Comment by cortesoft | Hacker News Reader

Comment by cortesoft | Hacker News Reader

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Again, I am not saying it isn't doable to order the old fashioned way, but the newer system is CLEARLY easier and faster. There is simply no way you could order and be done with a call in order in 15 seconds.

Your argument (that it is not much of a barrier to use the old way) can be made for so many of the quality of life improvements we have made over the course of human history. Not every advancement is an entire new category of things we can accomplish; so much is just slight improvements that save time and make things a bit easier.

I feel like there has been a backlash against time saving tech, where people wax nostalgic about how much better the older/slower systems were. I don't understand it. I am so happy for all the timesaving advancements we have made over the years. Now, if we don't use that saved time wisely, that is a whole other issue. However, I don't think going back to slower systems is the solution to not using our free time well.

> I feel like there has been a backlash against time saving tech

It isn't a luddite backlash. It's just that in many cases the value-add for customers doesn't justify the price difference.

There are certain benefits to apps that exist, don't get me wrong. Discoverability, flexible pricing, direct-to-consumer-marketing, etc. But most of those don't apply to me at the consumer level. Do I want to pay 20% more for the convenience of browsing menus? Not really. I'm on the app to buy food and get it delivered. Insofar as some places now offer delivery where before they didn't, I benefit. Insofar as the same places I used to frequent now apply a markup to cover the cut the app gets, I lose out.

The UX improvement of being able to press 'reorder' has never eclipsed calling into my favourite local spot, asking for the regular, wishing the owner well, then discovering he put extra dumplings in the bag for me.

> It's just that in many cases the value-add for customers doesn't justify the price difference.

Hold on, why does your opinion about the value-add get to determine whether I should be allowed to pay for that convenience?

You should be allowed to pay for that convenience, but at the moment you're not because it's being susidized by run-at-a-loss startups that exploit their workers.

I don't see how you got that from what I said. Are you looking for an explanation of how a demand curve works? Sorry, a bit confused here.

I guess the features means more for me... I would pay 20% more for the consistent menus, one touch ordering and reordering, not having to re-enter payment information, and not having to talk to anyone on the phone.

> It's just that in many cases the value-add for customers doesn't justify the price difference.

Let the market decide that.

I don't think the backlash is against saving time FWIW (although I get you, time is precious especially with kids around!!). It's more something like -- is this an investment society would bother to make without loads of cheap VC money?

I view it as an unstable equilibrium -- something's gotta give sooner or later, these businesses are barely sustainable. Is the convenience ultimately worth it in the aggregate, if Uber needs to embrace tactics like these just to survive?

(I admit I have a bias here, I think the gig economy sucks.)

I would happily pay more for the service to pay delivery drivers more. I tip a ridiculous amount on each order.

by using Uber and virtually all delivery apps, you're eating into the restaurant's margins and allowing a big corporation to shaft the delivery guy and really everyone in the supply chain.

You're also enabling a parasitic corporation to generate more revenue, when it should be shuttered with nearly a billion in losses every quarter.

> you're eating into the restaurant's margins

Some restaurants in Australia have higher menu prices for delivery services.

Personally, I prefer to give my money directly to the food maker if possible. They are local and I want them to succeed. Admittedly I don't use these services often, but a couple of local places have mobile friendly webpage and I'm happy with the friction. I think over the food makers will simply gat decent platforms.

I like having a single portal to order from hundreds of restaurants. I use them for food discovery, and then I can order from any without having to re-enter info.

I would happily pay more for this service. I don’t want to take advantage of anyone, so please charge me enough to get me this kind of service and pay everyone a fair wage.

My preferred Sushi place will recognize me by my phone number and take my order within seconds. Payment in cash at the door. There is no reason why the process could not be quick and hassle free, even using the phone.

Sure, but that is still not as convenient. I don’t carry cash very often, and with doordash/grub hub, they can leave the food at the door for no contact.

I can also try a ton of new restaurants without having to re-enter my details, and there is a consistent interface. In addition, I get some sort of guarantee that the place is legit... if I don’t get my food, I can get a refund.

> My preferred Sushi place will recognize me by my phone number and take my order within seconds.

What about a new restuarant?

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