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Why We Rescue Packaged Goods at Misfits Market

We’re no longer in the business of just selling rescued organic fruits and vegetables. Since November 2019, we’ve had a hand in rescuing hundreds of packaged commodity staples like oil, spices, pastas, and flours, plus cookies, nondairy milks, and even pet food. (And who knows what could be next!)

All of these packaged items are rescues, just like the delicious produce you’ve grown to know and love. But what makes a packaged product worthy of rescuing?

It’s sold in large quantities.

We source canned beans, flour, and other commodity staples when we can buy them directly from the supplier or at a large volume. We then pass those savings onto you.

The packaging is outdated.

If a brand updates their logo or package design, they may still have a large number of existing products that now have outdated packaging. What we rescue might not have the new, sleek packaging you’ll see in the store but it’s the same delicious food.

Or, it’s short dated.

The item has a “best buy” date that’s fast approaching. The food is still delicious, but needs to be eaten sooner rather than later.

The packaging is wrong.

This could mean a missing or incorrect Universal Product Code or UPC. (Those black and white bars on a box or bag of food.) If it’s wrong, traditional retailers can’t sell it—but we can!

The packaging isn’t suitable for retail.

This could mean a number of things, like dented or slightly damaged packaging. Or recently, items that are normally sold in bulk—like granola or coffee—need to find a new home in unbranded packaging.

It’s simply excess. 

A packaged product could be overproduced for a lot of reasons: market changes, forecasting, some innovation on the retailer’s part and the item didn’t sell. It could also be excess bulk product that’s packed in plain packaging, which makes it less-than-ideal for traditional grocery stores.

Comments (56)

Just got my first order and it is fine! Question….going forward, if I want to order two of one item, can I do that? For example, two acorn squashes and that would count for two of the 6 items in that category….So can that be done?

Hi Joan, great question! Currently, you can only select 1 quantity of each item but we are constantly making changes to how customers can shop Misfits Market. Keep an eye on our newsletters, blog here, and our social channels for updates regarding the shopping experience. You may soon be able to add multiples of fruits and veggies 🙂 Stay tuned!

Have you considered “rescuing” the packaging that consumers get in even the best of situations? I try to use clamber containers and other packaging in my gardening (saving seeds, using puffy envelopes for filler for plant containers).

I am about to finally subscribe to Misfit Market, as soon as I get my stimulus check. I was laid off from an NIH contractor in November and have found that even filing for unemployment insurance is next to impossible.

I love this concept and think it will be a great way to get veggies to myself and my family. I’m happy to keep the answers coming–thanks for asking!

They normally contact you bu email..that is how I did my last package ..If you have signed up for their emails it will automatically come and they will ask.you to customize your order..
😉

Hi Rick, we’re sorry to hear your box has been delayed! Due to the holiday, we anticipated some delays with our third-party partners, but we want to look into this and make it right. Please fill out a ticket with our customer success team here: https://help.misfitsmarket.com/contact/custom-contact-form-S1NAIK1Iw Your message will be added to our queue and our team will be in touch with you via email as soon as they can. Thank you!

I love trying the market place add ons. Love the pasta, mustards, ketchup, tahinis, serving jars, ect

thank you misfit market
I have tried so many new produce items and stock items
Its so much fun ordering and trying new foods, especially in these covid 19 quarantine times
keep up the good work

I love that you do this. We just started to be Misfits and we absolutely enjoy receiving all our lovely fruits, veggies and boxed goods. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

I ???? love that you carry basics, like carrots???????? , celery, and potatoes. But I also love that you also have things my neighborhood grocer doesn’t stock, like fresno peppers and daikon radishes..
This year frequent trips to the store have seemed like an unnecessary risk, so your service has been a literal lifesaver

Or, in the case of some gingerbread cookies I bought in my last box, decorated on the bottom instead of the top. Made me laugh 🙂

Hi Angela, we’re sorry to hear that the site experience is confusing and we want to help! Could you please fill out a ticket with our customer success team here: https://help.misfitsmarket.com/contact/custom-contact-form-S1NAIK1Iw Your message will be added to our queue and our team will be in touch with you via email as soon as they can. Thank you!

Honestly I have no use for anything other than produce which is what I joined for. I don’t find the pricing as great as what I can find in my grocery store on sale and further more you have more and more produce you charge extra for. I feel the mission no longer applies and am reconsidering my membership.

I’m new to Misfits but it suits me to a t on every level. I love the produce and the pantry items and you make it easier to be a vegan . Your deliveries and sourcing make it possible for me to eat well on a budget. Thank you!! I love that we are helping the environment by purchasing food that would otherwise be wasted.

