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While Uber’s ride-sharing initiative has had next to no impact in Japan, Uber Eats is a major hit. With a wide selection of restaurant options, easy ordering, and the convenience of home delivery, what’s not to like?
Really, the only downside is the service/delivery fee. Right now there’s a way to counteract that, though, thanks to a promotion Uber Eats Japan is running that gives you 35 percent off the cost of your order. All you have to do is utilize the app’s omochikaeri option when ordering.
And what’s omochikaeri mean? “Pickup.” In other words, Uber Eats is offering the discount to customers who are willing to go pick up their order themselves.
It’s pretty much a complete role reversal for a company whose whole business model is “give us money and we’ll bring you food,” and online reactions in Japan have included plenty of head-scratching:
“Picking up your Uber Eats order by yourself…so Uber Eats is completely unnecessary?”
“So basically you’re just ordering takeout.”
“Seems like they’re putting the cart in front of the horse.”
“What’s the point of using Uber Eats without delivery?”
“This is like if you went to a butcher shop to buy some meat, and they said ‘OK, here’s a calf for you to raise. Bon appétit!”
As strange as the promotion may be, a discount is still a discount, and since using the self-pickup option means you’re not paying any service or delivery fee, the entire discount is extra money in your pocket compared to placing an ordinary non-Uber Eats takeout order. Essentially you use Uber Eats as an ordering app in order to get the discount (which caps at 1,000 yen, which would be your discount for an order of 2,857 yen or more). Uber Eats itself also points out that placing your order through its app cuts down on time spent waiting in line and for your order to be cooked, since it’ll be ready and waiting for you at the counter.
The promotion runs until Nov 2, and is also the perfect opportunity to field test the Uber Eats backpacks being sold by Amazon Japan.
Sources: Uber Eats via Engadget via Jin, Twitter
Read more stories from SoraNews24.
-- Our reporter orders food from Uber Eats, falls in love, learns that fate works in mysterious ways
-- Amazon Japan are selling Uber Eats backpacks and they’re surprisingly useful
-- In Japan, Uber Eats will deliver the latest manga to your door
- External Link
- https://soranews24.com/2020/10/16/uber-eats-japan-offering-strange-discount-just-for-people-who-dont-really-need-uber-eats/
10 Comments
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koiwaicoffee
I was told Uber Eats pays workers some 200yen per ride. Enough said.
JeffLee
My wife and I might use it if the app ran on our phones. It refuses to install on either my Docomo Android or her Softbank iPhone, after numerous attempts. Weird.
I get the feeling the company isn't well managed.
kohakuebisu
If you get cheaper food at a gyudon joint or McDonalds just for ordering through Uber Eats, I might have to give this a go.
JPGB
Often you'll find that with uber eats, not only are you paying a service fee, but the prices on some or most items have been marked up as well. Is this even a discount, in that case?
Goodlucktoyou
Do they deliver beers at 2am? That would be handy!
Luis David Yanez
You were told completely wrong.
The average per pick (without incentives, meaning boosts or tips) is about 400yen-500yen if about 1km, or 500yen-700yen if 1-5km.
With incentives, and also depending on the city and requests at the time, you can make way more than minimum wage with Uber Eats.
Desert Tortoise
Does that include the costs to operate, buy tires for, maintain, insure and register your car and depreciation on your current car that you put towards the next car when you wear your current car out from all these deliveries? I doubt. Most of these Uber and Lyft drivers are essentially working for a negative income when you consider the costs incurred by using your vehicle. If you are not getting about 60 cents per mile on top of your pay you are basically working for free or even giving them your hard earned.
kurisupisu
I refuse to use Uber Eats until their safety record improves.
Maiming or killing others to deliver a lunch is not acceptable.
shogun36
I think I misunderstood this article.
Uber Eats will give you a discount on their aftermarket prices, if you do the job they are supposed to pay them to do?
What am I missing here?
Do you get a sticker too?
What's the point?
Luis David Yanez
Are you aware that most people in Japan who do Uber eats do it with bicycles?
Those who I know that do Uber eats with cars, do it as almost a side business while they already work in the transportation industry, so they don't really have to worry much about those costs.
We are not talking about Uber X or Lyft, since "shirotaku" is illegal in Japan, and there is no such thing legally speaking in this country. I have no idea of the rate for those services in other countries, so I cannot really talk about them.