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by standardUser 584 days ago
Or just order from local restaurants using GrubHub. Most mark up their menu prices to absorb the hit they take from working with GrubHub and similar services. Some will encourage you to order directly or through a different 3rd party by including a flier with the delivery order. But many others only offer delivery through 3rd parties like GrubHub.
1 comments
zemo 584 days ago
I just call them, it's not like the phone company takes a cut when you order on the phone.
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nobody9999 583 days ago
>I just call them, it's not like the phone company takes a cut when you order on the phone.

Make sure you call the right number. Grubhub (and others possibly) will set up phone numbers[0] and websites[1] controlled by them and forwarded to the restaurant so they can take a cut.

[0]https://www.theverge.com/2019/8/6/20756878/yelp-grubhub-comm...

[1] https://www.grubstreet.com/2019/07/everything-you-need-to-kn...

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standardUser 584 days ago
That's good for you. I prefer putting together my order with the menu on my phone, adding notes and having a moment to think about those notes, adding delivery instructions, tipping with the same credit card I pay with, tracking my order, having an order history I can view, and not bothering people who are busy running a restaurant and don't need to be talking to me on the phone since this has all been automated for a couple decades. And to be frank, many restaurant workers don't have the best English skills and may be in a loud environment, making phone calls more difficult.
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zemo 584 days ago
honestly I order from five or so places with regularity and at each of those places there are two or three things I actually order. Most of the time I really don't think GrubHub is providing any value that merits giving them a cut. I know that I like the orange chicken at the Chinese place near me, the white pie from the New York pizza place, the drive-through burger from the burger place, etc, etc, etc. I don't really need a menu. But yeah, if I'm in a new place and I'm doing a whole browse and search affair, looking at a new menu, reading reviews and all that, I just use Grubhub. That's just not actually most of my delivery. Most of my delivery is "I don't feel like cooking dinner tonight" -> order from one of my regulars.

> And to be frank, many restaurant workers don't have the best English skills and may be in a loud environment, making phone calls more difficult.

Yeah I dunno this argument feels very alien to me, because even people with poor English skills know the names of the items on their menu. It's not like I'm calling them to have an in-depth conversation, I'm just naming items off of their menu. Also I call in for pickup for like half my orders and pick up myself. At a bunch of places the food is cheaper if you just call.

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