DARICE DE CUBA $

Since the economy recovered the past years, food delivery websites are more popular than ever. You can put on Netflix and order anything your stomach desires and forget the world exists. Except if you are deaf or hard of hearing and live alone. Or maybe you live in a large building and the doorbell is broken.

In my case, I’m a bit of a food snob and I’m deaf. A food snob – part by taste and part by diet restrictions. And deaf because that’s one of the cards life dealt me later in life.

Thuisbezorgd.nl is the oldest most known food delivery website in The Netherlands. Most restaurants on it are the variety of cheap pizza, spareribs, shoarma, sushi and other fast food. You get the gist. It’s fatty, salty and in several cases with questionable hygiene.

In comes Deliveroo.nl Oh, how happy was I when I read about it. A delivery website that caters to the better food places. A gourmet hamburger or roasted chicken with veggies. Sounds better than a 20 minute salty pizza. Am I right? Except for one small not so small problem. See below exhibit one and two.

Most people won’t spot what is missing here. It’s a very small key part of any good usable and accessible interactive website. There is no “Comment” or “Special instructions” text box.

Want to let them know you are very allergic to peanuts? Too bad. Don’t want salt on your french fries due to your blood pressure? Too bad. You are deaf and want to let them know to text you instead of ringing the doorbell on delivery? Too bad.

And this is why I have never ordered anything on Deliveroo.nl.

Foodora.nl was the same story. But they have made adjustments. I have yet to try using their website since they implemented the comment box. I need to have lots of patience if I decide to try. If things don’t go well I’ll end up with undelivered food I paid for and unable to communicate with the restaurant.

That is another thing with all these websites and food places. You can order online but if there is a mishap or anything, they only provide a phone number for you to call. No e-mail, no chat, no texting or WhatsApp. No food.

Thuisbezorgd.nl is the winner here who always had the “Comment” text box option. Some of the better food places are also using Thuisbezorgd now. Lucky for them. Now I spend my money on Thuisbezorgd and the better places available through them.

Accessibility is positive for everyone. The client and the seller. If the product is accessible for everyone, you get more clients thus more income (and/or visitors). It’s a win – win situation for everyone.

p.s.
Some of you might wonder: “Don’t you have a doorbell system to alert you?” Well yes, yes I do. Only it won’t work with the building bell, only with my apartment doorbell.