Favor Delivery

Favor, based in Austin, is one of several startups serving the growing demand for inexpensive on-demand delivery services. The company acts as a platform for independent drivers in major Texas metro areas as well as Atlanta, Boston, Cambridge, Denver, Miami, Nashville, Toronto, and Washington DC. Favor has partnered with restaurant chains that don’t already have a delivery service, such as Dunkin Donuts and Sonic, as well as with local eateries in the markets it serves.

Favor delivers more than takeout. Users can request pickups of laundry, prescriptions, groceries, and other items. The average time from order to delivery is 35 minutes, according to Favor’s website, with most deliveries completed within one hour. To use the service, customers must download and install the Favor app on their tablet or phone, enter a phone number, and place their order on their device.

Here’s our review of Favor. We’d love to hear from you! Share your opinion by writing a review.

Pros:

Some delivery services mark up item prices but Favor does not. In its help section, Favor lists delivery hours and links to delivery-area maps so you know before you place an order whether you can have it delivered. Delivery pricing is transparent and doesn’t fluctuate based on demand. Delivery drivers keep customers updated on delivery time estimates in case of delays. Favor screens and trains its runners.

Cons:

Delivery areas are not city-wide. For example, in San Antonio, which is a sprawling city, Favor’s delivery zones currently cover only the Highway 281 corridor north of I-10 to Stone Oak and the Medical Center. Favor doesn’t support scheduling orders in advance, and alcohol delivery is not on the menu for now. Orders can only be placed through Favor’s mobile apps, not via computer, which might be an issue for customers who have trouble with small screens.

Fine print:

As with most other service-platform apps, Favor assumes limited liability if there’s a problem. The company has customer service reps to help with issues, but the terms of service stipulate that any problems with delivery or the quality of goods are ultimately between the user and the delivery person or the merchant.

Cost:

As of this writing, delivery costs $5 in all of Favor’s Texas markets as well as in Denver, Nashville, and Atlanta. The delivery fee is $6 in Boston/Cambridge, Miami, and Washington. Each delivery is charged a processing fee that’s equal to 5% of the cost of your purchase, and any local sales taxes apply. Favor encourages customers to tip their delivery runners. The entire tip goes to the runner.

Best for…

People who are comfortable ordering via app on a mobile device; adult children of seniors who want to send them food, groceries, prescriptions, or other items; caregivers who need help with errands.