Food Delivery Apps: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)

LastWeekTonight
4 Apr 202426:11

Summary

TLDRThe rise of food delivery apps has revolutionized the way we dine, but at what cost? This script delves into the dark side of the convenience they provide, highlighting the financial struggles of restaurants due to high commission fees and the precarious working conditions faced by delivery drivers, who are often classified as independent contractors without benefits. It calls for awareness and action to ensure fair treatment for all parties involved in the delivery ecosystem.

Takeaways

  • 🍔 Food delivery apps have seen significant growth, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, as they provided an essential service when in-person dining was restricted.
  • 🚚 The traditional model of food delivery involved direct hiring of delivery staff by restaurants, but apps have shifted this model to involve independent contractors and third-party drivers.
  • 💰 Delivery apps charge restaurants high commission fees (15-30% of orders) and additional fees for promotions, which can significantly reduce the profit margins for restaurants.
  • 📈 Some restaurants have had to increase their prices on apps to offset the fees charged by delivery services, leading to higher costs for consumers who order through these apps.
  • 🍽️ Restaurants sometimes face unwanted online listings and orders due to delivery apps adding them without permission, leading to operational challenges and potential customer dissatisfaction.
  • 🥺 Delivery workers face challenges such as having to cover their own expenses for equipment like bikes and uniforms, and not receiving benefits like health insurance due to their classification as independent contractors.
  • 🛑 The gig nature of delivery work means that workers have unpredictable incomes, largely dependent on tips and subject to the whims of app algorithms that can affect their pay and job opportunities.
  • 🚲 Safety concerns for delivery workers are real, with risks of traffic accidents, harsh weather conditions, and the pressure to complete deliveries quickly to avoid negative reviews and reduced income.
  • 💸 Despite the massive valuations and widespread use, major food delivery platforms like Uber Eats are not yet profitable, indicating that the current business model may not be sustainable in the long term.
  • 🌐 Efforts are being made in some regions to improve conditions for delivery workers, such as minimum pay laws in New York and Proposition 22 in California, though these face significant opposition from the industry.
  • 📝 Consumers have a role to play in supporting restaurants and delivery workers by tipping well, being mindful of how they use apps, and considering direct orders from restaurants whenever possible.

Q & A

  • What is the main topic of the transcript?

    -The main topic of the transcript is the rise and impact of food delivery apps on restaurants, delivery workers, and customers.

  • How have food delivery apps changed the traditional food delivery model?

    -Food delivery apps have shifted the traditional model by introducing a platform where customers order through an app, and independent contractor drivers, not employed by the restaurant, deliver the food. This has led to a significant change in the way restaurants operate and how delivery workers are compensated.

  • What are some of the criticisms against food delivery apps' business models?

    -Critics argue that food delivery apps charge restaurants high commission fees, sometimes up to 30% of an order, and additional fees for promotions. This can significantly reduce the profit margins for restaurants. Additionally, apps sometimes list restaurants without their consent, leading to unwanted orders and potential customer dissatisfaction.

  • How have restaurants adapted to the fees charged by delivery apps?

    -Some restaurants have increased their prices on the apps to offset the fees they have to pay. This can result in higher prices for customers when ordering through the apps compared to ordering directly from the restaurant.

  • What are the challenges faced by delivery workers for food delivery apps?

    -Delivery workers face challenges such as having to cover their own expenses for equipment like bikes and phone holders, dealing with opaque app algorithms that dictate their wages and schedules, and the lack of labor protections and health insurance due to their classification as independent contractors.

  • How can customers support restaurants and delivery workers when using food delivery apps?

    -Customers can support restaurants by ordering directly from them when possible, instead of through an app. They can also ensure they tip delivery workers adequately and provide positive reviews to help workers maintain their income and opportunities.

  • What is the current financial status of food delivery platforms like Uber Eats?

    -Despite being valued in the billions, food delivery platforms like Uber Eats are not yet profitable and continue to operate at a loss, with the industry as a whole losing hundreds of millions of dollars.

  • What is the 'millennial lifestyle subsidy' mentioned in the transcript?

    -The 'millennial lifestyle subsidy' refers to the idea that customers, particularly millennials, are benefiting from the low prices and convenience offered by food delivery apps, which are subsidized by the companies themselves. This is unsustainable in the long term and may lead to changes in the industry.

  • What legal actions have been taken to protect delivery workers?

    -In New York, a law was passed to guarantee a minimum pay rate for delivery workers. In California, a law was enacted to expand protections to gig workers. However, delivery apps have pushed for propositions like Prop 22 to exempt themselves from these protections.

  • What is the significance of the Washington Post experiment mentioned in the transcript?

    -The Washington Post experiment demonstrated the varying commission fees that different food delivery apps charge restaurants. They ordered the same meal from a San Francisco restaurant through three different apps and found that the restaurant received significantly different amounts, highlighting the inconsistency and potential financial burden on restaurants.

  • What is the role of customer reviews in the food delivery app ecosystem?

    -Customer reviews play a significant role in the food delivery app ecosystem as they can impact the wages and opportunities available to delivery workers. Apps use algorithms that consider review scores to determine worker assignments, with negative reviews potentially reducing a worker's income or even leading to their removal from the platform.

