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Phone is still the best way to order pizza

dan.bulwinkle.net

381–390 of 456 posts

Re: Phone is still the best way to order pizza

#381
post #206
post #177

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I use Uber Eats for ordering food exclusively exactly because when there is a screw up and I receive the wrong item or none at all, I get refunded immediately by Uber with a few taps.

Until they start doing this to you :) https://www.reddit.com/r/assholedesign/comments/rj0a19/made_...

This is an open & shut case for a card dispute. I'm surprised there is any country in the world where taking money without delivery the promised goods is legal, but I guess the US legal system doesn't care.

Re: Phone is still the best way to order pizza

#382
post #177

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I use Uber Eats for ordering food exclusively exactly because when there is a screw up and I receive the wrong item or none at all, I get refunded immediately by Uber with a few taps.

Unfortunately, I experience way more of these types of issues exactly because I use Uber Eats. When my kid doesn't get the meal we ordered for them, they don't really care that Uber Eats was quick to refund the order. They're still hungry.

None of these shitty services seem to understand the inconvenience of not getting the order on time or getting the wrong order.

I don't particularly care about the cost being refunded, I've wasted 2 hours waiting for food that didn't arrive.

Re: Phone is still the best way to order pizza

#383

That is the happy path. It has a lot more possible sources of error/time consumption than the app and there are many benefits to the app. 1. The line is busy. The app is next to never busy. 2. The line has static and you are not heard correctly. Especially problematic for delivery or complicated orders. Or they may get your name wrong. My first name is common and my last isn't great over the telephone. 3. You have to…

Weird. Literally the opposite of my experience. I don’t do delivery except pizza because I don’t want to pay a premium for cold food. Websites always have built in timers that take longer. Usually 45m. Meanwhile I can call a pizza place, have pizza and wings ready in 15m, pay cash or whatever and have hot food. Order online, chances are it’s sitting there for 10m to avoid getting penalized on the SLA for online order…

Websites have built in timers but restaurant is setting it based on how busy they are.

In my area I don't think I ever had anything ordered via phone or even walking to the counter ready in 15mins it is always at least 30 mins to 45mins, because they are busy with other orders. On the page I usually see they are setting it for 1h and then deliver earlier.

In the summer going to a normal restaurant was 1h waiting time for food as they were short staffed and not hiring more people because of pandemic.

Re: Phone is still the best way to order pizza

#384

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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.

I have never seen diced fresh tomatoes on a margherita so I guess regional is right!

Re: Phone is still the best way to order pizza

#385

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…

Exactly, Just like going to a restaurant you visit regularly and the staff know you, you'll get better service and quicker food if you have a relationship with the people taking the order, and making and delivering the food. Use an app for discovering new places and seeing what they offer and order direct by phone.

The problem with ordering direct by phone is that delivery companies have monopolized the market and make it unprofitable for restaurants to have their own delivery staff, so a lot of them no longer do.

Re: Phone is still the best way to order pizza

#386

Earlier quoted context omitted.

you don't order toppings? They don't ask?

You order toppings for all pizzas? We usually just order by number/names (via menu). Toppings are very rarely adjusted, and NEVER "built" from scratch. At least I've never seen anyone do that.

I’m forty, been eating pizza my whole life, and I think I’ve only seen people order the preset pizza half the time.

When I’m at a decent pizza place, it’s spinach, Stilton, bacon, and red potato. Possibly with broccoli or a vodka base, if I’m in the mood.

At a more generic chain place, it’s pepperoni, feta, and pineapple.

Never seen those on the menu at any pizzeria.

Re: Phone is still the best way to order pizza

#387

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Man. I phone, I order, I arrive 30 minutes later, and only then do they start making the pizza, so I sit and stare for 40 minutes, and then I pay my $40 and swear I’ll never do it again, until two weeks later.

1) Why is it so expensive 2) Why does it take 40 minutes to make 3) Why didn't you just have it delivered

1) That’s what it costs for a large pizza here. It’s also the only pizzaria in a 30km radius.

2) Shrug

3) They don’t deliver

Re: Phone is still the best way to order pizza

#388

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…

No post body was provided.

Re: Phone is still the best way to order pizza

#389

I'm sorry but I don't agree. Dominos pizza has coupons, deals, etc. Trying to get those deals over the phone is a chore. Ordering specific toppings can be a chore since it's a relay back and forth vs a button. Multiple pizzas with multiple toppings? The delay just compounds. If you live alone and order one pizza or one style of specific themed pizzas then sure, it might be faster, if that's the metric of "best" but i…

But then you would have to eat... Dominos. I get that its not the same everywhere, but in the pizza belt, I couldn't imagine going there. Luckily my local place has a good website though.

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Re: Phone is still the best way to order pizza

#390
post #357
post #351

Earlier quoted context omitted.

“Just” probably isn’t the right word: the tools have become easier but it still takes care to integrate all of the pieces to a smooth user experience. For example, no financial institution I’ve ever used has managed to link things that well despite orders of magnitude greater budget.

>.[..] despite orders of magnitude greater budget. That's likely to be the problem. Also, a financial institution has vastly more complex interactions than "same as last time?"

Sure, but they can’t even pass my phone or account number around. I’m not saying that the two businesses are comparable in complexity, only that nothing easy happens without someone behind the scenes working on the user experience.
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