I-TEAM: Food delivery apps, additional fees tacked on

DAYTON — The food delivery app, DoorDash has 32 million users, and Uber Eats has about 81 million users.

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They’re extremely popular ways, to get a quick ‘bite to eat,’ brought right to you. However, Consumer Investigative reporter Xavier Hershovitz looked into how much more you’re paying for the service of convenience.

Sometimes there isn’t enough time in the day to step away, so that’s where food delivery apps could step in.

Kendal Webber from Dayton explained that Door Dashing is just very easy. Anu Puri from Dayton agrees, saying, “You sit at home, so it comes to you, so you don’t have to spend any time.”

So, how much more are we paying for the convenience and ease of getting our food brought right to us?

Hershovitz went to a local restaurant for lunch and ended up spending $12.06.

After that, he went to order the same thing on DoorDash, and his new subtotal was $15.73, and that’s without a tip. After tip, fees, and tax, the total was $18.64. That’s $6.58 MORE than what he paid in-store. The order did have free delivery.

He tried one more time - this time he orders the meal from Uber Eats. The subtotal, same as DoorDash, was $15.73, but this time they didn’t have free delivery. So, after all the previous charges, the total for Uber Eats ended up being $24.24. That’s more than double the price of what it cost from buying it in person.

“Those service fees are extremely high. It’s one of the main factors that stopped me from ordering from Uber Eats,” said Puri.

We reached out to DoorDash and Uber Eats about the delivery and service fees they charge.

In a statement to the I-Team, an Uber spokesperson said fees vary based on location and other factors. Delivery fees cover delivery costs and can vary, according to the Uber Eats website.

Service fees also vary from order to order. The spokesperson told News Center 7 that now restaurants are in full control of their pricing.

So, you may occasionally see different pricing on Uber Eats than at your favorite restaurant’s in-store pricing.

Webber said it’s worth it to her, “sometimes it’s a little expensive, but it’s worth it because sometimes I just don’t want to drive whenever you know.”

Restaurants are also free to set their own menu prices on DoorDash, but the company does encourage them to be consistent.

In a statement to the I-TEAM, a DoorDash spokesperson said the various fees “help pay dashers, operate our platform, and provide the best service possible.”

The fees are shown both before and after payment with a complete breakdown.

Ultimately, just make sure when you’re using these delivery apps you are sure the price you’re paying to bring your food to your door is worth it.

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