Outlines

00:00

🍔 The Evolution of Food Delivery Apps

This paragraph discusses the rise of food delivery apps and their impact on traditional dining experiences. It humorously contrasts the bleakness of a Saturday night with the convenience of having food delivered to your doorstep. The narrative delves into the ubiquity of these apps, highlighted by their omnipresent advertisements featuring various celebrities. It also touches on the introduction of special occasion menus by Postmates, the changing landscape of food delivery, and the reasons why people use these apps, from convenience to avoiding driving under the influence. The paragraph sets the stage for a deeper exploration of the food delivery industry's effects on various stakeholders.

05:01

💸 The Financial Impact on Restaurants and Drivers

This paragraph examines the financial implications of food delivery apps on restaurants and drivers. It highlights the significant commission fees that apps charge restaurants, often between 15 to 30% of an order, and additional fees for promotional activities. The narrative provides a real-world example of a restaurant that retained only 42% of its sales after fees were deducted. It also discusses how restaurants have responded by increasing prices on the apps, leading to higher costs for consumers. Furthermore, the paragraph touches on the unauthorized listing of restaurants by apps like GrubHub, causing unexpected orders and operational challenges. It sets the foundation for understanding the complex financial dynamics at play within the food delivery ecosystem.

10:02

🚚 The Gig Economy and Its Challenges

This paragraph delves into the gig work nature of food delivery, focusing on the challenges faced by delivery workers. It discusses the classification of workers as independent contractors, which means they bear their own expenses, and the pressure to maximize orders to earn a decent income. The paragraph highlights the risks associated with the job, including the potential for negative reviews that can significantly impact a worker's ability to secure future orders. It also touches on the lack of labor protections and health insurance for these workers, painting a picture of a precarious work environment where safety and financial stability are constant concerns.

15:03

💰 The Business Models and Profitability of Delivery Apps

This paragraph explores the business models of food delivery apps and their struggle with profitability. Despite the billions of dollars in valuation, companies like Uber Eats admit to not being profitable yet. The narrative discusses the high costs associated with marketing, lobbying, and maintaining the app infrastructure. It also touches on the tech industry's classic disruption model, where companies grow at all costs, corner the market, and then raise prices. The paragraph suggests that the current low prices for consumers may not be sustainable, hinting at a future where the few dominant companies in the industry could lead to higher costs for everyone.

20:04

🌐 The Future of Food Delivery and Its Impact on Stakeholders

This paragraph contemplates the future of the food delivery industry and its potential impact on various stakeholders. It discusses the ongoing consolidation of the industry, with major players acquiring smaller companies, and the potential for these companies to dominate the market. The narrative suggests that while customers currently benefit from the 'millennial lifestyle subsidy,' this may not last. It calls for the establishment of guardrails to protect restaurants and delivery workers, highlighting efforts in New York and California to improve working conditions. The paragraph ends with a call to action for consumers to support their favorite restaurants and tip generously, acknowledging the human effort behind each delivery.

25:04

🍽️ Empowering Restaurants and Delivery Workers

This paragraph emphasizes the importance of supporting local restaurants and delivery workers. It encourages consumers to order directly from restaurants whenever possible, bypassing the apps to ensure the restaurants receive full payment for their orders. The narrative stresses the significance of positive reviews for delivery workers and the potential impact of negative reviews on their livelihoods. It advocates for generous tipping, especially in challenging delivery situations, and reminds consumers of the human effort behind each transaction. The paragraph concludes with a call for mindful use of delivery apps, recognizing the real people who make the service possible.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Food Delivery Apps

Food delivery apps are platforms that facilitate the ordering and delivery of food from restaurants to customers. They have become increasingly popular due to their convenience, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. The video discusses the impact of these apps on restaurants, delivery workers, and customers, highlighting both the benefits and criticisms associated with their business models.

💡Gig Economy

The gig economy refers to a labor market characterized by short-term contracts or freelance work, as opposed to permanent jobs. In the context of the video, delivery workers for food apps are considered part of the gig economy, as they work as independent contractors with flexible hours but without the benefits and protections of traditional employment.

💡Commissions

Commissions are fees charged by food delivery apps to restaurants for each order completed through the platform. These fees can range from 15 to 30% of the order value and sometimes higher, significantly impacting the profit margins of restaurants.

💡Algorithm

In the context of the video, an algorithm refers to the software used by delivery apps to manage and dictate various aspects of the delivery process, such as assigning orders, calculating wages, and evaluating worker performance. The algorithm can have a significant impact on the working conditions and income of delivery workers.

💡Worker Exploitation

Worker exploitation occurs when laborers are treated unfairly or used for economic gain without proper compensation or benefits. In the video, it is suggested that food delivery apps may exploit delivery workers by classifying them as independent contractors, thereby avoiding responsibilities such as health insurance and fair wages.

💡Restaurant Profits

Restaurant profits refer to the financial gains made by restaurants after all costs and expenses have been accounted for. The video discusses how food delivery apps can affect restaurant profits by taking a significant percentage of each sale through commissions and additional fees, sometimes leading to a decrease in the overall profitability of the restaurant.

