There’s no arguing that the food delivery or food-share business is booming! We have Uber Eats, Skip the Dishes, Doordash and many others. This disruptive industry has created many jobs for those in search of a gig that fits their schedule and has also made eating and dining available to the masses.
image credit: Flores
Now, getting food from your favorite restaurant is really cool, however, you also want to have a good experience and be safe. This means adopting some good user practices when it comes to using the mobile app, helping the driver, and ensuring you get your food hot! The following are some suggestions for users of popular food-share services as well as best practices for drivers.
Suggestions for Customers / Users to be a good customer and have a better experience:
- If your address isn’t obvious, provide a brief note with helpful instructions on where to find you and where to park (if parking is an issue at your place)
- Make sure your address number is visible. Clear away branches and bushes from your address and if still not obvious, provide a description like Blue house, suite entrance on the right side.
- If you are in a condo or apartment building don’t just list the address – addresses are often hidden or difficult to see on buildings. State you are in the condo building or the name “Sunset Apartments”.
- Crucial, if you are getting a delivery to a business in a busy urban area, DON’T simply provide the address, state the name of the business!!
- If you are in a condo/apartment meet the driver in the lobby or at the front door – this saves a long walk for the driver where they are often waiting for the elevator, wandering around searching for the hallway etc… this is good for safety as well.
- Monitor your app for the notification that the driver has arrived. Then keep an eye out for them as they may be searching for you or looking to park
- Suggestions for a food-share driver to provide awesome service.
- When you greet the driver ask for his/her name.
Suggestions for Foodshare Drivers for providing an awesome experience and having a successful shift:
- Get to know your local area, in particular, scout out the neighborhoods where you feel you will hang around most often. Look for tips about places to park!
- Clean your car every week, make sure you always have half a tank atleast, keep it clutter-free and be prepared with your delivery bags… it is suggested you also keep a small bag for cold items – keep your bags clean!
- Make sure you have a credit card with you (for gas and cash purchases) and be sure to also have a cash float of at least $50 for making change on cash orders.
- Before you accept a delivery order, check the destination (do you really want to drive that direction) and check the fee you will earn including the stated tip
- Know local traffic patterns and construction! This is crucial as it can really affect your earning potential. Do you really want to accept a delivery that will earn you $4 and no tip that requires a lengthy drive to a hard to find location in heavy traffic?
- Always greet the customer “Hello Steve” or “Hello mam” and “how are you today”… be sure to always thank them. Consider keeping some mints in your bag… its a small gesture that people will always appreciate.
- Keep a notebook along with records of your daily mileage and gas expenses (useful for tax records)
Suggestions for businesses / restaurants using food-share services for delivery:
- Be sure to clearly state in your description for the driver where they can park (if applicable) and where to proceed to get the order (ie. come in the back alley entrance and have your number ready)
- Have a clear description of your address and how the driver can locate you (eg. if in a mall, state which entrance and help identify location)
- Provide a clutter-free area where the driver can pick up the food
- Help the driver and be nice, they are customers also. If they have bad experiences they could ignore your pickup orders and cause delays for your customers
- Have the food ready (if possible). Causing lengthy delays could scare away drivers in the future (we hear that fast food joints (like McDonalds, and Pizza joints have the longest waits for drivers)
So, you still want to be a food-share driver? Tell us what you love about it or what you hate about it!
Keywords: Foodshare, food delivery, ubereats, uber eats, skip the dishes, Amazon delivery, doordash, grubhub
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