Over the past decade, you’ve probably seen more online food services pop up, from ready-made meals delivered to your door to fresh meats you can order online. The reason? Many of these services offer convenience, from shipping food to your home to making the meal preparation process as easy as possible.
Most services that let you order food online are legitimate companies backed by customer reviews, guarantees, and other trust elements. However, that doesn’t mean that every one of them will be the right service for you.
Here are a few points to consider before ordering food online to make sure it’s the right option for you and your family, and that you choose the service that makes the most sense for your needs:
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What Payment Methods are Accepted?
Although most online companies have entered the modern world of accepting several payment methods over the web, there still may be some that don’t accept American Express, PayPal, or other convenient forms of payments you might want to use.
You can usually find out what payment methods a site accepts by looking for a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section, which most companies place in the header or footer of their sites. If you can’t find the information, you might want to send a quick email or phone call to the company.
The Chicago Steak Company Difference: At Chicago Steak Company, you can order steaks, chicken, pork, and other meats and gift boxes online using a variety of convenient payment methods!
We currently offer payments with Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express, and Paypal. We even accept Bill-Me-Later, so you can order now and pay later, and we have Chicago Steak Company Gift Certificates that you can use on any online purchase with us.
How Is the Food Shipped?
The last thing you want when ordering food online is to have it arrive at your door damaged or stored improperly, which could render it unsafe to eat. Legitimate food services will always be transparent about their storing and shipping methods, so you’ll have a good idea of how, and when, your food will arrive.
Most companies offer a section on their websites where you can learn about shipping costs, methods, and the exact process the company uses to ensure that your food arrives safely.
The Chicago Steak Company Difference: We have a full page of our website dedicated to shipping! When you browse our selection of steaks and other goodies, you’ll also find a shipping section that explains our costs and how the product will reach you.
Our steaks are flash-frozen and are guaranteed to reach you frozen or partially thawed to maintain their quality until you’re ready to thaw and cook them. We pack every package with care, and we even have a video on our shipping page that shows you exactly how we do it.
What’s the Return Policy, If Any?
Will your order be protected by a guarantee? Are you allowed to return the food for a refund if you’re not satisfied with its quality?
These are incredibly important questions to know the answer to before ordering any kind of food online. Online food ordering services can be pricey, so you have every right to know how a company protects your purchase and respects you as a customer before you place an order.
Again, this information is usually in an FAQ section or listed on a separate returns/refunds page of the site.
The Chicago Steak Company Difference: We’ve got you covered again! Chicago Steak Company guarantees every order to meet or exceed your expectations. Learn more about our policy and what to do if your order isn’t up to your standards here.
Does the Service Offer Any Rewards for Loyal Customers?
If you’re going to become a loyal customer of any company, you should get something in return for your loyalty, right? It’s only fair.
Check to see if the company you’re ordering from offers any type of reward, like a points program, exclusive discount codes for newsletter subscribers, or a loyalty card that can help you save money on purchases.
The Chicago Steak Company Difference: Our Steakalicious Rewards Program gives back to our loyal customers by helping them earn points on purchases from mychicagosteak.com. You can even get extra points for large orders, placing orders during specific months, and referring friends to place their orders!
We also have an email newsletter that you can sign up for to receive exclusive discounts and offers to save money on your future purchases with us.
Know the Companies You Order From
The most important point to remember before you order anything online (especially food for the family!) is that research is key. Know the company you’re ordering from by spending time on its site, learning about its policies, and checking out some customer reviews. With Chicago Steak Company, our steaks speak for themselves. Still, if you ever want to learn more about us, what we do, and how we take care of the meats you order, you can find out all about it on our website. We’re transparent; it’s our gift to you.