💡Customer Convenience

Customer convenience refers to the ease and accessibility of a service or product for the end user. Food delivery apps are often marketed as providing great convenience to customers, allowing them to order food with a few clicks and have it delivered directly to their door. However, the video also raises questions about the true cost of this convenience for other stakeholders involved.

💡Monopolization

Monopolization is the process by which a company or group gains exclusive control over a market or industry. The video discusses the consolidation of food delivery apps, with major players like Uber Eats, DoorDash, and GrubHub acquiring smaller competitors, which raises concerns about monopolistic practices and the potential for higher prices and reduced choices for consumers in the future.

💡Labor Protections

Labor protections are laws and regulations designed to safeguard the rights, safety, and fair treatment of workers in the workplace. The video highlights the struggle of delivery workers to obtain basic labor protections, such as minimum wage and health benefits, due to their classification as independent contractors.

💡Consumer Responsibility

Consumer responsibility refers to the ethical and social obligations of consumers in their purchasing decisions, including considering the impact of their choices on workers and businesses. The video encourages viewers to be mindful of their use of delivery apps and to take steps to support restaurants and delivery workers through tipping and direct orders.

Highlights

The rise of food delivery apps and their impact on various stakeholders, including customers, restaurants, and delivery workers.

The transformation of traditional food delivery systems by apps, leading to increased convenience but also new challenges.

The significant increase in usage of delivery apps during the COVID-19 pandemic, which boosted their growth and market presence.

The criticism of delivery apps' business models, with some likening them to leeches due to the high commission fees they charge restaurants.

The revelation that delivery apps charge restaurants a commission of 15 to 30%, which can negatively impact restaurant profits.

Instances where delivery apps have been accused of listing restaurants without their consent, leading to unexpected orders and operational issues.

The potential negative consequences for restaurants that choose not to engage with delivery apps, including being listed as closed or having their prices increased on the apps.

The gig work nature of delivery jobs, which allows for flexibility but also means workers bear the costs and risks associated with their work.

The challenges faced by delivery workers, including the need to invest in their own equipment, the impact of customer reviews on their income, and the safety risks of the job.

The paradox of delivery apps like Uber Eats operating at a loss despite being valued in the billions, raising questions about the sustainability of their business model.

The comparison of delivery apps to tech disruptors like Uber and Lyft, which initially offered lower prices but have since increased them after establishing a market presence.

The ongoing legal and legislative battles over the classification of delivery workers as independent contractors, affecting their labor rights and protections.

The efforts by some cities, like New York, to enact laws ensuring minimum pay rates for delivery workers, and the pushback from delivery apps.

The proposition in California, Prop 22, which sought to exempt delivery apps from providing basic labor protections to workers, and the massive funding behind it.

The potential for future legal challenges and changes in legislation that could impact the operations and business models of delivery apps.

The advice for customers to support restaurants and delivery workers by using alternative ordering methods, tipping well, and being mindful of reviews on delivery apps.

The importance of acknowledging the human element behind delivery services and the impact that customer actions can have on the workers' livelihoods.

