Boxed Review: Pros, Cons, and Comparison

What is Boxed?

Boxed is a bulk warehouse club that’s similar to Sam’s Club, Costco, and BJ’s Wholesale Club. The major differences are that Boxed operates fully online and does not require a membership.

Boxed caters to both households and businesses by offering bulk groceries, paper goods, toiletries, cleaning supplies, and office supplies.

Because the company sells in bulk, its products often have a lower price per unit (i.e., the cost per pound, ounce, or other unit of measurement) than that of other retailers.

Boxed Up

Boxed Up is Boxed’s optional membership service. It costs $49 per year and offers free shipping on orders over $19.98.

Boxed Up members earn 2% back on all their Boxed purchases in the form of store credit. Additionally, some discounts are only available to Boxed Up members.

Boxed Express

Boxed Express offers same-day grocery delivery from Costco and Lidl in select metro areas.

Unlike other grocery delivery services, Boxed Express mostly offers bulk purchases rather than more standard product sizes.

There aren’t any extra fees associated with using Boxed Express, although it’s customary to tip the person who fulfills and delivers your order.

However, the Boxed website explains that even in areas where Boxed Express is available, delivery slots are limited and fill up quickly.

Summary

Boxed is an online bulk warehouse store with no mandatory membership fees. Boxed Up, its optional membership, offers free shipping on orders over $19.98, and Boxed Express offers same-day grocery delivery from Costco or Lidl where available.

Price

Unlike traditional warehouse clubs, Boxed does not charge a membership fee to use its service.

However, because it’s a delivery-only service, you’ll be charged a shipping fee of $6.99 on orders less than $75.

Boxed Up is $49 per year but features free shipping on any order over $19.98 — along with 2% back in rewards on every order, which you can apply to future purchases.

Although there are no extra fees for using Boxed Express, items you order through this service may be more expensive than if you were to purchase them directly from Costco or Lidl.

Summary

Boxed waives delivery fees for orders over $75, or those over $19.98 if you’re a Boxed Up member. Prices for items on Boxed Express may differ from purchasing them directly through Costco or Lidl.

Delivery

Typically, Boxed ships orders within 1 business day after you place them, and shipping can take 1–3 business days. Carriers like UPS or FedEx deliver the orders.

Through Boxed Express, you can select same-day delivery if it’s available. A Boxed shopper fulfills these orders in the store and delivers them to you.

Summary

Standard Boxed orders arrive via shipping services like UPS or FedEx, typically within 4 business days of ordering. Boxed Express offers limited same-day delivery slots.

Availability

Boxed delivers to the 48 contiguous U.S. states, but it’s not currently available in Alaska or Hawaii. Additionally, the company cannot deliver to post office (PO) boxes or military post office addresses.

Boxed Express availability is limited to certain metro areas. You can check the Boxed website to see whether Boxed Express is available in your zip code. If there’s no Costco or Lidl in your area, you can safely assume that Boxed Express will not be available either.

Summary

Boxed operates across the United States, except for Hawaii and Alaska. However, Boxed Express is only available in certain metro areas.

Customer service

The Boxed app is available on Google Play and the Apple App Store. You can also place orders directly on the company’s website.

To contact customer service, you can send an email using the Contact Us form on the website or send a message on social media.

Summary

You can place orders on the Boxed app or website, and customer service is available via email.

Comparison with other delivery services

Here’s how Boxed stacks up against other grocery delivery services:

Summary

Unlike other grocery delivery services, Boxed offers bulk purchasing. However, the service has a limited capacity for same-day grocery delivery.

Recommendation

Boxed is ideal if you prefer the value of bulk shopping and can wait up to 4 business days for your order to arrive.

One of the benefits of Boxed over brick-and-mortar warehouse clubs is that it does not have a mandatory membership fee.

If you can meet the $75 threshold for free shipping with each order, Boxed may be more cost-effective for you than a warehouse club membership.

Additionally, if you make regular, smaller orders, consider a Boxed Up membership over a membership to a different warehouse club. The prices are comparable — most brick-and-mortar warehouse clubs charge $40–60 per year for a membership.

Finally, if you have a Costco or Lidl in your area, Boxed Express may be an option for you as well. However, delivery times and geographic availability for this service are limited.

Summary

If you like to shop in bulk and value the convenience of grocery delivery, Boxed may be a great option for you. Boxed Express is also a good choice if you regularly shop at Costco or Lidl, but it may be difficult to get a delivery slot.