There’s a funny article on The Verge about a pizzeria owner making money by buying his own $24 pizzas from DoorDash for $16. Considering that NYC just passed some laws limiting what third-party delivery services (see: Ordering Food by Phone? Check the Number), this is kind of a strange twist.
One of the most common strategies for tech companies focused on growth is to over-incentivize both consumers and businesses until they have achieved their growth goals. This is extremely costly (and not always a winning strategy), but for companies like DoorDash, there are few choices. Win or die. It’s kind of binary.
The result? A restaurant can order its own pizzas for $16 and get an $8 commission check from DoorDash. Not sustainable, but an interesting way to increase your pizza profits in a time where every pepperoni counts!
Author’s note: This is not a sponsored post. I am the author of this article and it expresses my own opinions. I am not, nor is my company, receiving compensation for it.
About Shelly Palmer
Shelly Palmer is the Professor of Advanced Media in Residence at Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and CEO of The Palmer Group, a consulting practice that helps Fortune 500 companies with AI strategy, implementation and governance, as well as technology, media and marketing. Named one of LinkedIn’s Top Voices in Technology, he is a bestselling author, covers tech and business for Fox 5’s Good Day New York, is a regular commentator on CNN, and writes the popular daily business blog Think About This. Follow @shellypalmer or visit shellypalmer.com.