Learn all about Misfits Market: how it works, what a typical order looks like, pros and cons, and whether you should add Misfits to your grocery shopping routine.
These days, we have lots of options for grocery shopping. Whether you choose to go to the store yourself, order groceries for pickup, or use an online grocery delivery service, you want to make the most of your grocery budget.
Sometimes, that means shopping around for the best deal and writing prices down in your price book.
Sometimes, that means buying in bulk to get the best price per unit.
And sometimes, that means trying something new.
That’s what I did to see if I wanted to add Misfits Market to my grocery shopping routine.
WHAT IS MISFITS MARKET?
So, what is Misfits Market? It’s an online grocer aimed at offering high-quality food at accessible prices while helping eliminate food waste.
They take the misfit items from the grocery store and sell them to you at a reduced price. These misfits can be produce with discoloration or irregular in size, like a giant lemon or a tiny butternut squash. Or they could be packaged pantry items that have issues, like if a company changes its branding and wants to sell off the items with the old packaging. And sometimes, there’s just excess inventory of items, especially seasonal things that didn’t sell before the holiday passed.
Although they started with just selling misfit produce, Misfits Market is now more like Thrive Market, and they sell all sorts of items.
You can find foods you might not find locally, like organic onions and garlic, gluten-free rolled oats or graham crackers, or unique snacks like chewy pineapple bites or toffee almond bits. Misfits sells quite a few items under their “store” brand, Odds & Ends, as well.
HOW DOES MISFITS MARKETS WORK?
When you sign up for a Misfits Market account, you’ll be automatically enrolled in their weekly deliveries plan (it’s easy to change in the account settings).
That means every week, they’ll pre-fill a curated selection of items into your shopping cart based on the preferences you selected when you signed up. Think things like mostly organic plant-based versus eating high-quality meats and cheese, whether you want bread and bakery items, or if you have pets and want pet products included.
The cart is based on a total dollar amount, not a specific number of items. All of your preferences are saved in your account settings and are easy to update if you only want specific categories of items in your Misfits box.
A week before your order is set to ship, you have a three-day shopping window to go in and update your cart. Take out items you don’t want, add in items that catch your eye, and you’re all set! Once your shopping window ends, your payment method is authorized, and a few days later, your order is shipped to your house. Easy!
If you don’t want an order every week, you can pause your subscription. If you decide not to continue with the service, you can cancel. This means no more auto-filled carts or orders that ship automatically, but you do still have the option to log back into your account and place a single order any time you want.
Psst! Crumbs Readers can get $20 off your first 2 orders of $35 or more. Sign up through this link to get started and save!
MISFITS MARKET BONUSES
Misfits Perks. When you sign up for a Misfits account, you are automatically enrolled in Misfits Perks. Customers on a weekly plan earn 2 points per dollar spent, and a la carte orders earn 1 point per dollar spent. You can redeem your points for a free grocery item on a future order. Points expire if you don’t place an order for 60 days or 1 year after earning them.
Misfits+ Membership. You also have the option of joining Misfits+, an annual subscription that offers members-only discounts, a reduced shipping cost (or free shipping depending on your zip code), and includes donations of meals to Feeding America. The membership fees cost $69 per year, but if this is a service you’ll end up using often, it might be worth running the numbers to see if the savings outweigh the cost.
MY MISFITS ORDER
When I placed my Misfits order, I got 12 items in my cart by default. Most were organic items and were in the $2.70 to $4.00 range. I stuck with mostly produce since the misfits vegetables are what the company is most known for.
If you’re not looking for organic produce or you’re not sure about a specific item, you can go in and adjust your cart to find other produce or packaged items instead.
I was actually slightly disappointed when my order arrived because my produce all looked pretty normal. I was expecting a three-legged carrot or something odd-shaped!
SHOP VEGETABLES AND OTHER ITEMS WITH MISFITS MARKET
Here are my honest Misfits Market reviews of different aspects of the service: should you use Misfits Market to shop vegetables and other items? It depends. Consider these 4 aspects when deciding whether Misfits is right for you.
1. The prices fluctuate from week to week.
It might be worth checking for a week or two to see if you could save.
- I found blueberries for $3.39 one week, and $4.49 the next week.
- Delicata squash was $4.07 for 2, and then $2.69 each
- Bread went from $5.28 to $5.99
Since Misfits has grown over the years, now you can see what they’re sending you ahead of time rather than signing up for a mystery box, which means you can compare prices with what you have in your local supermarket.
The only downside is that you have to finish your Misfits order several days before it arrives, so sales may flip in the meantime. I’d compare it against a place that doesn’t change prices often, like Walmart or Aldi, to see if you’d be getting a good deal.
Loss leaders at your local stores will likely be a better deal for regular produce items. And if you typically buy conventional produce versus organic, you may not find the prices that you’re looking for.
2. The inventory changes from week to week.
Each week some of the items available change, depending on what Misfits has been able to rescue, what packaging updates companies have made, or what extra seasonal products enter the system. One week you might find lots of items that catch your eye, and another week there might be a whole lotta nothing.
3. You get to try something new.
Misfits Market is nice for things you wouldn’t ordinarily try on your own. And it could be cheaper for less-than-ordinary foods that might be harder to find locally, like leeks, yellow beets, or a head of Romanesco.
I liken it to a CSA box with options. You can keep it as is and be surprised every week, or you can switch some things out for a balance between novelty and favorite brands.
As far as the packaged goods go, the brands are mainstream, with plenty of organic, gluten-free, and allergy-friendly options that fit with specific dietary preferences. If you have a hard time finding those products locally, Misfits could be a great option for you!
4. There is a bit of a weekly time commitment.
If you join, you can easily change the grocery delivery day, but you have to stay on top of it. You’ll get an email reminder when your shopping window is open, but it’s easy for that to slip. It might be better to put a reminder on your calendar, so you don’t forget to check your cart before the order processes.
MISFITS MARKET REVIEWS FAQS
Misfits Market vs Imperfect Foods: which one is better?
Misfits Market actually bought Imperfect Foods, so you’ll be shopping from the same company. They have slightly different websites and product offerings, but you’ll notice similar brands and prices, and both have the goal of lowering waste and saving money.
Can I shop Misfits Market without a membership?
Yes. You do have to have an account to shop from Misfits Market, but you don’t have to be signed up for the weekly membership to order. Simply sign up, then change your preferences, and shop when you choose.
Is it hard to cancel Misfits Market?
Not at all! Simply head to your account settings and click the “pause or cancel subscription” option. From there, choose whether you want to take a break or stop all auto-shipped orders. You can always come back and order a la carte. The company as a whole has excellent customer service if you need to reach out with questions.
MISFITS MARKET REVIEW: FINAL VERDICT
Overall, I would recommend using Misfits Market sometimes. It may not be THE MOST budget-friendly, but it adds an element of fun to grocery shopping that we haven’t seen in a long time. It’s also a way to try things you may not ordinarily try or have access to.
You won’t be able to do ALL of your grocery shopping through Misfits Market, but you’ll definitely be able to find some great additions to your typical grocery items.
You can sign up through this link to save $20 off your first 2 boxes of $35 or more. Shop the site to find the best deals on the products that work for your family, and don’t be afraid to try something new!
And maybe you’ll be lucky enough to get some of those funny-looking carrots I was hoping for…
MORE GROCERY SHOPPING OPTIONS
- My Honest Thrive Market Review
- What to Buy at Grove Collaborative
- Honest Review of Butcher Box
- My Honest Farmbox Direct Review
- Ultimate Guide to Shopping at the Farmers Market on a Budget
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