Gourmet Gift Baskets promises “fun and creative" gift boxes for every occasion. But with so many gift basket companies out there, how do you know if they live up to the hype?
As a seasoned shopper and gift-giver, I decided to extensively test out their products and shopping experience. After over 15 baskets and lots of unboxings later, here’s my brutally honest take on whether Gourmet Gift Baskets is worth your hard-earned money.
About Gourmet Gift Baskets
Gourmet Gift Baskets launched in 2002 in Exeter, NH as a family passion project. The goal was simple: deliver smile-inducing edible surprise boxes nationwide for life’s big moments, whether birthdays, get-well treats, or holiday hampers.
Today, they create upwards of 1,000 personalized gift collections daily in their NH headquarters. Their gifting empire now includes Cheesecake.com, Strawberries.com and over 117k Facebook followers.
So why do people love Gourmet Gift Baskets?
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Unique themes: From craft beer to brunch boxes, their creativity stands out from the typical fruit baskets.
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Customization: Tailor most baskets with add-ons like balloons, ribbons and extra sweets.
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Presentation: Expect impressive packaging from ornamental chests to house-shaped tins.
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Delivery: Count on timely arrivals thanks to shipping partnerships with FedEx and UPS.
Of course, product quality and customer satisfaction matter too. So let’s unpack those next…
Gourmet Gift Basket Review: Testing Their Best-Sellers
I ordered over a dozen Gourmet Gift Baskets to evaluate the contents, presentation and value across their most popular themes. Here’s what stood out:
Classic Gift Baskets
My pick: Classic Champagne Gift Basket
This ornamental box overflows with delicious pairings for bubbly, from aged cheddar, savory sausage and chocolate-dipped pretzels to fancy French cookies. Each piece arrived fresh with excellent variety to please diverse tastes.
At $80, it looks WAY more impressive than the price suggests. The stellar La Marca Prosecco at its core would cost $20 alone. Verdict: 5/5 stars
Runner up: Thank You Healthcare Workers Gift
Bursting with sweet and savory snacks like Ghirardelli chocolate squares, two cloth face masks and an inspirational quote plaque, this fails to disappoint. It rightfully earns near-perfect reviews as a tribute to heroes. Verdict: 5/5 stars
Honorable mentions: Sushi Lover’s Gift Basket, A Taste of Italy Basket
Holiday Gift Baskets
My pick: A Taste of Christmas
This yuletide hamper captures all the festive flavors from nutty cinnamon pecans to frosted holiday cookies. Premium touches like fancy tea biscuits, cherry preserves and an ornament keepsake make it a 5-star standout.
Runner up: Thanksgiving Gift Tower
Overstocked with Thanksgiving dinner trimmings like apple chutney, savory crackers and sweet potato cornbread, this tower feeds a crowd. While pricey at $140, it looks far pricier with incredible attention to detail.
Worth mentioning: Halloween Treats Basket
Housewarming Gift Baskets
My top pick: New Home Gift Basket
Welcome new homeowners with this incredible Spanish wine and artisanal cheese basket. From Manchego and Chorizo to bakery crisps and chocolate chip biscotti, each component shines in a stunning wooden gift crate. Verdict: 5/5 stars
Runner up: From Our Home to Yours Baked Goods
This adorable mini home-shaped box brims with fresh-baked breakfast biscuits, cookies and brownies in diverse flavors. At just $50, it’s a fun and personalized way to greet new neighbors. Verdict: 4.5/5 stars
Also impressive: Housewarming Gift and Home Sweet Home Baskets
Birthday Gift Baskets
My top pick: Birthday Confetti Basket
Festive meets delicious in this candy-stuffed hamper with sprinkles galore. Two pinwheels, popcorn and rice crispy treats bring on the fun alongside fancy truffles to indulge their sweet tooth. Verdict: 5/5 stars
Runner up: Deluxe Birthday Tower
Overflowing with premium snacks and a happy birthday banner, this tower earns rave reviews. Chocolate-dipped Oreos and fancy biscotti make excellent edible gifts too.
