MANILA, Philippines — As much as we want to personally deliver all our gifts to our loved ones one-by-one this Christmas, we know we simply couldn’t because of all the hassle, expenses and of course the risk of going outside our homes frequently.
We could only wonder, what if, like Santa Claus, we, too, have reindeers who can deliver presents from one house to another easily? Well, we actually have real-life versions of them: our Grab delivery-partners, who can deliver gifts just as fast and safely as them.
This holiday season, Grab brings us closer to our loved ones by making sure there’s a Grab Express delivery solution for all of our gifts. And because they know how valuable our gifts are, and how much effort and thought we put into our gifts, they make it a point to deliver your packages and well wishes na parang ikaw na mismo ang nag-abot.
To see if this promise is true, Philstar.com put Grab’s different delivery services to the test through a cake delivery trial. Here’s how well they did in delivering our holiday presents:
1. Special gift delivery via GrabExpress Sedan
Less familiar to many is that GrabExpress is not actually limited to two-wheel delivery; it has a sedan service too.
To try this service, I ordered three cakes from GrabKitchen at Raymundo Ave., Pasig and booked them for pick up through a sedan for delivery to One Oasis Building at Ortigas Ave. Ext.
Surprisingly, at exactly 3:38 p.m., I was able to successfully book a GrabExpress Sedan in just a few minutes and had the items picked up at 3:55 p.m. or just 17 minutes after booking.
Booked at almost rush hour, it’s understandable that traversing around the Pasig area could’ve been a bit more difficult for the rider, but that’s okay as we’re assured that the cakes are handled in good condition inside the car.
Plus, the lady rider I got even kept me updated all throughout the ride until she was able to drop off the presents at 4:17 p.m.
As promised by Grab, the cakes were all in good condition upon delivery. Here’s how they looked after their almost 40-minute ride—no distorted cake boxes nor destroyed cake decors:
I even did a second trial and booked another sedan from Robinsons Magnolia to Quezon Ave. The same is true: our package was still delicately placed beside the driver’s seat for ensured safety, and it arrived quickly at the designated destination.
Verdict: GrabExpress via Sedan is swift and safe!
This sedan option to deliver perishable and delicate food items such as a cake provides peace of mind. I am assured that neither the cake nor the box will be deformed as there is much space inside the car. This feature is also advantageous for multiple packages or fragile items that must be handled with extra care.
2. Holiday surprise delivered via GrabExpress Bike
From our sedan cake trial, we also tried the more common mode of Grab delivery: Grab Express Bike.
Booked at 7:11 p.m., our rider was quick to pick up our package at 7:30 p.m. despite the rider’s distance from the pick-up point. Upon pick-up, the rider made sure the cake was carefully placed inside his insulated bags to assure that the cakes would be delivered securely.
And while, unsurprisingly, there is bumper-to-bumper traffic on the way to Fairview, our 5-star rider was madiskarte enough to weather through it and arrive at the drop-off point at 8:14 p.m. Pasig to Fairview. From pick-up to drop-off in less than 60 minutes during rush hour? Who would’ve even thought that’s possible?
Of course, I tried to manage my expectations with this delivery as we thought the traffic and all the road bumps would have affected the status of our cake. But I couldn’t be more wrong as the cake arrived at the location in almost flawless condition!
Here’s how it arrived after traveling after an hour of motorcycle ride:
Verdict: This delivery option is very reliable and hassle-free!
Not only is GrabExpress Bike easier to book, it’s also friendlier to the budget. For less than P250, GrabExpress delivered my package all the way from Pasig to Fairview safely and even exceeded my expectations when it came to the status of the cake. Though, I still recommend the sedan for cake deliveries as the impact of road bumps on your cakes, or any fragile items, would be more controlled.
3. Bringing holiday cheer with GrabExpress 4-Hours
If your gifts can wait and you’re not in any way in a hurry to have them delivered right away, GrabExpress offers a more affordable delivery service that batches and completes your delivery within 4 hours.
Simply book a ride and choose 4 Hours for your pick-up time instead of “Instant.” Once a 4 Hours delivery is confirmed, Grab will batch the order to a rider based on availability and location.
The rider will follow the system-planned route to collect the parcels one by one and then deliver them to their destinations based on the system-recommended route, allowing your booking to be more cost-efficient and affordable.
If not for the holiday peak season, it's fast to book using this option. Usually, we’re able to find a rider in just 50 minutes, but sometimes, riders arrive even earlier.
Verdict: Grab Express 4 hours is the perfect budget-friendly solution for your holiday deliveries.
Perfect for non-perishable presents, Grab Express 4 hours offers not only convenience but also more affordable delivery rates that usually range from P79 for short distances to P99 only even for longer distances.
GrabExpress is the real MVP this holiday!
Understanding how important it is for us that our gifts arrive at our loved ones in the best condition, GrabExpress riders treat every delivery like a VIP to ensure that our packages arrive at our loved ones na parang ikaw lang ang nag-abot.
And to give you more peace of mind, your deliveries also have GrabExpress’ Delivery Guarantee, an insurance coverage which covers up to P50,000 for lost and damaged items.
Whether you’re booking a GrabExpress Sedan, Bike, Multi-Purpose Vehicle or 4-Hour service, all Grab riders are trained to be maalaga in every way possible, and they are more than ready to be our ever-reliable reindeers in spreading the joy of the holidays door-to-door.
For your deliveries this season, book via GrabExpress and rest assured that your gifts are in good hands.