Abel & Cole--Not that great?

[DSMEZ]

I've been getting a mixed box from Abel & Cole for three weeks now, and I have to say I am not all that impressed. My vegetables and fruit don't seem that fresh--the carrots and potatoes feel slightly soft the same day I get them. Also, the veg seems to go off VERY quickly. I got some broccoli in my box yesterday and by this morning (now) it's slightly yellow. Anyone else have Abel & Cole? Am I just being unlucky and should therefore complain, or move on to a new box scheme? I do like getting a veg box as we end up trying things we don't normally eat. Thanks.

I got them for a few months but found the same problem that they wern't that fresh and a bit soft. I do find there fruit alot better than there veg though. I would try another scheme.

It will go off more quickly because they will use varieties selected for flavour not longevity, and won't pack it in inert gases.

But you should expect it to be fresh when it arrives. If it is British and in season there is no excuse.

Same here! I actually just had my first box this week and the lettuce looked limp and the carrots were not too fresh either... Apples and Kiwis taste great though. Not sure if I'm going to make this a weekly thing. Would be interested in hearing about other box schemes.

I thought the same thing about mine - some stuff is definitely not fresh, I'm always throwing away brocolli as it doesn't las tmore than a day or so. The fruit always seems fresh though.

The meat and eggs and milk are fab though. I'm going to stop the veg and do an intermittant order for meat etc (venison mince is particularly good in Spag bol)

I can't speak to Abel and Cole as I've never tried them but I love my Riverford box. The veg generally lasts for aaaaaaaaaaaages. In fact I have some 3 week old carrots in the fridge right now, and they still look fine to me.

It does vary a LOT from season to season, if you happen to get a batch of somethign at the end of the season it is obviously not as nice as peak season stuff which is brand spanking fresh.

Riverford do explain things in their little leaflet. So if they are having trouble with their carrots they will say "our carrot stock is proving troublesome in the wet weather but as they are such a firm favourite we have taken the decision to include them in the box anyway, supplemented with stock from abroad"

(I'm not quoting btw, just making it up so you get the picture)

I thought Riverford was fresher but they wouldn't exclude stuff from the box so I was perpetually giving away fennell and oranges

let abel and cole know, they are v good on the customer relations side of thigns, I've had credit added to my account for this reason when things weren't v fresh

We gave up abel and cole cos the stuff we were getting was all going limp and manky by the next day. 2 days after delivery it was unedible and it wasn;t that fresh when we first got it.

Also I was fed up of phoning up to complain. If it is a weekly veg box I expect at least some of the stuff to last a week. Not have to go out and buy almost a weeks worth of fruit and veg 2 days after delivery.

I like my box from my milk man - fresh and good quality and gets delivered at 3.00 in the morning!

We also gave up on Abel & Cole for the same reason.

Yup, Riverford you do just get what you get, no exclusions. But that's probably partly what enables them to stock much fresher stuff, they literally give you whatever is best, that's their only criteria.

Having said that I've been having them for a year and have only had fennel twice I think! So maybe you were unlucky?

I gave up on AanC for the reasons given. I also found the mixed veg box to be really repetitive.

Their replacements were crap as well. Once I had three cabbages ffs.

Their customer service is very good - always good refunds and the occasional olive branch.

i was happy with the quality of stuff i got, just couldnt get through it all, whislt didnt have stuff i actually needed.
what am i spoesd to do with a tone fo rhubabbrb? and yes, ive ticked all the likes and dislieks stuff.
back to ole tesco for us.

perhaps they knew I didn't like Fennel and were doing it deliberately

I agree - we had an Abel & Cole mixed box for a few months but gave it up because the stuff wasn't that fresh.

Thinking of giving them up too for the same reasons.
Have to agree though, the customer service is excellent. Today our box was let in the wrong place (outside front door not in communal hallway as usual). When I phoned to complain they gave me free box next time and a free bottle of olive oil!
Not sure of an alternative in my area, never heard of Riverford - will look into it.

I found the same when I used them a few years ago.

had the same problem where i used to work...

we had able and cole for about 6 months and gave up

other exboss is VERY happy with riverford though

oh yes... we would also have LOADS of onions and cabbage... but the typical veg that the kids like (and my charges really were VERY good eaters) we would have hardly any of... 1 carrot verses 3 cabbages... it was madness lol

So I complained to Abel and cole...or rather when I closed the account and a feedback form popped up I filled it out. This morning they responded to me, saying they would refund me for the items I said did not look fresh! They also offered to give me a bottle of olive oil to come back. I really wanted to like Abel & Cole, but it seems that the complaint about unfresh produce is not an uncommon one. Anyway, just wanted to give an update and say they are very good at CS.