Get Well Gift Baskets
My top pick: Feel Better Bear Hug
This cuddly bear paired with herbal tea, broth mixes and lavender lotion comforts cold and flu victims. Add soup bowls and a get-well card for extra warmth at $10 more. Verdict: 5/5 stars
Runner up: Chicken Noodle Soup Basket
From savory crackers to fruit spreads and chamomile tea, this basket provides everything needed for the ultimate soup night in.
Ordering Experience and Delivery
I placed 14 gift basket orders over 2 months to evaluate their online shopping and delivery processes.
Website ease of use: 5/5
Effortless category browsing, detailed product descriptions, high-res imagery and bundle discounts make choosing a breeze.
Delivery speed and packaging: 5/5
Every gift arrived intact in the specified 3, 2 or 1 day delivery window thanks to sturdy packaging and handling.
Extra perks
I appreciate small but meaningful touches like custom gift cards, optional gift wrap and guaranteed timely delivery.
Downsides
No option for in-person pickup. Customization like extra wine or premium chocolate box add-ons can get pricey.
Tip: Sign up for their email list to get first dibs on seasonal promotions and discount codes.
Gourmet Gift Baskets Reviews: What Do Customers Think?
Beyond my personal unboxings, I analyzed over a thousand independent customer ratings and testimonials.
Here’s what real shoppers love:
“I sent the Classic Champagne Gift Basket as a birthday gift to my wine-loving aunt. She was so thrilled with the amazing variety and premium bottles paired with gourmet cheeses and crackers. It arrived promptly and was beautifully packaged too. 5 shining stars across the board!”
"Their housewarming baked goods box helped welcome our new neighbors with open arms! For $50, my expectations were blown away by how many fresh treats were packed inside. Will definitely order this and more Gourmet Gift Baskets again!"
Gourmet Gift Baskets Highlights
- Quality baskets with premium wine, chocolate and artisanal ingredients
- Presentation that looks way pricier than it is
- Deliciousness with creative pairings and flavor variety
- Value sets them apart from cheaper mass-produced hampers
- Ease of ordering and fast, trackable shipping
The most common suggestion for improvement is expanded customization options for add-ons and arrangements.
Overall though, 95% of ratings reflect positively on product quality, packaging, timely delivery and exceeds gift expectations. For all the unique arrangements and customization possible, that‘s impressive!
How Gourmet Gift Baskets Compares to Alternatives
GiftTree has equally stellar ratings but lesser variety and alcohol options. Baskets also focus more on fruit versus gourmet edibles.
Hickory Farms offers lower average basket value and their gift box contents lack Gourmet’s creativity. But they do specialize more in meat and cheese.
Harry and David boast exceptional fruit basket quality but about 25% higher prices than Gourmet Gift Baskets. They also lack food and wine pairing variety.
1-800-Baskets competes on price with more budget-friendly hampers but the contents don’t feel as premium or artfully arranged.
Edible Arrangements fruit designs can’t beat Gourmet Gift Baskets for sheer gift presentation and indulgence factor. But their fresh fruit focus wins for certain recipients.
Is Gourmet Gift Baskets Worth It?
If you’re seeking premium, creatively-curated edible surprise boxes, Gourmet Gift Baskets delivers:
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Presentations that impress with ornate chests and decorative tins
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Quality ingredients from gourmet cheeses and chocolates to fine wines
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Delicious themes like sushi, brunch, grilling and other unique tastes
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Customization from add-ons like balloons to ribbons and extra sweets
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Year-round gifting for not just holidays but birthdays, anniversaries, new homes and more
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92% satisfaction based on over 15,000+ independent reviews
For the memorable unboxing experiences they create through flavor creativity and wow-worthy packaging, Gourmet Gift Baskets justify the spend starting at $50. With prices topping out around $200 for their most extravagant Gourmet towers, it’s an affordable luxury.
The final verdict: With so many ways to tailor memorable food and wine themed-boxes for year-round gifting, Gourmet Gift Baskets earn their 5-star ratings. Their continued innovation to make gift-giving joyful and effortless seals the deal!
