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Phone is still the best way to order pizza

dan.bulwinkle.net

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Re: Phone is still the best way to order pizza

#341

Post by michaelcampbell »

jimmyswimmy wrote: post #23

Most of the comments here are focused on the question of why you would prefer an app to calling. The author's point is a great one though, and something I've wondered a lot. Why should I create an account to order a pizza? The app should reduce friction even from the very first order. Instead it adds, and adds for every order... Got to go look up coupon codes! On the phone I just ask the guy what their best deal is i…

This is 100% backward from my experience. Having an account is a 1-time cost, and not only a small one, but one I do for hundreds of other things every day. Logging in is a keystroke that has my password manager auto type my username and password; again something I repeat daily.

With the situation in the US at least, trying to get anyone on the phone is an exercise in frustration. The app (for me, so far) has always been up. The employees don't have to stop making the product to take an order. They don't know the specials, or don't care to look them up which might be changing on an HOURLY basis. The app knows. On the phone I have to go through my order painstakingly each time; the app knows what I've ordered and I can single-click repeat it.

And honestly, all they're doing is taking my order and putting it into probably an admin version OF THE SAME APP. It's LITERALLY the old game of "telephone", but for something I want to buy.

Re: Phone is still the best way to order pizza

#342

Post by jcelerier »

jimmyswimmy wrote: post #23

Most of the comments here are focused on the question of why you would prefer an app to calling. The author's point is a great one though, and something I've wondered a lot. Why should I create an account to order a pizza? The app should reduce friction even from the very first order. Instead it adds, and adds for every order... Got to go look up coupon codes! On the phone I just ask the guy what their best deal is i…

> On the phone I just ask the guy what their best deal is in a large cheese and garlic knots and he gives it to me

damn, you're lucky. I remember a few phone calls a decade ago where some brand had a sale on burgers, but they had a policy of waiting for me to dictate the coupon code over the phone... ugh

Re: Phone is still the best way to order pizza

#343

Post by navbaker »

tluyben2 wrote: post #321
navbaker wrote: post #313

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Typically in the US, a margherita pizza is a very specific combo of cheese, tomatoes, and basil on top. Very different from just a plain cheese pizza.

What is on a plain cheese pizza? Not only cheese I hope? In the pictures it looks like there is tomato sauce but I have never particularly ordered a 'plain cheese pizza' in the US; I only ordered with toppings.

I know there are regional differences in “pizza expectations”, but typically a cheese pizza is crust->tomato sauce->cheese. A margherita pizza would add sliced or diced fresh tomatoes and chopped fresh basil leaves on top of that stack.

Re: Phone is still the best way to order pizza

#344

Post by sdoering »

ioman wrote: post #340

My local pizza place in Seattle has moved the technology the other way. Here’s the dialog when I call. “Pagliacci Pizza, how can I help you?” “I’d like to order a pizza” “Sure thing. Is this John Smith?” “Yes” “Do you still live at 1234 Main Street” “Yes” “Would you like to order the same thing you did last time?” “Yes” “Ok, it’ll be there in 20 minutes” Even better, while you talk to the store you called, the order…

Wow. This sounds like an interesting project. Would love to share some coffee with the designer as well.

And in hindsight obvious in times of my phone transmitting my number to the other party.

Re: Phone is still the best way to order pizza

#345

Post by tjoff »

michaelcampbell wrote: post #341
jimmyswimmy wrote: post #23

Most of the comments here are focused on the question of why you would prefer an app to calling. The author's point is a great one though, and something I've wondered a lot. Why should I create an account to order a pizza? The app should reduce friction even from the very first order. Instead it adds, and adds for every order... Got to go look up coupon codes! On the phone I just ask the guy what their best deal is i…

This is 100% backward from my experience. Having an account is a 1-time cost, and not only a small one, but one I do for hundreds of other things every day. Logging in is a keystroke that has my password manager auto type my username and password; again something I repeat daily. With the situation in the US at least, trying to get anyone on the phone is an exercise in frustration. The app (for me, so far) has always…

In theory you have a point. But installing a user hostile app is a total dealbreaker. And I guarantee that the eula is not only illegal but an absolute shitshow of trying to exploit paying customers so that the library of whatever third party module required to view an image could earn a sixteenth of a cent per pizza.

And that is always the case. Just call instead.

Unfortunately you can't do that for everything. Just today I was practically forced to install and give away "my" phone number to the worst app you can ever imagine, just to be able to park.

Re: Phone is still the best way to order pizza

#346

Post by erenyeager »

Worst part of apps for me is accessibility. I have dietary restrictions I need to inquire the restaurant about and make modifications the food preparation staff understand. Also don’t allow enough space if any for writing about customizations and they don’t allow you to emphasize them like you can with a human. In this case, the technology makes things harder for those of us who fall outside the “default”.

Re: Phone is still the best way to order pizza

#348

Post by b112 »

walty8 wrote: post #278
jimmyswimmy wrote: post #23

Most of the comments here are focused on the question of why you would prefer an app to calling. The author's point is a great one though, and something I've wondered a lot. Why should I create an account to order a pizza? The app should reduce friction even from the very first order. Instead it adds, and adds for every order... Got to go look up coupon codes! On the phone I just ask the guy what their best deal is i…

> The app or website should make my life better but instead it's harder. This is the sub-goal, but not ultimate goal. The ultimate goal is to maximize the profit, with accounts created, all the analytics will work out, and they could do all kinds of promotions or targeted ads. I guess that's the same reason why you are asked to install a mobile app whenever you visit Reddit mobile WEBSITE. It does not attempt to make…

Yet here there is more pressure to not scare customers away. To not make their life troublesome.

Woe to the pizza company who thinks "we don't need to care about customer retention, our pizza is just too good."

I have dozens of pizza places to order from, all within delivery distance. Make ordering difficult, and as long as the competition is pretty much as tasty, I'll move on.

Re: Phone is still the best way to order pizza

#349

Post by MAGZine »

ioman wrote: post #340

My local pizza place in Seattle has moved the technology the other way. Here’s the dialog when I call. “Pagliacci Pizza, how can I help you?” “I’d like to order a pizza” “Sure thing. Is this John Smith?” “Yes” “Do you still live at 1234 Main Street” “Yes” “Would you like to order the same thing you did last time?” “Yes” “Ok, it’ll be there in 20 minutes” Even better, while you talk to the store you called, the order…

Jet's Pizza in New York allows you to text in an order, including saying "last order".

... unfortunately its then hooked up to a bad webui to review/complete the order, and their text to data interface is bad at trying to guess what you want unless if you specify things exactly how they're written in the menu.

Re: Phone is still the best way to order pizza

#350

Post by fragmede »

ioman wrote: post #340

My local pizza place in Seattle has moved the technology the other way. Here’s the dialog when I call. “Pagliacci Pizza, how can I help you?” “I’d like to order a pizza” “Sure thing. Is this John Smith?” “Yes” “Do you still live at 1234 Main Street” “Yes” “Would you like to order the same thing you did last time?” “Yes” “Ok, it’ll be there in 20 minutes” Even better, while you talk to the store you called, the order…

That's just calling a VoIP line so the caller ID comes up on a computer and loads the relevant entry from the CRM including order history, run by an experienced user.
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