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points by paxy 15 hours ago | 0 comments

I’d cry “antitrust” but who are we kidding at this point. The relevant parties have likely been paid off already.

"DoorDash and Instacart believe that communities benefit when Main Street competes"

That's rich! Communities benefit when small businesses compete against each other. Announced as part of a merger of two giant public companies.

[–] malfist 14 hours ago

But doordash says this merger means more choice for the consumer, how could antitrust play a role here? I mean, unless they're lying about removing choices from the market place will result in more choices in the market place, but doordash wouldn't do that would they?

[–] boringg 15 hours ago

I mean neither of these companies provide an important service. If they both disappeared tomorrow I think most people wouldn't care.

[–] the__alchemist 14 hours ago

IMO grocery delivery is a game changer. I don't use either service, but use a different one[s]. Even with a tip (I have been doing $15/per delivery), it's not much more expensive than normal groceries at Trader Joe's etc, and I don't have to put on outdoor clothes, walk to my car, navigate traffic, navigate the aisles, wait in line, reverse... IMO big QOL of life increase.

And second-order effects like I can always have fresh fruit + veggies / not worrying about rot by getting it in smaller quantities delivered more often.

For those wondering about price: It's much cheaper than takeout or prepared food delivery, but more expensive than getting your own groceries. Offset a bit by less food waste.

[–] galkk 12 hours ago

> Even with a tip (I have been doing $15/per delivery), it's not much more expensive than normal groceries at Trader Joe's

In my experience its significantly more expensive for groceries: up to 20% for items + service fee + subscription + tip.

I was canceling Instacart subscription and they offered me another year for discounted price ($17). I kept it but I won’t ever extend it for full price given how much more it costs.

[–] the__alchemist 12 hours ago

I should clarify: I'm referring to Amazon (prime or whole foods), which I understand is significantly cheaper than Instacart. It might be worth cross-shopping in this case.

[–] Mashimo 13 hours ago

How can that be profitable on the long run?

Feels like it will end up more expensive in a few years

[–] the__alchemist 13 hours ago

I suspect this as well. Enjoying it while it lasts... I suspect the facilities being vertically-designed for this helps, but not enough(Especially the prime groceries; I suspect Whole foods has some but not the same extend?)

[–] toomuchtodo 14 hours ago

But if they were gone, the worst is you're putting pants on and getting your own products. There are not essential, they're simply a labor and regulatory arbitrage for gig workers to schlep product to consumers at very low wages.

[–] unregistereddev 12 hours ago

I get this, but there are a few scenarios where grocery delivery is genuinely amazing.

- My parents are determined to age in place in their home. They get tired more easily than they used to, and aren't capable of doing as much. Especially in the winter, grocery delivery is a huge help for them.

- People with disabilities may or may not be capable of going to the store. Even for the ones who are capable, it is a much larger time commitment.

- For parents of young kids, leaving the house isn't just putting on pants. It's checking diapers, getting the kids to wear shoes, and timing the trip so it doesn't interfere with naptime, feedings, etc. This is a temporary phase! It doesn't take long before the kids are big enough to enjoy a trip to the store.

[–] toomuchtodo 11 hours ago

I agree, these are all valid use cases, but you don’t need a tech platform to offer and perform delivery.

[–] Toynbeeidea 14 hours ago

Not everyone can just "put their pants on." For some, its more of an ordeal at a physical level.

[–] KineticLensman 12 hours ago

Yes. I can’t drive for medical reasons and I live in a rural area with poor public transport. If my wife had to stop driving we would have to use grocery delivery or move

[–] apparent 10 hours ago

Does DD or IC deliver reliably in rural areas in general?

[–] reaperducer 14 hours ago

if they were gone, the worst is you're putting pants on and getting your own products

Says someone with no problems putting on his pants and making a grocery run.

Just try to remember your own words when you get older. You'll get your turn. Everyone does.

[–] 999900000999 13 hours ago

Only the lucky get old.

Anyway what a strange attitude to have on a tech forum. Why do we need HN, let's discuss this over a game of bowling!

