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People think they're calling restaurants directly but Grubhub is getting a fee

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Re: People think they're calling restaurants directly but Grubhub is getting a fee

#21

Post by JumpCrisscross »

toomuchtodo wrote: post #15
rickpmg wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>I tried a new place recently, only to find out I had been duped by Grub-hub So you found a new restaurant, the restaurant found a new customer, and grub-hub is cut out of the (future) picture. Didn't grubhub earn that commission in this case? I have no love (or hate) for grub-hub... but it seems like a business hired a salesperson on commission, knowing full well the parameters of the deal, and then gets upset when…

A commission isn’t earned when you’re fraudulently impersonating a business.

> when you’re fraudulently impersonating a business

The article suggests diners are calling numbers from the GrubHub app. If that’s the case, the commission is earned per the agreement. Practically, the app provided discoverability.

When it appears on Google or Yelp results, assuming Google or Yelp aren’t being compensated and disclosing this relationship, that is a problem.

Re: People think they're calling restaurants directly but Grubhub is getting a fee

#22

Post by toomuchtodo »

JumpCrisscross wrote: post #21
toomuchtodo wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A commission isn’t earned when you’re fraudulently impersonating a business.

> when you’re fraudulently impersonating a business The article suggests diners are calling numbers from the GrubHub app. If that’s the case, the commission is earned per the agreement. Practically, the app provided discoverability. When it appears on Google or Yelp results, assuming Google or Yelp aren’t being compensated and disclosing this relationship, that is a problem.

This is a fair distinction to point out.

Edit: Removed an interpretation of the situation that was inaccurate

Re: People think they're calling restaurants directly but Grubhub is getting a fee

#23

Post by RileyJames »

mataug wrote: post #5

> “If a customer calls to place a coffee order, we’re paying a $6.42 fee — for a coffee.” This is wrong ! Plain and simple. $6.42 is probably more than the cost of the coffee. Here are somethings you as a consumer can do to help, 1. If possible visit the restaurant personally, and order to go 2. Find the restaurant's phone number on their website / Facebook / Instagram / twitter page. 3. Leave a tip I've found that y…

You can also spread the message to your friends and family. That Grubhub, uber eats, etc are not the best way to support a local business, and that they conduct these deceptive tactics.

I’ve had friends in the past week state “I’m supporting local tonight” and then continue on to state they ordered via uber eats.

They’re upset to know, but thankful to be informed, that ordering via uber eats doesn’t actually support local in the way they believe they are.

The whole fake websites / fake phone numbers just adds to the bad taste, supporting local does not align with supporting deceptive middle men.

Re: People think they're calling restaurants directly but Grubhub is getting a fee

#24

Post by maest »

rickpmg wrote: post #8
MaintenanceMode wrote: post #4

It's disheartening that there's so much due diligence required just to conduct the most basic transactions right now. I have a narrow list of vetted restaurants, where I understand the costs and to the business, the delivery model, the safety (food handling and Covid precautions), and I only take out from these particular places. I tried a new place recently, only to find out I had been duped by Grub-hub, even though…

>I tried a new place recently, only to find out I had been duped by Grub-hub So you found a new restaurant, the restaurant found a new customer, and grub-hub is cut out of the (future) picture. Didn't grubhub earn that commission in this case? I have no love (or hate) for grub-hub... but it seems like a business hired a salesperson on commission, knowing full well the parameters of the deal, and then gets upset when…

There is no proof GH added value here. Allow me to share a related story:

In some places in Eastern Europe, for a while, you could see these people stand in front of empty, free parking spots in the street. As soon as they would see a car approaching they would wave their hands and signal you to park there. To be clear, these people were not afiliated with city hall or other public institutions in any way.

If you drove away, no biggie. If you parked, they would do a big show of moving around the car and telling you when you were too close to the curb, when you should start turning the wheel etc.

Once you were done, they would walk up to you and heavily imply they should be paid for the service they provided ("discovering" the parking space for you and helping you park). You could safely ignore them and they might cuss at you but that was about it.

My girlfriend used to lovingly call them Parking Consultants.

These GH stories have a very similar energy, with middlemen forcefully putting themselves in front of you when you follow a discovery path _that would naturally lead you to the restaurant you were looking for_ (e.g. by showing up higher than the restaurant you're tying to order from in the Google search).

Re: People think they're calling restaurants directly but Grubhub is getting a fee

#25

Post by AlexandrB »

rickpmg wrote: post #8
MaintenanceMode wrote: post #4

It's disheartening that there's so much due diligence required just to conduct the most basic transactions right now. I have a narrow list of vetted restaurants, where I understand the costs and to the business, the delivery model, the safety (food handling and Covid precautions), and I only take out from these particular places. I tried a new place recently, only to find out I had been duped by Grub-hub, even though…

>I tried a new place recently, only to find out I had been duped by Grub-hub So you found a new restaurant, the restaurant found a new customer, and grub-hub is cut out of the (future) picture. Didn't grubhub earn that commission in this case? I have no love (or hate) for grub-hub... but it seems like a business hired a salesperson on commission, knowing full well the parameters of the deal, and then gets upset when…

Grub-hub sometimes does this without the restaurant's knowledge or permission[1]. I believe in most other industries that's considered fraud or trademark violation?

