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Overview: What is Chewy.com?
Chewy is a pet supply delivery company that was established in 2011. I use them to order supplies for my cats, but they have products for basically any type of pet you can imagine – cats, dogs, birds, reptiles, rabbits- you name it! If you’re looking for an honest review of Chewy.com, let me tell you about my experience with them.
Chewy was founded by Ryan Cohen and Michael Day, but was sold to Pet Smart in 2017. Although they’re not the only company that provides pet-supply delivery, they’re certainly one of the best.
Chewy Quick Guide Summary
| Company: | Chewy |
| Founded: | 2011 |
| Service: | Pet supplies delivery – cats, dogs, fish, caged pets, horses, farm animals |
| What makes them unique: | Largest variety, auto-shipments, amazing customer service, low prices “King” of the pet supply niche |
| Prices: | Usually has the lowest prices |
| Shop: | You can order from this link and get 30% off your first auto-ship! |
My experience using Chewy for cat food and litter delivery
I first ordered Chewy for my cat supplies this past summer. If there is one thing they do well (besides customer service) it’s new customer acquisition. They sent me a coupon for $15 off my first order in the mail, so I decided to check them out.
I also realized I was going to get an additional 30% off my first order if I signed up for their auto-ship option. (Regular auto-ship discount is 5%)
After shopping the site a bit, I noticed that the prices are actually less expensive than big box stores like Meijer, Target, and even Walmart; and definitely cheaper than pet supply shops.
One of my least favorite things to do is buy cat litter and food at the store and haul it home, so being able to get this stuff delivered to my door was something I definitely needed to try.
Chewy’s variety/selection for cat supplies
Chewy basically has any type of cat (or any pet) food you can imagine – raw, freeze-dried, grain-free, wet, dry, vet diet food – almost anything. They also have every different type of litter, even alternatives to traditional clay.
And they’re not just for basics like food and litter either – if there’s anything you need for your cat (or any pet!) you could probably order it from Chewy. They have toys galore, even cleaning supplies.
They even added a pet pharmacy section!
Chewy’s cost for cat supplies – how does it stack up to the competition?
I ended up ordering 2 boxes of cat litter and a large bag of food. With all the first time customer discounts, it cost me about $30.
It would have cost me nearly that much for the food alone, so I decided it was definitely worth ordering even if I decided to cancel the service afterward. I had the ability to cancel the auto-ship at any time as there’s no commitment required.
But after using Chewy a bit more and shopping around, I realized how great their prices were even without the discounts.
Price comparison, Chewy vs. Petco vs. Amazon
| Chewy | Petco | Amazon | |
| Scoop Away (25 lbs) | ✔$11.49 | ✔$11.49 | $13.18 |
| Arm and Hammer Clump and Seal (28 lbs) | ✔$14.87 | $19.99 | $22.99 |
| Tidy Cats Clumping (35 lbs) | ✔$14.64 | $19.99 | $23.99 |
| World’s Best Cat Litter (28 lbs) | ✔$26.95 | ✔$26.95 | ✔$26.95 |
| Feline Pine, Original (40 lbs) | ✔$14.99 | ✔$14.99 | $18.88 |
For cat litter and food, it was even significantly cheaper than the stores (unless I’m able to find it on a good sale). And for other items like pet cleaners, feeding products, and toys – they have the stores beat by a lot. I saw a toy at Meijer the other day for $20 and it was only $7 on Chewy! It’s hard to beat their prices!
Also considering I’d be getting it delivered to me, (for free if over $50) – total bonus.
Check Chewy’s current prices here
Chewy’s delivery service
On the delivery end, while it came super fast (2 days) it all came in 1 box which was heavy.
My husband (who delivered a LOT of Chewy boxes when he worked with FedEx) said they always pack the boxes as full as possible. It’s not unusual for them to be over 100 lbs either.
It’s definitely more efficient and less wasteful, but if you order bulk amounts of food and cat litter, and can’t lift heavy boxes be prepared to get help, or to open the box and unload it from your front porch!
Either way, it’s less work than grabbing it from the store.
Customer service experience with Chewy
Unfortunately, I was initially disappointed with Chewy.
