Peapod or Fresh Direct? archived

Fresh Direct has lots of great food that is already prepped or semi prepped. They also have really great bakery items and good sales on fish and seafood. For your first order definitely go Fresh Direct because you can get the $50 coupon.

Fresh Direct!

I find the Peapod interface easier to use, though I've never pulled the trigger and bought from either.

Does Peapod deliver in cardboard like fresh direct? Back home they used plastic bins. All that cardboard seems like a waste.

Peapod carries far more 'brand' staples - closer to walking into Stop and Shop and buying your goods. Fresh Direct is, IMO, closer to buying at Whole Foods with far more fresh/wholesome/ready made or ready-to-make items, however, Fresh Direct definitely has more non-health conscious brands (like you can buy Coke from them and, I think, Doritos) but not the wide variety of all around brands that Peapod carries.

I definitely would use Fresh Direct first, given the coupon.

I just signed up for an account at Fresh Direct but I only see 15% off my first two orders as an offer. Maybe it used to be $50 off or am I missing something? I think Fresh Direct looks like the better one for me, too.

Current coupon for new FreshDirect customers is $100 ($50 off of first two orders) plus 2 months deliveries for 1 cent. Good through 6/15: NEWFDA3

First thing I looked at was Brillo soap pads, since wife told me we needed more.

Peapod - 1.89 for 10.
Fresh Direct - 3.49 for a box of 10.

Then milk
Horizon Organic 1/2 Gal Milk Peapod - 3.99
Fresh Direct - 4.39

I'm sure the are other differences. With the Brillo, its a ripoff in either case. There's only one small size selection. They reduce profit if they offered larger bulk sizes.

The $100 coupon is nice. With their inflated prices, I'm sure they'll get that back within 3 months of regular grocery shopping.

I've used both and there is no question that Fresh Direct has better meat and produce. They are both more expensive than going to the store and shopping there but you are paying for the convenience factor.

I'm most interested in fresh and frozen "4 minute" meals than anything because the pickings are slim at Kings or Whole Foods and I'm not going to Trader Joe's for a few meals only.

I don't cook, I heat.

The milk I use, Farmland Skim Plus 1/2 gal, is 3.59 at Fresh and 3.79 at Peapod so it certainly depends on the products you buy.

I use both. Fresh Direct has a great deal with a set delivery charge for six months--which means I can order from them whenever I need a few things without paying a fee. So I use them for all fresh produce, meats, four-minute meals, bakery (those frozen par-baked breads are amazing), salads, cheeses etc. They also have a terrific coffee selection (beans or ground).

Since I have kids and therefore do lots of laundry, pack lunches and so on, I order from Peapod every two weeks to get staples/things I don't want to carry: bottled water, detergent, cleaning supplies, etc. Then I hit up Trader Joe's about once a month for their frozen stuff. Haven't been to a supermarket in a year.

Oh, and I charge all groceries to Amex--I've built up nearly enough member points for a vacation!

Posted By: deborahgOh, and I charge all groceries to Amex--I've built up nearly enough member points for a vacation!

Now, THAT is genius. :thumbup:

Can anyone tell me about how much more you spend on either of these services than you would if you went to the store yourself? I've learned in recent months that I can't handle grocery shopping any more since I developed such bad vertigo -- looking from side to side in the big aisles always sets off the dizziness. It's not as bad at smaller stores with wider aisles, like Trader Joe's, but I'd like to be able to do "normal" grocery shopping without having to be in the store.

My impression NOT scientific: I don't think it's a lot more than say, Kings/Eden Gourmet/Whole Foods, may 5-10%. Definitely more than Price-Right or other mid-level stores. Shopping their specials helps, as does the fact you won't be doing any impulse buying.

Peapod--prices are the same as Stop n Shop (who owns them) and in many cases less than Kings etc. Delivery charge is $5-8 (and I get $200 in groceries at a time).

Fresh Direct--seems like Whole Foods. I paid $50 for 6 months of free delivery (and got $25 off each of my first two orders so it was essentially free).

Also, Peapod delivers in bags, which I greatly prefer to Fresh Direct (I have about 200 boxes in my garage, waiting to be broken down for recycling).

Eden Marketplace is going to start delivering soon... jus' sayin'.

Happy to use them when they do!

I have been using Peapod for about 4 months and have been very happy with it. I got a coupon in the mail for 2 months free delivery and $15 off my first order, which is why I gave them a shot. Now the delivery is $6.95, but I'm constantly getting emails with coupon codes for free delivery, so have only paid for it once and I shop about every 2 weeks. I feel like it's much easier to price shop and, as was stated above, no impulse buys! I'd recommend it, although have never tried Fresh Direct so can't comment on that.

