Uber Eats will now deliver essential items to your door, including frozen meals and toiletries. New stores will be added on a daily basis, and app users are encouraged to check back every day.

“You can now request no-contact delivery, meaning your delivery person will leave your order at the door,” Uber said in a statement. “Simply select ‘Leave at door’ at checkout and add instructions if you want to tell the delivery person where to drop off your order.”

This option will only be allowed for the purchase and delivery of government-approved ‘essential goods’.

App users will be able to utilise the option as soon as today, April 6. This, however, is subject to the availability of the participating stores and the essential goods being sold.

“There will be a delivery fee of R25 for all orders of essential goods,” the company said. “For all orders less than R50, a small order fee of R5 will be applied. Only payment by card will be available and no cash will be accepted. Standard operating hours will be from 9am until 5pm, subject to change at any time and without further notice at the sole discretion of Uber Eats.”

“Partnering with essential service providers across South Africa, to help deliver everyday items via Uber Eats will allow people to stay at home and help flatten the curve of community spread. Safety is essential to Uber and it’s at the heart of everything we do – all deliveries requested through Uber Eats are contactless, meaning users can have deliveries left on their doorstep. We remain in close contact with the local public health authorities and stand ready to provide additional support as required,” said Ailyssa Pretorius, Uber Eats General Manager.

The safety of the South African communities is a top priority for both Uber Eats and its partners, and they are determined to fight together against the spread of the epidemic. All deliveries placed via the Uber Eats application have the option of being contactless. To help limit the spread, Uber Eats recommend that customers avoid all contact and comply with the health guidelines shared by the Government.

How to do it?

  1. Finalize your order and review your basket.

  2. Uber Eats made it easy for you to request no-contact delivery, meaning your delivery person will leave your order at the door. Simply select the delivery option “Leave at the door” at checkout

  3. Add instructions if you want to tell the delivery person where to drop off your order (e.g. “Drop my order in the lobby”).

  4. When everything looks right, just tap place order–and that’s it. Uber Eats promoting contactless transactions and will only accept payment by credit or debit card.

  5. Follow your order in the app. First, you’ll see the grocery or convenience store accept and start prepping. Then, when the order’s almost ready, a delivery person will go to the store to pick it up. Next, they’ll drive to you. You’ll be able to see their name and photo and track progress on the map.

  6. You also have the option to tip your delivery person who is working hard to get your items to you.

  7. Avoid contact when retrieving your order.

Picture: Unsplash

Article written by

Lucinda is a hard news writer who occasionally dabbles in lifestyle writing, and recent journalism graduate. She is a proud intersectional feminist, and is passionate about actively creating a world which is free of discrimination and inequality.