Frequently Asked Questions

ORDERING

Am i required to order an Office Box every day?
You can order our fruit as little or as often as you like. Most customers opt for two deliveries a week, however if you would like fresh fruit every day or just every now and again, we will be happy to arrange this with you.

Is there a minimum order?
There is a minimum order of £14, this is the price of our smallest Basic Office Box.

How often can I change my regular order?
You can contact us to change your order as often as you like. There may be times when you have fewer staff in the office than normal and fruit may be left over, or you want to change the balance of fruit in your box. We may contact you if you haven't changed your order for a while - good communication makes for a good partnership.

Do I have to keep to the regular Office Box fruit or can I have anything I want in my order?
You can have anything you like in your order. If you want to keep a Basic Office Box but one staff member likes grapes and another likes sharon fruit for example, these can be added as as extras and will be marked on the order form included with your order.

Can I add 'one off' items to my regular order sometimes? Even at short notice?
This is no problem at all and a great way to sample unfamiliar fruit or new products! We only need 24 hours notice to include new items in your order, so be sure to let us know if you want to try something different.

Can you advise me on how much fruit to order?
We would be pleased to advise you on this - we work to a general guideline of 3 pieces of fruit per person per day. However not every company is the same and we will work with you to ensure you have as much fruit as you need without any excess.

Do I have to sign a contract?
You don't have to sign any contract with Ripe4offices. For regular large orders, it would be helpful for us if you could let us know 7 days before stopping Office Boxes.

Can I set up one order for several addresses?
Yes this is possible. Companies often split their orders so one separate order is made for each floor of their building, or separate buildings at different London locations.

What payment methods to you accept?
Cash, credit card, bank transfer... we accept most forms of payment.

How often will I be invoiced?
We invoice our customers at the end of each month.

In the event I'm not happy with my order, what do I do?
We pride ourselves on customer service. If at any time you are not happy with your order, or the service we provide, please call us to discuss it. We will replace or credit your fruit to your account. All our customers are very important to us, whether they have 5 employees or 5000. We  provide an attentive service second to none.

PRODUCTS

How do I know your fruit is top quality?
Unlike some companies that have sprung up in the past few years, Ripe has over 25 years experience in the fruit trade. Our customers, some of whom have been with us for many years, come from a wide variety of offices and backgrounds, including top chefs and television shows. Our experience and contacts mean we can source fruit which is top notch, including rare produce which are very hard to find.

Why do you sometimes have fruit which is out of stock when it's available in a supermarket?
This is simple. Ripe buys fresh fruit, early every morning. This way we can ensure our customers receive the best fruit. If the quality is not good enough for our customers, we won't sell it. Supermarkets on the other hand, order in bulk months in advance. Fruit is cold stored to prevent it going off, or picked under-ripe and ripened with gasses. Your 'fresh' fruit from a supermarket could be up to a year old, treated with chemicals to make it look good. With Ripe, you know your fruit is fresh, and in season at the time it was picked.

Do you sell organic fruit?
As a general rule we don't supply organic fruit. Organic fruit has many merits but in general the fruit quality is lower. We put our best efforts into finding the best fruit for our customers, which unfortunately rarely means organic fruit.

What is the difference between basic, deluxe and executive fruit?
Basic fruit is the fruit we include in our Basic Office Box, and likewise for the deluxe fruit. Executive fruit is something a little more exotic. It costs a little more but it worth it for that extra luxury - maybe you just enjoy the taste of something a bit different. An Executive Office Box contains all the fruit in a Basic Office Box, plus a mix of deluxe and executive fruit. Executive fruit can of course be added to any other order as an extra. On occasion we may have something extra special available, so keep your eyes open!

What are your 'goodies', and why as a fruit delivery company do you sell them?
We looked at customer feedback and found they wanted healthy snacks. We put our heads together and made a menu of great tasting dried fruit, nuts, snacks, juices and soups that have proved to be very popular. Many of our customer now include these items with their fruit order, some buying in bulk to save trips to the cash and carry! From our Dynamite in a Bottle to shelled peanuts, why not check your order form and ask us add include some goodies with your order?

Why would I want to order a fruit basket or fruit hamper instead of a box of fruit?
Office box orders are unpacked and distributed. Fruit hampers and fruit baskets are just as delicious to eat but are designed to be displayed as well as eaten. This might be for a table centrepiece or for a special occasion, maybe you would like to include champagne? Just let us know the event or size of the display when you call to discuss it, and we will arrange something special for you.

What is the minimum order for a fruit display? Do I get to choose what's in it?
We have to respect what fruit is in season and available, but other than this if you have a theme or an idea we'll happy to discuss this with you.

How much notice do you need to set up a fruit display?
Depending on the size of the display, we need at least 24 hours notice.

Do you come and clear it away afterwards?
We do all the hard work for you! We will arrive early and set up the display, then dismantle it removing any unwanted leftover fruit and containers, and clear up any mess.

DELIVERY

Where do you deliver to and how much does it cost?
We deliver to all London postcodes: N NE NW SE SW E EC and WC. We deliver to all areas every day. Best of all delivery is free, however much you order, as long as an Office Box is included.

What time will I receive the fruit?
This can arranged depending on the time you need it and when our drivers are close to you. We deliver from very early in the morning to lunchtime, unless another time is requested.

How is my fruit packaged?
Your fruit order is carefully packed with attention paid to fruit quality. It comes in sturdy cardboard boxes, which are reused where possible. Small items like berries are packed individually so they are not crushed by other heavier fruit.

Do you do deliveries to London hospitals and clinics?
We deliver to hospitals and clinics within our delivery area. Please remember to tell us all the details we need to find the room or ward.

Do you deliver to schools or other establishments?
We already deliver to schools. We include smaller pieces where possible as it's easier for young hands. For orders elsewhere in our delivery area please call us to discuss it.

Will you deliver on bank holidays and weekends?
We deliver 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, so if you need fruit on a Sunday that's no problem, and there is no extra charge for this. We don't deliver on bank holidays as we are closed.