Bad food delivery experiences

[Lisafuller]

I’ve recently been having quite a bit of trouble with GrabFood, not sure if anyone shares the same experience. Bit of context- I use GF frequently, to the point where I’ve become a platinum member. It’s always been what I’ve thought to be the best of the food delivery platforms, food is delivered fast and in good condition. Recently, though, this hasn’t been the case. I’d say of my last 5 orders, 3 were majorly screwed up. Just today, I placed my order at 3:30 so I could get Tea Time free delivery. At 4:40, GF cancels my order without explanation. I’m frustrated but I quickly reorder to make sure I don’t miss the 5pm cut off for free delivery. The app says to expect my order by 5:20, but then changes to 5:40 and finally 6. At this point I’m pretty annoyed, I tried to cancel my order but the app says that my order is already being prepared so I don’t have the option yet when I checked the screen that shows my order it says that it’s not even preparing yet it’s just been received. I finally managed to get in touch with customer service and they cancel my order. A basic refund, no apology, no voucher, nothing. Anyone had something similar happen to them? Were you compensated?

[smoulder]

I had a similar experience recently with them which I thought was because the restaurant screwed up.

The restaurant in question was a KFC outlet. We ordered through GF at around 8.10 pm. The restaurant closes at 10 pm so it was early enough. As far as I can remember, the status started off as "the restaurant has accepted your order" or something like that. Changed to "preparing your meal" with constant updates that it was busier than usual. They changed the expected timing first to 8.40, then subsequent progressive changes and ended up just before 10 pm. Until it turned 10pm and they canceled the order.

For some reason, I think it was the restaurant that effed up.

[abbby]

Its a sabotage by the merchant that they didnt cancel the order they cannot fulfill and you can't cancel at your end. I would usually bring it up for GF and would not be charged for the non-fulfilled order. Don't remember them giving vouchers for it.

[PNGMK]

I rarely use these. It's much quicker to ring up the place, order it and go get it on my motorbike. I rarely use franchise or chain outlets though.

[Lisafuller]

I had a similar experience recently with them which I thought was because the restaurant screwed up.

The restaurant in question was a KFC outlet. We ordered through GF at around 8.10 pm. The restaurant closes at 10 pm so it was early enough. As far as I can remember, the status started off as "the restaurant has accepted your order" or something like that. Changed to "preparing your meal" with constant updates that it was busier than usual. They changed the expected timing first to 8.40, then subsequent progressive changes and ended up just before 10 pm. Until it turned 10pm and they canceled the order.

For some reason, I think it was the restaurant that effed up.

I don’t think it was the restaurant, KFC does fast food and they should have no problem for filling a simple delivery order. Perhaps it was that grab food was not able to find a rider for you, that’s the common reason why my orders keep getting canceled. It’s fine if it can’t be fulfilled for whatever reason, things happen and I understand that. What I’m not OK with is that they don’t tell me until it’s been an hour or two while I’ve stupidly been waiting when I could’ve gotten something else to eat instead- in the end I’m left with no food and no explanation.

[Lisafuller]

Its a sabotage by the merchant that they didnt cancel the order they cannot fulfill and you can't cancel at your end. I would usually bring it up for GF and would not be charged for the non-fulfilled order. Don't remember them giving vouchers for it.

I’ve been compensated once or twice but each time the voucher that they’ve given has been around three dollars which is never enough to cover even the delivery fee. Sometimes they don’t compensate me though so I’m wondering what the standard is.

[Lisafuller]

I rarely use these. It's much quicker to ring up the place, order it and go get it on my motorbike. I rarely use franchise or chain outlets though.

Unfortunately that isn’t an option for me, and taking the car out, having to find a parking space , and wasting time in traffic makes ordering online a much more favorable option.

[smoulder]

Yes kfc of course is into fast food but I can't rule out someone there bungling it up. At least in my case, the status messages indicated that the issue was with the restaurant. But who knows. I could be wrong about it. I don't think they charged me at any stage because I never got to the stage where they found me a rider.

In the end, I just walked out and bought back from an Indian restaurant nearby - the only thing open at the time :/

[JWNYsg]

So far only had issue where the restaurant mix my order and gave a refund

[malcontent]

I sympathize with your plight, and after reading this I am even more inclined to continue to DIY as much as possible from home.

