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Because their is not limited by their physical locations. If you've ever gotten a SpoonRocket meal you'd notice that they have a heater in the car and the heate

Because their is not limited by their physical locations. If you've ever gotten a SpoonRocket meal you'd notice that they have a heater in the car and the heater has a whole bunch of meals in it. Combine this with multiple cars.

anigbrowl 12y ago
waitersonwheels.com has been doing that for years. From what I recall consumer delivery proved not to be that economical and now they concentrate on business clients. I believe they're doing fine but I'm not sure it's an explosive growth model. On a general note, you look at industry incumbents and they're not shy about leveraging technology as things are, so I'm not convinced that software is going to eat their lunch as the article claims.
- seanmcdirmid 12y ago
  Consumer delivery is alive and thriving where I live. We personally order from Sunshine Kitchen (as well as a few other restaurants) a few times a week for dinner. Every McDonalds in my city has a fleet of electric delivery bikes and they seem to be pretty busy. All ordering proceeds online. Oh, did you mean to just limit your comment to the states?
  - anigbrowl 12y ago
    No, I didn't. I didn't say you can't run a healthy business that way, I said 'I'm not sure it's an explosive growth model' ie the sort of runaway success the tech press likes to celebrate, not least because of industry incumbents of the sort you mention who are already embracing technology. You appear to have misunderstood my earlier comment. Also, while I do live in the Bay Area I'm not American so your condescension is misplaced.
    - seanmcdirmid 12y ago
      You stated it's not a healthy business model period. Yet there are many places in the world where a lot of money is being made at it. So what gives about your statement?
      - anigbrowl 12y ago
        No I didn't.
  - orbifold 12y ago
    You probably live in a country where very cheap labor is available or with very high population density, where I live you would not be able to make a living from delivering McDonalds burgers.
    - seanmcdirmid 12y ago
      Bingo. I know hacker news is pretty American in its bias, but it hate when people talk in terms of universals.

anigbrowl 12y ago

waitersonwheels.com has been doing that for years. From what I recall consumer delivery proved not to be that economical and now they concentrate on business clients. I believe they're doing fine but I'm not sure it's an explosive growth model. On a general note, you look at industry incumbents and they're not shy about leveraging technology as things are, so I'm not convinced that software is going to eat their lunch as the article claims.

seanmcdirmid 12y ago
Consumer delivery is alive and thriving where I live. We personally order from Sunshine Kitchen (as well as a few other restaurants) a few times a week for dinner. Every McDonalds in my city has a fleet of electric delivery bikes and they seem to be pretty busy. All ordering proceeds online. Oh, did you mean to just limit your comment to the states?
- anigbrowl 12y ago
  No, I didn't. I didn't say you can't run a healthy business that way, I said 'I'm not sure it's an explosive growth model' ie the sort of runaway success the tech press likes to celebrate, not least because of industry incumbents of the sort you mention who are already embracing technology. You appear to have misunderstood my earlier comment. Also, while I do live in the Bay Area I'm not American so your condescension is misplaced.
  - seanmcdirmid 12y ago
    You stated it's not a healthy business model period. Yet there are many places in the world where a lot of money is being made at it. So what gives about your statement?
    - anigbrowl 12y ago
      No I didn't.
- orbifold 12y ago
  You probably live in a country where very cheap labor is available or with very high population density, where I live you would not be able to make a living from delivering McDonalds burgers.
  - seanmcdirmid 12y ago
    Bingo. I know hacker news is pretty American in its bias, but it hate when people talk in terms of universals.