OT Do You Use Restaurant/Grocery Delivery Services?

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ABM

ABM

Happily Married In Music City, USA!
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I've become keenly aware of them every since contracting Leprosy. I was curious how many of you use the services, how often, and who might be better than others.
 
ABM said:
I've become keenly aware of them every since contracting Leprosy. I was curious how many of you use the services, how often, and who might be better than others.
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we have used costco. It was great overall other than some items You buy you find out are not in stock but dont find out until its delivered.
 
I did use Instacart but they screwed up too many times. Wrong items, wrong quantities. I mean, if I order oranges and get tangerines, that's similar but when I ordered oranges and got cucumbers? Radishes instead of beets - three times? Delivery to wrong address and sat out for 2 hours while ice cream melted? Ordered kohlrabi and got tomatillos?

Amazon did somewhat better. But so many plastic bags, it will take me a year to use them all.

When I thought I was exposed I had to get delivery but now I just go do the damn store.
 
crandc said:
I did use Instacart but they screwed up too many times. Wrong items, wrong quantities. I mean, if I order oranges and get tangerines, that's similar but when I ordered oranges and got cucumbers? Radishes instead of beets - three times? Delivery to wrong address and sat out for 2 hours while ice cream melted? Ordered kohlrabi and got tomatillos?

Amazon did somewhat better. But so many plastic bags, it will take me a year to use them all.

When I thought I was exposed I had to get delivery but now I just go do the damn store.
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Sounds like Instacart is Republican owned, as they are telling you that they know what you need better than you do....
 
I use Doordash and Uber Eats. Both usually suck, Doordash is worse, but I usually get a refund for my whole meal whenever they are extremely late (like over an hour)
 
I've heard some of them deliver for free on a tip basis only. Is this true?
 
Uber Eats is supposedly delivering for free (other than the tips). I don't use them, so I can't comment personally, but that's what they were advertising, due to the pandemic.
 
ABM said:
I've heard some of them deliver for free on a tip basis only. Is this true?
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When it's free delivery the restaurant is charged additional fees, reducing the money they make considerably. They pay fees to the delivery app company and pay the driver's fee. There multiple examples of small mom and pop restaurants making 20-30% on the dollar of what you're paying. Most can't survive on that, especially when now because of covid the majority of their business is now delivery based. They're too small to negotiate reduced fees compared to the big national restaurant chains.
 
SlyPokerDog said:
When it's free delivery the restaurant is charged additional fees, reducing the money they make considerably. They pay fees to the delivery app company and pay the driver's fee. There multiple examples of small mom and pop restaurants making 20-30% on the dollar of what you're paying. Most can't survive on that, especially when now because of covid the majority of their business is now delivery based. They're too small to negotiate reduced fees compared to the big national restaurant chains.
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Makes sense. Apart from that, we're solid tippers.
 
ABM said:
Makes sense. Apart from that, we're solid tippers.
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The tip goes to the delivery driver, which is great, they deserve it and lots of people don't tip, but that doesn't do anything to help the restaurant owner.

If it's a local restaurant that you're ordering from call them directly and ask if they have their own delivery service or if there is one of the major delivery apps that they would prefer that you use.

It can mean the difference between them keeping most of the money to like I said, 20-30%.
 
You'll be needing to hire a pool boy to help you out.....
We shop online and do curbside pickup....clean everything on the deck before bringing it in the house...I haven't been in a store since February...
 
SlyPokerDog said:
The tip goes to the delivery driver, which is great, they deserve it and lots of people don't tip, but that doesn't do anything to help the restaurant owner.

If it's a local restaurant that you're ordering from call them directly and ask if they have their own delivery service or if there is one of the major delivery apps that they would prefer that you use.

It can mean the difference between them keeping most of the money to like I said, 20-30%.
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That 20-30% may not be bottom-line, though. There is a cost consideration between staff serving/cleaning your table and simply packing a to-go box.
 
ABM said:
That 20-30% may not be bottom-line, though. There is a cost consideration between staff serving/cleaning your table and simply packing a to-go box.
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I'm glad you know the financial well being of your local restaurants. I can see how calling them directly would be a giant inconvenience. I thought you were a capitalist like myself and would look to support American small businesses but no problem if you're not.

And like I said, none of this really matters if you're ordering from Olive Garden or Red Robin. Delicious food.

Bone Apple Teat!
 
SlyPokerDog said:
The tip goes to the delivery driver, which is great, they deserve it and lots of people don't tip, but that doesn't do anything to help the restaurant owner.

If it's a local restaurant that you're ordering from call them directly and ask if they have their own delivery service or if there is one of the major delivery apps that they would prefer that you use.

