Uber Ice Cream Bummed Us Out in a Major Way

Updated on 7/18/2014 at 5:00 PM

When Uber announced it would deliver ice cream today ($25 for five ice creams) across 144 cities, in 38 countries, on six continents, I hounded that app for 45 minutes to request a delivery. "How exciting!" I thought. And from the looks of the #UberIceCream Instagram stream, I could expect classic ice cream cones or soft serve. I eyed the offerings for San Francisco, and the site said, "Serving a variety of icy treats." While it seemed odd and slightly ambiguous, I overlooked any suspicions and started to dream of ice cream. The company had great success with its Uber Kittens campaign, and I'm a loyal customer on the regular, so I had high hopes. But when a regular ole sedan pulled up to unload an Igloo cooler, I was skeptical, to say the least. Photo: Anna Monette Roberts

Sprinkled Cones

Or a sprinkle-speckled ice cream cone. Source: Instagram user christinamchoi

Ice Cream Truck

Or at least a cool ice cream truck, like Mister Softee. Source: Instagram user nightfall914

Reality Check

When this Uber driver pulled up to the curb in a sedan, I was puzzled. "Where's the ice cream?" I wondered. Photo: Anna Monette Roberts

Uber Ice Cream

Turns out, Uber's delivery was much less of a production than I'd anticipated. The driver opened the cooler on the pavement to reveal smooshed ice cream sandwiches, no-brand drumsticks, a few Häagen-Dazs bars, and a mysterious package wrapped in brown butcher paper. Although I love classic frozen treats, it's not exactly what I envisioned: it felt more like the contents of the ice cream trucks I used to run toward as a kid than a chic, sponsored treat. Photo: Anna Monette Roberts

Ice Cream Bar and Sunglasses

While Häagen-Dazs ice cream is delicious, it's something I keep in my freezer for any ordinary night at home. I am, however, stoked for the cute pair of Uber sunglasses in an ice cream cone-printed sleeve.

All in all, for $25, the ice cream "truck" felt quite makeshift and didn't live up to my expectations — or to the standard Uber has set for events like this!

Have you tried Uber ice cream? And was I expecting too much? Photo: Anna Monette Roberts