Help Center

🚀 Getting Started with SavEat

Welcome to SavEat! We're here to help you save money while reducing food waste. Here's how to get started:

Creating Your Account

1. Click "Sign Up" in the top navigation menu
2. Choose your account type:
   • Customer: For individuals who want to purchase surplus food
   • Restaurant Owner: For businesses that want to sell surplus food
3. Fill in your details:
   • Full Name
   • Email Address
   • Phone Number
   • Password (minimum 6 characters)
4. For Restaurant Owners: You'll need to provide additional information about your restaurant or link to an existing one
5. Click "Register" to create your account

Logging In

1. Click "Sign In" in the navigation menu
2. Enter your email and password
3. Click "Login"

Your session will remain active until you sign out or close your browser.

🔍 Browsing Restaurants

Finding Available Restaurants

The home page displays all restaurants with available surprise bags:

• Restaurant Cards show:
  • Restaurant name and cuisine type
  • Number of items listed
  • Rating and distance
  • Pickup time window
• Items Listed Badge: Shows how many surprise bags are currently available
• Real-time Updates: The page refreshes every 30 seconds to show the latest availability

Search by Location

1. Use the search bar on the home page
2. Enter your city, area, or neighborhood (e.g., "Islamabad", "F-7", "Blue Area")
3. Click "Search" to filter restaurants in that location
4. Click "View on Map" to see restaurants on Google Maps

Using the "Locate on Map" Feature

1. Click the "📍 Locate on Map" button
2. Allow location access when prompted by your browser
3. The system will open Google Maps centered on your current location
4. View nearby restaurants directly on the map

Viewing Restaurant Details

1. Click on any restaurant card
2. View complete information:
   • Restaurant description
   • Full address and contact details
   • Available surprise bags
   • Pricing and pickup times
   • Customer ratings and reviews

🛒 Making a Reservation

Step-by-Step Reservation Process

1. Browse available restaurants on the home page
2. Click on a restaurant to view details
3. Check the surprise bag details:
   • Original price vs. discounted price
   • Pickup time window
   • Number of available bags
4. Select quantity (if multiple bags are available)
5. Click "Reserve Now" button
6. Review your order on the payment page
7. Complete payment (see Payment Methods section)
8. Receive confirmation with pickup details

Understanding Surprise Bags

A surprise bag contains:

• Surplus food from the restaurant's daily preparation
• Items that would otherwise go to waste at end of service
• Food worth 2-3 times the price you pay
• Contents vary daily based on what's available

Reservation Limits

• Each customer can reserve multiple bags from different restaurants
• Some restaurants may limit bags per customer during high demand
• Reservations are first-come, first-served

💳 Payment Methods

Available Payment Options

1. Credit/Debit Cards
   • Visa, Mastercard, and other major cards accepted
   • Secure payment processing
   • Instant confirmation
2. Mobile Wallets
   • JazzCash
   • Easypaisa
   • Quick and convenient payment
3. Pay at Restaurant
   • Reserve online, pay when you pick up
   • Cash or card accepted at restaurant
   • Note: Limited availability at some locations

Payment Security

• All online payments are encrypted and secure
• We never store your complete card details
• Payment information is processed through certified payment gateways
• Your financial data is protected with industry-standard security

Payment Confirmation

After successful payment:

• You'll receive an immediate confirmation on screen
• Confirmation details include:
  • Order number
  • Restaurant name and address
  • Pickup time window
  • Amount paid
  • Items reserved
• Save or screenshot your confirmation for reference

📦 Pickup Process

Before You Go

• Check your confirmation: Note the exact pickup time window
• Review restaurant location: Get directions via the map link
• Bring your phone: You may need to show your order confirmation
• Plan your timing: Arrive during the specified pickup window

At the Restaurant

1. Arrive during pickup window: Don't arrive too early or too late
2. Go to the counter: Tell staff you have a SavEat reservation
3. Show your confirmation: Provide your order number or name
4. Ask about contents: Staff will tell you what's in your bag
5. Inform about allergies: Let staff know about any dietary restrictions
6. Collect your bag: Staff will hand you your surprise bag
7. Check your order: Confirm you received the correct number of items

Important Pickup Rules

Missed Pickup

If you miss your pickup window:

• The reservation is considered forfeited
• No refund is issued for missed pickups
• Your account may be flagged for repeated missed pickups
• Always cancel in advance if you can't make it (see next section)

👤 Account Management

Viewing Your Orders

1. Click "My Orders" in the navigation menu (visible after login)
2. View all your reservations:
   • Upcoming: Orders you haven't picked up yet
   • Completed: Orders you've successfully picked up
   • Cancelled: Orders you or the restaurant cancelled
3. Click on any order to view full details

Cancelling a Reservation

1. Go to "My Orders"
2. Find the order you want to cancel
3. Click "Cancel Order" button
4. Confirm cancellation

Managing Your Profile

1. Click "Settings" in the navigation menu
2. Update your information:
   • Name and contact details
   • Address
   • Profile picture
   • Birthday and gender
   • Dietary preferences
3. Click "Save" to update your profile

Changing Your Password

1. Go to Settings page
2. Find the "Change Password" section
3. Enter your current password
4. Enter your new password (minimum 6 characters)
5. Confirm your new password
6. Click "Change Password"

Account Balance

Your account may have a balance if:

• You received a refund for a cancelled order
• Restaurant cancelled your order
• You received store credit or promotional credits

This balance is automatically applied to your next purchase.