[1] https://www.theverge.com/2019/6/28/19154220/grubhub-seamless...

Re: People think they're calling restaurants directly but Grubhub is getting a fee

#26

Post by obibring »

Its astonishing delivery services have the depravity to dupe customers trying to help a hurting industry.

If you live in NYC or SF, I built a browser extension that will help you place delivery orders directly with local restaurants. It currently compares the price of your delivery across all delivery services, and within the next week, will link you to local restaurant websites if one is available. For those interested in checking, the link is https://platerapp.app.link/Gsxltl3d06

Re: People think they're calling restaurants directly but Grubhub is getting a fee

#27

Post by brianwawok »

maest wrote: post #24
rickpmg wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>I tried a new place recently, only to find out I had been duped by Grub-hub So you found a new restaurant, the restaurant found a new customer, and grub-hub is cut out of the (future) picture. Didn't grubhub earn that commission in this case? I have no love (or hate) for grub-hub... but it seems like a business hired a salesperson on commission, knowing full well the parameters of the deal, and then gets upset when…

There is no proof GH added value here. Allow me to share a related story: In some places in Eastern Europe, for a while, you could see these people stand in front of empty, free parking spots in the street. As soon as they would see a car approaching they would wave their hands and signal you to park there. To be clear, these people were not afiliated with city hall or other public institutions in any way. If you dro…

Well the big problem with the consultants is sometimes they might flatten your tire or key your car if you don’t tip. So it’s as much over-eager help as it is shake-down.

Not a huge fan.

Re: People think they're calling restaurants directly but Grubhub is getting a fee

#28

Post by dagnabbit »

JumpCrisscross wrote: post #21
toomuchtodo wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A commission isn’t earned when you’re fraudulently impersonating a business.

> when you’re fraudulently impersonating a business The article suggests diners are calling numbers from the GrubHub app. If that’s the case, the commission is earned per the agreement. Practically, the app provided discoverability. When it appears on Google or Yelp results, assuming Google or Yelp aren’t being compensated and disclosing this relationship, that is a problem.

The numbers are on fake websites which grubhub sets up, which impersonate the business without clearly conveying that it's actually grub hub.

Those websites then end up on Google and Yelp.

It's a vile scam, supported only by immoral and brainless turds such as Riccardo Altavilla.

Re: People think they're calling restaurants directly but Grubhub is getting a fee

#29

Post by toomuchtodo »

brianwawok wrote: post #27
maest wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There is no proof GH added value here. Allow me to share a related story: In some places in Eastern Europe, for a while, you could see these people stand in front of empty, free parking spots in the street. As soon as they would see a car approaching they would wave their hands and signal you to park there. To be clear, these people were not afiliated with city hall or other public institutions in any way. If you dro…

Well the big problem with the consultants is sometimes they might flatten your tire or key your car if you don’t tip. So it’s as much over-eager help as it is shake-down. Not a huge fan.

Profound analogy. Gig platforms appear to be overly helpful to customers and shake down restaurants and drivers.

Re: People think they're calling restaurants directly but Grubhub is getting a fee

#30

Post by jancsika »

rickpmg wrote: post #8
MaintenanceMode wrote: post #4

It's disheartening that there's so much due diligence required just to conduct the most basic transactions right now. I have a narrow list of vetted restaurants, where I understand the costs and to the business, the delivery model, the safety (food handling and Covid precautions), and I only take out from these particular places. I tried a new place recently, only to find out I had been duped by Grub-hub, even though…

>I tried a new place recently, only to find out I had been duped by Grub-hub So you found a new restaurant, the restaurant found a new customer, and grub-hub is cut out of the (future) picture. Didn't grubhub earn that commission in this case? I have no love (or hate) for grub-hub... but it seems like a business hired a salesperson on commission, knowing full well the parameters of the deal, and then gets upset when…

That's all contingent both on OP discovering the restaurant through grubhub's tactics, and on it being unlikely that OP would have found said restaurant without the existence of grubhub's tactics.

For example, suppose a fairy told OP about the restaurant and OP then Googled it to get the number. If the grubhub MITM phone number bumped the real number/website further down then grubhub is a nuisance and a thief.

But OP also mentioned they thought they had ordered from the restaurant's web site. If that confusion is due to dark patterns employed by grubhub then grubhub is full of evil wizards who must be overcome in an epic battle.

Only if OP discovered by searching and grubhub bubbling to the top of a search where the restaurant otherwise wouldn't have appeared is grubhub the knight here.

So we need to know-- OP, how did you discover this new restaurant in the first place?

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