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drkgodess t1_jdaiabb wrote

Good, listing vague "other fees" for exorbitant amounts is making Uber unusable.

347

SamurottX t1_jdajfzj wrote

As it turns out, paying people to pick up and deliver food to one person at a time is expensive when you live in the US and even the smallest order requires several miles of driving. Obviously the miscellaneous fees are misleading but the plan from day one was to raise prices in order to actually become profitable.

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seatownquilt-N-plant t1_jdakj0j wrote

Replying to SamurottX (#2,310,989)

Only pizza used to deliver in low density areas. Pre-smart phone a Thai place used to deliver in our neighborhood, low density Seattle, they required $35 minimum order and only to a limited area. That was when dinner entree were ~$9 - $11 so it was only worth it if there were at least three people.

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smkAce0921 t1_jdamu6k wrote

>We have told city leaders that if this ordinance is passed as drafted today, it may force UberEats to suspend delivery to City of Alameda residents

And this is a bad thing because....

If Uber left, another company would jump right in (i.e. Grubhub, Doordash) and abide by the price cap....It'd be nice to see more cities follow

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blowthepoke t1_jdaog5k wrote

I’ve always felt like the exorbitant fees for the restaurants aren’t fair, I.e as long as it’s clear and upfront pass the fee onto the customer.

The current business model is a bit devious as it passes the cost to the restaurant, so obviously people use delivery services excessively, to the point that if restaurants don’t use the services then they lose business. So they are screwed either way.

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padizzledonk t1_jdaolxn wrote

Who cares.

Nothing like paying $60 to get $20 worth of food delivered lol

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boganvegan t1_jdar10h wrote

Replying to Xanthn (#2,311,384)

Companies, at least profitable ones, are cold-hearted and calculating, they will not leave because of spite they will stay if they can make money and leave if they can't. It all depends on what the fee limit is.

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Solid_Snark t1_jdasbyf wrote

Replying to drkgodess (#2,310,929)

The fees don’t even make sense. It’s like they just grabbed a thesaurus and are using different names for the same fees: “Delivery fee, transportation fee, conveyance fee, convenience fee, carriage fee, etc.”

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Xanthn OP t1_jdasmai wrote

Replying to boganvegan (#2,311,588)

Of course. But even with the cap they will still profit. If they leave because it's not enough it's on them and I see it as spite. Otherwise they won't leave. There is plenty to still be made from the companies. It happens all the time, they threaten to leave, and rarely ever do. The ones that do leave blame it on being unprofitable not necessarily always the truth, sometimes they still push for deregulation and try to throw their power around. "Hey do you miss us yet? If you change back to how we want it to be, well return like nothing happened."

I'm doubtful they'll leave anyway, and stick to the belief that if they do it's not because they can't make money doing what they do, it's because they don't want to do it and are acting out of spite. Again I don't believe they'll actually leave.

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8604 t1_jdat770 wrote

As long as the fee is upfront about it who cares. I know exactly how much I'm paying for a uber/doordash/whatever delivery before I hit accept. This isn't like a restaurant where you sit down and after finishing your meal and getting your check you see a surprise +10% inflation fee or whatever crap they're pulling now.

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boganvegan t1_jdatwud wrote

Replying to Xanthn (#2,311,719)

Typically it doesn't end well for the customer when government bodies try to determine a fair price for a product or service. For products or services that are essential, highly complex or monopolized there's a case for government involvement but I don't think that food delivery in Alameda is essential, complex or a monopoly.

−11

Eleven918 t1_jdb19w0 wrote

Replying to ww_crimson (#2,312,293)

Then you picked a pricey joint, Not to mention you are exaggerating the fees.

There's is no way anyone is paying 30 dollars in fees on an $80 meal.

I just picked a random Thai restaurant in Seattle and added 3 entrees (Pad See Ew)

Spring House Thai Kitchen & Pho

Total came to $58 before tip. Fees was $2 for delivery and 7 dollars for service fees.

I actually have Uber Pass, they waive the delivery fee and give you 5% back.

If your order is late, they give you $5 in credit too.

If you order 3+ times a month its already worth it for the pass amount.

EDIT: Lmao downvotes for providing evidence that you can repeat yourself to see his claim is bogus.

−13

zzyul t1_jdb8j5n wrote

Replying to Pancakewagon26 (#2,312,720)

Yea seriously. If I’m wasted at the house from drinking for a few hours I’m not about to order food on a driver app, I’m getting in my car and driving to pick up food. What kind of person would use a good delivery app when they can just drive drunk and pick up the food themselves?

