A food delivery service that doesn’t charge a delivery fee? Sounds too good to be true. But with Uber’s latest venture into the food-delivery market, it’s real … for now. Last week, the ride service we all use when we’ve had one too many launched its new UberEats app, tapping into a market Postmates previously dominated. As someone who frequently uses Postmates (call it an addiction), I happily checked out the new service to see how it compares. Some things I discovered:
Postmates
Delivery charge: It can range from $3.99 for its “Postmates Plus” options to God-knows-what for restaurants that don’t show up in the specially priced list. With Postmates’ model, you can burn a hole in your pocket faster than you can eat the Double-Double you just had delivered to your door.
Selection: I live Downtown, and my Postmates Plus selection reflects it: Bronze Cafe, Makers & Finders, Viva Las Arepas, Le Pho, Pop Up Pizza … Postmates also allows delivery from retailers like American Apparel and Lowe’s—and fast-food establishments like Burger King and Taco Bell, because desperate times call for desperate measures. Bonus: You can order from any restaurant and pay a “to-be-determined” price if it isn’t listed in the app.
Tipping: Postmates’ app allows you to rate and tip your driver.
UberEats
Delivery charge: So far, there isn’t one. But there’s no such thing as a free lunch. An Uber rep says it will eventually roll out a flat $5 fee for all deliveries. Until then, it’s reason enough to use the new app.
Selection: Uber offers some of the same options as its competitor—Bronze Café, Makers & Finders, Viva Las Arepas—in my ’hood but has a slew of other tasty places at the ready, including PublicUs, VegeNation, Donut Bar, Harrie’s Bagelmania and Flock & Fowl. Use the app for joints that are out-of-market on Postmates Plus— that is, until UberEats starts charging a delivery fee.
Tipping: Upon checkout, you’ll notice a disclaimer: “Tips are not included in the cost of your order. Tipping is neither expected nor required.” I don’t carry cash, so not having the option to tip in-app is disappointing—and UberEats’ lone inconvenience.