Avoiding the freshman fifteen will be even more difficult this semester thanks to DoorDash and Uber Eats.
There is an increasing number of restaurants that offer food courier delivery services in the Plattsburgh area. These have been popular in big cities for a while now, but they are gradually making their way into the smaller areas of the country.
While Postmates is arguably one of the most highly advertised and talked about delivery services on social media, it still isn’t available in this tiny corner of the North Country.
Their competitors on the other hand have made their way to Plattsburgh.
Uber Eats and DoorDash offer SUNY Plattsburgh students a way to take a break from the on-campus food options without having to leave their dorm or apartment.
Students who don’t drive or own a car will find these apps particularly useful. Finding a ride may be the only thing holding you back from a burrito bowl at Chipotle. That’s a sad thought.
But which of these two apps should you turn to for dinner tonight?
Forbes Magazine reports that Uber Eats is Uber’s fastest growing business, with revenue increasing 148% in 2018. Uber Eats was 13% of Uber’s total revenue last year compared to 2016’s meager 2.7%.
Still, DoorDash has the largest percentage of the food delivery service market share at 36.5 percent, according to Second Measure’s food delivery report from August. Uber Eats fell behind with 12.8 percent.
The difference may be for good reason.
DoorDash offers delivery from more than 40 restaurants around Plattsburgh, including popular franchises like Buffalo Wild Wings and Taco Bell, as well as Plattsburgh specialties such as Aleka’s and YAMA Sushi.
Uber Eats offers fewer options, sticking to delivering from about 12 fan-favorite fast food franchises. Among those options are the almighty McDonald’s, Five Guys and Subway.
The delivery fees in both apps vary depending on the restaurant and location.
The Uber Eats website states that there may be an increase in delivery fees if there are too many orders in the area and limited drivers. Both services charge an additional fee if the order is below the minimum subtotal.
If you decide to use either service, a quick Google search for a promo code can help you save money on your order. DoorDash also offers free delivery on orders more than $10 for a new user’s first month.
DoorDash has the right idea by providing delivery for Plattsburgh’s hometown eateries, which makes it the more appealing delivery service. These restaurants offer menus that have more depth than an order of chicken nuggets.
Students will especially enjoy being able to order from these restuarants in search of a better meal than what campus dining or fast food will be able to offer.
Not only is getting dinner easier, but most of your problems can be solved by downloading an app. If you need something repaired or cleaned, you can download the Handy.com app or TaskRabbit app. Don’t feel like wandering around the grocery store? The Instacart app makes it easy. Your groceries will be brought to your door.
While these apps are useful, people sometimes rely on them too much to get their daily tasks done. Many people would be quick to blame it on laziness—feasible in some cases, but it’s also important to realize that another factor could be stress.
Time has value, and it’s up to you to decide what your time is worth. Is your time worth more than your DoorDash order? If so, go for it.
Many students quickly become bored of their regular at the Sundowner, which turns meal time into a downer.
DoorDash and Uber Eats are both easy and accessible solutions for those who need a food vacay to pick them up.
