Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Chrisco Hampers?

Simply put, we are the best way to put YOUR holidays on LAYAWAY!

Our team has been delivering hampers to thousands of Canadian families for over 40 years, when we were first known as Chrisco Hampers. In 2008, Santas Choice and Chrisco Hampers became one big family and our customer service team gets rave reviews from our customers. The team is dedicated to providing top quality customer service and products. We are based in Ontario, Canada.

In 2013, we also launched www.MyLayAway.ca – offering year round LayAway and delivery across Canada! Come and visit our new site !

How does it work?

It's easy! Browse our catalogue or check out our summer & Christmas Hampers by clicking on the links Christmas or Summer. Choose which groceries and gifts you would like to have delivered in Summer or Christmas (Many of our current customers order for both!). Start your customized layaway program by ordering online,email Penny@chriscohampers.ca or through our call centre at 1.800.847.0236. Make your payments over the year, and sit back and relax as we deliver your holidays to your door!

And, don’t forget - Chrisco Hampers is not just about food Hampers! We now offer household products, electronics, toy and gifts and gift cards.

What is included in the price of the Hampers?

Hamper prices include the food, all taxes, as well as shipping and handling of your order**. Just think of the savings in gas, no waiting in line-ups at the store, and most importantly, the time you will save! One price - from our catalogue to your door! Some people say that they can buy the same amount of food at the grocery store for less. That may be true today, but remember that our prices are LOCKED IN for a FULL YEAR. Retail prices always seem to be going up but not with Chrisco Hampers!

** If you live in an area deemed rural by Canada Post, delivery charges may apply. These will be confirmed at the time of your order

How do I place an order?

It’s so simple! You can order on our secure website, mail,email,fax or by just calling us at 1-800-847-0236. Once you place your order, we will write or email confirmation of your order details and payment amount.

Can I order a Hamper as a gift for someone else?

Yes! When you order, simply let us know that it's a gift and we'll use the recipient's address for delivery. Be sure to provide their complete delivery address, including buzzer code, special instructions if required, and their phone number. The delivery notice will be sent to you and you can pass long the exciting news.

I am a customer of an Agent - what should I know?

Having an agent is great! They are current Chrisco Hampers customers, and therefore have some experience! Your agent may help you place your order,but once it is entered, we will send YOU the confirmation. All payments are made directly to Chrisco Hampers, NOT your agent. If you have questions about your order, you can call us directly and quote your customer number.

Can I customize my Hamper?

Because we will be packing thousands of food Hampers it's just too hard for you to choose individual items that will go in your Basket and for us to pack it. However we think we've done a pretty good job choosing what goes into your Hampers. Plus we now have even more Customer Choice Basket that let you customize your order to best meet your needs. They're all top brands that you see everyday in the grocery stores

Can I change my order?

Yes you can! We have to limit the time for changes before the end of the season so we can order & pack everthing. You can make changes or additions to your order up to the date shown below.

SUMMER 2023:  April 7, 2023

CHRISTMAS 2023: Oct 1, 2023

When are the Final Payment Dates?

SUMMER 2023: May 1, 2023

CHRISTMAS 2023: Oct 20, 2023

How do I pay for my order?

  • Pre-authorized debit the only way to order online if you are placing your order online, you will be asked for your banking details;
  • Telephone
  • Internet banking
  • Bill Payment at your bank (use your Chrisco Hampers customer number as your Account Number
  • Cheques - Please make payable to Chrisco Hampers Inc
  • Money orders - Please make payable to Chrisco Hampers Inc

Pre-authorized debit straight from your bank account is the most convenient for regularly scheduled payments. You pick the payment schedule, and start date. Your total order amount is divided by the number of payments between the time you place your order and the final payment date for that catalogue. If you choose to pay by methods other than pre-authorized debit, it is your responsibility to ensure that we receive your payment according to your payment schedule to avoid having your order reduced or cancelled.

Full payment for your order must be received by the final payment date. If you have not completed your payments for your order, we will reduce the order to the amount paid. If you pay by cheque, money order or telephone banking, please be sure to send it in so we have it before the final payment date.

What is your refund policy?

All payments made to your order are held as non refundable deposits. You are our first priority, and we will work out a solution with you. If your circumstances change, we will work out a payment plan with you and help you select an order up to the amount paid. If you need to cancel your order, we will deliver any Hampers that you have paid for. This means that if you had saved $300, we will help you choose Hampers, products or gift certificates worth $300

Chrisco Hampers No Refund policy takes effect 15 days after you place your order. Upon approval by Chrisco Hampers, at our sole discretion, any permitted cancellation after such day will be subject to a 25% administration fee based upon the amount you paid to the date of cancellation to a maximum of $100.

Where does Chrisco Hampers Deliver?

Chrisco Hampers is pleased to be delivering across Canada (excluding the Yukon, NWT, and Nunavut)! If you live in an area deemed rural by Canada Post, delivery charges may apply. These will be confirmed at the time of your order

When do I get my Hampers?

All orders will be delivered between mid November and mid December for Christmas orders and June for Summer orders. A few weeks before delivery, we will mail you a Delivery Advice letter with your delivery date for your order.

You'll need to make arrangements to be home on that day:

  • A few weeks before delivery, we will mail & E-mail you a Delivery Advice letter with your delivery date for your order. You'll need to make arrangements to be home on that day.
  • Delivery advice letters are mailed to the delivery address
  • Gift Certificates will be sent by registered mail, so you have time to plan your shopping trip!
  • Electronics, toys and gifts or other non grocery products may arrive separately from your grocery delivery if they require signature for delivery
  • Chrisco Canada MUST be notified within 24 hours of receiving delivery of any delivery issues i.e. damages, missing items

Will I receive the same products as shown in the catalogue?

