Approved Foods thread

carrspaints

Approved_Food_company_representative wrote: »

We appreciate what you are saying, blootoon. However, the delivery prices and weight limits are beyond our control.
I can assure you that we are constantly looking into alternative delivery options and we plan to implement some innovations in the very near future, which will offer more delivery choices and greater flexibility to our customers.
Our aim is to offer as many bargains as we possibly can and we frequently have amazing reductions, but these are often limited quantities so we prefer to share these between as many customers as possible, rather than allow just a few to snap them all up.

We all understand that courier or delivery costs can be beyond your control, but what is within your control are the prices you charge for your goods. I used to buy from AP up until about 2 years ago. After that, your prices escalated dramatically, to a point where there is no benefit for me in buying from AP.

Fact is, AP have a significantly limited offering compared with an average supermarket. I can usually get BOGOF or half price deals that are the same price, or cheaper than AP. What's more, the products have lengthy "Best By" dates. Why would I buy a jar of jam at 50% off via AP when I can get the same from TESCO, ASDA, Sainsburys, Morrisons, B&M etc? Especially when the "Best By" date for AP products is often long past?

It's your business and you can obviously charge as you wish, but I know that the products you source cost next to nothing, so if you want to make your service attractive to people like me, reduce the prices to reflect what you are selling - primarily end of line stock or stock that won't sell or is way past it's Best By date. Just a thought.

quidsy

One thing I was very suprised at was the amount of packaging. I had one huge box with 8 smaller boxes inside, each smaller box only had a max of 4-6 small items in & each box was half empty. Most of the products were dried goods so no need for the air bubble wrap stuff filling the remiander of the box. Had this been packed in a more sensible way the delivery costs could be reduced or the price of goods reduced due to the lower packaging costs. Only breakbales need this kind of care, as I had only 3 jarred items in my order it was somewhat of overkill to pack it in this way.

I dunno, it just seems daft to me, not to mention it is down to the customer to dispose of all this packaging, even offering a packaging collection services or some kind of customers discount for the return of packaging in in good order.

dlusman

quidsy wrote: »

. Had this been packed in a more sensible way the delivery costs could be reduced
.

Not necessarily. Courier possibly has a minimum price which it charges up to a certain weight.

And working to a standard box size will probably be quicker/cheaper/more cost effective for AF

carrspaints

I have just been comparing the Recommended Retail Prices AF are quoting for some of the products they sell. These prices are inflated and are NOT the prices available from the high street shops. Just a few examples below:

1. De Identified Mushroom Rice 105g @ RRP £0.59 = Morrisons Mushroom Rice 105g @ £0.47
2. De Identified Fruit Scone Mix 300g @ RRP £0.99 = Morrisons Fruit Scone Mix 300g @ £0.69
3. French Onion Soup 37g @ RRP £0.49 = Morisons French Onion Soup 37g @ £0.37
4. De Identified Scone Mix 320g @ RRP £0.99 = Sainsbury's Plain Scone Mix 320g @ £0.69

I have checked, the "De Identified" products above are from the outlets stated only, i.e. made specifically for that supermarket chain. This is clear from the packaging used and the weight. Surely quoting incorrect prices, prices that are above those the supermarket chain actually sell at breaks some consumer regulations? It is also deceiving your customers, they think they are getting a better deal than they actually are. Not cool.

Also, I have noticed that many AF products use the highest recommended retail price available from the 4 big supermarket outlets. E.g. if Heinz 750g Ketchup is £2.00 at ASDA and £3.25 at TESCO, AF quote the TESCO price.

I would strongly encourage those who are thinking of buying from AF to just Google prices first. You will often find that the deals aren't deals at all, or that you can get BOGOF or Half Price deals that render any savings via AF as invalid.

mirry

I agree a lot of the prices are the same as, or more expensive than the local shops. Like ATM they have 2 biscuits for £1.50 (the same type are 2 for £1 in Iceland ATM.

However, if you know your prices you can cherry pick the best deals....for example I've got popadoms for 50p (these are about £1.89 in shops), boxes of 25 Kellogg's cereals bars for £2.99( they say usually £12.50) but not to my calculations as they are usually £1.99 for 6 and can be found for half price often. 12 toilet rolls for £1.99 (3 ply), schol corn treatment £1.99 instead of £10.99, thorntons fudge 99p instead of £3.99, 11x latte sachets 75p, 24 luxury cat foods tins for £2.99 & 6 curry sauce mix for 99p (usually 99p each).

a lucky box for 50p filled with.... 1 can of coke, 1 large pack of chocolate biscuits, a jar of jam, Jane Asher pastry mix and 4 packs of crisp.
Free gift: pg tips tea with whitener.

So I wouldn't be put of, just check your prices

narabanekeater

Sadly im still waiting on them to contact me in relation to my 'well over' veg that I had delivered. Its a shame as I had used them many times in the past

wendym

I think the trick with AF is not to buy basics (bizarrely, they are currently selling a fresh carrot for 8p, RRP 9p) but to keep an eye out for 'different' food things.

My daughter recently paid £35 and save £85, and my last order cost me £25 with a saving of £68.

And they have become much better at dealing with any problems that arise. I'm off now for a cup of the nicest Earl Grey tea I have tasted in ages, courtesy of AF.

mirry

hmmmm, still waiting for my boxes of food to be collected ....that they said ends April but really ended in Feb. They said they will collect it Monday but never did, I waited in all day :mad:.
They owe me £32. Phoned them and on hold for 5 mins only to be told no one to take my call. Starting to re think if I should order from Ap?

twohooter_2

I am hoping the approved food rep visits this page and helps to resolve problems as the customer service department just ignores e mails. I recently included 10 tins of mandarins in my order. When the tins arrived they had no labels on and when I opened one, it turned out to be rhubarb - so I have no mandarins but plenty of rhubarb!! Also, the free chocolate bar used to entice me to spend to a certain limit was not included in my delivery. What annoys me more than these two issues is the desperate lack of customer care - why not answer e mails and resolve problems (as opposed to blatantly ignoring them) ? Just ignoring them does not make them go away - it just makes people cross and puts them off buying again!!!!! My three e mails have been totally ignored - so not feeling the love for approved foods just now.

kayl

I was wondering about customer care too. I have previously ordered from them without a problem, but the order I received on Monday was a disaster - there was a smashed bottle of coke, which ruined most of my order, and the crisps had cleverly been placed at the bottom of the whole box! I have submitted a complaint, but not heard anything. Has anyone any contact suggestions apart from via their website?