Uber is new. So yeah the fees are okay now. But once/if they get traction they'll be competitively priced like the big guys. — TJ on Why Restaurants Hate GrubHub Seamless

I don't get the problem.., the restaurants have a choice. No one is forcing them to use the service. Plus,they only pay when an order is placed. So if seamless isn't doing their job then the restaurant pays 0. Plus you're not locked into the rates, you can adjust them to find something that fits your personal business needs. — TJ on Why Restaurants Hate GrubHub Seamless

Postmates is another alternative to Seamless that is becoming more popular among restaurant owners. Instead of the restaurant employing a delivery fleet and Seamless charging a percentage of the owner, the cost is borne by the customer and the delivery fleet is independent (like Uber). — Muscle Milk on Why Restaurants Hate GrubHub Seamless

"We"? — Erik Torkells on Why Restaurants Hate GrubHub Seamless

You are a moron!!!! The revenue generated is only incremental. The restaurants are still making a lot of money! If they don't want more orders than dont pay!!! No one is holding them hostage!! We are sending them incremental volume!!!! Without GH many of them would close!! — B on Why Restaurants Hate GrubHub Seamless

"If the margin on delivery orders continues to shrink, restaurants will be tempted to ditch Seamless. They’ll have nothing left to lose." I am neither a user of Seamless nor a fan, however there is an element missing from the discussion of the economics here. Seamless orders can bring substantial additional business and new volume that helps to cover the fixed costs of rent and labor (if the kitchen and delivery staff are not running at full capacity.) These fixed costs are a large portion of a restaurant's overall costs. Unlike food costs, these fixed costs are difficult to adjust and reduce in the short run. If each Seamless order remains sufficiently profitable to cover the food costs and some portion of the fixed costs, it is helpful to that restaurant. This only works for restaurants if the Seamless orders bring incremental (new) business, without harming the existing business. As others have noted, to maintain overall profitability, restaurants need to motivate existing customers to order directly from them (whether by phone or through the restaurant's website) as one element of the value of a loyal customer base. — James on Why Restaurants Hate GrubHub Seamless

Not a fan of Seamless. But restaurants need to give an incentive to call directly or order online directly. If you give me 10% off my order for ordering directly, I would be happy to do it, but I haven't really seen that. All businesses have to adapt and change. Its easy enough to do as they send out the orders and could easily slip a flyer in the bag and then let you know online that you can order with a discount. — cami on Why Restaurants Hate GrubHub Seamless

I hate Grubhub and Seamless, as someone who worked for restaurants for years, it is shameful how bad their customer service treats restaurants and customers. All those hidden fees really hurt restaurants. Personally, I prefer delivery.com, they offer a good delivery service and they charge less to the restaurants. — Steven on Why Restaurants Hate GrubHub Seamless

sigh... yet another example of rentiers building a parasitic business model on the backs of entrepreneurs. thanks to erik for the heads up — j on Why Restaurants Hate GrubHub Seamless

Though we order from Seemless on occasion, I usually phone the order in or go in person for take out. I knew Seemless took a large bite from the restaurants, but had no idea it was this high. Going forward I will use seemless much less frequently. Thanks Erik for this outstanding article. — Luis Vazquez (FiDi Fan Page) on Why Restaurants Hate GrubHub Seamless

I agree. I refuse to use GrubHub and Seemless and now I see that I am smart for doing so — I agree on Why Restaurants Hate GrubHub Seamless

You are obviously only a restaurant investor who cares about dollar signs and not someone who works with the system all day every day. You really have no idea what you are talking about. If you don't use the system or care about individual customer satisfaction and only care about advertising and numbers than this article was not for you and you should probably not comment on something you know nothing about. Go Work with Seamless/Grubhub at your restaurant 12 hours a day for a week and give them a call once or twice and then come back and make an intelligent comment. You clearly do not "work" in a restaurant. — J-Dubs as well on Why Restaurants Hate GrubHub Seamless

Which of our neighborhood restaurants fit that bill for you? It would be interesting if the owner of one of those spoke to Erik. — jammysod on Why Restaurants Hate GrubHub Seamless

So if a restaurant doesn't use seamless, it has to shut down. If it does use seamless, it get gouged. I wish the restauranteurs would make up their minds. The primary way neighborhood people decide which place to order from is repeat business, which Seamless makes very easy. The way to get repeat business is with quality food and quality delivery service. If not, we look elsewhere. — Seam Less on Why Restaurants Hate GrubHub Seamless

Literally one of the funniest pieces of ostensible journalism I've seen in a while. Completely misses the fact that consumers use this platform to find food and order it easily, so its really crazy these restaurants have to cater to how their customers procure food? Also bizarre that the article takes the implicit perspective that its Seamless' fault (or whoever the platform provider is) that there is competition amongst restaurants to be in front of those customers! As a restaurant investor, have found that paying to boost presence on Grubhub is a great way to build up awareness and traffic (delivery and in-store). Just like the phone book, no-one is forcing restaurants to be on Grubhub, eat24 or any of these other services. — J-Dubs on Why Restaurants Hate GrubHub Seamless

After reading this article, I'm ashamed to admit that I love seamless. I had no idea they took such a big cut out of the restaurant. I always just assumed it was a more reasonable 5-10% or a flat rate. — lowphat on Why Restaurants Hate GrubHub Seamless

Great piece of journalism, Eric. FWIW, after a couple issues when ordering via Seamless, I've sworn off using them for quite a while now and order directly. — Makes you go "hmmm..." on Why Restaurants Hate GrubHub Seamless

I genuinely miss the full view of 4WTC from where I live on Church, and in particular the way the beautifully glazed exterior vanished by reflecting the sky around it, leaving only thin lines delineating its form. I could be wrong, but the proportions of the rendering of 3WTC appear by comparison to be graceless. — David G. Imber on Seen & Heard: Is Another Small Building Doomed?

So glad you are honoring these two, who are just such a delightful and important part of our Tribeca experience. They only cut my husband's hair, but they are a treasure to all of us. — Jenny on Spotlight: Lance Lappin Salon

god bless the broadsheet. they've really been doing a great job at exposing the corruption and the hypocrisy of the bpca without resorting to exaggeration or name calling. — j on In the News: The Hypocrisy of Andrew Cuomo

I'm with you 100% on the emoji - free front, Eric -- they make it less of a conversation, less individualistic and less interesting, I think. — Anne Baxter on Seen & Heard: Two More Closings

Very disappointing! — Adam on Bar Primi Is Not Happening Here After All

So smart! — Jonathan on Bar Primi Is Not Happening Here After All

Marco is amazing talent. The Lappins have been great local family business. I remember when their sons were in the Downtown Little League. — Lewis Gross on Spotlight: Lance Lappin Salon

Anyone know where Mangez Avec Moi ,moved to? — HC on Seen & Heard: Two Hands Opens Monday Morning