USING apps like Deliveroo, Uber Eats and JustEat can mean meals are 44% dearer than going direct.
Which? researchers looked at the costs of ordering meals for between two to four people from five restaurants and cafes, both directly and on the three main food delivery sites.
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Ordering food via apps is big business – with 56% having used them and last year takings of more than £1billion.
But using Deliveroo, Uber Eats or JustEat is on average 23% (£7.14) more expensive than ordering direct from the restaurant.
Prices on apps are generally set by restaurants – but they often increase these to cover fees charged by the likes of Deliveroo.
Ordering directly typically does not incur the delivery charges that ordering from a delivery app does.
How to save money on your takeaway
TAKEAWAYS taste great but they can hit you hard on your wallet. Here are some tips on how to save on your delivery:
Cashback websites– TopCashback and Quidco will pay you to order your takeaway through them. They’re paid by retailers for every click that comes to their website from the cashback site, which eventually trickles down to you. So you’ll get cashback on orders placed through them.
Discount codes – Check sites like VoucherCodes for any discount codes you can use to get money off your order.
Buy it from the shops – Okay, it might not taste exactly the same but you’ll save the most money by picking up your favourite dish from your local supermarket.
Student discounts – If you’re in full-time education or a member of the National Students Union then you may be able to get a discount of up to 15 per cent off the bill. It’s always worth asking before you place your order.
Deliveroo was the priciest overall – on average 31%, or £10, dearer than going direct. UberEats was 25%, or £8, and JustEat 7% or £1.56 more.
In one case, JustEat was actually cheaper thanks to a 20% discount
JustEat said it offers a price promise to help ensure customers do not pay more for food they order through its app compared to ordering via the restaurant’s online delivery service.
The most expensive order was a £43.94 Deliveroo takeaway from a burrito and taco restaurant, which cost 44% (£12.29) more than ordering directly from the restaurant.
Even before adding delivery and service charges, the cost of the food was 26% (£8.30) more.
More than half – 56% of Brits, have used delivery apps for takeaways or groceries, a survey of 2,000 for Which? showed.
Three in five used them at least monthly pre-pandemic, and seven in 10 do now. JustEat was the most widely used app.
But customers often have problems with deliveries, Which? said – and were frequently fobbed off with vouchers when they should get a proper refund.
The most common issues with deliveries were late arrival, cold food and missing items. Others reported ruined items, as well as orders not turning up.
Some of these credits and vouchers come with expiry dates, and if consumers are not regular users, they could lose their money.
Which? says that if a customer is due a refund, consumer law is clear that they should get it in the same way they paid out originally, unless they agree otherwise.
Customers do not have to accept credit or a voucher in the app if they paid with their own credit or debit card.
Adam French, Which? consumer rights expert, said: “Next time you fancy a takeaway, you should be aware that the undoubted convenience offered by a delivery app comes with a hidden additional cost.
“If something goes wrong with your order, you might also find yourself caught between the restaurant and the app.”
He added that app services should do more to make the responsibilities of the restaurant and themselves clear so consumers are not caught between the two if there’s a problem with their order.
A Deliveroo spokesperson said: “We encourage restaurants to set the same menu prices as they offer customers when dining in, and the commission we charge is then reinvested back into our business, paying for riders’ fees, customer services and upgrading our services for restaurants.”
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A JustEat spokesperson said it believes its commission rates reflect the value of the service.
They added: “Whenever we’re made aware of any customer experience that falls short of the high standards we hope to deliver, we will always investigate and take appropriate action to ensure we find a suitable solution.”
An Uber Eats spokeswoman said: “At Uber Eats, we are completely focused on ensuring that the best restaurants and the best selection of food is available to customers, delivered in an average time of less than 30 minutes.”
Mum keeps old McDonald’s boxes so she can pretend she is serving takeaway food to kids
