{"id":68193,"date":"2025-05-20T18:07:53","date_gmt":"2025-05-20T10:07:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.imoney.my\/articles\/?p=68193"},"modified":"2025-05-20T18:07:53","modified_gmt":"2025-05-20T10:07:53","slug":"true-cost-of-food-delivery-apps","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.imoney.my\/articles\/true-cost-of-food-delivery-apps","title":{"rendered":"The True Cost Of Convenience On Food Delivery Apps"},"content":{"rendered":"

Not that many years ago, food delivery was a rare luxury, reserved strictly for those pizza dinners at home. Then came smartphones, apps, a pandemic and boom\u00a0 \u2014 suddenly we were all ordering our \u2018Nasi Lemak Telur Mata + Teh O Ais, tak nak ais\u2019 on food delivery apps. <\/span><\/p>\n

Though we were in lockdown back then, we still couldn\u2019t go without our daily foodie fixes.\u00a0 This was when we began to rely on food delivery apps and the abang<\/em> rider who would brave rain and shine to bring your next meal right to your doorstep.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Food delivery became a habit<\/h3>\n

What began as a lockdown necessity quickly morphed into habit. Today, it\u2019s simply how we eat. Food delivery is no longer an occasional treat, it\u2019s part of daily life. It\u2019s fast, easy, and only requires two things: your thumb and your e-wallet. But here\u2019s the kicker: behind all that convenience lies a system of mark-ups and \u201csmall order fees\u201d (because your appetite wasn\u2019t large enough, apparently). That RM15 meal you used to enjoy? It\u2019s now pushing RM30, and you probably didn\u2019t even notice. Or worse, you did\u2026 but you still ordered anyway.Welcome to the great Malaysian delivery deception \u2014where the food is fast, but the truth is hidden in the fine print.<\/span><\/p>\n

Same price in-store?<\/b><\/h3>\n

TLDR: No it isn\u2019t. But lets break it down so you can spot these markups too. Say you\u2019re craving ayam gepuk, you open up the food delivery app of your choice and you see that the set you want is RM18.90. Harmless enough, right? Except the exact same dish, at the actual restaurant just a few minutes away, costs RM13.90. That\u2019s a RM5 markup before you even add sides, drinks, or the inevitable delivery fees. And any true ayam gepuk fan would know this, adding on a serving of rice or sambal is free in store, but if you wanted extra sambal for your in app order? BAM, that\u2019s another RM3 on top of your already upcharged meal. And let’s not forget: no Malaysian meal is complete without a sweet drink, so you add a teh tarik. RM6.00. A full RM6 for tea, sugar, and air tangan abang mamak. The same drink that costs RM3 at any kopitiam\/mamak. Perhaps this is when you realise, the froth isn\u2019t the only thing that\u2019s been tarik-ed.<\/span><\/p>\n

And no, it\u2019s not a mistake. It\u2019s strategy. Most restaurants quietly raise their prices on delivery platforms to absorb the commission they\u2019re charged. So, while the platform claims \u201csame price in store,\u201d you\u2019re still paying extra, just tucked in the meal price.<\/span><\/p>\n

Is food delivery worth the money?<\/b><\/h3>\n

Here\u2019s the truth: restaurants aren\u2019t jacking up prices just to make you cry into your overpriced sambal. Delivery platforms charge merchants a<\/span> commission of up to 30% per order<\/span><\/a>. That\u2019s a significant chunk of their profit margin. So instead of absorbing the cost, most F&B outlets simply raise their prices on the app. It\u2019s not deception \u2014 it\u2019s survival. And yes, the platforms themselves are businesses too. A whole team builds the tech, manages the logistics, designs the promos, and handles silly customer complaints like \u201cmy rendang is not crispy.\u201d (Yes that was a throwback reference. IYKYK.) These platforms don\u2019t run on love and likes, they run on\u00a0 manpower, marketing, and margins.<\/span><\/p>\n

Then, there\u2019s the abang rider. The unsung Malaysian hero, bringing meals to the hungry. For many riders, this is their full-time job. And let\u2019s be real: riding through Malaysian weather (which is basically either rainstorm or heatwave) while weaving through rush hour traffic isn\u2019t a glamorous gig. They\u2019re out there dodging potholes and double-parked cars, just so you can dodge human interaction. That said, there are ways to soften the blow.Yes, the markup stings, but if you play your cards (and your cart) right, you can still make food delivery work without torching your wallet.<\/span><\/p>\n

How to save on food delivery apps<\/b><\/h3>\n

Start with bundle deals. Many restaurants offer set meals or combo packs that are cheaper than ordering items individually. If you\u2019re working from home or planning a lazy day in, consider ordering both lunch and dinner in one go. Not only can this save you on delivery fees, it also means you won\u2019t be doomscrolling through menus again in five hours. Bonus: some places throw in free drinks or desserts with bundle sets.A little reward for your foresight!<\/span><\/p>\n

Next, keep your eyes peeled for in-app promos. Delivery platforms love a good deal and you\u2019d be amazed how many discounts, cashback offers, or \u201cSpend RM25 and get RM7 off\u201d vouchers are quietly lurking in your inbox or banner notifications. Some apps even run daily deals for certain restaurants or payment methods. A few taps of detective work can shave a nice chunk off your total.<\/span><\/p>\n

Then there\u2019s the good old free delivery trick. Sometimes, simply hitting a minimum spend unlocks free delivery. Got a friend or housemate nearby? Combine your orders. Or, if you’re feeling a bit sneaky, throw in that extra snack you were eyeing anyway, it might just tip you into the \u201cfree delivery\u201d zone and save you more in the long run.It\u2019s not exactly extreme couponing, but with a little planning, timing, and strategic cart-stuffing, you can still enjoy the convenience of food delivery. <\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Food delivery apps have proven to be an unmatched convenience. However, they might not be as cheap as you think.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":58,"featured_media":68194,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[256,218,308],"tags":[2700,2701,2702,767,766,1048],"class_list":["post-68193","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-lifestyle","category-money-management","category-saving-tips","tag-food-delivery-malaysia","tag-food-delivery-price-kl","tag-how-to-save-money-on-food-delivery-malaysia","tag-lifestyle","tag-money-management","tag-saving-tips"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nFood Delivery: What Are You Really Paying For<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Is ordering food delivery budget-friendly? Think again. 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