On Peapod, I couldn't find the particular brand/size of the products I usually buy. I really wanted to use this service, but I would have had to still go to the grocery store for all the things Peapod didn't offer, so it was useless for me.

I didn't try Fresh Direct -- my NY friends tell me it's very expensive for "regular" grocery shopping. Good only if you want ready to nuke meals (which is what Oldstone said he was interested in).

I got to save money -- so it's wherever there's a sale for me.

From my research, Fresh Direct has great prices on Meat, Dairy, Fruits and Vegetables. Their main groceries are not all that great for price savings. The quality of the fresh items has been excellent! It's nice to get half of my shopping done via Fresh Direct. Never tried Pea Pod but I may have too if they send a coupon!

Posted By: USMNTFanPeapod carries far more 'brand' staples - closer to walking into Stop and Shop and buying your goods.

What I want is an online grocer that is like this except like walking into ShopRite (rather than Stop and Shop.) There is a ShopRite online service, apparently, but not serving our area.

I get most of my meat, fish, frozen things, bakery items from Freshdirect. Their lime rotisserie chicken is outstanding. They have the world's best bacon and their gorgonzola, bacon, carmelized onion thin crust pizza is heaven. I get staples from Pathmark every other week.

Fresh Direct has almost completely stopped my trips to WF and that definitely has saved on impulse buying. I still go there (very) occasionally for produce and certain things from the butcher.

Trader Joe's I'll stop and get milk, eggs, and a few other things. Last week I stopped in and bought pasta, jarred sauce and a package of kosher ground beef (well before its sell by date) for a very quick throw together meal. When I got home and opened the beef it was so bad that my daughter, in another room, yelled "what's that smell". I actually threw up in the sink. I had to throw it in shopping bag and throw it out my back door. My dog, who was in the backyard and never asks to come in, came to the back door and started to whimper. No exaggeration. This was in a period of about 90 seconds. I have never, ever, ever smelled anything like that. That was my second time with completely rotten meat from there so there will be no third strike. I wish stores would wise up and put in closed fridges.

I called TJ's immediately to advise them. They were pretty laid back about it. Said they would check another package and would be happy to replace it for me. I was like, dude I'm not sure I'm ever buying ground beef again but if I do it won't be from you.

Posted By: sacWhat I want is an online grocer that is like this except like walking into ShopRite (rather than Stop and Shop.) There is a ShopRite online service, apparently, but not serving our area.

ShopRite Brookdale ( on Broad St in Bloomfield) will deliver within a 10 mile radius of their store. I'm in West Orange, and I'm apparently within the range, as I have seen the vans around town. Maybe give them a call and see if they will deliver to you.

Posted By: SuzanneNg

Posted By: sacWhat I want is an online grocer that is like this except like walking into ShopRite (rather than Stop and Shop.) There is a ShopRite online service, apparently, but not serving our area.

ShopRite Brookdale ( on Broad St in Bloomfield) will deliver within a 10 mile radius of their store. I'm in West Orange, and I'm apparently within the range, as I have seen the vans around town. Maybe give them a call and see if they will deliver to you.

Mapquest says that it is 10.37 miles via the shortest route they offer up, so folks in South Orange and some parts of Maplewood might be able to do this, but it looks like I'm a bit too far away. There are a number of ShopRite stores within 10 miles of here, but none of them are in that online list.

driving distance might be 10.37 miles, but a 10-mile radius is different.

Posted By: elizTrader Joe's I'll stop and get milk, eggs, and a few other things.

I've bought Half and Half at Trader Joe's twice -- two years apart. Both times it went bad within a week (weeks before the "purchase by" date). I've bought Half and Half at any other store and had it a month and it still didn't go bad! I only buy frozen food at TJs now -- and olive oil.

OS, I would say your choice of Fresh Direct is the best. I have never ordered from there, but they seem to have really great quick heat up meals. Their meat/fish looks spectacular! I always find great stuff at Trader Joe's. If you mix that in with an occasional Target run, I think you'll be fine.

I have used Shoprite from home. I'm on the South Orange border of West Orange. Decent service. When babies were little I would also do the one where you drive to the store to pick it up and they have it all bagged for you. I would schedule pick up for nap time. One son slept best in the car. It was a quick drive down the garden state (may be a pick up site closer). Kids would sleep, I would sit in my car, they would deliver the groceries to the trunk, I'd pay and drive away.

So I had my first delivery from FD over the weekend. I mainly ordered prepared meals, which look great and well-portioned but I haven't eaten one yet. My shopping breaks down into 4 groups: food to eat for dinner, drinks, snacks and cookies. The white chocolate/cherry cookies are outstanding. :bigsmile:

Pea Pod delivers kitty litter - which I'm too lazy to drag around myself -- Fresh Direct does not - or at least they didn't.