Approved Foods thread

wannabe_sybil

I keep going back to the Approved Food site and keep not ordering. If you compare what is on offer at the supermarkets, what the own brand equivalents costs and then add shipping, it isn't worth it.

Besides, last time I looked there seemed to be mainly perfume and speciality teas. I mean, if you were going to buy them at the original prices then they are a bargain, but I've always used Approved Food as a source for snacks for ds and his pals over school holidays.

wickmesh

I've been a customer for nearly three years now, and have a mixed experience.

Through 2016 I suffered multiple issues with orders placed - out of 10 orders 7 had issues (items ordered and charged for missing from the package, or items arriving damaged). Reporting these items and getting refunded for them became part of the order process. To Approved Food's credit, there was never any issue with getting damaged or missing items refunded (using the online customer service system).

Things seem to have got better (change of courier?) and I've had no problems with the 4 orders I've placed so far this year.

To echo comments above, you need to search the site carefully to find the bargains (things worth buying at all) - and that takes time. Often there is nothing worth having and I don't place an order - I know what I can buy perfectly acceptable crisps, chocolate etc for from Lidl (with long dates) and even before delivery Lidl is often cheaper.

You have to be very careful with what you are looking at (and the quantity included especially if it is something in unusual packaging) - I have been caught out before by sweets described as being "a metre" and they were about 20cm long, and micro boxed tictacs (less than 1/4 of a standard box but for the same price).

Currently I am finding certain fruit juices to be a good buy, but how long that will last I do not know!

***cupcake***_2

For anyone thinking of ordering from Approved Foods, especially in the wake of the MSE discount code, I thought Id offer my most recent experience as an example of why my advice is - AVOID!!

My latest parcel - over £50 worth of goods - was delivered in a dirty, used box. Everything was piled in on top of each other, and literally stinks. No individual boxes, no care, no protection. A used box, containing rubbish, and stuck down with yellow tape.

One of the Konjac noodle pouches had split and the water smells like rotten fish.
Jars cracked, packets crushed and split, milk cartons leaking, everything sticky, smelly and quite revolting.

Now to receive this delivery is bad enough.....but upon informing their so called customer service team.....I received no explanation for what had occurred, a perfunctory...sorry you are upset....and a demand for the parcel to be returned.
I have sat with a stinking parcel over the weekend, leaking, revolting, and now I have to take an afternoon off work to await a courier to collect it!!

Only once they receive it back will I get a refund.

I have sent multiple pictures as proof, and I am more than a little miffed. Customer service clearly is a misnomer, as I am seriously inconvenienced by this....and I would have much rather just taken it to the tip.

I can only think Approved want this back because a) they do not believe me and b) they will just wipe it down and resell it.

I am done with Approved Foods....I have spent a lot over the years, been a loyal customer, put up with small issues and mistakes and poor communication- but this is super bad. Shocking.

Avoid at all costs.

***cupcake***_2

An update.....

I took an afternoon off work to await the courier APPROVED FOOD sent to collect their disgusting order.
I repacked it, wrapped it in bin bags, used an additional box, plenty of tape....all at my expense.
The courier collected it on Tuesday with no problems.
It is Thursday.

I am still waiting for a refund.

I am out of pocket now close to £90 and can not afford to be.

APPROVED FOODS are a shambles of a company....they simply don’t care when things go wrong and they make mistakes. They take your money and run.
:mad:

***cupcake***_2

So APPROVED FOOD prove with absolutely certainty that they cannot provide customer service, on any level, and are actually deeply dishonest, unprofessional and unpleasant to deal with.

I followed their demands to the letter....repacked the revolting mess I was sent, and used the courier they sent to return it.

They did not refund me.

Not only that, but clearly the courier complained about the parcel too, and upon instructions from APPROVED FOOD the parcel was signed for as DESTROYED last Thursday.

So they send a terrible state of a parcel, take my money, demand it’s return, I lose half a days pay sorting it and waiting for their courier and then they refuse a refund. And then they destroy the parcel anyway....which is what should have happened in the first place.

Please take heed of this....when things are right, you will be fine giving your money to APPROVED FOODS. When they go wrong, forget it. They keep your money, treat you like dirt, and leave you wishing you’d never been so foolish as to have believed the ‘hype’. Cowboys.

As for me, I’ll now be seeking financial resolution via my payment method.

Thanks for the PMs of support peeps xx

trickyrick

Ordered 24 bottles of Brooklyn Lager as they had it on for £9.99 for 12, and a Hotel Chocolate Prosecco and Chocolate Hamper.

Only 12 Bottles of Lager turned up. I have been refunded for the missing 12, however, they arrived covered in glass shards and mold on the bottles.

The Chocolates arrived sellotaped up looking like they'd been opened, squished together and resealed (I was refunded half the cost of the hamper back).

Don't think I'll order again from them again, which is a shame as other orders have been fine. The lack of action over the moldy, glass ridden bottles irks somewhat.

Unfortunately I can't post links which is a shame as it's a bit of an eye opener seeing what I got

MrsStepford

I ordered from Approved Food once having read about it on MSE. Arrived in a huge box. So huge, I couldn't get it through the front door. Haven't used them since.

PLRFD

What a shambles this company is this page alone is a very interesting read if it doesn't warn people nothing will.

PLRFD

hdimelow wrote: »

The provider is called Approved Food it sells food that is near or passed its use before date but they are still ok to eat and it is local to people in Sheffield and there is also tons of bargains on offer like 3 Volvic Touch of Fruits for £1.00 or 4 Juice Bursts for £1.00


Visit the site at approvedfood.co.uk

Your one and only post in over a year says it all.

lilibeth

On their website it says that the courier can be anyone. Do people here know if they use any of the following please? thx

Yodel:(
Parcelforce:mad:
Hermes:eek:

DPD:T