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DoorDash from Application to IPO

blog.ycombinator.com

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Re: DoorDash from Application to IPO

#221

Post by ponker »

stefanmichael wrote: post #183
standardUser wrote: post #176

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I had several bad experiences with ghost kitchens (low quality food) and now I look up ay restaurant before I order from them to make sure it has a storefront. Though usually you can tell by the absurd names most ghost kitchen places use.

interestingly there's a local startup here in Boise that is trying to pre-empt your experience. They are a ghost kitchen that also owns the logistics (delivery) the ordering software, and have hired chefs to build menus specifically targeted at being delivered and still being good. https://www.cravedelivery.com/ I'm actually going to order dinner from them now as a first time user (i've been signed up for a while but…

There was a company that did this called Munchery.

Re: DoorDash from Application to IPO

#222

Post by SMAAART »

ldec wrote: post #180
SMAAART wrote: post #158

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Thank you for the explanation, so ok inequality of outcomes, but not inequality of opportunity. 2 more questions: 1. How is this a "problem"? 2. How would you go about solving it?

1. When this gets too extreme people start to ignore whether it is fair, logical or right, and respond with rage. People who have to close down, or feel poor, while they see a small group get crazy rich don’t care about economic theory, they just feel that something is wrong. Politicians use that rage to get elected and ‘fight for the people’, often implementing harmful policies to please angry crowds. 2. Australia h…

Best.Answer.Ever.

Thank you.

Re: DoorDash from Application to IPO

#223

Post by steveklabnik »

icedchai wrote: post #172
vincentmarle wrote: post #148

My 2 cts on the long term play of Doordash: The long term trend is that (primarily take-out) restaurants will decline and be replaced by ghost kitchens. The unit economics of ghost kitchens is much better than paying rent for prime real estate. You can run a ghost kitchen from a warehouse. This trend was already underway before covid [1] (see also Travis Kalanick's investments in this space) but has been 10x accelera…

I'm a bit skeptical. I've never ordered takeout from a restaurant I haven't been to first.

In the Before Times, I’d have the experience of walking down the street, seeing a sign, and being like, “oh, that’s where The Clay Pit is.” There’s tons of places whose food I really love that I’ve never actually been to physically.

Re: DoorDash from Application to IPO

#224

Post by steveklabnik »

panzagl wrote: post #163
ajmadesc wrote: post #118

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah but with all that cycling they won't need to visit the doctor anytime soon so they save a lot of money not paying for health insurance. /s

Do you know any cyclists? All the ones I know have had accidents ranging from bone-breaking to fatal.

“/s” means your parent was being sarcastic.

Re: DoorDash from Application to IPO

#225

Post by hardwaregeek »

vincentmarle wrote: post #148

My 2 cts on the long term play of Doordash: The long term trend is that (primarily take-out) restaurants will decline and be replaced by ghost kitchens. The unit economics of ghost kitchens is much better than paying rent for prime real estate. You can run a ghost kitchen from a warehouse. This trend was already underway before covid [1] (see also Travis Kalanick's investments in this space) but has been 10x accelera…

A good middle ground between a ghost kitchen and a full on restaurant is the food court model. Restaurants get to pay a little less for rent, keep some in person dining but mostly focus on takeout.

Re: DoorDash from Application to IPO

#226

Post by adamnemecek »

cody3222 wrote: post #186
jonas21 wrote: post #177

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Alternately, you could look at this as a dichotomy between local restaurants shuttering in record numbers due to inadequate government support for small businesses during a once-in-a-lifetime pandemic, and tech like this providing some of them with a lifeline to stay open (while also making the founding team and investors rich). A small case study in how the world is not necessarily a zero-sum game?

This is such a healthy perspective in a world where it has become fashionable to hate on wealth creation.

World is not hating on wealth creation, world is hating on tilting the scale in favor of the super rich at the expense of the poor.

Re: DoorDash from Application to IPO

#227

Post by eyelidlessness »

nine_zeros wrote: post #160
vincentmarle wrote: post #148

My 2 cts on the long term play of Doordash: The long term trend is that (primarily take-out) restaurants will decline and be replaced by ghost kitchens. The unit economics of ghost kitchens is much better than paying rent for prime real estate. You can run a ghost kitchen from a warehouse. This trend was already underway before covid [1] (see also Travis Kalanick's investments in this space) but has been 10x accelera…

+1 The market for cheap delivered food is much larger than sit down restaurants. Covid just make more of the population comfortable with apps.

The prices are higher (the same plus delivery plus tip) and the food comes cold and unless you’re ordering for a cold outdoor social visit you’re eating it alone/with the same company you see everyday. That’s a market that serves homebodies (I’m one half the time) and absolutely will fail for people who go out to eat and drink socially (me the other half of the time) when that becomes available again.

Re: DoorDash from Application to IPO

#228

Post by ramphastidae »

standardUser wrote: post #176
vincentmarle wrote: post #148

My 2 cts on the long term play of Doordash: The long term trend is that (primarily take-out) restaurants will decline and be replaced by ghost kitchens. The unit economics of ghost kitchens is much better than paying rent for prime real estate. You can run a ghost kitchen from a warehouse. This trend was already underway before covid [1] (see also Travis Kalanick's investments in this space) but has been 10x accelera…

I had several bad experiences with ghost kitchens (low quality food) and now I look up ay restaurant before I order from them to make sure it has a storefront. Though usually you can tell by the absurd names most ghost kitchen places use.

I’ve experienced the same thing. It makes sense. Ghost kitchens are a purely profit-motivated enterprise. Local restaurants are for-profit, but also places where hospitality, socializing, community, etc. has value. I would expect the food to reflect that.

Re: DoorDash from Application to IPO

#229

Post by AlexandrB »

kovek wrote: post #155
AlexandrB wrote: post #153

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Seems to me that it's both. I don't see VCs pouring billions in investments into new restaurants.

Seems like some people are more interested in using Doordash than getting the food from the restaurants directly. I think that Doordash provides a useful service that was not as present or not as good previously. What do you think?

I do not think Doordash is useful, I'm fine with picking up my own food. I also think that Doordash is an example of a business that is lowering the bar for what's considered entry-level employment and will result in erosion of the consumer base and eventual economic or social crisis. Only time will tell.
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