It can mean the difference between them keeping most of the money to like I said, 20-30%.
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We always tip the restaurant. Even a fast food joint and a small order gets $5. Mid priced to expensive restaurants get 25% rounded up from us. The delivery service gets $5.
When I was a tot my mother divorced my father and worked as a waitress earning shit to support me and my small younger brother. I've always remembered those tough days.
 
Curbside pick up is also not bad, if you wear a mask, but obviously that would be after one recovers from Covid and is symptom-free for a couple weeks.

That's generally my choice, since most of the delivery apps are kinda bad for the local places I like.
 
UncleCliffy'sDaddy said:
Sounds like Instacart is Republican owned, as they are telling you that they know what you need better than you do....
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HUH?

Lol. Wouldn't that be the dems and socialists telling me I need universal health care and I need to have this and have that?

I think you have that one mixed up. :)
 
SlyPokerDog said:
I'm glad you know the financial well being of your local restaurants. I can see how calling them directly would be a giant inconvenience. I thought you were a capitalist like myself and would look to support American small businesses but no problem if you're not.

And like I said, none of this really matters if you're ordering from Olive Garden or Red Robin. Delicious food.

Bone Apple Teat!
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I never said I wouldn't.

Likewise.
 
We almost never go to the store at all anymore. Or out to eat. Everything is dropped off at our house either through grocery services or restaurant delivery.
My wife does once in a while go "grocery shopping" but I know that's just an excuse to get away from me and maybe the kids but probably just me.
 
TorturedBlazerFan said:
We almost never go to the store at all anymore. Or out to eat. Everything is dropped off at our house either through grocery services or restaurant delivery.
My wife does once in a while go "grocery shopping" but I know that's just an excuse to get away from me and maybe the kids but probably just me.
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Stores of all kinds especially Trader Joe's, are magnets for women shoppers.
 
Hoopguru said:
Stores of all kinds especially Trader Joe's, are magnets for women shoppers.
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I hate when my wife says she's going to Costco for just a couple of things. That's code for she's about to make a heavy investment in Costco...
 
TorturedBlazerFan said:
I hate when my wife says she's going to Costco for just a couple of things. That's code for she's about to make a heavy investment in Costco...
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Years back one of the buyers I dealt with at their Corp office told me that on Saturdays the average purchase per customer was $830. A large % of of purchases are done by business's of all sizes too.
 
Yes. I shop online with Fred Meyers which uses instacart. I'm happy with it. Sometimes the shoppers don't read the replacement product instructions though. I appreciate people bringing food right to my front door.
 
TorturedBlazerFan said:
I hate when my wife says she's going to Costco for just a couple of things. That's code for she's about to make a heavy investment in Costco...
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I've gone to Costco without spending a nickle. If they didn't have what I'm looking for, I walk out.

That said, I've probably charged nearly $250,000-$300,000 on my credit card(s) over the past 10 years and have paid absolutely zero interest. I've certainly enjoyed their perks, though. ;)
 
ABM said:
If it's truly that bad (not denying it isn't), if I were the restaurant company, I'd absolutely quit using said ripoff delivery service(s). That simple.
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That's not that simple.

Pre covid many restaurants used delivery apps as a way to attract new customers. It's viewed as a way to get your name and food there similar to Groupon or other coupons. It falls under the cost per new customer acquisition. When covid hit suddenly that was their only way to continue to operate because their in restaurant dining had been eliminated or severely reduced.

They've gone from using those services making up 20-30% of their business to 100%. That is not sustainable much less profitable.
 
SlyPokerDog said:
That's not that simple.

Pre covid many restaurants used delivery apps as a way to attract new customers. It's viewed as a way to get your name and food there similar to Groupon or other coupons. It falls under the cost per new customer acquisition. When covid hit suddenly that was their only way to continue to operate because their in restaurant dining had been eliminated or severely reduced.

They've gone from using those services making up 20-30% of their business to 100%. That is not sustainable much less profitable.
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Convert some of their own staff to packaging/delivery capacities. With the fees they're paying those deliver services, I'm pretty sure they could come of with some creative alternatives. I sure know I would.

That was then, this is now. Food delivery is destined to be part of our post-COVID life for maybe forever.
 
EL PRESIDENTE said:
I use Doordash and Uber Eats. Both usually suck, Doordash is worse, but I usually get a refund for my whole meal whenever they are extremely late (like over an hour)
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I use Postmates. On time every time. Never a complaint from me
 
@ABM you might like something like Daily Harvest. They send you chef cooked meals made specially for you. Soup too.
 
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