Hi Annelise, We’ve been ordering Misfits since the summer and also love that we are helping “rescue” unnecessary waste. It’s amazing how much gets thrown away in our country when so many are in need. So grateful to feel like I’m part of a community of people that care – not only about saving money, but also our environment. Happy New Year! Happy Eating! Love & Peace, Alanna

Have a hard time trying to connect to my account to change my credit card information trying to get phone number to speak to a representative

Hi Ken, we’re sorry to hear that you’re having trouble with your account. We currently did not have a customer service phone line, but can help you online! Please fill out a ticket with our customer success team here: https://help.misfitsmarket.com/contact/custom-contact-form-S1NAIK1Iw Your message will be added to our queue and our team will be in touch with you via email as soon as they can. Thank you!

Since receiving Misfits, my knowledge and appreciation for unknown veggies had really grown. I feel that I have become smarter. Love your recipes!

Received my 1st box today! It was packaged so well! And each item was COLD! Lots of food for my Fam of 3! I was Very Surprised! 4 of “almost” everything. Affordable way to try new foods without breaking my budget!

This will be my third order and I decided to get the small box since it’s only for two people.. And so far so good!

Hi Deborah, yes! We currently only rescue organic produce and packaged goods. (If we happen to sell conventional, it will be noted.) As for dented packaging, we will never ship or sell something that is beyond recognition or has obvious damage on the inside. However, if we sell a box of cookies, for example, with slight box damage, we can assume that the inside has not been compromised and should be just as delicious! However, if you ever receive an item that has been compromised or simply not edible due to interior damage, please let our team know and we will make it right ASAP. Thank you!

Hi Deborah, They really will make it right! We’ve had missing Marketplace items (on two occasions) and both times the cost of the missing items was credited within a few days of notifying them. The majority of items from the Marketplace have been amazing – honestly wish we could get more of them – some items are only available once or twice and it’s been a bummer to not be able to order all the time. But it’s allowed us to try so many new items that we would not normally spend the money on – and now we know what’s worth buying. And we’ve found some of the items – like Bob’s Red Mill gluten free brownie mix – at a local discount store! Would never have looked for it if we hadn’t tried it on the Misfits Market! Happy New Year! Happy Eating!

why are add-ons being substituted? i have had several occasions where my add on was replaced with something else? bad enough that in the main box, the substitutions for out of stock produce are not remotely similar to the item that was chosen in customization .. love the fact that yo have gluten free and vegan items in the marketplace . would love it if the could be marked as V,GF so one doens;t have to go through ththe ingredients . things sell out so quickly i would love to know up front if it s a safe item!

Hi Shelley, great suggestion! We’ll pass that along to the team and request that they clearly mark items vegan, gluten-free, etc. As for your substituted produce, we’re sorry that’s been happening! Occasionally we do need to make a substitute based on the produce that we rescue. It may not arrive in the best shape or for any number of reasons, but these substitutes shouldn’t happen frequently if at all so we’d like to look into this. Please fill out a ticket with our customer success team here: https://help.misfitsmarket.com/contact/custom-contact-form-S1NAIK1Iw Your message will be added to our queue and our team will be in touch with you via email as soon as they can. Thank you!

I loved my first shipment. Have enjoyed it all, but it is still a lot for just one person. I did not let anything to waste. I shared, but is there a plan to get one box a month?

I have ordered twice from you. The first delivery contained about a third of the products inedible The second order was never delivered despite the tracker that said it was. I contacted you then – 24 Dec and had no response. I’m gl;ad others have good experiences, but I haven’t. I am making one more attempt to get something for the money I have paid you. It either works or it’s my last attempt.

Hi Alice, we’re so sorry to hear that you’ve been disappointed with the quality of our produce and service. This is definitely not up to our standards and we want to make this right. Due to the holiday, we anticipated some delays from our third-party shipping partners, but we want to look into this delay and the quality issues. Please fill out a ticket with our customer success team here: https://help.misfitsmarket.com/contact/custom-contact-form-S1NAIK1Iw Your message will be added to our queue and our team will be in touch with you via email as soon as they can. Thank you!

We just recently joined Misfits and are excited to continue our journey with you. We love our produce and especially the selections, some of which we cannot get locally. Wishing you continued success.

Hi Lori, happy to help! Please fill out a ticket with our customer success team here: https://help.misfitsmarket.com/contact/custom-contact-form-S1NAIK1Iw Your message will be added to our queue and our team will be in touch with you via email as soon as they can. Then, you can email with our customer success team to help you out. Thank you!

Really Loving our Misfits Market!!!!
My sister-in-law in Fl referred us and we couldn’t be happier! we live in northern NJ and I see the produce ships from NJ so I believe we are getting it super quick, but either way, everything arrives so fresh that I find myself using as much as possible the night it all arrives.
Great concept!!!

