Paulette E.
Yelp
I have used FD since 2012. It has gone steadily downhill since the original owner sold the business. Ahold Delhaize (parent company of Peapod) and Centerbridge Partners bought the FD in 2021. There was a noticeable decline in product quality, availability, and pricing immediately.
The company was sold again in 2023 to Getir, a Turkish company which specializes in rapid delivery of groceries and restaurant items. These deliveries are made primarily on scooters. From the start Getir seemed unfamiliar in dealing with delivery trucks, union drivers, and full grocery orders. Since the company, in their home country, is known for RAPID delivery, I would have expected to see more timeslots, but instead there are fewer. The slots that are available fill up fast and customers often have to wait for a delivery two days down the road.
I am consistently receiving items that are obviously damaged while being packed. Bread is consistently placed on the bottom of the bag and watermelons, cans, and anything else heavy thrown on top of the bread. Eggs are left to roll about in the bag in transit and I rarely get a dozen eggs that are not broken. Vegetables often have freezer damage, even in summer months. While FD's customer service people always refund the money for these items, it leaves me needing to shop elsewhere immediately.
The quality, selection, and price is not competitive. I frequently get rotten produce, produce that is not labeled organic (I have bought my organic items exclusively from FD over the year and have never gotten an organic item that was not labeled as such.) I have repeatedly asked customer service to have a manager call me to explain why these labels are no longer on the product and nobody has ever called me back.
It is impossible to get a beef roast that I want (They haven't offered a rump, bottom round in years!) The only post roast I can get from FD is a local Angus RWA chuck roast at $13.00/lb. That's over $55.00! I can get a certified Angus PRIME RWA from Shoprite for around $20.00 or a LOCAL Prime certified RWA Angus chuck roast from a butcher in Bayonne for $25.00 I am limited to the thickness of any steak that I buy, when I use to be able to choose the thickness. I just looked for hot dogs, doing a side by side comparaison with Shoprite's prices. FD was asking $10.19 (reg. price) for Nathan's Bun Length 8 pack Beef Franks compared to Shoprite's $5.49 (reg. price) for EXACTLY the same itiem. The seafood department offers ¼ of the selection they had several years ago and it is seldom fresh.
I understand from financial reports that Getir is under pressure from its investors to cut operating costs and increase dividends. They appear to be doing this at the expense of once loyal customers. I had allowed my delivery pass to expire last summer and then thought I'd give FD one last chance. I won't be continuing after my delivery pass expires this time.
There delivery drivers are superb and their customer service representatives are incredible. They are the only reasons that I give FD ONE STAR.