Transcripts

00:04

our main story tonight concerns food

00:06

delivery the thing that can turn a

00:07

lethally depressing Saturday night into

00:09

a lethally depressing Saturday night

00:11

with pad

00:12

tie specifically we're going to talk

00:14

about food delivery apps you are

00:16

probably familiar with them whether

00:17

you're a user or a viewer of their

00:19

constant ads featuring everyone from

00:20

Jennifer Aniston to Big Bird to this

00:23

Uber Superbowl one starring none other

00:25

than Diddy and I'm guessing Uber Eats

00:28

might be regretting that last one right

00:29

now now they've even released ads for

00:32

special occasions like this what are you

00:35

eating this

00:36

Pride well if you're a top it seems like

00:39

you can eat whatever you

00:41

want but if you're a bottom you're

00:44

expected to

00:45

Star not this Pride introducing the

00:48

bottom friendly menu from

00:50

Postmates that is a real act for a

00:54

bottom friendly menu from Postmates

00:55

featuring an eggplant in leather fetish

00:57

gear looking like a character from tals

01:00

who escaped their Evangelical upbringing

01:02

and found happiness and by the way it is

01:04

good to see the Peach from call me by

01:06

your name staying booked and busy gay

01:08

Parts should go to gay actors but even

01:11

Beyond unlisted sex diet tips people use

01:13

delivery apps for all sorts of reasons

01:16

and some very good as this Driver F door

01:18

Dash explains it's all it's all sort

01:21

it's the average customer it's like it's

01:23

not like a bunch of lazy people it's a

01:26

lot of people need this because they're

01:28

too busy with kids or or they don't have

01:31

a license for whatever reason people

01:34

also that are just drunk or stoned and

01:36

they don't want to drunk they're

01:37

actually being responsible and they

01:38

don't want to drive and get the food

01:39

themselves so I'll deliver to them you

01:41

know there's plenty of times I'll come

01:43

to a door and the door will open and so

01:45

much pot SM com from and the person's

01:48

eyes are like super red and I love that

01:50

I think that's so funny it's like some

01:51

guy he's like college age and he's just

01:53

like oh thank God the food's here yeah I

01:58

love that too I I know that might be

02:00

hard to believe from me someone who

02:02

looks like he's only ever confiscated

02:04

weed but I'm all about the sticky icky

02:06

I'm like Miss Piggy the way I'm hitting

02:08

that green even now I'm as high as a

02:11

giraffe's and as faced out as a

02:13

ninth grader's essay trying to meet the

02:14

page limits I get it okay but even if

02:18

you are not stoned these apps are

02:20

incredibly convenient and the truth is

02:22

if you weren't using them before 20120

02:24

you almost definitely have since because

02:26

early on in covid after inperson dining

02:28

shutdown their growth

02:30

skyrocketed sales for delivery apps

02:32

nearly doubled and haven't gone down

02:34

since these apps basically have the kind

02:36

of meteoric pandemic eriz that Skype

02:39

absolutely thought they were in for and

02:42

what happened Skype you had it and you

02:45

lost it we used to use Skype as a verb

02:47

to mean to video call someone rather

02:49

than what it means now to completely

02:51

up the easiest opportunity

02:54

imaginable the pandemic truly was a

02:57

watershed moment for delivery apps and

02:58

they marketed themselves heavily as the

03:00

saviors of the restaurant industry

03:03

restaurants are our family the

03:05

Cornerstone of our communities and our

03:08

family needs

03:10

help right now they're facing a crisis

03:13

and they're counting on your takeout and

03:15

delivery orders to help them

03:17

through because if we don't treat

03:19

restaurants like family today they might

03:21

not be around to treat us like family

03:25

tomorrow GrubHub together we can help

03:28

save the restaurants love wow that hits

03:31

all the check marks of every pandemic

03:34

era ad soft twinkly piano music check

03:37

and E cleed cross-section of races ages

03:39

ethnicities and genders check a vague

03:41

threat that if we don't participate in

03:43

capitalism the things we hold near and

03:44

dear will be destroyed checky check but

03:48

even as our usage of these apps has

03:50

increased there's been a rising chorus

03:51

of criticism regarding their business

03:53

models perhaps summed up best by this

03:55

New York City council member when you

03:58

see something

04:00

uh it sucks the blood out of anything

04:04

you call them leeches and that is

04:07

exactly what GrubHub is it's true when

04:10

you see something that sucks the blood

04:12

out of anything you do call them leeches

04:14

also if you see something that has 10

04:16

stomachs 32 brains nine pairs of

04:17

testicles and several hundred teeth

04:19

that's a leech too but admittedly

04:22

doesn't apply quite as neatly here and

04:24

while that might sound harsh to you it's

04:26

not totally unfair because for all the

04:29

convenience these apps provide us the

04:31

customers they come with a huge cost for

04:33

everyone else involved from restaurant

04:35

owners to those delivering our food so

04:37

tonight let's talk about delivery apps

04:40

and first let's talk about what food

04:41

delivery used to look like picture it

04:43

it's it's 2003 and you're at home hungry

04:46

after a long day of work at Blockbuster

04:48

Video so you check out the giant stack

04:51

of takeout menus you keep in a drawer

04:53

then trigger warning for anyone under 30

04:55

you'd make a phone call to a restaurant

04:58

say you're order out loud to a person

05:00

who worked there and then a delivery

05:02

worker also hired by the restaurant came

05:04

to drop it off then you tipped in cash

05:06

and chewed back into American Idol to

05:09

watch the most famous person in the

05:10

world Ruben

05:11

studded the system was by no means

05:14

perfect but restaurants made a profit on

05:15

your order and delivery drivers were at

05:17

least theoretically paid as employees

05:20

but over the past decade apps have

05:22

