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You are an exception then. Most people are compelled by an app that lets them see what restaurants deliver near them, and makes the ordering process really easy

You are an exception then. Most people are compelled by an app that lets them see what restaurants deliver near them, and makes the ordering process really easy - no need for awkward phone calls or the hassle of uncertainty about when will your food actually arrive. The consumer segment who see value in this service is enough large that restaurants will sign up for Deliveroo/whatever to not miss out on the segment, even if that comes with a small premium to the platform. Still, if you want to support your local restaurant you should always order directly with them to cut out the middle man.

petercooper 6y ago
Agreed. People's reluctance to actually talk on the phone or to manage uncertainty is often overlooked in the popularity of apps like Uber, Deliveroo, Just Eat, et al. People will, to an extent, trade extra money to not have the ambiguity of human communications placed in the middle of a transaction.
- inglor_cz 6y ago
  Case in point. I love Vietnamese food, but ordering it over the phone from somebody who struggles with the local language is a challenge for both of us. Without a picture menu I can point at and without nonverbal cues, a misunderstanding can happen and happens.
- TeMPOraL 6y ago
  I think this is a factor, but not the major one. The major one is, you can prepay for delivery using a streamlined (and unified) interface that accepts just about any form of electronic payment you can throw at it. The direct-from-restaurant alternative to that is to be sure you have cash in small enough denominations, or negotiate over the phone for them to take a card terminal - which may not be available, or may extend delivery time significantly (there's usually one or two terminals shared by all drivers, so they have to coordinate orders), or the driver may forget and cause an awkward situation (happened to me). Or you can hope that the restaurant has an online ordering/payment form (most don't) and that it works (many don't) and accepts your form of payment (it's a wash). In my effort to not use the gig economy services, I now ensure I always have small-denominated cash at home set aside for delivery orders - which is a noticeable hassle over just paying with two taps/clicks during ordering.
- asdff 6y ago
  At the same time, there are real benefits to having a phone call. It's like having waitstaff at the table. You can confirm if an entree comes with rice, or ask if it contains a certain ingredient, ask how big the portion actually is, etc. A lot of times when you click "Orange chicken" on grubhub you are shooting into the dark with what you are expecting. Having to do some private eye work on yelp to get a picture of an entree is no fun.

petercooper 6y ago

Agreed. People's reluctance to actually talk on the phone or to manage uncertainty is often overlooked in the popularity of apps like Uber, Deliveroo, Just Eat, et al. People will, to an extent, trade extra money to not have the ambiguity of human communications placed in the middle of a transaction.

inglor_cz 6y ago
Case in point. I love Vietnamese food, but ordering it over the phone from somebody who struggles with the local language is a challenge for both of us. Without a picture menu I can point at and without nonverbal cues, a misunderstanding can happen and happens.
TeMPOraL 6y ago
I think this is a factor, but not the major one. The major one is, you can prepay for delivery using a streamlined (and unified) interface that accepts just about any form of electronic payment you can throw at it. The direct-from-restaurant alternative to that is to be sure you have cash in small enough denominations, or negotiate over the phone for them to take a card terminal - which may not be available, or may extend delivery time significantly (there's usually one or two terminals shared by all drivers, so they have to coordinate orders), or the driver may forget and cause an awkward situation (happened to me). Or you can hope that the restaurant has an online ordering/payment form (most don't) and that it works (many don't) and accepts your form of payment (it's a wash). In my effort to not use the gig economy services, I now ensure I always have small-denominated cash at home set aside for delivery orders - which is a noticeable hassle over just paying with two taps/clicks during ordering.
asdff 6y ago
At the same time, there are real benefits to having a phone call. It's like having waitstaff at the table. You can confirm if an entree comes with rice, or ask if it contains a certain ingredient, ask how big the portion actually is, etc. A lot of times when you click "Orange chicken" on grubhub you are shooting into the dark with what you are expecting. Having to do some private eye work on yelp to get a picture of an entree is no fun.