Uber Eats launched 4 months ago here in Sydney with free delivery and no minimum order "for a limited time" and it's been amazing - I immediately stopped using competitors like Foodora/Suppertime, Deliveroo, Delivery Hero, Eat Now and Menulog.
I guess this is exactly what he means when he says Uber is "using their balance sheet as a weapon".
In SF, UberEATS has a rolling $5 off per delivery for the month of November. Last I checked, deliveries were a flat $5 so this counteracts it. It's been that way for ~2/3 weeks now.
All orders were $20 off including free delivery for the last week here. Still free delivery now that it's over.
Previous to that were free uber rides, free uber helicopter rides and all while still paying the drivers the same amount.
It is a shame to me, because we are a small city in a relatively remote location that had been incubating it's own smaller scale food delivery services. Some really cool platforms that could compete with Uber in all metrics but one: the ability to spend big to create incredible brand presence.
Everyone is now super excited about UberEats because it is cheaper and makes us feel like we're just like the cool kids in San Fran. Meanwhile these smaller companies will likely fizzle out, as our city just doesn't have the capital to invest and compete.
No it's free indefinitely. There's just no delivery charge whatsoever. Some items on menus are more expensive than they are at the actual restaurants though.