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App Review: Doordash

Food delivery apps from your favorite local restaurants

By Shasta ScottPublished 3 years ago 4 min read
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App Review: Doordash
Photo by Griffin Wooldridge on Unsplash

If I had to choose a delivery app that wasn't coming directly from a chain restaurant, Doordash would be my go to. I'd say 9 out of 10 times deliveries go perfectly. The driver doesn't run into traffic, the restaurant gets your order exactly right, and your food gets delivered on time. Not having a vehicle at this point in the pandemic has made it more difficult to get food, in the sense that I'm not able to go out to the grocery store get a cart load of stuff and then be set for 2-3 weeks. I've had to be more decisive about the choice I make when making purchases. I can't buy 2 gallons of water and take 4 or 5 bags of stuff home with me anymore. Doordash has made it easier to get the meals I like from restaurants I like but are too far away to get to. It's great too for nights that are late and I feel too scared to walk across the street to grab food or the drive thru is the only thing left open.

Doordash is available in cities with restaurants who have partnered with their services. Unlike Uber/Uber Eats, Doordash is exclusively food delivery. In my area alone you can choose from Italian, Japanese, Thai, Mexican, Wings, and they've even added convenience store deliveries from places like CVS and 7Eleven. Chain restaurants like Buffalo Wild Wings, McDonalds, and Taco Bell are available as well as any local mom and pops restaurants who have paired with the Doordash platform. Before services like Doordash and Uber Eats, delivery was isolated to Pizza and Chinese, or at least that's how it felt. Doordash offers a monthly subscription to their services that allow customers to receive free delivery, which probably comes in handy if you order more than 2 or 3 times per week.

Every now and then they offer their other customers free or discounted delivery rates usually dependent on an order that you're spending $15-$20. Just like restaurant delivery drivers, Doordash drivers rely on tips. It's the same concept as dining out at a restaurant, if you aren't able to tip, it's probably better to find an alternative. Sometimes I wish I had never worked in the food industry or found out that that's how people survive, so I wouldn't feel bad if I couldn't tip. You have the option to opt in for contactless delivery, which is great for those still taking COVID-19 seriously. Having the vaccine on the horizon gives a lot of people hope that one day things will go back to normal, whatever normal means for each of us is likely different. You can download the app to your phone or place orders through their web page. If a driver or restaurant forgets an item you can notify the app or address it in their rating and they will usually give you a credit towards your next order.

I recommend this ordering system to anyone staying home and still craving your favorite foods. If you're still self-isolating, contactless delivery allows you to still receive your food without having to interact with anyone. Although I have not tried ordering alcohol through this service, some restaurants do offer alcoholic beverages to be ordered but may only be available for pick-up services. Their pick-up services are another part I have not tried but would suggest to anyone without a vehicle who has restaurants near by they are willing to walk to. It's a great form of exercise, just be sure to follow any COVID related rules that are in place.

There is a tab marked "Orders" so if you are placing a food order for a business meeting or for the office, you have the receipt available to you for all past orders. After placing your order they app sends you notifications that the restaurant received your order, that a driver has been assigned, when your order has been picked up, and when they are on their way or close by. If you have to cancel at any time you can contact your driver through the app. Doordash has been a huge help to me when it comes to getting meals that I enjoy but no longer have access to. For that I am super grateful and will continue to use their services as time goes on.

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