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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

#81

Post by a_e_k »

tomc1985 wrote: post #58
MattGaiser wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The due diligence is because the restaurants offer a terrible experience. Most still do not have an independent online ordering function. They want me to call. Most still haven't set up meaningful profiles on Yelp and other review sites. So I would need to root around to find contact information. That is in addition to needing to give my credit card over the phone, not knowing how long the order will take, and needin…

I beg to differ. None of the places I've placed orders with (and I've been doing it a lot what with quarantine) have ever asked for CC over-the-phone. Most just want my name, some a phone number. Ordering usually takes less time than it would to fiddle about with a bunch of dropdowns, even if it had my customer information already saved.

Speaking of information already saved, one of my favorite pizza places has my order history keyed to my phone number.

Ordering ahead usually comes down to dialing them up, giving my name and phone number and telling them I'd like the same as last time. They read it off to me to confirm, quote me a waiting time, and that's that. Start to finish, the call is probably less than thirty seconds.

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

#83

Post by renewiltord »

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…

Haha, I like the view, but generally if I want a salesperson I want to voluntary engage in that transaction. Fortunately, in the business I'm in I can just forbid reselling in the licence except for the folks I'm getting into business with. The unfortunate reality for restaurants is that they can't.

Confusing a deputy that you are indeed someone in order to intermediate a relationship between them and that person has a skeevy air to it. It's the deception, I think.

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

#84

Post by bentcorner »

MattGaiser wrote: post #19
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…

The due diligence is because the restaurants offer a terrible experience. Most still do not have an independent online ordering function. They want me to call. Most still haven't set up meaningful profiles on Yelp and other review sites. So I would need to root around to find contact information. That is in addition to needing to give my credit card over the phone, not knowing how long the order will take, and needin…

> The restaurants are barely trying to compete for customers.

That's a pretty broad brush you're using. All the restaurants in my area that I frequent don't need any help. I've ordered from them all over the phone or online through their website and haven't run into a problem that some SV 3rd party would have or could have solved. Any "improvements in experience" by yelp/grubhub is pure grift.

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

#85

Post by Dylan16807 »

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…

> This is wrong ! Plain and simple. $6.42 is probably more than the cost of the coffee.

While I think they shouldn't be charging nearly that much, that's a misleading way to look at it.

The charge is based on the average. When you step back and look at the entire month, it's going to be some negotiated percent of the total. For some orders it will be way under, and for some it will be way over, but it will balance out.

When you order just a coffee it drags down the average. Then, example numbers, the fee next month might be 3 cents lower across 200 orders. This saves $6, making the net fee $0.42

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

#87

Post by myaccount54673 »

obibring wrote: post #26

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 interes…

Awesome idea - can I ask how broadly how it works? I would have thought pricing up a specific order on multiple apps programmatically would be difficult considering all the bot restrictions and coupons they have in place

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

#88

Post by acchow »

MattGaiser wrote: post #19
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…

The due diligence is because the restaurants offer a terrible experience. Most still do not have an independent online ordering function. They want me to call. Most still haven't set up meaningful profiles on Yelp and other review sites. So I would need to root around to find contact information. That is in addition to needing to give my credit card over the phone, not knowing how long the order will take, and needin…

They also make no attempts to keep their operating hours on Google Maps or Yelp up-to-date. Especially for holidays.

Is keeping this stuff up to date actually difficult. I don't run a business, so I have no idea.

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

#89

Post by MattGaiser »

mrighele wrote: post #53
MattGaiser wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The due diligence is because the restaurants offer a terrible experience. Most still do not have an independent online ordering function. They want me to call. Most still haven't set up meaningful profiles on Yelp and other review sites. So I would need to root around to find contact information. That is in addition to needing to give my credit card over the phone, not knowing how long the order will take, and needin…

Why do they ask the credit card number? I would expect to pay on delivery on a portable POS with card or phone. Safer for both.

So that they can charge you if the order is a prank. Maybe this is less true on smaller orders.

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

#90

Post by foogazi »

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…

> “If a customer calls to place a coffee order, we’re paying a $6.42 fee — for a coffee.”

This is based on the contract the restaurant has with grubhub, uber eats, etc - if the terms are not favorable why not cancel the agreement ?

Seems they want others to fix their self-inflicted damage

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