Has anyone else had problems with the Too Good To Go app, like missing items in surprise bags, late or canceled pickups, or trouble getting refunds from support? I’ve had a few disappointing orders recently and I’m not sure if I’m doing something wrong, misunderstanding how the offers work, or if this is just normal for the app. I’d really appreciate tips on how to avoid bad experiences, what to do when an order goes wrong, and how to actually reach support and get a fair refund when things don’t match the description.
Yeah, I’ve had a few flops with Too Good To Go too. Some good saves, some “why did I bother” moments.
Here’s what helped me and what I’ve noticed:
-
Types of places
• Bakeries and supermarkets gave me the most consistent bags. Less missing stuff, more clear value.
• Restaurants and hotel buffets were hit or miss. Sometimes amazing, sometimes like leftovers-that-should-have-been-trashed.
• Chain bakeries and chains like Pret, Starbucks, etc tend to follow a more standard pattern. -
Missing items / tiny bags
• If the bag is way below the value they promise, take photos of everything in one shot, plus the receipt if they give one.
• Right after pickup, submit a complaint through the app. Use “Order problem” and select quantity / value issue.
• Write something short like: “Paid X, bag value around Y, items missing compared to description.” Attach pics.
• Support usually refunded me within 24–48 hours. One time they gave partial refund, I replied and got full. -
Late or canceled pickups
• For super late prep or closed door, I take a photo of the store front with timestamp, then request refund.
• If the store cancels close to pickup time, I screenshot the notification.
• TGTG support refunded those every time for me, but sometimes took a day or two. -
When support is slow
• If you write a long emotional message, they seem slower. Short, factual messages worked better for me.
• If you do not hear back after 48 hours, reply to the same ticket with “Following up, order still unresolved.”
• Avoid opening multiple tickets for the same order, that seemed to delay things. -
Red flags before ordering
• New partner with no reviews and vague description, I skip.
• “Surprise bag, content varies a lot” combined with low price, I expect almost nothing. Good to lower expectations.
• If pickup window is right at closing time, I expect more randomness and sometimes smaller bags. -
Personal pattern I follow now
• I only order from places where at least 2 or 3 reviews mention good quantity or good quality.
• I avoid places where reviews complain about “1 item for X dollars” or “just one salad” more than once.
• If a place messes up twice, I block it mentally and never order again, even if it looks tempting. -
What to write to support
Short example you can copy:
“Order #xxxx on date. Description said value about $xx. I received [list items]. Store price for these around $yy. This is much lower than advertised. Photos attached.”
Keep emotions minimal, keep facts clear. That gave me the best outcome.
So yes, your experience lines up with what a lot of people report. The app works best when you treat it like a gamble with rules. Stick to the reliable partners, document problems fast, and use support whenever the difference is obvious.
Yeah, I’ve had my fair share of “lol what is this” bags from Too Good To Go.
I mostly agree with @himmelsjager, but I’ll add a slightly different angle:
-
Sometimes “bad” bags are actually the system working
Unpopular opinion: part of the issue is expectations. A lot of places are clearly using TGTG to dump the truly unwanted stuff, not a cute curated box. The app markets “save food worth $X” but some stores treat that “value” super generously. I started assuming the real value is like 50–60% of what’s written. When it’s higher, I’m pleasantly surprised instead of annoyed. -
Stores gaming the “value”
Some partners inflate the “original value” with the most expensive items on their menu, even if those rarely end up in bags. I’ve noticed this especially with trendy cafes and delis. If their regular menu is overpriced, I assume the TGTG “value” is inflated too. That’s not something support will always refund, because technically you “could” have gotten that value. -
Refunds are not guaranteed and they know it
I’ve had support refuse a refund when the bag was just… sad, but not clearly below value. They basically said “content varies, this is how the service works.” Annoying, but not entirely wrong. I only argue now when it’s obviously off, like:
• frozen or spoiled food
• locked store during pickup window
• literally one item when past reviews show big bags -
Watch for “behavior patterns” in stores
A thing I haven’t seen mentioned much: how the staff reacts when you say “Too Good To Go.”
• If they look annoyed or act like you’re a nuisance, my experience is that bag quality tends to be worse.
• If they’re chill and say something like “oh yeah, we put some extra in,” I mentally note that spot as a keeper.
