DoorDash, Uber Eats and Grubhub: The Exciting New World of Food Delivery Apps

Got a craving for chow mein, tacos, lasagna or a juicy steak? You no longer have to head to a restaurant to enjoy your favorite foods. Food delivery apps make it possible to enjoy takeout from your favorite fast food, casual and fine dining restaurants without having to leave home. With more residents of the independent living communities under the Bethesda Senior Living Communities umbrella discovering the delicious benefits of these apps, we want to introduce them to everyone. Read on to learn more about food delivery apps and get some handy tips on how to use them.

What Are Food Delivery Apps?

Food delivery apps are applications available for mobile devices like smartphones and tablets. Many of them are also accessible on computer web browsers. The apps provide you with a list of local restaurants that participate in the provider’s program. You can browse menus, choose a restaurant, order what you want to eat and pay with a credit card or PayPal. Then, a driver brings the food to your home for you to enjoy.

Some of the most well-known food delivery apps include:

• Doordash
• Grubhub
• Uber Eats
• Postmates
• Seamless
• Delivery.com
• Eat24

How Much Do Food Delivery Apps Cost?

Food delivery apps are usually free to download and sign up for. With most, you don’t pay anything for a standard account. Instead, you pay a service or delivery fee on top of the price of food. The fee may be a flat fee, such as $4 per order, or it may be variable based on the number of miles the driver must travel or how busy it is when you place your order. As a result, ordering from a food delivery app may mean paying more than you would if you ate in the dining room or picked up takeout on your own. However, many people find the convenience worth the fee.

How Do You Use Food Delivery Apps?

Each app works differently, but there are a few basic steps to follow:

• Download the app: You can search the app store for your mobile device to find it. If you prefer to use a computer, enter the website address in your browser bar or search for the name on Google or another search engine.
• Sign up for an account: You will likely be asked to set up a username or password. Choose something unique that you don’t use for other accounts but make sure it’s something you can easily remember. If you do forget your password, don’t worry. All food delivery apps have ways of recovering your password if you don’t remember it.
• Enter your address: Some apps will ask for access to your device’s GPS to find you. If you grant permission, you normally won’t have to type in the address.
• Choose what you want to eat: Scroll to find restaurants and order.
• Pay for your meal: Once you’ve filled your cart with your order, complete the checkout process. You’ll likely be asked to provide delivery instructions and enter a tip for your driver. Most apps allow you to choose from contactless delivery where the driver just leaves the food in a place you specify or face-to-face delivery where they hand it to you at the door.

Tips for Having the Best Experience With Food Delivery Apps

To get the most out of food delivery apps, follow these tips:

• Sign up for more than one: Not all restaurants participate in every app, so using more than one can give you more tasty options for ordering breakfast, lunch or dinner. If a restaurant participates in more than one app, compare service fees to get the best deal.
• Weigh subscription options carefully: Some apps like DoorDash and GrubHub offer membership or subscription programs where you pay an annual or monthly fee in exchange for reduced service fees or free delivery. These programs may save you money, but only if you order frequently. You may want to use a service a few times before you commit to a subscription.
• Take advantage of promotions: Many food delivery apps offer specials like coupons for specific restaurants or reduced service fees during certain times of the day.
• Refer friends: When you find a food delivery app you love, tell your friends about it. Most apps have an easy link for sharing with friends. Use it and you may get perks like credit for free food.
• See what else you can buy: Some food delivery apps will also deliver items from grocery, convenience and specialty stores. In some cases, you can have the driver pick up items from a nearby store and avoid paying service fees. This can come in handy if you need something from the pharmacy or a few items from the grocery store.
• Pay attention to estimated delivery times: Apps will let you know when your food will arrive before you place your order. In some cases, you may need to wait an hour or more, so it’s a good idea to order before you get very hungry. If your meal arrives later than promised, report it to customer service by using the help or contact us feature in the app. You may get a discount for a future meal or a partial refund to make up for the inconvenience.