fundamentally shifted that model now the

05:24

ordering part tends to take place via an

05:27

app which then contacts a delivery

05:28

driver who typically does doesn't work

05:30

for the restaurant who transports the

05:31

food to you and to be fair there have

05:34

been some upsides in this model for

05:36

restaurants there's definitely a lot of

05:38

positives and one of them is like

05:40

knowing that there's a delivery guy

05:42

nearby to pick up their food and we

05:44

don't have to have someone on staff we

05:47

would need about 15 guys here at all

05:49

times right before delivery apps that

05:51

owner would have needed 15 guys just

05:53

standing around at all times which

05:55

honestly sounds less like a restaurant

05:56

or more like someone describing an orgy

05:58

that didn't quite take off off and abs

06:01

will point out that they also put

06:02

restaurants menus in front of hungry

06:04

people which can help them with reaching

06:06

more customers and growing Revenue but

06:09

Revenue isn't the same as profit and

06:11

let's talk about how exactly these

06:13

companies make money because they make

06:15

some off the various fees that you might

06:17

see when you order but they also charge

06:19

restaurant's 15 to 30% of an order in

06:21

commissions and that number can get even

06:24

higher when apps charge restaurants

06:25

additional fees for everything from

06:27

boosting their placement in the app to

06:29

making them part of special promotions

06:31

and especially during the pandemic when

06:32

online orders were basically the only

06:34

ones coming in restaurants who'd signed

06:36

up for an app could be unpleasantly

06:38

surprised when they saw just how little

06:40

was left after the apps had taken their

06:42

cut we signed up with during this

06:45

pandemic is just any way to get any

06:46

income to have cash on hand to be able

06:48

to keep our staff this was grubhub's

06:50

Bill to the Warren out of total orders

06:52

of more than

06:53

$16,000 GrubHub gave the restaurant only

06:56

about 7,000 back it was equal to 42% of

07:00

our sales we got so they took 58% of it

07:03

it's true they took 58% of their sales I

07:07

I know that just saying percentages at

07:09

you might not be that helpful even

07:11

though you know you are watching an

07:12

episode of numbers being yelled at you

07:14

with human

07:15

Squidward but 58% is a lot now GrubHub

07:19

insists that that restaurant agreed to

07:21

those fees upfront and that 58% is an

07:24

outlier but it's worth noting the

07:26

Washington Post recently ran an

07:27

experiment where they ordered the same

07:29

meal for from this restaurant in San

07:30

Francisco on three different apps the

07:32

meal itself cost

07:34

$2.69 before fees taxes and tip and when

07:36

they contacted the restaurant they found

07:38

that for Uber Eats the restaurant got

07:40

1448 back for GrubHub it got 1247 and

07:44

for door Dash it only got

07:46

$10.59 those are Mafia margins also as a

07:50

quick side note what a fun assignment

07:52

for a journalist that was sometimes

07:54

journalists track down sources or pour

07:56

through thousands of pages of documents

07:58

other times you get to order chicken

07:59

Palm a bunch of times in a row it's

08:02

really the luck of the draw but it's

08:04

gotone to the point where many

08:05

restaurants have taken to increasing

08:07

their prices on the apps to at least

08:09

partially offset those fees that is why

08:13

you may have noticed food often costs

08:14

more on an app than it does at the

08:16

restaurants and you might think well

08:18

restaurants should just refuse to be

08:19

listed on these sites then but resisting

08:22

them hasn't always worked apps of

08:24

repeatedly added restaurants against

08:26

their will in DC alone GrubHub was

08:29

accused of listing more than a thousand

08:30

restaurants available for delivery that

08:32

they didn't have contracts with and if

08:34

you're thinking well I still don't see a

08:35

problem they get to be on the app

08:37

without paying for it there are actually

08:39

multiple issues there not every Rost

08:41

restaurant wants to do delivery or is

08:44

even set up for it and Grub hubs been

08:46

accused of not warning restaurants

08:47

before listing them leading to them

08:49

being suddenly inundated with orders

08:51

they never expected one in California

08:53

even complained about grubhub's venu

08:55

listing food that it does not actually

08:57

make and has never made

09:00

basically GrubHub would list a

09:01

restaurant without its permission or

09:02

knowledge and then make money by

09:04

charging you a high delivery fee to

09:06

bring the food to your door but that

09:09

might put the restaurant itself in a

09:11

tough spot because they might be

09:13

disappointing customers in ways they

09:14

don't even realize M Street Baking

09:17

Company in Howell is open for takeout

09:19

during the pandemic like many

09:21

restaurants they were approached to join

09:23

GrubHub for food delivery but declined

09:25

we found out that they were sending

09:28

people in pretending to just be regular

09:30

customers but actually working for

09:32

GrubHub and delivering our stuff without

09:34

our knowledge they were offering

09:35

milkshakes we don't put Lids on our

09:37

milkshakes because they go directly to

09:39

you so now it's going into somebody

09:40

else's car that they could cough on

09:43

sneeze on as a business if I knew that a

09:45

second party was handling your food I

09:47

would package your products probably

09:49

differently than if I knew it was going

09:50

right to you yeah of course you would

09:52

and I am glad about that because I for

09:54

one do not want to drink a milkshake

09:56

that's been raw dogging the air in

09:58

Kyle's VAP Smoke Filled Honda Civic and

10:01

the thing is this practice has been

10:03

standard in the industry right from the

10:05

start just listen to the founder of

10:06

Postmates talk about the company's early

10:08

days when we launched Postmates 3 years

10:11

ago we did deliveries from Chipotle's

10:14

restaurant and we got a seasoned assist

10:16

