Get Best Deals for Best Food
in Northern Virginia!
Get Best Deals for Best Food in Northern Virginia! |
What We Do
We bring local restaurants and local residents in Northern Virginia together as a community. We facilitate direct communications between restaurants and consumers. We offer community marketing services to all local restaurants to provide the best deals and discounts to all NOVA residents. We work with everyone in this community to bring down the cost of good food by minimizing and eliminating the impact of third-party online ordering and delivery companies, who have been trying to dominate the food ordering process to maximize their profit at everybody else' expense. Come join us and build a better food community.
| Why Third-Party Food Ordering and Delivery services are bad for Consumers? |
Higher Prices: DoorDash charges delivery fees, service fees, and sometimes even surge pricing during busy hours, which can significantly increase the cost of the meal compared to dining in or picking up food yourself. Hidden Fees: Some consumers have reported experiencing hidden fees that are not clearly disclosed during the ordering process, leading to unexpected charges on their final bill. Inflated Menu Prices: Some restaurants on DoorDash may have higher menu prices than if you were to order directly from the restaurant. This is because DoorDash charges restaurants a commission, which restaurants may pass on to consumers. Quality Control: There have been cases of orders being incorrect, missing items, or arriving cold or damaged, which can lead to a poor experience for consumers. Impact on Small Restaurants: DoorDash's commission fees can be a financial burden for small, independent restaurants. Some restaurants might have to increase their prices to cover these fees, potentially hurting their business. Lack of Personal Interaction: Ordering through a third-party app like DoorDash eliminates the personal interaction and experience that you might get from dining in at a restaurant. Labor Practices: In the past, DoorDash, along with other gig economy platforms, has faced criticism for its treatment of delivery drivers. Concerns have been raised about low wages, lack of benefits, and job insecurity for these workers. Data Privacy: Using third-party delivery apps like DoorDash means sharing personal and payment information with another company, which can raise concerns about data privacy and security. Environmental Impact: Food delivery services can contribute to increased packaging waste and carbon emissions due to the extra transportation involved.
| Why Third-Party Food Ordering and Delivery services are bad for Restaurants? |
DoorDash, Ubereats, GrubHub and other third-party food delivery services have received criticism from some restaurant owners for several reasons: High Fees and Commissions: DoorDash charges restaurants a significant commission fee for each order, which can range from 15% to 30% or more of the total order value. This can eat into the already thin profit margins of restaurants, particularly small businesses. Price Inflation: Many restaurants are required to raise their menu prices on third-party platforms to cover the high fees. This can create a disconnect between the prices on the delivery app and the prices in the restaurant, potentially leading to customer dissatisfaction or confusion. Lack of Control: Restaurants often have limited control over the delivery process, which can lead to issues like delayed or cold food, incorrect orders, and poor customer experiences. Negative experiences can reflect poorly on the restaurant, even if the delivery service is at fault. Loss of Customer Data: When customers order through third-party platforms, the restaurant may not have access to valuable customer data, such as email addresses and phone numbers. This makes it harder for restaurants to build direct relationships with their customers and engage in marketing efforts. Dependency on Platforms: Relying heavily on third-party delivery services can lead to a sense of dependency on these platforms. Restaurants might find it challenging to attract customers directly through their own marketing efforts or retain their identity in the marketplace. Unsustainable for Small Businesses: The high fees and commissions can be particularly burdensome for small, local restaurants that operate on slim profit margins. For many, the cost of using third-party delivery services outweighs the benefits. Restaurant Branding: On some third-party platforms, restaurant branding can be overshadowed by the platform's branding, making it harder for restaurants to distinguish themselves and build a strong brand image. Competing with Ghost Kitchens: Some third-party delivery services have also been involved in setting up their own "ghost kitchens" or virtual restaurants, which can compete with existing brick-and-mortar restaurants on the platform. It's important to note that while these criticisms do highlight some of the challenges restaurants face when using third-party delivery services like DoorDash, these platforms can also provide benefits such as increased visibility, access to a wider customer base, and convenience for customers. The impact of these platforms can vary depending on the specific circumstances and business models of individual restaurants.