饿了么-放心点，准时‪达‬ 17+

The best choice in China - no real competition to be honest (Sherpa included!). However it would be even better if it had an English option, not for vendors as this would be too difficult for them and result in many of them not bothering joining or quitting the platform. Having said that, English app specific content (categories, delivery information, settings…) would considerably increase ease of use for all the immigrants living in the country. Furthermore, the app could also offer translation for Chinese-only menus just like WeChat now offers in-page translation in official accounts. This would avoid customers who can’t read Chinese having to take screenshots of each page and translate them in order to place an order! One can only hope!!

If you live in China, then you need 饿了么 n your phone.

But, if I could recommend changes, then it would be to have an English version. There are hundreds of thousands of expats and foreign students living, studying and working in China, most of whom can’t read Chinese. This makes using this app hopeless, same as Taobao. Anyway, still a very good app.

So basically if it took ages for a courier to respond and you tried to contact the customer service they’d just play for time, giving you the usual rubbish like we’re hustling VERY hard and please please wait out a bit longer. Try get them to cancel the order, I dare you. Like what’s the point angry-staring at your phone wondering whether you’re pleading with a human or a bot. I know every cancelled order hurts the bottom line, but seriously? Can you get any bigger than this delivery business in China?

And of course good luck go cancelling the order yourself. The restaurant will NOT be happy — even if you phoned in advance they’d kick the can back to CS saying they got the power to direct couriers.

99% of the time it’s okay. But pray on Sweet JC’s life you don’t ever have an order hanging out in limbo. Chances you will though, sooner rather than later.