I was super excited to get my cat supplies, but when I realized they had forgotten one of the items I had ordered I was a bit turned off. I wasn’t really sure what to expect at this point as I had never dealt with this company before, but it wasn’t shaping up to be a really great first experience.
I decided to not be too upset about it before speaking to customer service. Mistakes happen. I hopped on Chewy’s website and discovered they have a 24/7 live chat feature, along with an 800 number and contact email.
I was connected to a live chat representative within a minute or two, explained what happened, and was told I’d be getting a new box of cat litter shipped immediately. As per their words, “Oops! There must have been a slip of the paw when packing your order!” Very cute.
I couldn’t believe how easy going and supportive they had been. I expected to have to answer more questions, or provide more information, or well – at least something else.
But nope!
A few minutes later I got a shipment confirmation email that they’d sent out the new cat litter. Two days later, it arrived!
I was more than pleased. They couldn’t have handled the situation any better.
In another order, I was disappointed because they packed this plastic ball game at the bottom, underneath a huge bag of cat food with no packing materials (not even the packing paper they usually use).
This time I was able to screenshot the chat:
They didn’t ask any questions and just sent out a replacement. I actually got the email they had shipped a replacement before the representative even replied!
So admittedly, while I seem to have had some bad luck with my orders, the customer support is pretty great at making up for it.
Researching other reviews, my experience seems to be the norm. Not with missing or broken items, but with their easy-going customer service. There was even one lady who said she contacted them after her dog died unexpectedly and they had just received a huge order. They refunded all her money and told her to donate the supplies to a local animal shelter!
The handwritten Christmas card…
I also feel the need to mention I recently got a Christmas card from Chewy. Looking at the envelope I thought it was from a family member. This was not mass-produced, it was handwritten. I did some research and read about how they hire people to write these cards for them.
This is definitely a company that invests in great customer service and making its customers feel like family.
Chewy may not be the only company that delivers animal supplies to your door, but they do a few things well that sets them above the competition.
Does Chewy Actually Save You Money?
While you do get some major discounts as a first-time customer, are you actually going to be saving money in the long run?
It really depends on the specific products you order and where you usually shop.
Sometimes you’ll be able to get the products for cheaper on sale at your local stores, but when it comes to normal everyday prices, Chewy seems to always have the best.
I’ve cross-examined prices of many different types of cat foods and cat litters while researching different companies, and Chewy either ALWAYS has the exact same prices as elsewhere, or, oftentimes has things for much cheaper.
I don’t think I’ve seen Chewy actually have something more expensive! Not saying it doesn’t happen, but I have yet to see it.
Pros. vs. Cons of Chewy
Pros
- Prices will either match other stores/online retailers, or they’re cheaper
- First-time customers get promotional discounts (30% off auto-ship)
- 5% off all auto-ship orders, every time
- Pet supplies delivered to your door, you don’t need to pick them up and haul them from a store
- Selection is HUGE, can get just about anything
- Can choose an auto-ship option, and select your delivery intervals (every 2 weeks, 4 weeks, etc) to assure you never run out
- You can stop, then restart the service at any time (and no contract/cancellation fees)
- Amazing customer service
Cons
- Boxes can be heavy if you make large orders (especially if you order a lot of cat litter!) be prepared for that
- Orders may be incomplete/broken (my experience – 1 missing cat litter box, 1 broken item) but getting a replacement is hassle-free and fast
- You may be able to find better deals at the store if you shop sales (but most of the time, you’ll find the best deal at Chewy)
The Bottom Line
Chewy wins out over the competition due to their amazing prizes, fast delivery, huge selection, and great customer service.
Despite the fact they messed up my first order, I still would definitely recommend Chewy to anyone with cats (and dogs, or any other type of pets!) Their customer service took care of the issue, no questions asked and were completely cool about it.
Considering the discounts you get as a first-time customer, and their dedication to providing great customer service, it’s worth it even if you end up canceling.
There’s no commitment, so you won’t get stuck with any termination fees and at the very least you’ll save some money on your pet supplies!
Shop Chewy here
+save 30% if you enroll in auto-ship
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