[–] reaperducer 11 hours ago

what a strange attitude to have on a tech forum.

How so? Do tech people never get hurt? They never slip on ice? Blow out a knee playing a sport? Trip over a power cable?

What a strange attitude to think that everyone on a tech forum is identical, and also in identically healthy shape.

"Game of bowling?" Are you a bot, or something?

[–] 999900000999 11 hours ago

I’m trying to agree with you, the strange attitude is being anti instacart

[–] the__alchemist 14 hours ago

Valid!

[–] stackskipton 14 hours ago

Antitrust does not have "important service" requirement. What has happened in gaming is another travesty but there is plenty of people who would say it's not "important service". Antitrust must be universal.

[–] cj 15 hours ago

I know a lot of people who survive (almost) exclusively off take out and delivery. Especially in cities like NYC.

[–] neonnoodle 11 hours ago

Right but where's the moat?

[–] rovr138 15 hours ago

And takeout and delivery existed before this.

[–] the__alchemist 14 hours ago

Takeout and prepared food delivery is much more expensive than grocery delivery.

[–] stevetron 14 hours ago

TYVM. But I rely on Instacart as I live alone and can't drive anymore since my eye surgery 10 years ago. If I didn't have instacart I don't know how I'd ever get any groceries.

[–] paxy 14 hours ago

Grocery delivery is an important service for a large chunk of the population. About 40 million people in the country (mostly low income) live in food deserts. Plenty more don't own cars. Doordash & co have burned VC money for a decade to monopolize the delivery pipeline so restaurants and grocery stores rarely hire their own drivers anymore. And now with this kind of consolidation they can raise their prices unchecked.

[–] chunky1994 14 hours ago

Do you have a source that these low income Americans are the ones who are ordering food? My understanding was this was largely people with additional disposable income who were doing it for convenience and not necessity as the product for the price was a good enough trade off. I find it hard to believe low income Americans are getting their groceries delivered when they can’t afford the base prices for the most part.

[–] kotaKat 12 hours ago

Walmart+ actually provides a 50% discount if you have a valid benefits card, so that's "only" $7 a month to get "free delivery" from Walmart on the regular. All sent out to their Spark Delivery low-paid gig drivers.

https://www.walmart.com/plus/assist https://www.sparkdriverapp.com/en_us.html

[–] apparent 10 hours ago

The food desert thing has been debunked. And the notion that millions of low income people are using DD to get broccoli delivered is laughable.

[–] ocd 15 hours ago

I'd be curious to see if it lowered food prices at all if these services and their upcharges weren't around anymore to influence pricing.

[–] 999900000999 15 hours ago

What if you’re disabled and need to order food ?

[–] stevenwoo 14 hours ago

The way this was handled before these gig economy food delivery companies sprang up. People didn't automatically die of starvation because they were disabled and became adults prior to DoorDash. Medicaid and Meals on Wheels fill in some of the gaps depending upon age and state.

[–] paxy 14 hours ago

These companies springing up put the old ones out of business. For example check the number of restaurants that hire their own drivers now. There's no going back to the "old way" when it doesn't exist. And now this kind of consolidation means they get to jack up prices however they want.

[–] SoftTalker 13 hours ago

Those restaurants simply didn't deliver at all in those days.

Pizzarias and other traditional delivery food businesses still hire their own drivers in many cases.

[–] Sohcahtoa82 12 hours ago

> For example check the number of restaurants that hire their own drivers now.

Before DoorDash, other than pizza places (who still run their own drivers), what restaurants delivered? McDonald's tried delivery for a short period of time, but other than that, nobody delivered.

[–] DaSHacka 14 hours ago

How many of their customers fit this description?

[–] 999900000999 13 hours ago

I had a co worker who was deaf.

Luckily he came of age just as texting took off. I guess in theory he could of relied upon a translator to make phone calls for him, but his life was much improved by modern communication.

Even if new technology makes things easier for 99% of people who are lazy, but is essential for that last 1%, it's a net positive.

Consolidation in this industry is horrible for everyone. Less competition means higher prices and lower pay.