from them and they said we got a

10:18

seasoned assist from them and they said

10:20

like guys we don't really we're a little

10:21

bit concerned about the food quality

10:24

right but you know what do we had to

10:27

lose so we decided to ignore it oh you

10:30

did did you that's fun and imagine

10:33

getting lectured on food safety by

10:36

Chipotle the biggest red flag imaginable

10:39

and blowing that off also I just want to

10:42

go back so you can see Jim Kramer's

10:44

expression there because this is the

10:45

happiest I've ever seen anyone look he

10:48

is positively giddy at this story of

10:50

corporate recklessness he looks like a

10:52

kid meeting a dog for the first time no

10:55

one has ever been happier than this and

10:58

in the case of of GrubHub it's

11:00

occasionally engaged in tactics that

11:01

seem more like a protection racket for

11:04

instance in 2020 it allegedly listed

11:06

restaurants that didn't partner with

11:08

them as closed or not accepting online

11:11

orders even when they were which feels

11:13

especially shitty coming from the same

11:15

company that made that ad saying that

11:18

together we can help save the

11:19

restaurants we love I guess GrubHub just

11:21

forgot to add and burn the ones that

11:23

don't make us money to the

11:25

ground it is no wonder restaurant owners

11:28

have increasingly turned on these apps

11:29

liking them to a hostage situation and

11:32

selling your soul to the devil which is

11:35

if anything too kind at least when you

11:37

make a deal with the devil he offers you

11:39

something cool like a sick Golden Fiddle

11:41

in return and he surrenders even when I

11:44

think there's a pretty good case that

11:45

he's the better Fiddler sure Johnny does

11:48

rosin up his bow and play that fiddle

11:50

heart but he's sampling old folk songs

11:52

there's nothing original there the devil

11:54

however is playing an original dissonant

11:56

composition backed up by a band of

11:57

demons he's bringing way more to the

11:59

musical table now we don't have time for

12:01

me to play both sides and fully convince

12:03

you but go listen to that song again and

12:05

tell me you're not having way more fun

12:08

listening to the

12:09

devil happy Easter by the way but it's

12:13

but it's not just the restaurants that

12:16

these apps can harm it's also the

12:18

delivery workers in most places

12:20

delivering for these companies is gig

12:22

work you set your own hours and drive as

12:24

much or as little as you choose and

12:26

companies have sold this as a great

12:27

thing GrubHub runs recruiting spot

12:29

showing Happy People balancing child

12:31

care careers as artists with working

12:34

part-time doing deliveries and other

12:36

companies make similar claims sometimes

12:38

in wildly over-the-top ways like the

12:40

head of door Dash here I think in many

12:42

ways Dashers on door Dash look very

12:44

similar to consumers in the sense that

12:47

um they value their time um as much or

12:50

sometimes more um than money and and and

12:54

they in effect are choosing um you know

12:57

some of these part-time gig

12:59

opportunities so that um they can you

13:01

know save for a project whatever that

13:03

may be whether that's you know buying a

13:05

gift for someone or starting an

13:14

orphanage what did you just say starting

13:17

an orphanage the are you talking

13:19

about orphanages aren't generally side

13:23

hustles you don't tend to see Rachel

13:25

shelter for loose babies but I guess if

13:28

you're a Tech Pro you've got it all

13:30

planned out first you get a bunch of

13:32

venture capital to disrupt the orphanage

13:34

space then you Corner the orphanage

13:36

Market automate it with robot workers to

13:38

take care of the kids create a rating

13:40

system for potential adoptive parents to

13:42

rate the baby's Vibe fire babies who

13:44

fail said Vibe check zero Severance

13:46

obviously make wild claims about future

13:48

profitability and before you know it

13:49

boom it's IPO time Innovative profitable

13:54

orphanages but the truth is for many of

13:57

those engaged in Gig workor it's not a

13:59

side job it's their main source of

14:01

income and that can be a real problem

14:03

when you consider that delivery apps

14:04

classify their workers as independent

14:06

contractors meaning they have to pay for

14:08

all of their own expenses and as this

14:10

guy in New York explains that can be a

14:13

lot the bike itself cost between $1,800

14:16

and $1,900 new I upgraded it in many

14:19

ways for example the seat the phone

14:21

holder so I can have it over here this

14:23

battery cost me almost $450 so the total

14:26

would be up to $2,500 because of only

14:29

the bike cost $1,800 plus the battery

14:31

that's $2,200 and I had to buy the

14:34

backpack because the companies don't

14:35

give you one and a helmet because they

14:37

don't give you one either look that is

14:39

all ridiculous but the backpack might be

14:42

the most egregious part there this is a

14:44

backpack you can't use for anything else

14:47

imagine using it for school unless

14:49

you're a second grader who shows up

14:51

every day with a social studies book a

14:53

PBJ and 13 orders of pad key ma it

14:56

doesn't really work but the expenses are

14:59

just the beginning here workers are also

15:01

at the mercy of the app's opaque

15:02

algorithms which are used to dictate

15:04

speed behavior and ultimately the wages

15:07

of the workers many apps set up a

15:09

game-like system of rewards and

15:10

penalties offering high scores for being

15:12

on time and low scores and fewer orders

15:14

for tardiness and of course a

15:16

significant part of that system is

15:18

negative reviews you might think a bad

15:21

review is going to a restaurant or the

15:23

app itself but all workers know getting

15:25

one can severely restrict your options

15:27

going forward in fact just a few

15:29

negative responses have the power to dry

15:31

up worker income or even get them booted

15:33

off the platform alt together and those

15:35

who've studied this will tell you that

15:37