Even before Covid I had started making my own teh tarik at home, now I’m also making kopi susu, and it’s as good or better than the hawker center. When I’m bored with those I make cha yen (Thai tea), which is also as good or better than in Thailand. Even haircuts I now do myself at home. About the only thing I can’t DIY at home is a visit to the dentist — that is where I draw the line!

[sundaymorningstaple]

The last haircut I ever had by a barber was going through the military induction centre in Baltimore, MD when I was 17. I've been cutting my own ever since to the point were I'm now ambidextrous with scissors, straight razor, darts & Table Tennis. Still cannot write worth a damn with my left hand though. As the years went by cutting my hair got progressively easier as I started balding seriously at 30. At 60 all I had left was the Friar Tuck ring (or toilet seat ring). At sixty I stopped cutting hair and started shaving my head. (but still keep a rather longish beard).

We do not use food delivery for prepared foods unless my kids are over and they order food. About the only thing I buy food wise is from Redmart and that is usually 4 or 5 cases of Pepsi Black about once a month. Otherwise, It's NTUC once every 8 to 10 days.

[PNGMK]

I've recently just found out how cheap it is to order beer in cartons online. $50 for a 24 case of Peroni Leggara (the 3.5% stuff I like).

[malcontent]

About the only thing I buy food wise is from Redmart and that is usually 4 or 5 cases of Pepsi Black about once a month. Otherwise, It's NTUC once every 8 to 10 days.

I avoid artificial sweeteners like the plague. In fact, NutraSweet gives me stomach cramps. However I could be persuaded with Stevia, at least it’s natural. I used to drink the Stevia Coke when they had it here. But if I want a fizzy drink without calories or sugar, I’ll take a plain ice cold club soda any day.

About the only soda I’ve been drinking lately is Schweppes Bitter Lemon. I usually buy 12 packs online and that lasts me for months. The soda includes taurine which is rumored to ward off Covid, but that’s not why I drink it — the taste just grew on me and I learned to like it. Perhaps more importantly, I don’t like it so much that I crave it… that is key. Maximum 2-3 cans a week.

[sundaymorningstaple]

I've never been a beer drinker at home, I drink far too much double-bagged black teas (I have around 12 to 15 varieties all the time (bags and/or loose - all day - zero coffee). When I went on my diet 14 years ago I wasn't allowed any soft drinks that had sugar. The only two with zero calories were Coke Zero and Sprite Zero.

I started drinking Coke Zero and also frying with it instead of oils. Works very well and satisfied the craving for soft drinks. As far as the aspartame was concerned, there was nothing except an apparently faked study claiming it produced tumors with a non-blinded study using rats that has never been able to be reproduced/duplicated so I never worried about it.

Once my diet finished 22 weeks later and losing 26 kg in the process. I never quit drinking it until Pepsi came out with Pepsi Black (I was a Pepsi drinker before my diet but they didn't have a sugar free version until they came out with Pepsi Black. Between the two I prefer Pepsi's version but I do NOT drink any soft drinks other than that. Haven't drank a sugared drink at all, except beer, in the past 14 years. I don't use salt or sugar as a condiment in anything. I drink maybe one or two cans at night after dinner (which is at 7 pm) and I don't retire until 2 or 3 am (occasionally, like last night it was 0330. Actually I just looked and it's been 2.5 months since my last bulk order. For me, drinking zero calorie soft drinks, I reckon I drank enough in the last 14 years that if the chemical sweeteners were going to create any problems, I'd know it by now. I reckon I'll die of something else long before that becomes problem. But I reckon I've got a 30 year head start on you!

[malcontent]

I never quit drinking it until Pepsi came out with Pepsi Black (I was a Pepsi drinker before my diet but they didn't have a sugar free version until they came out with Pepsi Black. Between the two I prefer Pepsi's version but I do NOT drink any soft drinks other than that.

You might remember this, back in the 80’s they had “The Pepsi Challenge” where they would give you a blind taste test between Coke and Pepsi. I was a Pepsi drinker at the time, but ended up choosing Coke… and I’ve drank that ever since!