Dissecting Catalog Gift Baskets

Dec. 7 -- In preparation for the upcoming holiday season, Good Morning America put five of the top food mail order catalog companies to the test.

Consumer correspondent Greg Hunter looked at size and arrival success rates and food editor Sara Moulton took on taste testing. They looked at catalog gifts from five major companies: Harry and David, Swiss Colony, Hickory Farms, the Wisconsin Cheeseman, and Figis.

The first thing Hunter learned about ordering gifts from catalogs is that it can be costly. This is especially true when you add on the cost for shipping.

Time and Money

Four items from Harry and David cost $189.80. But for one-week delivery, in addition to regular shipping, we had to pay an extra $7.95 per item. That brought our shipping total to $69.14 for four items. Swiss Colony and Figis charged just $7.95 extra to get their entire orders delivered in a week. Everyone charged us something extra for fast delivery, and it worked most of the time. Every single item ordered came in by the deadline — except the executive gift basket from Figis. After we complained to Figis about the missing basket, the company offered a 5 percent discount. Then, after we did a bit more complaining, the company took 20 percent off the entire order.

When the Wisconsin Cheeseman was informed that its gingerbread house had arrived in need of home improvement, the company cheerfully sent another one at no extra charge.

Products always look big in the catalog, but you may end up with elf-size portions. Most of the jam jars ordered from catalog companies wouldn’t spread very far; they’re 1 1/2 ounces each. Weights and sizes in catalog descriptions are more reliable than pictures, which tend to make things look bigger and better.

For the most part, these companies are good at getting gifts out on time. If you want your gifts to arrive by Christmas Eve, without paying extra, you’ll have to order by the end of next week. If you’re ordering from Swiss Colony for Christmas Eve delivery, you have to call by this coming Tuesday.