Magically, a wonderful box of organic produce appears at my door weekly! I am so appreciative of Misfits Market. Since beginning delivery, I have been able to cut back on my trips to the grocery store, which is vitally important to me during the pandemic. I am also able to stock my kitchen with healthy organic foods for so much less than I was spending at the grocery store. The organic produce somehow seems to stay fresher longer, too, and I love the optional add-ons, eliminating trips for things like plant based milk. My family is eating more fruits and vegetables now, always a good thing, due to knowing we need to finish what has been delivered by the time our next box arrives. Keep doing what you are doing, I love your concept and product!

Hi Myra, we’re so sorry to hear that your box never arrived! We work with a number of third-party shipping partners, so be sure to check your email and click the link that has the available tracking information. Due to the holidays, we anticipated some delays, but you should have received communication from us. We want to look into this issue and make this right! Please fill out a ticket with our customer success team here: https://help.misfitsmarket.com/contact/custom-contact-form-S1NAIK1Iw Your message will be added to our queue and our team will be in touch with you via email as soon as they can. Thank you!

I was Leary after a few bad reviews that I saw. I had ordered based on good friends that love you. Well, let me just say,.. you have exceeded my expectations…even with some broken and bruised items. That I expected.
My first box is going to be a lot of soup and deserts… so I’m going to be a busy cook. ????‍????
I’ve sent info and photos to several friends… they are not as adventurous as I, but maybe.
Thank you… now to think about my next order! ????????

I have been a customer for well over a year now and have been very satisfied with the products and with the customer service. Whenever I have had missing products from the Marketplace or damaged produce in my box, I have made you aware of the situation and you have always taken care of it! I like how we have been able to customize our boxes now; but, I must say, before I was able to do that I got to try some new vegetables that I probably would have not picked up at the grocery store! I also appreciate how it stretches the budget and also the ability to get some items that are not available local. I like your mission of rescuing food that otherwise might get thrown away. Keep up the good work!

I’ve been ordering sonce November (8 boxes) and I can’t tell you how excited I get when its time to order my box. There is a pretty good variety,although I do have my favorites, and I have become a vegetarian since I started ordering. I love, love, love Misfits and I’m always anticipating what trouble I can get into with Marketplace items which has some really great products. Anyhoo…love my Misfits ????????????♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️

I had been eating too much canned and processed food not going to the grocery store because of the lock down. The fresh food was like manna from heaven in comparison. So juicy and good. No need for sugar to be added. Love it!

Hi Ellen! If you’d like to pause or cancel your subscription, please log in and visit your account page here: https://www.misfitsmarket.com/account Then, click “Manage Subscription.” On the right side of the page, you’ll be able to change your subscription preferences—preferred day, frequency, and box size. Or, scroll down to “need a break?” to skip, pause, or cancel. Thank you!

I scheduled an order to be delivered on Sunday 1-10-2021. It was my understanding I would get an E-Mail today in order to select items for this first order. I have no yet seen that EMail.

Hi Linda,

Correct! Every Misfits Market customer is given a 3-day period to customize their box and add items from The Marketplace. You should receive an email from us on the first day (at 4 p.m. EST) when your customization window has begun. If you haven’t received that email, please check your spam to make sure emails from us are not going there. Additionally, you can access your account that has a large countdown clock to tell you exactly when you can customize your box. You can find that here: https://www.misfitsmarket.com/account

If you’re having issues finding these emails or accessing your account, please fill out a ticket with our customer success team here: https://help.misfitsmarket.com/contact/custom-contact-form-S1NAIK1Iw Your message will be added to our queue and our team will be in touch with you via email as soon as they can. Thank you!

An e-mail was sent to me saying build your box, how does a person sign in to build their box when unable to
When given only one day to build your box and 48 hrs for a reply so what the purpose no help. Not sure if I really want a misfit box

Hi Bernice, we’re sorry to hear that you had trouble accessing your account to build your box. Every Misfits Market customer is given a 3-day period to customize their box and add items from The Marketplace. You should receive an email from us on the first day (at 4 p.m. EST) when your customization window has begun. If you haven’t received that email, please check your spam to make sure emails from us are not going there. Additionally, you can access your account that has a large countdown clock to tell you exactly when you can customize your box. You can find that here: https://www.misfitsmarket.com/account

If you’re still having issues, please fill out a ticket with our customer success team here: https://help.misfitsmarket.com/contact/custom-contact-form-S1NAIK1Iw Your message will be added to our queue and our team will be in touch with you via email as soon as they can. Thank you!

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