−44

washington_jefferson t1_jdbc4b6 wrote

Replying to seatownquilt-N-plant (#2,311,062)

I used to live 3/4 of a mile from a Jimmy John's in Portland, and they wouldn't deliver to me. They only used bikes at that time, so they may have changed their policy now that e-bikes and scooters are so ubiquitous. I emailed them once to confirm they wouldn't deliver to my address 3/4 of a mile away, and they wrote back that "maybe in the future there will be another Jimmy Johns that opens closer to you." I thought that was kind of funny, actually. Especially since their store was located in the closest area to me that was zoned for businesses. It wasn't possible for a store to be closer!

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Mid-CenturyBoy t1_jdbnm5w wrote

Companies flex and try to bully, but they don’t have the power. The consumer is the king maker and once these companies get their crown they think they run the show, but that’s not the case. Fuck Uber I hope they keep losing.

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Romanian_ t1_jdbxwd3 wrote

Replying to Xanthn (#2,311,719)

These are mostly public listed companies, their financial reports are available. None of the delivery / ride-sharing companies really make profits. That's the reality, not some made up stunt, like you claim.

Uber as a whole had 2 profitable quarters in 14 years. Uber Eats as a subsidiary recently broke even for the first time. Lyft, Door Dash, Postmates etc - are not profitable.

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Xanthn OP t1_jdbys7g wrote

Replying to Romanian_ (#2,314,864)

I wonder if them giving bonuses to sign up drivers and the amount of money that the CEO and other execs get paid actually make a difference in the loses. I mean somehow the CEO got around $20 million in 2021, $40 million odd a few years earlier, and since a lot of that seems to be related to stock, others also would be getting millions. Something doesn't then add up, how are they not making money and still pay out this sort of money?

Edit: spelling.

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ChibiRay t1_jdbzz1f wrote

I don't understand why something like this is necessary in the first place. This sounds like something capitalism would naturally work through on its own. If fees are too high, then the consumers would choose to not order through Uber? If fees hurt restaurants too much, then restaurants can choose to not do business through Uber. If delivery drivers aren't getting paid to their satisfaction, they can choose to not work for Uber? I don't understand why these legislations keeps coming up trying to regulate how a business should do its business. If it's really a shit business and everyone else is getting the short end of the stick, then that business would naturally go bankrupt when people choose to leave and if those people continue to choose to work with that business, then it's on them and I don't think they have the right to complain...

−5

Atlasatlastatleast t1_jdc55ba wrote

Replying to kathodus (#2,313,213)

Is it exploitation if one willingly chooses to do Uber eats? I used to deliver on it and I chose to do so for extra income, if an order came in that I didn’t want to do, I declined it. That guy isn’t exploiting me at all. Uber is, but without that guy’s order I’d have no opportunity to make the extra income

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SpeechDistinct8793 t1_jdc6325 wrote

Replying to drkgodess (#2,310,929)

When I tell you the “other fees” are what 100% of the time make me get up and go get it myself, it’s unreal. Just the other day ordered and what is usually around $$12-14 depending on if I choose to upsize anything, came out to almost $42 with the price increases, other fees, tax, and tip.

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w1n5t0nM1k3y t1_jdcc6z2 wrote

Replying to [deleted] (#2,315,362)

Are there any restaurants you could walk to? It seems that if you are living in such a small apartment, you are most likely in a city. There must be some restaurants or fast food places in walking distance, or at worst a quick trip on public transit.

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eata22 t1_jdccyvn wrote

Replying to VoiceofReasonability (#2,315,803)

It’s bad, I get food for my gf as well. She has a DoorDash pass so we don’t pay for delivery. But for a month it’s probably between 400-500 for food if we do it all the time. And then add another 100 for tips

−3

eata22 t1_jdcdqqw wrote

Replying to w1n5t0nM1k3y (#2,315,850)

Ever since covid the bus stop literally outside of my place was permanently removed from the line :(

I live in a more residential side of town. There’s a few places I can walk to within 6 minutes, but there’s like only three stores with reasonable prices.

The other stores in the area want 28$ for a rice plate and 6 small shrimp. Or are bars, a man can only eat so much fried food

3

eata22 t1_jdce52y wrote

Replying to Mend1cant (#2,315,953)

Now here’s the issue. Security deposits. I got salary job this year and things are getting better, but it’s rough.

I want a yard for my dog, rental homes in my area are going for 3k. So the deposit is easily 5k. I’m going to get a good amount back from this one, but it’s only 1k

And you’re acting like the price of food isn’t insane at the moment lmao. A pack of hotdogs is 10 bucks for the cheap ones

−2

Johnnadawearsglasses t1_jdcftk7 wrote

I mean if you don’t like the pricing, just pick it up yourself. I fail to see the point in this. It’s not like we have a constitutionally protected right to food delivery.

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squidbelle t1_jdck1fl wrote

Replying to eata22 (#2,315,919)

TBH this just sounds lazy. There are meal prep and cooking subs that could help you with ideas and recipes, and there are many tasty, cheap, and nutritious foods that require little or no prep.

