# Mail Order Fruit-of-the-Month **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 2, 2005, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mail-order-fruit-of-the-month/329184 "2005-11-02T22:31:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Digital\_Stimulus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@Digital\_Stimulus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Digital_Stimulus)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2005, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mail-order-fruit-of-the-month/329184/1 "2005-11-02T22:31:21Z")
It occurred to me that my wife would appreciate receiving high-quality fruit each month as a (Christmas) gift. It seems that these plans are kind of pricy, but that’s OK - part of the gift is that it’s something she would _never_ order herself. I found the following sites: [ul] [li][Harry and David](http://www.harryanddavid.com/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/CategoryDisplay?cgmenbr=201&cgrfnbr=5)[/li][li][GotFruit.com](http://www.gotfruit.com/club_delight.html)[/li][li][Fruit Gift of the Month Club](http://www.greatclubs.com/fruitclub/default.asp)[/li][/ul] Does anyone have any experience with these “fruit-of-the-month” clubs? Are there others that you’d recommend? ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_Bowe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/df788c/32.png) [@Doug\_Bowe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_Bowe)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2005, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mail-order-fruit-of-the-month/329184/2 "2005-11-02T22:48:36Z")
Harry and David is the oldest (since 1938, I believe). I _have_ known a couple of (rich) relatives who got Fruit of the Month ™ from them back when they were the only ones doing this. The relatives were happy. If something goes wrong in shipping and the fruit arrives spoiled you ship it back at H & D’s expense and they replace. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2005, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mail-order-fruit-of-the-month/329184/3 "2005-11-02T23:28:46Z")
Am I the only one hearing Doris Roberts? ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2005, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mail-order-fruit-of-the-month/329184/5 "2005-11-03T01:06:29Z")
Harry and David have excellent quality regardless of which plan you choose (they have several). They will also replace boxes that aren’t 100% great. Very good customer service as well. I highly recommend them. We have been getting the “platinum plan” as a gift from a friend for years and we love it. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2005, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mail-order-fruit-of-the-month/329184/6 "2005-11-03T01:11:14Z")
For your wife? The first box better have jewelry in it as well, or you are soooo dead! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![SleepyDuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a183cd/32.png) [@SleepyDuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SleepyDuck)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2005, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mail-order-fruit-of-the-month/329184/7 "2005-11-03T01:57:21Z")
Another vote for Harry and David. A little pricey, but high quality fruit, and a 100% satisfaction guarantee, as noted above. ---
**Author:** ![Digital\_Stimulus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@Digital\_Stimulus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Digital_Stimulus)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2005, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mail-order-fruit-of-the-month/329184/8 "2005-11-03T12:47:30Z")
Thanks for the quality assurances, they make me feel better about receiving perishables by mail. I’ll have to check prices and guarantees at the places other than H&D (I’d never have thought about that; thanks!). As to jewelry – my wife doesn’t wear any except on special occasions. I’m (or, more specifically, our bank account) is fortunate in that regard. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2005, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mail-order-fruit-of-the-month/329184/9 "2005-11-03T13:25:32Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > Am I the only one hearing Doris Roberts? “There’s more fruit?!? Every month?” 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2005, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mail-order-fruit-of-the-month/329184/10 "2005-11-03T13:35:16Z")
Man, you have to really like fruit. My dad gave me one box of H&D pears and I couldn’t finish it. Mainly because I don’t like pears. And yeah…I hope this is a stocking-stuffer and not her main gift. I got a Scum Buster one year and it was the family joke for the following decade. These are not gifts one normally associates with the love of one’s life. My dad gives the fruit to my deceased mother’s brother, who he never sees. That’s how impersonal it is. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Punkyova](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@The\_Punkyova](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Punkyova)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2005, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mail-order-fruit-of-the-month/329184/11 "2005-11-03T14:26:02Z")
