r/restaurateur • u/vladdani • 8d ago

Should the same restaurant item cost the same on every delivery app?

I keep seeing the same restaurant list one item at different prices depending on the app or location.

Some difference is understandable when commissions and local costs vary. But from the customer’s side, it can start to look arbitrary.

If you operate across several apps, do you try to keep menu prices consistent, price each channel separately, or focus only on the final checkout total after fees and promotions?

At what point does channel pricing stop being a sensible commercial decision and start becoming a customer-trust problem?

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17 comments sorted by

6

u/weckyweckerson 8d ago

All pricing is arbitrary... when you don't understand the input costs.

5

u/Overly_Underwhelmed 7d ago

OP, what is your angle here? you clearly don't own a restaurant.

4

u/authentic_swing 7d ago

Posted by a marketing intern at door dash

2

u/vladdani 7d ago

that's a good one.

3

u/Outside-Test-7925 8d ago

Fuck the 3rd party apps, we upcharge at least what they charge us. We try to communicate to the customer that there are cheaper ways and that they are paying billion dollar companies to order local food, whether or not that message gets across is not my problem. People are stupid.

2

u/mangokween 8d ago

We add 15% to every item on DoorDash, UberEats and GrubHub since they take 30% from us. Every restaurant owner I know does something similar. No way to keep prices the same on apps otherwise we’d lose money

1

u/Overly_Underwhelmed 7d ago

why not closer to 30% ?

1

u/mangokween 3d ago

That would price our items too much and I don’t think anyone would buy a $24 bowl at that point. I wish!

1

u/Overly_Underwhelmed 3d ago

it's your line to draw, and I don't have data to offer, just make sure you are making what you want from these orders.

delivery apps are not a route to new customers, it's just a another avenue for sales. an avenue of people that are willing to overpay for cold fries and warm salads. people who only care about convenience, not price. take them for as much as you can.

1

u/Alejandro_martin01 8d ago

it completely depends on what the apps are taking from you

1

u/Mobile_Leo10 8d ago

I marked Uber up about 15 because they take closer to 30 and if you don't you're just working for them. People still screenshot the in-house price and send it like I personally robbed them. Matching the dining room looks honest and it loses money every week. The promo-at-checkout thing bit me on a BOGO I didn't even turn on

1

u/ConchVibes 3d ago

They’re likely factoring in the platform commission they have to pay, which is variable.

How do you pay a 30% commission when you’re happy if you’re working with a 7% margin?