IGourmet.com: A Great Site for Gifts for Any Occasion or Recipient!
Written: Sep 16 '09
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I put a lot of pressure on myself when it comes to gift-giving. My mother is the type of person who always knows what to give for every occasion. She set the bar very high, so I find myself spending a great deal of time thinking about gifts. This year, my husband and I started Christmas shopping early. I already have a complete list of what we're getting everyone and we started ordering gifts online. Even so, there are always those few people for whom and occasions for which I just can't find the appropriate present.
We encountered several tough gift situations after our wedding last year. We had worked with a number of people who really went above and beyond. A monetary tip didn't seem personal enough for some of them, especially those who owned their own businesses, yet we didn't know them well enough to get them a very personal gift. My search led me to IGourmet.com and it has become my go-to site for all difficult gifts!
Website
IGourmet offers a huge assortment of gourmet food items including cheeses, wines, crackers, fruits, meats, chocolates, desserts, and pantry items. These can be purchased separately or put together to create gift baskets. They also offer pre-made baskets with items centered on a particular theme.
There are gift basket options for anyone and any occasion. There are congratulatory baskets with all sorts of treats for celebrations. There are holiday baskets with assortments of egg nog and summer baskets with barbeque sauces and tools. There are ethnic baskets with foods from a particular culture. The options span all budgets, and the site often runs sales and special free shipping promotions. The site also offers plenty of options for those with special dietary needs and concerns, such as kosher and vegetarian items. If you're looking for a more elaborate gift, there are several "Of-The-Month" club choices.
Customers can browse the site using the tabs at the top of the homepage or the menu of links on the left side. The products are divided into logical categories, with fitting subcategories to narrow down your search by details including price, recipient, or occasion. I have used the browsing feature to find gifts several times with much success. The site also allows you to search for items by keyword. The search results are very accurate, bringing up gifts with related products or that are intended for the searched-for occasion.
The product pages are extremely thorough. A picture of each product is provided, which can be enlarged for better viewing. For gift baskets, the items are shown together as presented in the gift packaging. Each listing includes a detailed description of the product. For baskets containing multiple items, this description includes a bulleted list of its contents, which are all thoroughly described. The site includes any pertinent information such as the volume/size of food items. Pricing for both the product and shipping are clearly listed right on the product page. When available, customer ratings of the product are included. I found I agreed with the other customers' opinions the two times that I ordered baskets that had previous reviews.
Though it isn't available for every product, the site sometimes provides recipes and ideas on the individual product pages. It may also list a serving suggestion. For items you're unfamiliar with or have a question about, there is a link to ask an expert a question. I have not yet had to use this feature.
The ordering process is very easy to follow. The product page lists the policy for substituting products with similar items of equal value, but you may opt to have these items left out and receive a refund during the checkout process. A message may also be added during the checkout process at no extra cost. All items can be ordered for overnight shipping.
IGourmet is a very stable website. During my time browsing and ordering on the site, I experienced no slow loading or broken links.
My Experience
I have ordered from IGourmet.com numerous times and I have been happy with all of my purchases. Each time, the item was delivered on-time, exactly as described with no substitutions.
Late last fall, my husband and I wanted to order something for his Godfather's birthday. His Godfather loves to hunt and talk republican politics, but we didn't want to purchase hunting gear or conservative books. We decided that an edible gift may be the way to go, but had to be sure to stay away from sweets since the recipient is diabetic. We found a basket called "Appetite for Antipasto." It included gourmet antipasto items such as imported salami, Italian olives, and a Wines of Italy book. I couldn't think of a more perfect gift basket to be enjoyed around the holidays!
We ordered the basket for him with a short birthday message. We received an order confirmation immediately upon placing the order. The item cost $89.99, which I felt was appropriate for the included items. The item was part of a free shipping promotion at the time, so it was delivered the next day, free of charge. We also received an email confirmation confirming that the item had shipped and another, informing us the gift had been received. My husband's Godfather served some of the items one week later when we came over for a family gathering. The antipasto was delicious! The Provolone piccante was one of the tastiest cheeses I had ever had. It was perfect when paired with the included flat bread. We loved the basket so much that we ordered it as a thank-you for our wedding coordinator and our wedding venue contact. Both raved about how great it was!
I used IGourmet again when some friends told us they were expecting (twins!). They live four hours away, so we wanted to have a gift delivered to them. We were looking for something to pamper the mommy-to-be, as this was her first pregnancy. An "Expecting Mother Survival Kit" came up as a search result for "pregnancy." It included items to satisfy any pregnancy craving. It contained olives, truffles, baby cucumbers, and other sweet and salty items, all nestled within a brightly colored ice cream party cooler set. The basket was $99.99, which was a little expensive, but not unreasonable for everything it included. The item was part of another free shipping promotion, and it was delivered the day after I placed the order. Our friend was very surprised.
We also ordered a gift for my husband's aunt's 80th birthday on IGourmet. We found a great basket of comfort foods that the site calls a "Get Well" basket. Although I'm sure the treats would be perfect for someone who is getting over an illness, it was also a very fitting gift for a vegetarian who enjoys gourmet snacks. The basket was $39.99, with an additional $7.99 for shipping. It was delivered early the next day and his Aunt loved it. It was great to find a gift she could enjoy without us spending a fortune!
Overall Recommendation
Since everyone eats, it's rare to find a situation when an edible gift isn't appropriate. If you're stuck on finding the perfect gift for someone, check out IGourmet.com. Their selection is excellent, as is their customer service.
Recommended:
Yes
What product did you purchase or try to purchase? Gift baskets
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Member: Jamilynn
Location: Staten Island, NY USA
Reviews written: 224
Trusted by: 41 members
About Me:
So glad to almost be done with Christmas shopping!
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