A new partnership between Game Stores and Uber Eats will allow customers to order Game products online, and have them delivered to their doorstep.

The partnership enables the retailer to provide food and other much-needed essential products to its customers more effectively during the COVID-19 pandemic, with the country currently on a Level-4 lockdown.

The phased rollout will see 21 Game stores in Cape Town, Durban, Johannesburg and Pretoria launching the new service, with more stores to be rolled out over the next few weeks.

South Africa has been on a national lockdown since 27 March in an effort to limit transmission of COVID-19. “The pandemic has made us rethink how we do business and encouraged us to create new norms,” said Andrew Stein, vice president of Game Stores. “This partnership is a step into the future, with companies having to be agile and adaptable to situations as they arise. With that said we are doing everything we can to keep our customers stocked with everything they need, and our partnership with Uber Eats allows us to do through an exciting channel”.

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in consumers turning to online retail channels in a bid to do their part by staying home and flattening the curve. While Game fully supports this sentiment, it has meant that the retailer is facing an unprecedented demand in terms of online orders. Aimed at delivering a better experience for its customers, the partnership Game has with Uber Eats will allow more customers to access their essential products in the convenient and seamless user-experience that Uber Eats is renowned for.

Ailyssa Pretorius, general manager for Uber Eats South Africa explains, “Partnering with a leading retailer such as Game, will ensure together, we can deliver items in a safe and convenient way via the Uber Eats app. This exciting partnership will allow more people to stay at home and help flatten the curve of community spread.”

Safety measures

Uber Eats has taken several enhanced safety precautions with deliveries. These include offering a contactless delivery option on checkout, which allows customers to request their delivery be “left at the door”. The company will also be providing financial assistance to drivers and delivery people diagnosed with COVID-19 or ordered to self-quarantine by a doctor or health authority, including those with pre-existing conditions that put them at higher risk.

Uber Eats will reimburse couriers for surface sanitizers to be used in their vehicles. Drivers have also been trained on best practice to keep themselves and customers safe while collecting and making deliveries.  

Drivers have been asked to limit contact with other couriers while collecting orders, wash hands and vehicle surfaces regularly and follow protocols around covering mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, not touching the face, and self-isolating if they feel sick or develop a fever.