Dynamic is a significant problem much of

15:40

reputation systems were put in place to

15:42

be able to give consumers reviews of

15:45

products that doesn't transfer well to

15:48

workers effort turning it into the

15:51

equivalent of

15:52

evaluating whether we got a good coffee

15:55

that place where there's slippage

15:57

between a product and a

16:00

person's um labor is is dangerous will

16:04

replace the tyranny of the boss with

16:06

tyranny of an

16:07

algorithm and that is much worse I will

16:10

tell you as a computer scientist I will

16:12

tell you that that's much worse right

16:15

that is a terrible system workers have

16:17

even called the algorithm the patron

16:19

fantasma or Phantom Boss which sounds

16:21

like a reality show on Max that somehow

16:23

already has 12

16:25

seasons and this downward pressure is a

16:28

big part of why you might see delivery

16:30

workers speeding or going the wrong way

16:32

down the street on their bike the clear

16:34

incentive is to make as many orders as

16:36

you can as quickly as you can even if

16:39

that means compromising safety and

16:41

speaking of safety these jobs can be

16:43

risky in cities like New York delivery

16:45

workers are constantly dodging traffic

16:48

and have been robbed and attacked and

16:49

that's even before people ask to bring

16:52

them food through extreme weather like

16:54

blizzards and even floods and by the way

16:57

don't do that if you see a flash flood

17:00

warning pop up on your phone and

17:01

immediately opened GrubHub sorry you

17:04

don't get to go to heaven that was the

17:07

test and you failed it it is frankly no

17:10

wonder that delivery driving is among

17:13

the deadliest occupations in the country

17:15

and because these workers are

17:17

independent contractors apps don't have

17:19

to pay for their health insurance in

17:20

fact one survey found that of those

17:22

who'd experienced a work rated injury

17:24

three out of four delivery workers said

17:27

they paid for medical care out of their

17:29

own pocket all of which can lead to

17:31

things like this supposedly heartwarming

17:33

human interest story from January about

17:36

a video that had gone viral bro what are

17:38

you doing are you serious I got bills I

17:41

respect that dude that's crazy this is

17:43

how Kevin Ross has been making a living

17:46

delivering food on a bike with a broken

17:48

foot watch as he straps a walker onto

17:51

the bike so he has support when he goes

17:53

inside restaurants back in September

17:56

Kevin says he was making a delivery for

17:58

GrubHub when he was hit by a car I got

18:01

hit I I blacked out next thing I know

18:02

I'm in the hospital he needed surgery

18:05

and doctors told him recovery would take

18:07

months but with hardly any savings he

18:10

had no choice but to get back to work

18:13

well hold on no choice what do you mean

18:15

GrubHub says they're all about giving

18:17

their delivery workers choice they get

18:18

to choose their own hours choose to run

18:20

a red light rather than be punished by

18:21

the algorithm and they get to choose to

18:23

get back to work while severely injured

18:25

instead of facing crushing medical bills

18:27

they've got more choices than S haven't

18:29

seen the

18:30

movie so workers are vulnerable because

18:33

they lack labor protections and health

18:34

insurance and all of this risk is in

18:36

service of a job where like

18:37

unfortunately most service jobs most of

18:40

their income comes in the form of tips

18:42

which can make up a third to half of

18:45

their total earnings but the thing is

18:47

those tips obviously aren't guaranteed

18:49

The Verge interviewed a delivery worker

18:51

who reported biking from 77th Street on

18:53

the Upper East Side 18 blocks south and

18:55

over the Queensboro Bridge then up

18:57

through Long Island City and over

18:58

another bridge to Rosevelt island or to

19:00

deliver a single slice of cake for no

19:03

tip at all and look I get that if you

19:06

ordering delivery on a single slice of

19:08

cake you are clearly going through

19:10

something because that is the single

19:12

saddest order any human being could make

19:15

but you got a tip and and this

19:18

what you're probably thinking wow these

19:19

companies are driving restaurants and

19:21

delivery workers to ruin just to make

19:23

massive profits so you might be

19:25

surprised to hear this we should start

19:28

by acknowledging that today Uber Eats

19:29

does not make money Janelle salenave is

19:32

head of Uber Eats we've been very uh

19:35

public about the fact that it's not yet

19:36

profitable and neither are her

19:38

competitors the platforms themselves

19:41

lose a ton of money in the hundreds of

19:43

millions of dollars billions

19:45

collectively why does this business even

19:47

make sense I'm not sure it does and I

19:49

think they're still trying to figure out

19:51

how to make money of this even today wow

19:54

they're still trying to figure out how

19:56

to make money at this these are

19:57

companies valued up billions of dollars

19:59

and yet they'd be talked about the same

20:00

way you talk about your cousin who sells

20:02

jewelry on

20:03

Etsy and while that might sound

20:05

counterintuitive it actually makes

20:07

perfect sense because the old menus in a

20:10

drawer form of delivery set certain firm

20:12

limits it involved One Restaurant

20:14

directly hiring a delivery worker who

20:16

then delivered food to a limited area

20:18

but these apps introduce whole new

20:20

categories of cost of the equation from

20:22

marketing to lobbying to building and

20:24

maintaining a whole website and they're

20:26

basically following the classic Tech

20:28

disrupt a model of using Wall Street

20:30

money to grow at all costs Corner a

20:32

market undercut their competitors and

20:34

then buy them up or with the ultimate

20:36

goal of monopolizing the sector and then

20:37

massively raising prices think about how

20:40

Uber and Lyft used to be much cheaper

20:42

than traditional taxes and then once

20:43

they dismantled that model they jacked

20:45

