So that you’re wrapping up work for the day and it’s time for that age-old query: “What’s for dinner?” Today the query is extra complicated than what’s for dinner, however somewhat HOW are we going to get dinner?
Relatively than prepare dinner a meal or order supply via lots of the supply providers out there (UberEats, Doordash, and so forth.), more and more extra People have a brand new choice: drone supply.
Flytrex touts itself as the primary drone supply service centered within the U.S. suburbs (learn extra in regards to the state of yard drone supply firm Flytrex right here). It additionally claims to supply free drone supply on most menu objects — a promise it makes good on as deliveries from most eating places are in reality $0 when ordered via the app.
Positive, having a drone ship a banana to your yard is a enjoyable get together trick, and a handy perk when working at house. However I used to be all for one other query: Is it value it — even with the supposed $0 Flytrex supply payment?
What places does Flytrex ship to?
Flytrex presently delivers to 4 cities: Granbury, Texas in addition to three cities in North Carolina: Durham, Holly Springs, and Raeford.
And even inside these cities, the supply zones are fairly small (masking about an 8-mile radius in Durham). All of the addresses inside that radius additionally should be pre-vetted by Flytrex to make sure there’s a protected touchdown house.
They do have a number of public factors inside these cities resembling accommodations and brewing corporations. Though at that time, I’m unsure why you wouldn’t simply go decide up the meals or groceries.
How Flytrex drone supply costs evaluate to ordering that meals elsewhere
What are the prices in comparison with different supply apps? When The Drone Lady met that man who had ordered meals through Flytrex’s free drone supply service, my curiosity was piqued. He stated he anticipated the meals costs to be inflated versus ordering instantly from the restaurant. I wished to know for positive. I additionally wished to know the way it compares to different main drone supply providers. Time to do some detective work.
Flytrex vs. Uber Eats: which is cheaper?
My sleuthing began by evaluating Flytrex vs. Uber Eats. I chosen considered one of Flytrex’s public factors in Granbury, Texas (in what appears to be an empty parking zone) and in contrast the meals prices of 4 widespread meals from main chain eating places to the price of ordering these meals from Uber Eats in the very same location.
In each single occasion, Flytrex was by far the superior choice.
For instance, a Jimmy John’s #4 Turkey Tom Meal (with chips and medium soda) prices $12.99 via the Flytrex app and $19.35 via Uber Eats– an virtually 50% markup!
On the Flytex app, the one choice of these I analyzed that had any supply payment was Elevating Cane’s, which was $4.00. Possibly that’s as a result of, as my brother at all times says, Elevating Cane’s is meant to be loved recent, scorching, and instantly.
For each different retailer I examined, the Flytrex supply payment was $0.
What are the Flytrex drone supply prices in comparison with pick-up?
Whereas Flytrex is cheaper than Uber Eats primarily based on my evaluation, selecting up your meals or groceries on the bodily location continues to be the perfect monetary choice (assuming you’re not counting the price to get it your self, resembling your personal driving prices).
For some eating places like Jimmy John’s and Chick-fil-a, the Flytrex value is the very same worth as selecting up the meals from the bodily location.
However for Starbucks, Chipotle, and others, I discovered vital worth markups.
Once I went to order my traditional Starbucks order, a Grande scorching Chai latte with oat milk, the price of the drink was $7.25, however then I used to be hit with a small order payment and taxes making my whole Starbucks order $8.66. And the in-store pickup for a similar drink? $5.57
The small order payment is as a result of there’s an $8 minimal, so your whole is rounded as much as attain the minimal, and tax is added afterward.
Under are in style meals objects and their value if ordered via Flytrex, Uber Eats, or instantly via the restaurant’s web site. All costs embody taxes, and supply charges (if any), however no tip was added, and are primarily based on pickup places in Granbury, Texas:
| Restaurant & Meal | Flytrex | Uber Eats | Choose Up |
| Chick-fil-A Sandwich Meal With fries and medium soda | $9.26 | $16.99 | $9.26 |
| Jimmy John’s #4 Turkey Tom Meal With chips and medium soda | $12.99 | $19.35 | $12.99 |
| Chipotle Hen Burrito Bowl With Blackberry Izze | $16.18 | $24.62 | $13.83 |
| Starbucks Grande Chai Latte with Oat Milk | $8.66 | $9.99 | $5.57 |
It seems that half the time, Flytrex costs have been really the identical as in-store costs. The opposite half the time, they have been marked up anyplace from about 15 to 55%. Nonetheless, Flytrex costs have been far decrease than Uber Eats costs whenever.
Will the $0 Flytrex supply payment final?
Proper now, the Flytrex worth markups are comparatively small in comparison with these on Uber Eats. However as Flytrex grows, it might additionally develop that worth markup in an effort to generate extra income.
The Flytrex superfan we talked to stated that the worth markup is definitely definitely worth the financial savings to not should bodily decide up the meals from the restaurant. It’s even higher on events (such because the Chick-fil-A and Jimmy John’s orders) the place there’s no markup in any respect.
However in conditions the place the markup is 55%, which may not be so interesting. I can’t afford to be hooked on anything, so for now, I’ll skip the cool get together tips of drone supply and stick with the great old style manner of the drive-thru.
What about you? What’s the utmost Flytrex supply payment you’d be keen to pay? Depart your feedback on how a lot you’d be keen to pay for drone supply beneath!