After two sketchy interactions at the same place, I uninstall that store from my life. -
Timing matters more than people think
I actually avoid pickup times that are too early, not just ones right at closing. The “best” bags I got were from places that close, say, 8 pm with pickup 7:30–8. That’s when they actually know what’s left. Early windows sometimes feel like they just threw in a couple safe items without knowing full leftovers yet. -
Emotional messages to support aren’t always bad
Here’s where I slightly disagree with @himmelsjager. I’ve had two cases where a short factual message got a copy paste “sorry, no refund” answer. When I replied with more detail about food safety (soggy meat, weird smell, etc.), suddenly they changed their mind. I still kept it factual, but “this could make someone sick” seemed to trigger more action than money/value talk. -
Mentally reclassify the app
TGTG works better for me when I treat it like:
• a “food lottery” instead of a deal
• something I use only when I’d be fine eating something random
• a backup plan, not the main plan for my dinner
Whenever I tried to use it as my primary meal plan, that’s when disappointment hit hardest.
Short version:
Yes, your experience is super common. The system basically runs on:
• overhyped value labels
• partner quality varying wildly
• support that helps when there’s clear evidence, not when it’s just “meh”
If you keep 3–4 “proven good” places, treat everything else like gambling, and stop expecting the advertised value to be real math, the frustration level goes down a lot.
Yeah, Too Good To Go is very “hit once, miss twice” in my area too. A few extra angles that might help you decide when to cut your losses vs push for a refund:
1. Think in “categories” instead of individual stores
I don’t fully agree that it is only about expectations. In my city, the actual type of place makes a huge difference:
- Supermarkets / bakeries: Most consistent. Usually fine value, sometimes boring.
- Trendy cafés / brunch spots: Worst offenders for inflated “value” and tiny portions.
- Buffets / hotel breakfasts: Extreme variance. Sometimes insane value, sometimes a box of lettuce.
If you track which category tends to screw you over, you can just avoid that whole group instead of trial-and-erroring every single shop.
2. Use reviews, but read how people complain
I disagree slightly with just accepting that “content varies” as a shield. If multiple reviews mention the same concrete issue, you have a pattern support cannot really handwave away:
- “Always missing X item advertised”
- “Locked during pickup window, happens a lot”
- “Regularly give out expired dairy”
Those are operational problems, not “lottery.” Screenshot those reviews before you order. If it happens to you as well, attach your own photos and that screenshot to support. It frames your refund as a partner-quality problem, not just personal disappointment.
3. Time-window strategy with a twist
@himmelsjager is right that late pickups can be better, but there is a subtle catch: places that close at, say, 8 pm but have pickup 7:30–8 often start cleaning at 7. By 7:45, staff may just want you gone. For those, I go:
- Arrive right at the start of the pickup window, so they still have energy and haven’t thrown stuff out in frustration.
- Avoid cutting it close to the end, where “here, take this random box” vibes are strongest.
4. When to not ask for a refund
We talk a lot about how to get refunds, but a quiet trick to avoid friction with support is to not claim borderline cases. Save your “support karma” for:
- food safety issues
- objectively missing quantity
- complete no-show / closed shop
Support absolutely tracks behavior patterns, and if every “sad” bag triggers a ticket, they will be stricter with you over time.
5. Document in a way that is hard to argue with
Instead of long emotional messages, I’ve had better luck with almost “bug report” style:
- 1 photo of the entire haul next to a receipt-sized paper with date & time
- Short bullets:
- “Paid: 5€; advertised value: 15€”
- “Content: 1 stale croissant, 1 yogurt expired yesterday”
- “Picked up at 19:10, within time window”
You do not need to write a novel. Just make it extremely easy for the support agent to justify giving you the refund internally.
6. Treat TGTG as “backup calories,” not your only meal plan
Here I agree completely: if you plan your dinner around Too Good To Go, you are basically planning your evening around a coin toss. I treat it as:
- a way to stock snacks / breakfast stuff
- a way to grab cheap ingredients, not a full meal guarantee
If it fails, I already have pasta at home. If it works, cool, now I have random extras.
7. Pros & cons of the whole Too Good To Go setup
Pros
- Genuinely cuts waste in supermarket bakery sections.
- Can be an amazing deal from certain “hero” spots once you identify them.
- Nice way to try places you would never pay full price for.
Cons
- App marketing oversells the “value,” which sets people up for disappointment.
- Huge partner quality gap, and support sits in the middle trying not to spend too much.
- Not reliable enough to be a primary meal source, especially if you are budget-tight and cannot afford a miss.
Bottom line:
Your disappointing bags and refund headaches are not unusual. Use categories, reviews, timestamps and “bug report” style evidence to decide when to fight and when to walk away. Keep a short list of proven good places, and mentally demote the rest to “lottery tickets” so your frustration drops a notch.