Everybody loves ordering a cheeky takeaway dinner every now and then. A night off cooking and cleaning where you can just kick back and watch the telly, waiting for food to magically appear at your doorstep. The process of ordering takeaway has completely changed in the last decade. Some of us may have grown up ordering food over a phone call, while others may have driven to a restaurant and ordered in person. Now, ordering takeaway has been reduced to no human contact at all! The younger generations love it, and seniors tend to steer away from it. But for all those online takeaway novices, after reading this beginner’s guide to ordering food online, you’ll wonder why you didn’t start doing it sooner!

Services on Offer

Online food delivery has become increasingly competitive over the last few years, and there are now many services available. However, there are some front runners that you should definitely opt for. These more popular services are usually easier to use and have more options, so it’s best to go with those if you are just starting out. We suggest using Uber Eats, Deliveroo, or Menulog.

Navigating the Service

Most services, including the ones listed above, are accessible through an app on your smartphone/tablet, or through a website on your computer/laptop. Click on the listed services to go to their websites! Once you have accessed the site or app, go through the following steps to complete your order:

1. Add your location. These food services provide you with a list of options available in your local area so the first step is to add your address/delivery location.
2. Once you have inputted your location, the service will provide you with your takeaway options. The main page will reveal an abundance of different cuisines and restaurants if you are unsure what to order. Otherwise, locate a search bar/button to look up a specific restaurant/café or cuisine you are craving. To find the search bar, look for a small magnifying glass symbol. Once you have selected a restaurant you are interested in, click on it to view the menu.
3. Add your items. The virtual menu operates the same way as the physical one. Simply scroll through the page to view each option. Once you see something you like, click on it and another page will appear. This page may offer special customisations you can make to the item such as meat choice, additional sauces, etc. These customisations will appear as a check box, so just click on them to edit the item. If you have a special request to make to your order like additional spice, no nuts, etc., there will usually be a box at the bottom of this page to type in your request. Do note, that some restaurants do not take special requests, so keep an eye out for this. Once you are ready, add the item to your cart by selecting the relevant button. This button will always be very obvious and easy to find.
4. Complete your order. After you have added all of the items you want and are happy with your order, you can now go to the payment page. On the apps, this will usually appear as a large button at the bottom of the screen saying something like ‘view cart’ or ‘view basket.’ On the websites, this can be slightly harder to find. Look for a similar button as described for the apps either at the top left-hand side or at the bottom of the page. Otherwise, look for a bag or cart symbol in the top corner. Click the button and you will be directed to the sign-in/account creation page. Account creation is compulsory for these food delivery services, so you must create one to place your order. Simply fill in the relevant details on the account creation page and get directed to the payment page.

Payment and Delivery Fees

The whole process of ordering food online may not be intimidating at all for some people, but rather the whole idea of paying online. Have you heard the horror stories of people getting scammed online, and losing money online? Do not worry. That’s why it’s crucial to look for safe sites online that have a good reputation and contain information on cyber security. Millions of people rely on these services each day and they will not steal your financial information or scam you.

When it comes to the actual payment process, there will be two options: PayPal or debit/credit card. Select whichever you want to use and input your details. You can find further information here on cyber safety, PayPal, and financial safety online. After adding your payment details, check your order before proceeding. Do note that these food delivery services incur a delivery fee. It’ll clearly show the fee on the page and can range from about $3 – $10. Once you are ready, select the ‘place/confirm order’ button.

Issues with your order

After placing your order, a tracking page will appear so you can track when your delivery will arrive. Most of the time, your order gets delivered within this timeframe without any issues. However, from time to time there are unfortunate mishaps. If you are missing items, are unsatisfied with your order quality, or receive your order later than expected, you can contest this with the food delivery service itself. Access their help pages for any issues with the delivery (Uber Eats help, Deliveroo help, Menulog help).

There you have it! A simple guide to ordering food online for the first time.

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