What does DTK need?

[dtkvictim]

Yeah, I mean, it's remarkable how much damage has been done by delivery companies masquerading as delivery companies.

I also think there is a problem when restaurants that ostensibly have a King St. facing location, are mostly focused on delivery.

I agree they are damaging to the local environment in which they operate, but I assume you also mean something along the lines of damaging the local market and business ecosystem? In the latter case, I think they are simply fulfilling a genuine demand and we should be looking at that demand rather than simply blaming the companies fulfilling it. Why are people ordering food delivery at a large markup? Why are King St facing businesses to focused on delivery if it's such a bad deal for them?

Beyond the fact that UberEats and DoorDash drivers are incentivized for parking in illegal and irritating ways in order to minimize their travel time, those food delivery companies are also SO predatory to restaurants who already have such slim margins. I would love to see a return to restaurants having their own delivery drivers, like most Chinese and pizza shops do. Maybe the range in which they deliver is narrowed down some to make it manageable, but one or two drivers could have designated spots for parking (off Halls Lane, etc) and minimize how many cars are going in and out of the area. I would be happy to pay an extra couple of dollars for delivery if I knew that all the money was staying either with the restaurant or with the driver, and NOT with some massive company that only profits by inconveniencing and exploiting others.

I've thought about this as well. I think there are two main problems.

From the customer perspective, a replacement system needs to be as easy and discoverable as the existing apps. I think it might be harder for more social generation to understand, but people my age would rather not order food than have to pick up the phone and call someone. Personally, usually don't even consider restaurants that don't let me order pickup online unless I really, really want it. People want to pay digitally, people want their order in digital writing with no misinterpretations, people like GPS tracking, etc.

From the business perspective, I'm not sure they would give up the existing systems for a new, cheaper, local one. As it is, most businesses that use delivery apps use 2 or 3 delivery apps. I assume the discoverability of being on every app is more important to them than just picking the service with the lowest fees. So I can't see them giving up the existing services in favour of some delivery co-op, I can only see them adding it as an additional option.