I don’t necessarily see this as an impersonal gift. My mom gives me a box of H&D pears every Christmas, and it’s my favorite gift. (Maverick pears, mmmm…) There are different size boxes, so you don’t have to be innundated. If your wife likes fruit, this could be a lovely gift. ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2005, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mail-order-fruit-of-the-month/329184/12 "2005-11-03T15:06:03Z")
I’m with **jayjay** and **BiblioCat**. I thought this was going to be a thread about Everybody Love’s Raymond. Excellent as a gag for a TV show, but as a gift for one’s spouse; not so much. You get points for being thoughtful and original, though! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Digital\_Stimulus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@Digital\_Stimulus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Digital_Stimulus)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2005, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mail-order-fruit-of-the-month/329184/13 "2005-11-03T15:34:31Z")
> [@WOOKINPANUB](#): > > I’m with **jayjay** and **BiblioCat**. I thought this was going to be a thread about Everybody Love’s Raymond. Excellent as a gag for a TV show, but as a gift for one’s spouse; not so much. You get points for being thoughtful and original, though! 🙂 Thanks for giving me points. I state, for the record, that I pretty much despise that show; it kind of disturbs me, in some vague way, that such a connection is being made. No worries, though, since: > [@The Punkyova](#): > > If your wife likes fruit, this could be a lovely gift. It actually goes beyond that; she consistently complains about the quality of fruit available in the stores around here. If the fruit is _that good_, it’d be something she really looks forward to every month. > [@Kalhoun](#): > > I hope this is a stocking-stuffer and not her main gift. I got a Scum Buster one year and it was the family joke for the following decade. It’s funny – I see this as a reflection of knowing my wife so well that it’s incredibly personal; I don’t think there’s anyone else in the world that would be able to identify it as a legitimate desire of hers. Besides, receiving sweet, luscious fruit each month _does_ send rather a different message than…oh, I don’t know…getting a _Scum Buster_. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2005, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mail-order-fruit-of-the-month/329184/14 "2005-11-03T16:34:27Z")
The April edition of Cook’s Illustrated did a comparison of fruit baskets from various mail-order companies, including Harry & David. Granted, these were baskets, not clubs, but they didn’t like _any_ of them. You have to be a paid member to see the actual article on-line, but you might be able to find it at the library. Their conclusion? “Given the outrageous cost for skimpy contents and nothing special in terms of quality, we’ll be sending gifts other than fruit baskets to celebrate that new baby or promotion.” Here’s part of the review about Harry & David: “Harry and David promised some special fruit and, indeed, the five pears we received were excellent, including Harry and David’s well-known Riviera pear. (The replacement value above contains an estimated premium for unusual varieties.) However, the two kiwis were sour and mushy, and the orange had a dull flavor. Given that we had to wait for peak quality–the company wouldn’t give a shipping date, committing to ship only when the fruit was in peak condition–we expected every piece to be sublime.” ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2005, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mail-order-fruit-of-the-month/329184/15 "2005-11-03T16:52:48Z")
> [@Digital Stimulus](#): > > It’s funny – I see this as a reflection of knowing my wife so well that it’s incredibly personal; I don’t think there’s anyone else in the world that would be able to identify it as a legitimate desire of hers. Besides, receiving sweet, luscious fruit each month _does_ send rather a different message than…oh, I don’t know…getting a _Scum Buster_. 😃 Yeah, well the Scum Buster wasn’t my only gift but it still sucked. ☹ Even though I needed it. I’m happy to say he hasn’t made the same mistake again. ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2005, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mail-order-fruit-of-the-month/329184/16 "2005-11-03T17:53:58Z")
