination. As a rule, delivering to Public Housing is more time-consuming, since entrances are often in courtyards or require special permission. Not to mention that FD’s target demographic probably has income above what qualifies someone for public housing. That’s not discrimination; that’s just wise business, to invest first in delivering areas where more people can afford the service and where it can be provided more affordably by the company in the form of saved time by drivers and runners.
14. Jackie J | April 25th, 2007 at 2:13 am
They can deliver to whoever they want, they are only obligated to sell to all, so you CAN buy from them AND pick up at their LIC location.
Now let’s get real nto all Public Housing is safe & they need to be concerned for their employees.
15. Irine Kim | May 20th, 2007 at 7:52 am
Hi! I can absolutely agree that home delivery of groceries become part of my weekly routine. Just recently I’ve descovered a new service: “OrganicDirect”. The company solely specializes on organic groceries and fresh produce. They deliver to New York and New Jersey, not like fresh direct. They do not charge delivery fee for five boroughs. Prices are more competitive, especially if you buy their branded products “EcoMeal”. Good luck. we site:www.organicdirect.com
16. jenna | October 24th, 2007 at 1:14 pm
fresh direct won’t deliver to the bronx. or any minority neighborhoods.
17. HeneguellHoFPal | September 2nd, 2008 at 3:04 pm
hey !!
its very point of view.
Nice post.
realy good post
thx
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