You're spending $6,000-7,200 per year on delivery food.

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Whattadisastta t1_jdcltzb wrote

I wonder if the high cost of restaurant food is tied to the fact that a delivery app charges the restaurant so much that they feel it necessary to raise prices to meet profit margins. If so, the phrase ,” just don’t use them”, doesn’t do us any good.

2

urrrkaj t1_jdcn3ka wrote

Replying to squidbelle (#2,316,677)

Bean burritos are super cheap, filling, and can be changed up flavor wise depending on the sauce you use. They even make microwaveable rice packets or have microwaveable rice cookers if you don’t want to make rice in a pot. I use spinach because i can use it in all kinds of dishes for the week. It is our lazy meal.

1

kandoras t1_jdcn7dw wrote

Replying to ChibiRay (#2,314,967)

>If fees hurt restaurants too much, then restaurants can choose to not do business through Uber.

Uber and Doordash will list restaurants in their services even if the restaurant tells them not to.

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potentquillpen t1_jdcpz11 wrote

Replying to [deleted] (#2,316,987)

When I was in a similar situation I could at least rely on adding an egg to ramen as a decent and cheap meal that can be made with hot plate and micro. Now eggs are outrageously expensive too. I'm sorry you are dealing with this and I hope it gets better for you soon.

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Eleven918 t1_jdctx83 wrote

Replying to zaphod_85 (#2,317,599)

Mine is actually way better. I only picked Thai food in Seattle because the comment I replied to picked it.

I've used the service in multiple countries on top of using it all over the US.

$30 in fees is not something the average person is paying for delivery.

−1

IreallEwannasay t1_jdcvbqs wrote

Replying to [deleted] (#2,316,987)

It's gross how people are in here telling you how to be poor. If it's not possible, it's not possible. Who wants to eat microwaved food every single day or beens and rice and Ramen? If delivery is working for you, and you're paying in your circumstances then do that. I'm sorry people are so rude. The unmitigated gall to sit and call you lazy for not taking the solutions they themselves don't have to implement in their own lives. I know I can't see all the factors so I won't offer up solutions from my butt because it's insensitive. I hope you can get a suitable place and cook to your hearts desire soon. I lived with a person where I paid them rent and they didn't let me use the kitchen. I'd talk about it and people would be like just use it anyway or use the microwave etc, I was not allowed and that was that sobI spent a shit ton on take out food. Unless you're broke like that in the same situation you wouldn't understand.

−4

dem89 t1_jdcwxbv wrote

Replying to ChibiRay (#2,314,967)

You're expecting capitalism, which constantly needs government bailout, to sort this out? How's that boot taste? Oh, who am I kidding, you love the taste.

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Derricksaurus t1_jdcxt9f wrote

At this point, I just don't understand how Uber doesn't make money in its core businesses. Like, and perhaps I'm naive, how does an app that just connects drivers with people, or restaurants with drivers to people, need 32,000 people to support?

3

Captain_Mazhar t1_jdczumy wrote

Replying to Xanthn (#2,314,906)

For the last decade, venture capital was throwing billions and billions of dollars at startups who could afford to burn reserves because money was cheap, betting on market share over current profitability.

Now that money is getting more expensive, we are coming into phase 2 of that, and we will see who remains when the flood of cheap money dries up.

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VoiceofReasonability t1_jdd63of wrote

Replying to IreallEwannasay (#2,318,001)

I 100% agree with you that nobody should be telling him how to be poor. He is an adult and whatever works for him works for him. We don't know where he lives or what his options are.

That being said in my younger days when I never had more than 50 to $100 in my bank account, I did pretty much only eat cereal, ramen, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, soups, ham sandwiches.

To me ordering takeout on a regular basis sounds more gross than any of the above options.

3

squidbelle t1_jddcp8b wrote

Replying to IreallEwannasay (#2,318,001)

> Who wants to eat microwaved food every single day or beens and rice and Ramen?

One of the points of my post was that they don't have to. There are lots of tasty and nutritious recipes that can be cooked on a single hot plate, rice cooker, crock pot, etc. Many dishes are no cook, just prepping/mixing ingredients.

>If delivery is working for you, and you're paying in your circumstances then do that.

Paying $6000-7000 per year for delivery food is crazy. Being able to afford that suggests they aren't poor, just unwilling to out forth effort toward their diet.

>call you lazy for not taking the solutions they themselves don't have to implement in their own lives.

Your assumptions are completely wrong. I used to barely scrape by too, and have walked this walk. OP could easily cut their food budget in half and use it to afford a better apartment, career training, job searching, transportation, etc - and eat a healthier diet at the same time. Eating delivery food isn't very healthy, and it's wayyy more expensive. Even having groceries delivered would be cheaper and healthier. Delivery food is just convenient.