> [@Digital Stimulus](#): > > It actually goes beyond that; she consistently complains about the quality of fruit available in the stores around here. If the fruit is _that good_, it’d be something she really looks forward to every month. Sure, if the local stuff is bad and the mail-order fruit is actually good, then she’d definitely like this gift. > [@](#): > > It’s funny – I see this as a reflection of knowing my wife so well that it’s incredibly personal; I don’t think there’s anyone else in the world that would be able to identify it as a legitimate desire of hers. Besides, receiving sweet, luscious fruit each month _does_ send rather a different message than…oh, I don’t know…getting a _Scum Buster_. 😃 Hey, I was just kidding around. Yeah, the _everybody Loves Raymond_ bit was the first thing that popped into my mind, but if you really think your wife would like this, then by all means go ahead. I’d like it - but I like fruit, pears esecially. My kids would like the apples and oranges. Disclaimer: I asked for and got a Scumbuster years ago (when they were brand-new) and was thrilled with it. I still use it. My mom gave it to me, though, not my husband. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Arky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2005, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mail-order-fruit-of-the-month/329184/17 "2005-11-03T18:10:41Z")
DISCLAIMER: I have no affiliation with Hale Groves or any related company. I was on vacation in Vero Beach, FL a couple of months ago, and I stumbled onto [this place - Hale Groves](http://www.halegroves.com/) on the side of the road (Rt 1). Anyway, they seemed to have a lot of good fruit there. The cool thing was they had free juice. It was fresh squeezed, though, not pasteurized, and it was just about the best thing I ever put in my mouth. There is simply no comparing the OJ you get in the grocery with this. Anyway, it seemed like a nice, albeit pricey, family organization with good stuff. I’m considering sending my mom a basket or something. Now, to the OP: Do NOT give your spouse this unless they actually ask for it, or you’re going to be doubledead. You might as well give her a bowling ball with Homer engraved on it. Unless, of course, as others have mentioned, there’s some jewelry or other romantic gift involved, as well. ---
**Author:** ![Digital\_Stimulus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@Digital\_Stimulus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Digital_Stimulus)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2005, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mail-order-fruit-of-the-month/329184/18 "2005-11-03T20:23:31Z")
Just so I’m not misunderstood – thanks to all of you who express concern and/or warnings about whether she’d like this as a gift (or that it’s too impersonal, or whatnot). To alleviate that, would it help to know that she just recently told me that the sewing machine I got her last year was one of the best gifts she’s received? (No, not just out of the ones she’s received _from me_; she sews a bit and used to do it all by hand. A sewing machine was an extravagence that she’d never have gotten herself. Although it’s not _too_ far removed from a ScumBuster, is it? Skirt that edge, I do.) Naturally, I share the concern; part of my responses are me weighing my thoughts. And part of that is whether _this part_ of her gift is worth the cost. As to the Doris Roberts comparison, I should say I’m sorta disturbed in the way I’d be if someone connected me with Erkel. Not offended, exactly, but weirded out. More along the lines of – hold up, reality check; did I just qualify as the butt of a beer commercial joke? Thanks **Athena** , I’ll have to see if I can get my hands on that article. It sorta confirms my reservations about having perishables shipped; perhaps gourmet chocolate might be better. **An Arky** , I find it odd that Hale’s doesn’t mention quantity included in a shipment. Perhaps I’ll call the 800 number to follow up. ---
**Author:** ![middleman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9a140/32.png) [@middleman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/middleman)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2005, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mail-order-fruit-of-the-month/329184/19 "2005-11-03T20:38:06Z")
I remember seeing this in the Continental Airlines Sky Mall magazine and thinking it was kind of interesting. There were also beef and seafood clubs (they were express shipped in dry ice, I believe). ---
**Author:** ![middleman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9a140/32.png) [@middleman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/middleman)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2005, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mail-order-fruit-of-the-month/329184/20 "2005-11-03T20:40:43Z")
Hey look! The Google Ads are working! ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [November 3, 2005, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mail-order-fruit-of-the-month/329184/21 "2005-11-03T20:48:18Z")
> [@Digital Stimulus](#): > > did I just qualify as the butt of a beer commercial joke? \*\*We salute you, Mr. Fruit of the Month Giving Guy. \*\* (_peeeears, apples and peaaaaaches_) My apologies for any offence, **Digital Stimulus**. I really do think it’s thoughtful , especially after your explaining that it’s something she’ll enjoy. Bad **Wook**! [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mail-order-fruit-of-the-month/329184.md?page=2)