Food delivery apps, like @Grubhub and @DoorDash, are part of the middleman economy, sitting between restaurants, drivers, & customers.

Without a restaurant- or driver-run alternative, dominant delivery apps can extract more money from restaurants and push down pay for drivers.

On top of the commission they take from your order (up to 30%), dominant food delivery apps charge subscription fees, tablet rental fees, and other random fees to restaurants.

Some restaurants say they actually lose money on orders. https://www.newyorker.com/culture/annals-of-gastronomy/are-delivery-apps-killing-restaurants

Dominant delivery apps even set up fake websites to siphon away direct phone orders to restaurants. This helps the apps take a bigger cut of your bill. This practice isn't just sketchy -- it might be unlawful. https://www.theverge.com/2019/6/28/19154220/grubhub-seamless-fake-restaurant-domain-names-commission-fees

Some dominant food delivery apps have even swept away tips left by customers to use them for base wages. Some changed policies after an uproar, but not all apps treat tips in the same way.

If these apps are lying to users, they may be breaking the law. https://www.theverge.com/2019/7/22/20703434/delivery-app-tip-pay-theft-doordash-amazon-flex-instacart

Regulators must act. Until then, here's how you can help restaurants & workers avoid fees from dominant delivery apps:
- Call and order from restaurants directly
- Check tipping policies or use cash if it’s safe
- If you need to use an app, ask restaurants which one they prefer