Author Topic: Misfits Market?  (Read 2366 times)

roomtempmayo

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 1141
Misfits Market?
« on: March 02, 2022, 05:54:35 PM »
The concept of Misfits Market - that you rescue good organic produce that doesn't meet cosmetic specs from the dump - seems very Mustaschian: https://www.misfitsmarket.com/?exp=autoship

Experiences reported here over the last few years by @Poundwise , @PMG , @UnleashHell , @CrustyBadger , @Roadrunner , and @cupcakery seem mixed, but often positive.

I'm thinking of giving them a try.  How are their logistics (i.e. delivering as expected) these days?  And are they more like a good CSA or a bad CSA?

PMG

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 1608
  • Location: USA
Re: Misfits Market?
« Reply #1 on: March 02, 2022, 06:06:04 PM »
I’ve seen some comments that they don’t really “rescue ugly food”. The ugly stuff gets processed and canned and doesn’t need rescued. I don’t really know?!  Reading that did sour me on services like that a bit more.

If you have a local option I think that’s likely much more environmentally friendly.

We haven’t bought from them in a year so can’t really comment on delivery or quality recently.

lucenzo11

  • 5 O'Clock Shadow
  • *
  • Posts: 88
Re: Misfits Market?
« Reply #2 on: March 02, 2022, 08:10:43 PM »
I've been using them on and off for close to two years now. I try to shop more local during the summer months when there is actual local produce in my area, but in the winter, I rely on them for most of my produce. I've had mixed experiences with them but overall it's a net positive. Here are some details:

  • Produce - it's generally okay, I hardly ever get something that is ugly or mis-shapen. Their stuff seems to go bad faster than others so I try to eat it right away.
  • Ordering experience - it's good, not really a CSA feel anymore as I pick exactly what I want. I like this because then I don't get something I don't want, but I also don't like it because then if I order something and it shows up bad or damaged, then I get more annoyed.
  • Packaging - a work in progress. I've had lots of issues with leaking ice packs. They rely on those gel packs and I've had many that have leaked. They are non toxic and you can wash off the produce, but it's annoying. They do provide a refund or credit whenever I complain.
  • Delivery - almost always comes on time for me, if it doesn't show up then it comes the next day. They tell you when it ships and atleast for me, it's always next day, so I know if I don't get a shipping notification then I'm not getting it the next day.
  • Customer Service - decent, it's not super quick, but they'll address your issues and they are happy to give a refund or credit for any issues such as bad produce.

Let me know if you have any other questions and I'd be happy to share my opinion.

UnleashHell

  • Walrus Stache
  • *******
  • Posts: 8880
  • Age: 56
  • Location: Florida
  • Chapter IV - A New ... er.. something
Re: Misfits Market?
« Reply #3 on: March 03, 2022, 03:25:27 AM »
I gave up on them. Delivery was sporadic at best. not always their fault but ultimately its me who was disrupted. If I'm expecting delivery on a friday and would use or cook most of the stuff over the weekend in fresh and bulk cooking then having the stuff turn up 3 days late or go to the wrong address meant I was having to go out and buy other food to replace it.

If they could sort that out then it'd be a good service but after 10 weeks 50% of the deliveries were delayed or to the wrong house.


Portion sizing was a little odd as well. you could order cilantro and get 4 big bunches and also potatoes and get 4 small ones.. Didn't make sense at times.

roomtempmayo

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 1141
Re: Misfits Market?
« Reply #4 on: March 03, 2022, 10:00:31 AM »
Thanks for all the feedback, @PMG , @lucenzo11 , and @UnleashHell .

A 50% on-time delivery rate sounds not good, especially in a climate with serious temperature extremes in winter and summer.

Poundwise

  • Handlebar Stache
  • *****
  • Posts: 2076
Re: Misfits Market?
« Reply #5 on: March 03, 2022, 11:09:48 AM »
I generally agree with @lucenzo11's detailed review. Deliveries have been generally on time (metro NY area) with alerts sent if there will be delays.

Their old box was very unpredictable. They would stuff the box with vegetables and so it was a good deal for organic food, though with the usual CSA problems of too many jicamas, etc.  But I did enjoy getting new kinds of vegetables; there were lots of surprises.

However, I gradually stopped using them not because they're bad, but because they moved to a model where I would have to choose the individual items in my box on a weekly basis. I simply forget to do so, and then I have to wait for the next week. And yes, the quantities are sometimes surprising... you think you're getting a great deal on pomegranates, but then they are only half the diameter of regular pomegranates. Or get an immense onion instead of regular size. Though these both make sense since they are misfits, I wish they still went by mass or volume.

cupcakery

  • Stubble
  • **
  • Posts: 154
Re: Misfits Market?
« Reply #6 on: March 04, 2022, 08:32:31 AM »
We tried it for a while.  I liked it at first, DH hated it.  He couldn't get past the fact that the stuff wasn't perfect.  We regularly had one or more things arrive rotten, but they were really good about refunding that portion of the fee.  We once had an entire box arrive rotten. My main issue was that you have to eat everything immediately.  Where you could go to the grocery store and buy stuff that might last a week or more in the fridge, you'd be lucky to be able to eat anything after 3 days from Misfits. I also didn't like the packaging.  Oh, and a few times we had substitutions that we couldn't use.  Let's say we'd order broccoli, they'd substitute with mushrooms, which we hate.  I've had a love/hate relationship with CSAs and food subscriptions over the years.  I love the concept, but we have food allergies and preferences that can't always be accommodated.