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Can Grubhub do this phone scamming thing if the restaurants don’t agree to work with Grubhub? If not, it’s on the restaurants to figure out they’re being scamme

Can Grubhub do this phone scamming thing if the restaurants don’t agree to work with Grubhub? If not, it’s on the restaurants to figure out they’re being scammed and cut off Grubhub. I agree it’s extremely sleazy but if restaurants opt into it what can you do? Regarding online ordering: restaurants need to decide if this is a space they want to be in (to grow business by allowing another channel for ordering) then research the field, pick a vendor with a fee model they like (or build their own!) and get actively into the game. For better or worse this is like having a phone number however-many years ago. You can choose not to but the technology is getting more and more popular so if you want to “keep up” you have to learn a new trick. There are some up-front flat-fee vendors out there that will allow you to set up your menu for online order at your domain. And if you don’t want to spend the time, Grubhub will do it for you for a fee, and if you don’t want to pay the fee or spend the time, then cross your fingers and hope your customers are ok ordering by phone. But online ordering is not going to come out of nothing at no cost.

CharlesW 6y ago
> Can Grubhub do this phone scamming thing if the restaurants don’t agree to work with Grubhub? I don't know whether they (legally) can, but they do. https://www.eater.com/2019/10/30/20940107/grubhub-to-add-restaurants-without-permission-like-postmates https://www.eater.com/2019/10/30/20940107/grubhub-to-add-res...
- sequoia 6y ago
  “ In July, New Food Economy reported that Grubhub was buying restaurant web domains without restaurants’ knowledge or consent, and though Grubhub argued it’s technically allowed to do that in the contract, it was still a bad look.” “In the contract” implies the restaurants are opting to work with Grubhub and pay them fees. As for “non-partner” listings, how can Grubhub charge a fee if the order is phoned in or payed over the counter like a normal order? So I don’t think that situation is one where restaurants are paying Grubhub any fees (though Grubhub is surely charging customers fees and possibly marking up menu items, the latter of which I agree is shady and should be stopped.) I am happy to be mad at Grubhub but I’m not condemning them for charging a restaurant a fee the restaurant agreed in writing to pay. Why did the coffee shop in TFA agree to pay $6.76 or whatever per call??

CharlesW 6y ago

> Can Grubhub do this phone scamming thing if the restaurants don’t agree to work with Grubhub? I don't know whether they (legally) can, but they do. https://www.eater.com/2019/10/30/20940107/grubhub-to-add-restaurants-without-permission-like-postmates https://www.eater.com/2019/10/30/20940107/grubhub-to-add-res...

sequoia 6y ago
“ In July, New Food Economy reported that Grubhub was buying restaurant web domains without restaurants’ knowledge or consent, and though Grubhub argued it’s technically allowed to do that in the contract, it was still a bad look.” “In the contract” implies the restaurants are opting to work with Grubhub and pay them fees. As for “non-partner” listings, how can Grubhub charge a fee if the order is phoned in or payed over the counter like a normal order? So I don’t think that situation is one where restaurants are paying Grubhub any fees (though Grubhub is surely charging customers fees and possibly marking up menu items, the latter of which I agree is shady and should be stopped.) I am happy to be mad at Grubhub but I’m not condemning them for charging a restaurant a fee the restaurant agreed in writing to pay. Why did the coffee shop in TFA agree to pay $6.76 or whatever per call??