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Restaurants charging more for items on WAITR than in house

Posted on 6/14/19 at 9:43 am
Posted by Degas
2187645493 posts
Member since Jul 2010
11744 posts
Posted on 6/14/19 at 9:43 am
I don't use WAITR much at all, but it's convenient if I need to simply pick up an order. I can simply pop into a restaurant and grab my bag without having to mess with a payment once I get there and also no awkward phone call to place an order. I did recently stumble across a restaurant (Sushi Masa actually) that charges about $2 more per item ordered through WAITR. When I asked the restaurant about it, they said it was probably to offset the WAITR commission. Is this the norm? I think I've only used WAITR three times and this is the only restaurant that charges more through WAITR, even if it's only a pickup order. In other words, if I order a few rolls and some apps to pick up, the order will cost me $10 more to order through WAITR to be picked up, rather than calling the restaurant and picking up the same food. I understand the offset of costs, like gas stations that give you a price break for a cash sale so they don't have to pay credit card fees, but it seems like Masa is taking advantage of the situation by charging what would be more than the WAITR fees. Just curious if other restaurants do this. I've always assumed that the price on the menu is what it would cost me. Didn't know they could bump up the price and charge two different prices for the same food. For shits and giggles, I just called WAITR to ask them, but the recording said there were no customer agents available.
Posted by Degas
2187645493 posts
Member since Jul 2010
11744 posts
Posted on 6/14/19 at 9:45 am to
Actually, I see that there's currently another thread which touches on this.

LINK
Posted by indytiger
baton rouge/indy
Member since Oct 2004
10122 posts
Posted on 6/14/19 at 9:45 am to
Sounds like if you want to save the $2, call the restaurant and place the order yourself. Some people are too lazy to do that though.
Posted by TigerGM
Member since Nov 2014
1082 posts
Posted on 6/14/19 at 9:49 am to
I made the same mistake with “your”our” moms. Ordered through app and paid out the arse for a take out order. I felt so dumb after just not calling. But there was an extra $5 charge for basically using the app.
Posted by Trout Bandit
Baton Rouge, LA
Member since Dec 2012
14442 posts
Posted on 6/14/19 at 9:52 am to
quote:

another thread which touches on this.

Where did WAITR touch you OP??

I noticed this a while back and thought that was WAITR's way of making more money by charging more than the restaurant would directly. A few bucks here and there is nothing to worry about unless you're too poor to use WAITR.
Posted by GynoSandberg
Bay St Louis, MS
Member since Jan 2006
73300 posts
Posted on 6/14/19 at 9:57 am to
There is a $2k upfront cost as well as WAITR taking 15% in perpetuity. Restaurants arent supposed to hike their prices. I would say WAITR would keep them in check but it is a poorly run business
Posted by fastedLSU
BR
Member since Sep 2007
4477 posts
Posted on 6/14/19 at 10:01 am to
Yes, this is the norm.
Posted by fastedLSU
BR
Member since Sep 2007
4477 posts
Posted on 6/14/19 at 10:02 am to
Res aren’t suppose to hike up their prices? Why?
Waitr would keep them in check? What? Waitr has no control over what a business sells their products for.
Posted by LouisianaLady
Member since Mar 2009
82172 posts
Posted on 6/14/19 at 10:09 am to
On a side note - Waitr is doing free delivery for the month of June with code SUMMER

Edit - I have no problem with this. Restaurants don’t make nearly the profit on takeout as they do on sit-down orders and then you throw in a middle man taking a cut? Makes complete sense. It’s the price I pay for being a waste of space ordering food in my jammies.

I don’t use Waitr for pickup orders I go get myself.
This post was edited on 6/14/19 at 10:12 am
Posted by Mingo Was His NameO
Brooklyn
Member since Mar 2016
29695 posts
Posted on 6/14/19 at 10:23 am to
WAITR is by far the worst of these services, it's only successful because it was one of the first to market. Uber eats, Grubhub, and Postmates are all far superior in their price structure to WAITR
Posted by Ryan3232
Valet driver for TD staff
Member since Dec 2008
26807 posts
Posted on 6/14/19 at 10:29 am to
WAITR has to pay its drivers. I know you said you ordered takeout on WAITR, but it’s still intended on paying the drivers and making itself more money. Ordering food on WAITR and going to pick it up is dumb.
Posted by Breauxsif
Member since May 2012
22291 posts
Posted on 6/14/19 at 10:35 am to
Use the promo code DADBOD to receive free delivery the rest of the week, through Sunday.

Here’s the link
WAITR free delivery promo
Posted by LNCHBOX
70448
Member since Jun 2009
86789 posts
Posted on 6/14/19 at 10:39 am to
quote:

Ordering food on WAITR and going to pick it up is dumb.



People do this?
Posted by Janky
Team Primo
Member since Jun 2011
35957 posts
Posted on 6/14/19 at 10:40 am to
quote:

People do this?


Yes. Mobile pickup at starbucks too. Walk in, grab it and walk out.
Posted by GynoSandberg
Bay St Louis, MS
Member since Jan 2006
73300 posts
Posted on 6/14/19 at 10:40 am to
quote:

Res aren’t suppose to hike up their prices? Why?
Waitr would keep them in check? What? Waitr has no control over what a business sells their products for.



Did you read the WAITR contract when you signed up for their service?
Posted by iAmBatman
The Batcave
Member since Mar 2011
12382 posts
Posted on 6/14/19 at 10:41 am to
quote:

Restaurants charging more for items on WAITR than in house



I've noticed that most restaurants do this and it's caused me to stop using Waitr all together. I don't mind the $5 delivery fee and tipping the driver but I'm not going to pay the restaurant more simply because a Waitr driver is bringing me their food.
Posted by LNCHBOX
70448
Member since Jun 2009
86789 posts
Posted on 6/14/19 at 10:41 am to
quote:

Yes. Mobile pickup at starbucks too. Walk in, grab it and walk out.



Yea, but Starbucks is through their own app.
Posted by Janky
Team Primo
Member since Jun 2011
35957 posts
Posted on 6/14/19 at 10:42 am to
Just talking about the process. It is more convenient and I will pay a little more for convenience.

I use the sonic app too when I am coming back from fishing.
This post was edited on 6/14/19 at 10:45 am
Posted by LNCHBOX
70448
Member since Jun 2009
86789 posts
Posted on 6/14/19 at 10:44 am to
quote:

Just talking about the process. It is more convenient and I will pay a little more for convenience.




Starbucks doesn't charge you anything to do it. Why would you not just call in your order and not pay extra? What is this extra convenience?
Posted by Janky
Team Primo
Member since Jun 2011
35957 posts
Posted on 6/14/19 at 10:47 am to
1. I just push a few buttons.
2. The payment is linked so I don't have to read a card number while driving.
3. I walk in and pick it up, I don't have to wait or pay.

This is worth the extra money to me. I use it mostly for lunch on work days.
This post was edited on 6/14/19 at 10:48 am
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