⭐ Ratings & Reviews

Rating Your Experience

After picking up your order, you can rate and review the restaurant:

1. Go to "My Ratings" in the navigation menu
2. Find orders that need rating
3. Click "Rate Order"
4. Provide your rating:
   • Star Rating: 1-5 stars based on your experience
   • Written Review: Share details about your experience
   • Food Quality: Rate the taste and freshness
   • Value for Money: Was it worth the price?
   • Quantity: Was there enough food?
5. Click "Submit Review"

Review Guidelines

• Be honest but respectful in your reviews
• Focus on the food quality, quantity, and value
• Remember that contents are a surprise and vary daily
• Don't share personal information in reviews
• Reviews cannot be edited once submitted

Viewing Restaurant Ratings

• Each restaurant has an overall rating (1-5 stars)
• Ratings are based on customer reviews
• Recent reviews are weighted more heavily
• You can read individual reviews on restaurant detail pages

🏪 For Restaurant Owners

Getting Started as a Restaurant Partner

1. Sign up for a restaurant account
2. Choose to create a new restaurant or link to existing one
3. Provide restaurant details:
   • Restaurant name and type
   • Complete address with coordinates
   • Phone number and email
   • Restaurant photo
   • Description and cuisine type
4. Wait for approval: Our team reviews applications within 24-48 hours
5. Get approved: You'll receive notification when approved

Restaurant Dashboard

Access your dashboard to manage your restaurant:

• View Statistics: Track your sales and performance
• Manage Food Items: Add, edit, or remove surprise bags
• Track Orders: See all customer reservations
• Manage Availability: Control when you're accepting orders
• View Ratings: See customer feedback and reviews

Adding Food Items

1. Go to Restaurant Dashboard
2. Click "Add New Food Item"
3. Fill in the details:
   • Item name and description
   • Original price
   • Discounted price (typically 50-70% off)
   • Quantity available
   • Pickup date
   • Pickup time window (start and end time)
   • Food photo (optional but recommended)
4. Click "Add Item"

Managing Your Listings

• Edit Items: Update prices, quantities, or times
• Make Available/Unavailable: Control visibility to customers
• Delete Items: Remove listings that are no longer valid
• Renew Expired Items: Quickly relist popular items

Processing Customer Orders

1. View incoming reservations in your dashboard
2. Prepare surprise bags during service hours
3. Have bags ready before pickup window starts
4. Verify customer identity during pickup
5. Hand over the bag and thank the customer
6. Mark order as completed in your system

Best Practices for Restaurant Partners

• List items 2-4 hours before end of service: Give customers time to reserve
• Set realistic pickup windows: Usually 30-60 minutes at end of service
• Be generous with portions: Ensure good value for customers
• Keep good variety: Include different types of food when possible
• Communicate allergens clearly: Always inform customers during pickup
• Be friendly and professional: Positive interactions lead to good reviews
• Update availability promptly: Mark items unavailable if they sell out

💡 Tips & Best Practices

For Customers

• Check regularly: New items are listed throughout the day
• Act fast: Popular restaurants sell out quickly
• Read reviews: Learn from other customers' experiences
• Set location reminders: Don't miss your pickup time
• Bring containers: Some restaurants appreciate reusable containers
• Try new cuisines: It's a great way to explore different foods
• Be flexible: Remember, it's a surprise bag - contents vary
• Rate your experience: Help other users make informed decisions
• Follow favorite restaurants: Check back regularly for their listings
• Plan meals ahead: Reserve for dinner the day before

Maximizing Your Savings

• Look for high-value items (Rs. 1000+ original price)
• Reserve from multiple restaurants for meal prep
• Share larger bags with family or friends
• Freeze items you can't eat immediately
• Take advantage of end-of-week listings (more availability)

Being a Responsible User

• Only reserve what you can pick up
• Cancel early if your plans change
• Arrive on time for pickup
• Be polite to restaurant staff
• Don't waste the food you rescue
• Share your positive experiences with friends

🔧 Troubleshooting

Common Issues and Solutions

Can't Log In

• Check that your email and password are correct
• Ensure caps lock is off
• Clear your browser cache and cookies
• Try resetting your password
• Make sure you're using the email address you registered with

Restaurant Not Appearing

• The restaurant may not have any available items right now
• Check your location search - you may be filtering by area
• Click "View All Restaurants" to see complete list
• The restaurant may be temporarily inactive

Payment Failed

• Check your internet connection
• Verify your card details are correct
• Ensure sufficient funds are available
• Try a different payment method
• Contact your bank if card is declined
• Clear browser cache and try again

Didn't Receive Confirmation

• Check your My Orders page - it should appear there
• Wait a few minutes - confirmations may be delayed
• Check if payment was actually processed
• Take a screenshot if you see a success message
• Contact support with your order details

Item Not Available at Pickup

• Show your confirmation to restaurant staff
• Verify you're at the correct restaurant
• Check if you arrived during the correct pickup window
• If issue persists, contact restaurant manager
• Request a refund through My Orders page

Need to Cancel but Can't

• Check if you're within the cancellation window (2+ hours before pickup)
• Try refreshing the page
• Clear browser cache
• If within 2 hours of pickup, cancellation isn't allowed
• Contact support for special circumstances

Getting Additional Help

If you can't resolve your issue:

1. Check the FAQ: Many questions are answered there
2. Contact Us: Use the contact form with your issue details
3. Include information:
   • Your account email
   • Order number (if applicable)
   • Description of the problem
   • Screenshots (if relevant)
   • What you've already tried
4. Response time: We aim to respond within 24 hours

Technical Requirements

For the best experience using SavEat:

• Browsers: Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge (latest versions)
• Internet: Stable connection required for browsing and payments
• JavaScript: Must be enabled for site functionality
• Cookies: Must be enabled to stay logged in
• Screen: Works on desktop, tablet, and mobile devices