their prices way up we're just at the

20:48

point in the cycle where companies can

20:49

lose a ton of money keep prices low for

20:51

consumers even as they try and offset

20:54

that by squeezing restaurants and

20:55

delivery workers at the bottom but the

20:58

consolid solidation era has very much

21:00

begun uberit bought Postmates door Dash

21:03

bought caviar and GrubHub merged with

21:05

seamless in fact GrubHub and door Dash

21:07

alone comprise more than 20 companies

21:09

that once competed with one another and

21:12

some of these companies will tell you

21:13

that that they're now either breaking

21:15

even or turning a slight profit though

21:17

some of those claims have significant

21:19

caats to them but in general we're

21:22

currently in a weird situation where the

21:23

restaurants are losing out the delivery

21:25

workers are losing out and even the

21:27

companies are struggling the main winner

21:29

so far has actually been us the

21:32

customers because as this business

21:34

journalist points out we're getting an

21:35

incredibly convenient service and paying

21:38

less than it's technically worth I call

21:41

this the millennial lifestyle subsidy

21:43

right every single time that you're

21:45

using door Dash or using Uber you're

21:47

getting a little bit of money back from

21:49

these companies they're saying we're

21:50

never going to charge you as much as the

21:52

service actually costs so I think it's

21:55

ironic I think it's interesting and I

21:57

also think it just can't last and he's

21:59

probably right though personally I find

22:01

it a little hard to get mad at the idea

22:03

of Millennials getting some sort of

22:05

subsidy in life after all this is a

22:07

group who will never be able to afford a

22:09

house is drowning in student debt and

22:11

can't even enjoy Harry Potter anymore

22:13

you can't spell millennial without three

22:16

massive

22:18

L's but if it truly is the case that

22:21

we're headed to a point where a few

22:22

massive companies dominate this industry

22:24

now might be the time to talk about

22:25

putting some real guard rails up and I

22:27

will say some places are trying here in

22:30

New York thanks to the hard work of

22:32

among others a collective of delivery

22:33

workers called Lost delivery stas unidos

22:36

the city passed a law that guarantees a

22:38

minimum pay rate for delivery workers

22:41

but the apps haven't made it easy once

22:44

that rule rolled out they increased

22:46

their fees to users and restaurants and

22:47

tried to reduce the end price to the

22:49

consumer by making it harder to find the

22:51

Tipping option if you live in New York

22:54

check to make sure you're still tipping

22:56

people cuz it's possible that you're not

22:59

and in California the state passed a law

23:01

in 2019 expanding protections to Gig

23:03

workers but some of the big delivery

23:05

apps along with r chair companies and

23:07

others pushed a ballot proposition

23:09

called prop 22 that would carve

23:11

themselves out of that law and they went

23:14

all out to get it ped the latest data

23:17

from the Secretary of State's office

23:19

show Uber Lyft door Dash Postmates and

23:21

instacart have spent more than $184

23:24

million combined campaigning for prop 22

23:27

it is very um David and Goliath if you

23:30

will um these billionaire corporations

23:32

spending so much money to exempt

23:35

themselves from basic labor protections

23:37

it tells you what it's worth to them

23:39

right it does tell you what it's worth

23:41

to them at least $184 million and that's

23:44

a ton of money that's as much as

23:46

and this is true this racehorse think

23:49

about that they're denying workers basic

23:51

labor rights when instead they could be

23:53

getting in on the ground floor of this

23:55

horse and I get it I I get where that

23:58

valuation is

24:00

coming and the sad thing is that ballot

24:03

initiative passed and it could be very

24:05

hard to undo given it requires a 7/8

24:07

vote in both the State Assembly and

24:09

Senate to amend it in any way which is

24:11

unprecedented although that part at

24:13

least May hopefully get overturned by

24:15

California Supreme Court later this year

24:18

and there are fights brewing in other

24:19

places including Seattle which is

24:21

considering rolling back worker

24:22

protections and Massachusetts where

24:24

several apps are pushing for a prop 22

24:26

style ballot initiative this November

24:29

but while these issues get addressed at

24:31

the federal state and city level it

24:33

might also be worth talking about what

24:35

you yourself can do in the meantime

24:37

because I am not saying you shouldn't

24:39

use delivery apps a lot of people rely

24:42

on them from working parents to disabled

24:44

people to people who are like me right

24:46

now baked out of their minds but

24:50

the fact is it is just too easy to use

24:53

these apps while completely forgetting

24:56

the actual human beings behind them who

24:58

Fates you control by just pressing a

25:00

button so so when it comes to

25:02

restaurants if there is one that you

25:03

like to order from ask if there is a way

25:05

that they would rather you do that than

25:07

through an app and if there is do it and

25:10

when it comes to delivery workers

25:11

remember bad reviews can directly impact

25:14

their livelihood so I would go with five

25:16

stars across the board basically if

25:18

you're rating anything less than five

25:20

stars there has to be visible semen in

25:23

your food and you have to be absolutely

25:26

sure that it's not just a glaze and and

25:28

even then I'd still go with four stars

25:32

and while they should go without saying

25:33

you have to tip and if you are making

25:36

someone cross multiple Bridges with a

25:38

single piece of cake first I'm so sorry

25:41

about whatever is going on in your

25:44

hectic life but you need to tip even

25:47

more and if if we all do this then and

25:50

only then we will be able to say with a

25:53

clear conscience oh thank God the food's

25:57

here

26:09

for

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