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squidbelle t1_jdddo44 wrote

Replying to [deleted] (#2,316,987)

You said you have a mini fridge. Combined with dry ingredients, that's enough to hold a week's worth of unprocessed food that can be made into nutritious meals on the cheap. Many recipes are no cook, but rice cookers, crock pots, and a hot plate can go a loooooong way too. Look into getting groceries delivered, rather than take-out meals. It will be healthier and cheaper, but you'll have to put forth effort into meal planning and meal prep. I've walked this walk, and you can too. You could put $200-300 per month toward improving your situation: career training, transportation, job search, paying off debts, or any number of things that will improve your life more than delivery food.

3

Mobely t1_jddjvn3 wrote

Replying to SamurottX (#2,310,989)

Is that how it's done? I've never worked uber eats but I delivered pizza. We'd deliver at least 3 orders at a time unless the clock was running out.

Here's my app idea. Food drops. You can only order food from 1 restaurant at any given time. It's all on a schedule. The delivery guy picks up all the orders going to a particular geography and delivers in a petal run. So Stew, is guaranteed like 6 orders, all no contact delivery so you can leave at the door.

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Mid-CenturyBoy t1_jde179q wrote

Replying to astoundingSandwich (#2,320,379)

It’s true. The prop system in CA is flawed and if it did succeed they would have just put it on a new prop the next year as well. I am always inherently skeptical when there is a prop with tons of funding going towards it. Research people!!!

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SXOSXO t1_jde45kp wrote

Imagine taking a cut from the restaurant 's sale, and then still charging a delivery fee on top of it.

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Xanthn OP t1_jdeevev wrote

Replying to Eleven918 (#2,312,421)

For example in Australia with door dash. A family bundle $24.95 maccas meal costs $29.95 on door dash, say 3x these base price $74.85, approx $80 like the example given. Already the cost is $15 extra. Then it's $8.95 delivery. And then there's the random service fee which isn't a set amount and you won't know the price until the time you go to order. I've had it around 10% before, sometimes higher sometimes 0. So yes it easily and often works out even here at around $30 off additional prices to pay on a $80 order.

1

eata22 t1_jdevabl wrote

Replying to squidbelle (#2,319,899)

So from your response I can tell you have no idea how little food can actually be stored in one of those. Do you know what happens when there isn’t enough airflow? The entire thing freezes. Yiu can store like 3 days worth of food in it max.

Please please tell me how some dumb fuck on Reddit knows my budget better than I

4

squidbelle t1_jdf12yq wrote

Replying to eata22 (#2,325,302)

I don't know what to tell you, my commentary has nothing to do with your budget, only your choice to spend your income on a convenient luxury, and then complain on the internet as if it's your only option.

I used only a mini fridge for almost 3 years. In my view, having food delivered is a luxury. If you stop ordering all your food out for one month, you could afford at least another mini fridge, maybe even a used half-size. You really only need to keep certain ingredients refrigerated; recipes can be optimized for dry goods that don't need refrigeration and fresh vegetables that will keep for several days or more.

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Pancakewagon26 t1_jdf1m7k wrote

Replying to DJCzerny (#2,318,645)

nah, I know people who do it just because they don't want to go anywhere.

And then a decent chunk of the time they have to go to the place anyway because they're missing part of their order.

3

eata22 t1_jdf1ywn wrote

Replying to squidbelle (#2,325,876)

My breaker can’t handle two fridges are you literally special needs? You just want to continue feeding into this giving any explanation. I would literally throw a brick at your forehead if this was in person by now

−1

squidbelle t1_jdf5dcx wrote

Replying to eata22 (#2,325,982)

A second fridge is just an option, but like I said you can keep a week's worth of fresh ingredients in a mini fridge. Combined with dry goods, grocery delivery once a week would be both cheaper and healthier.

You're literally threatening violence because I calling out your self-righteous privilege "woe is me, I have to buy luxuries." Grt yourself in check, dude.

1

squidbelle t1_jdf6cmi wrote

Replying to eata22 (#2,326,106)

I am doing it right now, every month. It used to be an absolute necessity, now I am able to afford contributing to a Roth IRA I set up, since my work doesn't offer retirement plan.

Eating out is a luxury I indulge in 2-3 timesnper month. Paying even more to have food delivered is a double luxury.

0

AstralElement t1_jdf7y9l wrote

They’re just going to make every item more expensive to cover it.

1

NewKitchenFixtures t1_jdfp0hl wrote

Replying to Derricksaurus (#2,318,258)

An efficient kitchen using ingredients that are semi prepared by Sysco can probably spend less labor than the delivery side.

Uber has no property costs like the restaurant, but they are getting a smaller cut and potentially spending resources in a way that doesn’t take advantage of pooling jobs with several orders.

1