Summary of Key Insights
The Too Good To Go app is generally well-received, with a strong positive sentiment driven by its core mission of reducing food waste and providing affordable food options. Users appreciate the app's ability to help them save money and discover new restaurants while contributing to a sustainable cause. However, several pain points exist, including order cancellations, inconsistent quality and value of "surprise bags," limited vendor variety in some areas, and app functionality issues. These issues detract from the overall user experience and present opportunities for improvement. Quantitatively, the app has a good overall rating, but the significant number of 1-star reviews indicates substantial dissatisfaction among a segment of users.
- Key Strengths:
- Reduces food waste.
- Provides affordable food options.
- Introduces users to new restaurants.
- Easy to use interface (generally).
- Key Weaknesses:
- Frequent order cancellations.
- Inconsistent quality and value of surprise bags.
- Limited vendor variety, especially outside urban areas.
- App glitches and payment issues.
- Poor customer service responsiveness.
- Overall Sentiment: Positive, but with significant pockets of negative experiences.
- Overall Rating: Based on the review breakdown, it would be approximately 4.0.
- Score Distribution:
- 5-star: 64.2%
- 4-star: 8.6%
- 3-star: 6.4%
- 2-star: 3.2%
- 1-star: 17.6%
Data & Methodology Overview
- Data Sample Size: 500 reviews
- Time Frame: Reviews appear to be recent, spanning the last few months.
- Analysis Methods:
- Sentiment analysis based on star ratings and review text.
- Keyword extraction to identify frequently mentioned issues and features.
- Thematic analysis to group related issues and suggestions.
Key User Pain Points
- Order Cancellations: This is the most frequently cited issue. Restaurants often cancel orders at the last minute, sometimes even after the user has arrived at the location. This leads to wasted time, gas, and frustration. Lack of transparency and accountability for cancellations is a major concern.
- Inconsistent Quality and Value: Users report significant variation in the quality and quantity of food received in surprise bags. Some bags offer excellent value, while others contain stale, expired, or unwanted items, often falling short of the claimed value.
- Limited Vendor Variety: Many users, particularly those in suburban or rural areas, complain about the limited selection of participating restaurants. Common complaints include an overabundance of donut shops, Circle K stores, and a lack of options for specific dietary needs (e.g., vegetarian, vegan).
- App Glitches and Payment Issues: Some users experience technical problems with the app, including payment failures, location access issues, and filtering problems.
- Poor Customer Service: Several reviewers mentioned difficulty contacting customer service and receiving timely or helpful responses when issues arise, particularly regarding refunds for cancelled orders or unsatisfactory food.
- Inaccurate Store Information: Users have encountered stores listed that are permanently closed or do not participate in the program.
Frequently Requested Features
- Filtering and Blocking Options: Users want the ability to filter or block specific types of vendors (e.g., gas stations, liquor stores) or restaurants they are not interested in.
- Visible Reviews and Ratings: Users want to see detailed reviews and ratings from other customers for specific vendors to better understand the quality and value of surprise bags.
- Dietary Preference Options: Users want to specify dietary restrictions or preferences (e.g., vegetarian, vegan, allergies) to ensure they receive suitable food.
- Improved Notification System: Users desire more reliable and customizable notifications for when new bags become available from their favorite stores or in specific areas.
- Ability to Edit Reviews: Users want to be able to edit or update their reviews after submitting them.
- Ability to Search by Zip Code: Users want to be able to search for vendors by zip code instead of relying solely on geolocation.
- Ability to Designate a Friend for Pickup: Users want to be able to designate a friend to pick up their order without requiring them to download and sign into the app.
Strengths and Positive Aspects
- Reduces Food Waste: The primary mission of the app resonates strongly with users who are environmentally conscious.
- Affordable Food: Users appreciate the opportunity to purchase food at a significantly reduced price, especially during times of economic hardship.
- Discovery of New Restaurants: The surprise bag concept encourages users to try new restaurants and cuisines they might not otherwise consider.
- Convenient and Easy to Use (Generally): Many users find the app easy to navigate and the purchase process straightforward.
- Good Value (Sometimes): When surprise bags contain a good variety and quality of food, users feel they are getting excellent value for their money.
Prioritized Action Recommendations
High Priority:
- Address Order Cancellations: Implement stricter penalties for restaurants that frequently cancel orders. Provide users with immediate refunds and potentially offer compensation for wasted time and travel. Improve communication regarding cancellations, ensuring users receive timely notifications.
- Improve Quality Control: Establish guidelines for participating restaurants to ensure the quality and freshness of food included in surprise bags. Implement a system for users to report and rate the contents of their bags, and take action against restaurants that consistently provide substandard items.
- Enhance Customer Service: Provide more accessible and responsive customer service channels. Respond to user inquiries and complaints promptly and offer fair resolutions.
Medium Priority:
- Expand Vendor Variety: Actively recruit a wider range of restaurants and food businesses to participate in the app, particularly in areas with limited options. Focus on attracting businesses that offer diverse cuisines and cater to different dietary needs.
- Implement Filtering and Blocking Options: Add features that allow users to filter or block specific types of vendors or restaurants based on their preferences.
- Improve App Functionality: Fix reported glitches and payment issues. Optimize the app for speed and reliability.
Low Priority:
- Add Dietary Preference Options: Incorporate options for users to specify dietary restrictions or preferences to improve the relevance of available surprise bags.
- Implement User Review System: Allow users to leave detailed written reviews and ratings for specific vendors to provide more transparency and help other users make informed decisions.
Opportunities for Startup Ideas
- Hyperlocal Food Waste Marketplace: A platform specifically focused on connecting local producers (farmers, bakeries, etc.) with consumers to reduce hyperlocal food waste.
- Subscription-Based "Rescue Box": A subscription service that delivers curated boxes of surplus food items from local businesses on a regular basis.
- AI-Powered Food Waste Prediction: A tool that helps restaurants predict their food waste more accurately, enabling them to better manage inventory and reduce surplus.
- Community Composting Network: An app that connects individuals with local composting initiatives, making it easier to dispose of food scraps sustainably.
Trends and Observations
- Geographic Disparities: User experiences vary significantly based on location. Users in urban areas with a greater variety of participating restaurants tend to have more positive experiences than those in suburban or rural areas.
- Circle K Dominance: The prevalence of Circle K stores on the app is a recurring theme, with many users expressing frustration at the lack of other options.
- Payment Issues: A significant number of users have reported recurring payment failures, suggesting a persistent technical problem.
- Positive Sentiment Shift: Reviews show users are open to the concept, and a positive shift in ratings could be achieved by addressing the outlined pain points.
Conclusion
Too Good To Go has a strong value proposition and a loyal user base. The app's mission of reducing food waste and providing affordable food options resonates with many. However, addressing the key pain points related to order cancellations, inconsistent quality, limited vendor variety, and app functionality is crucial for improving the user experience and realizing the app's full potential. By prioritizing these issues and implementing the recommended actions, Too Good To Go can solidify its position as a leading platform for sustainable food consumption.
I recommend prioritizing the high priority recommendations to address the most common user complaints and improve the overall user experience.
Original App Link
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/too-good-to-go-end-food-waste/id1060683933?uo=2