Something Wicked This Way Yelps

Andrew Donaldson

Born and raised in West Virginia, Andrew has since lived and traveled around the world several times over. Though frequently writing about politics out of a sense of duty and love of country, most of the time he would prefer discussions on history, culture, occasionally nerding on aviation, and his amateur foodie tendencies. He can usually be found misspelling/misusing words on Twitter @four4thefire and his food writing website Yonder and Home. Andrew is the host of Heard Tell podcast. Subscribe to Andrew's Heard Tell SubStack for free here:

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5 Responses

  1. Jaybird says:

    I am exceptionally angry about this. Last night Maribou told me that she really, really wanted a hamburger. I suggested Wooglin’s, our little college diner. That essay there talks about how they shut down to allow for the new hockey rink to be built.

    Anyway, I used to have their number memorized. Haven’t called them recently, though. So I googled them. Saw a new number. Well, they moved, right? I called the number and put in the order for pickup. “That’ll be $X, I’ll have you sign the receipt when you get here.” “Why don’t you put a $10 tip on there and I don’t sign it?”

    And I pull up to the building and they’ve got a large vinyl sign hanging up next to the door saying “NO CONTACT DELIVERY/CURBSIDE PICKUP!” and the old phone number that I used to have memorized.

    Crap.

    I put 30% of the money I spent last night in somebody else’s pocket. Someone else entirely. Someone who didn’t do a goddamn thing except tell Google to put in *THIS* phone number instead of their old one.

    I am so pissed off right now.Report

  2. Oscar Gordon says:

    I refuse to use GrubHub, etc. for this very reason, and I will go to the restaurants website for the phone number (or place the order on their site).

    GrubHub can try to justify their fees all they want, but every story I hear about such services suggest that they are not upfront and explicit regarding their services. Strikes me as shady as hell.Report

  3. Damon says:

    I just had a similar experience but actually choose grubhub. The Indian restaurant I get take out I’ve ordered online for delivery a bunch of times….They used to have a link within their site for delivery…I used it. Now there is a new service…and they wanted me to go set up a whole new profile. Screw that. I’m already registered at grubhub, I just used them. Best I recall the costs were @ the same. I”m not spending another 5 mins registering and saving ANOTHER damn userid and password again. I have like 50 already.Report

  4. Kazzy says:

    I have no problem with these services charging fees they transparently negotiate with the restaurant. That is how the service ought to work: We’ll deliver your food in exchange for X. Do you agree?

    This? This should be outlawed.Report