Coupang Eats expands unlimited free delivery service nationwide

[Courtesy of Coupang Inc.]

South Korean e-commerce giant Coupang Inc. is offering its premium WOW members unlimited free delivery service for Coupang Eats nationwide.

Coupang Eats announced on Sunday that it will expand the unlimited free delivery service nationwide, just two months after it was only available in the metropolitan areas and key regions.

Coupang Eats’ free delivery service allows users to enjoy unlimited benefits without additional charges for long-distance deliveries, with no restrictions on the number of orders placed.

Customers can also simultaneously benefit from discounts on food prices by using separate coupons or promotions.

A customer who used free delivery in April saved over 700,000 won ($515) in delivery fees by placing about 200 orders, while another customer saved in the range of 400,000 won by placing around 120 orders, the company said.

The company anticipates that there will be an increase in sales for restaurants that have joined Coupang Eats and more opportunities for delivery partners to participate with the nationwide expansion of free delivery.

“Since the implementation of free delivery, we have seen a clear increase in orders and sales for restaurants that have joined our platform, particularly in local regions where order volumes have more than doubled,” said a Coupang Eats official. “These results were confirmed based on a comparison of weekly periods before and after the implementation of free delivery on Coupang Eats.”

As the vacation season approaches, customers in Gangneung, Sokcho, and other regions nationwide, as well as travelers, will now have access to free delivery services. This expansion will enable local restaurants to reach WOW members nationwide.

Coupang’s WOW membership offers various benefits to customers, including free shipping, delivery, direct purchases, free returns, and free video streaming services.

Currently, WOW members can enjoy over 10 benefits, including exclusive discounts on fresh food with free early morning delivery and same-day delivery services.

Coupang plans to further expand its WOW membership benefits this year by investing over 5.5 trillion won, following last year’s provision of benefits totaling over 4 trillion won.

Since the introduction of unlimited free delivery, Coupang Eats has experienced rapid user growth. According to mobile index data from the big data analytics firm, IGAWorks, Coupang Eats’ monthly active users (MAU) surged by 108.7 percent year-on-year to 6.94 million in April.

In contrast, Baedal Minjok’s MAU fell by 0.5 percent to 21.7 million last month, while Yogiyo’s user base decreased by 25.7 percent to 5.5 million users.