4 ms·
There are a lot of comments about Uber's markups etc. The accurate comparison is not to Walmart or other large grocer. Often those do not serve urban or rural c
by runako 3y ago
There are a lot of comments about Uber's markups etc. The accurate comparison is not to Walmart or other large grocer. Often those do not serve urban or rural communities well, primarily due to inaccessibility to the poor. (Think about how many communities live outside of walking distance or off transit from a real grocery store.)
The compare to consider is the markup and selection at e.g. a gas station or convenience store, where people increasingly buy food. Those places are known for high prices and low value. It's entirely possible that ordering via Uber Eats/Instacart is a better deal for folks on food aid. And selection is certainly better, relevant to the set of folks who like to shame poor people for the food they eat.
- mrits 3y agoThe $2 hot dog at my gas station would be $15 on UberEats
- runako 3y agoThe entire point of this is that you can use UberEats to buy a $6 pack of 8 hot dogs instead of a single hot dog for $2 at the gas station, if you want hot dogs.
- mrits 3y agoThat is literally not true. 5 pack Oscar Mayer 1 mile away is $6.58 after UberEats markup, $3 service fee, $.99 delivery fee for a total of $10.57
- runako 3y agoThis would be a valid comparison if Uber Eats was planning to limit grocery carts to a single item. But TFA didn't mention that.
- mrits 3y agoThis would be a valid critique if you are limited to 1 pack of hotdogs per taxi ride to the grocery store. "inaccessibility to the poor."
- runako 3y agoSwitching this to a conversation about taxis is an interesting diversion, but a diversion nonetheless. That said, currently an Uber to my grocery store, which is almost exactly a mile away is running at $9.97 each way. (Taxis are unreliable here.) Spending $20 on transport to get access to lower in-store fees, but the math is more complicated as Uber Eats doesn't use a flat % markup on items.
- hotpotamus 3y agoWhen the hell did hot dogs start coming in 5 packs? And at my local grocer a pack would be less than $3 for some commodity hotdogs. A premium (if you can call a hotdog that) option is less than $6.58.
- jareklupinski 3y ago"why do hot dogs come in packages of ten while hot dog buns come in packages of just 8?" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPgzjFPzGx4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPgzjFPzGx4
- runako 3y agoFor comparison, here are the numbers I found in UberEats: 1 pack of 8 bun-length Bar-S hot dogs, $1.59. Total delivered with tax etc. $7.03. The delivery fee is $2.49, which obviously amortizes across more items. Also, unlike the gas station, this store sells fresh produce.
- jareklupinski 3y agoplus tip
- kazinator 3y ago> Those places are known for high prices and low value. Bad prices, selection and awful service. Someone recently wrote a Mastodon comment about encouraging corner stores to improve the walkability of neighborhoods. I swiftly put that nonsense in its place.