I've submitted my order: what do I need to know now?

Can I make changes to my meals?

We want your meals to meet your family’s needs. In the product descriptions, we offer easy ways to make your meals GF/DF. Often it’s as easy as picking a variant! 

We are also happy to omit ingredients you don’t prefer, and reduce salt or spicy ingredients if you’re sensitive.

When you order, you will be prompted to insert any allergies or substitutions that need to be made. If you have questions, PLEASE connect with us and we will see what we can do for you! If you’ve requested modifications that aren’t possible, we promise to reach out to you and let you know, and we’ll work something out!

What if I need to add to my order?

We know that sometimes you forget to add meals to your order (hello freezer meals!), so if you ever place extra orders for the same delivery date, please select pickup and we'll add it to your existing delivery order. If you forget, we'll refund the duplicate delivery fees on the Thursday that we begin processing the orders. 

What is your refund policy?

All of our meals are made-to-order, so that means we aren't always able to offer refunds. If you placed an order by mistake, we can offer refunds (minus 10% to cover our processing fees) until midnight on Wednesdays. Once we have started prepping your meals, we can no longer offer refunds. 

If you're a Dinner Deal$ subscriber, please be aware that the menu displayed in your portal does not change even if you already ordered for the week. The menu displayed always changes on Thursday mornings. If you are unsure about whether you already ordered for the week, please view your confirmation emails or order history. Our refund policy does apply to Dinner Deal$ orders.

Tell me about delivery

How much does delivery cost?

Our base delivery fee is $4 from our kitchen, and then is based on distance, with a maximum fee of $15. If your order is $150 or more, you will be eligible for a flat $6 delivery fee. Dinner Deal$ subscribers are eligible for free delivery after they have placed 4 subscription orders. 

Where do you deliver?

We regularly deliver anywhere within 25 miles of our kitchen but have a large enough customer base in Ames that we also deliver to that community. If you place an order and are outside of our normal 25-mile delivery range, we will contact you to make alternate arrangements.

Can I pick up my meals?

Dinner Dispatch offers free pickup at our kitchen. Grab your order on Mondays after 3pm. We are open til 7pm for your convenience.

Who will be delivering my meals?

We will!  We take great pride in making sure your meals arrive to you safe and sound. Our delivery team is hired by Dinner Dispatch, and they are a dedicated crew! With our delivery software, you can text your driver with any additional information, if necessary, and track your delivery. 

When do you deliver?

Dinner Dispatch delivers prepped dinners every Monday (with a few weeks off here and there for holidays). As much as possible, we try to get deliveries done in our 2-7pm window, but traffic and weather conditions may cause us to be off. You'll always receive text notifications when we are on our way and when we've dropped off your meals! We will knock or ring the bell at delivery. If you’re not home, no worries! Just make sure you move the meals to the fridge in a timely fashion.

How will my groceries be delivered?

Groceries will be in a zipped, insulated cooler bag. While groceries can stay cold for several hours, we recommend you take groceries in and put them in the refrigerator and/or freezer until you are ready to cook!

I work during the day and won’t be home for my delivery. Is that okay?

Of course! While we’d love to see you when we drop off meals, we get it that your life is busy.  And that’s why this is a perfect option for you. How amazing will it feel to pull up after a long day at work and have dinners waiting for you!  It can even be dinner for THAT NIGHT!  Meals will be delivered in a zipped, insulated cooler bag. While meals can stay cold for several hours, we recommend you take groceries in and put them in the refrigerator until you are ready to cook.

Can I change the address of my delivery?

As long as the address is in the Des Moines metro, we should be able to accommodate as long as you let us know before Monday morning!

Can you deliver to a P.O Box?

Sorry, we cannot deliver to PO Boxes. Because your meals are perishable, we want to make sure we deliver to a secure and attended location. Ask a neighbor if they can accept the delivery (they will be SO jealous!) or consider using a work location as a drop off, instead!

Can I change my delivery date?

This gets a little complicated because of our production schedule. If you need to change your delivery date, just reach out to us and we’ll work something out! It usually depends on when you ordered and how many of the meals you chose were freezer friendly.