We make every effort to supply products exactly as listed in the catalogue. All meats are shipped frozen. Slight variations in weight may occur due to the changes in manufacturing and delivery. Note: All meat weights are average package weight. If necessary, substitutions may be made for products of equal or greater retail value. All efforts have been made to check for errors and omissions in typography and photography. However, inadvertent errors may occur for which Chrisco Hampers will not be responsible. Product images are for illustrative purposes only. Your order will arrive in RED "Frozen product" or Green"Dry product" boxes. Fresh products are shown in the catalogue and website as illustrative images only.

About 'Best Before' dates

Chrisco Hampers works very closely with our suppliers to ensure quality control and product freshness. Our food products are received directly from the manufacturers, just in time for our packing season. As our meat and freezer hampers are shipped to our customers frozen, our manufacturer partners flash freeze products that are normally sold fresh at their freshest and ship them directly to our Frozen Packing facility. As these items are normally sold fresh, they contain a manufacturer’s stamped Best Before Date relating to the product as if it had been sold fresh in a grocery store, when the product is not frozen. The process of flash freezing and keeping the product frozen allows our customers to keep these products in their freezers for up to 6 months. Once the products have been thawed they should be cooked according to the package instructions and consumed immediately.

Terms and Conditions

Please click here to read our full terms and conditions. 

When placing an order online, you will be asked to agree to the terms and conditions.

A change of address, phone number?

Please let us know as soon as possible! For your own security, if you call us with a change of address, we will ask you some security questions.

Email: penny@chriscohampers.ca

Phone: 1.800.847.0236

Mail: Chrisco Hampers PO BOX 126 STN LCD 1, BURLINGTON ON L7R 3X8

Do you have an email address?

Do we have your email address? We are moving towards a greener environment - and are emailing the majority of our customer correspondence. So, don't forget to update us with your email address... it's the best way for us to share the latest Chrisco Hampers news with you

Payments and Adjustments

By placing your order, you acknowledge that all your payments before the final payment date for the catalogue will be held by Chrisco Hampers as non-refundable deposits, and at such time Chrisco Hampers will apply the non-refundable deposits against the purchase price of your order. If, at that time, your order is not fully paid, you hereby authorize Chrisco Hampers to adjust your order to substitute your selected Basket with a Basket having a value (inclusive of all taxes, delivery, administrative charges, etc.) determined by Chrisco Hampers to be equal to the amount paid. If you have elected to participate in the HeadStart Plan, you hereby acknowledge that Chrisco Hampers may continue to draw on your account after final payment date, to pay for your participation in that program as non-refundable deposits toward future orders.

Auto-renewal Headstart Plan

Your direct debit payments will continue until your order is fully paid. After your Final payment date for the catalogue a HeadStart Plan may be created for you and direct debit payments will continue accordingly. A HeadStart Plan allows you to make payments towards next year’s order, while giving you time to decide exactly which products you want. We will write to you to confirm your HeadStart Plan payments prior to commencing your direct debits. Auto Renewal HeadStart Plans are fully refundable at no cost to you should you wish to stop it within the first two months.

Credit Balances

We reserve the right to deduct a $5 monthly administration fee from any credit balance on an inactive account.

Catalogues

All efforts have been made to check for errors and omissions in typography and photography. However, inadvertent errors may occur for which Chrisco Hampers will not be responsible. Product images are for illustrative purposes only.

Your right to cancel your order

You may cancel this agreement from the day you enter the agreement until 15 days thereafter. You do not need a reason to cancel during this period. If you do not receive your order within 30 days of the delivery date on your delivery advice letter, you may cancel this agreement within one year of the contract date. You lose that right if you accept delivery after the 30 days. There may be other grounds for extended cancellation required by law in your province. For more information, you may contact your provincial/territorial consumer affairs office.

If you cancel this agreement on any of the grounds set out above, Chrisco Hampers will refund your money in 15 days. To cancel, you must give notice of cancellation to Chrisco Hampers, P.O. Box 126 STN LCD 1, Burlington, ON L7R 3X8 (fax: 1.877.323.3983).

You must give notice by a method of cancellation that will allow you to prove that you gave notice, including Mail,Email or fax.

How do I create an online account?

Customers need to register online first whether you are a NEW or OLD customer. Simply click register at the top right of the home page and enter your information to set up an online account. If you are an existing customer, once you have registered there will be an option to enter your customer number with Chrisco Hampers. By entering your customer number, it ensures that all your details are handled correctly.

For future visits, you can login using your e-mail and password.

Why can't I view / change my order online?

You can place new orders and update mailing and banking information online. To make changes to your existing orders you must call or e-mail Chrisco Hampers and a customer service representative will help you.

Why can't I view my order history online?

Your order history will only show orders placed online since our new site launched at Christmas 2013. Orders placed on our previous site or by other methods will not show as your order history.  For access to other order information you can call or e-mail us for any other questions!

More Questions

Call us at 1.800.847.0236. Our team will answer your questions promptly and knowledgeably. Our office is open Monday to Friday from 9 AM to 5 PM EST, so call us even if it is just for a chat. During delivery season, we are also open Saturdays and Sundays from at least 9am -5pm EST, or even later depending on the delivery area.