An East Bay pizza maker is speaking out against the delivery services that many have come to rely on during the shelter-in-place orders.
James Whitehead owns Fist of Flour Pizza Company in Oakland and is contracted with just one of the delivery services, which is why he was surprised to see his menu on Postmates.
“I was looking at the prices and I’m like wait a minute, I charge $20 for one of our standard pizzas - let’s say the Italiano, it’s sausage and shallots. On their website it’s listed at 26 dollars,” Whitehead says all of the prices were about 25-30% higher than what he charges. “That made me really angry, that’s not fair to our customers.”
Whitehead contacted Postmates and the company told him they would remove the menu, although his restaurant is still listed for delivery as of Wednesday morning. Postmates did not comment.
It is an issue that predates the coronavirus pandemic.
“Our menu is manipulated in such a way that it just made me insane,“ says Whitehead. “There’s so many problems with all these delivery companies right now. I think as small business owners we’ve got to just watch our backs and keep an eye out for how we’re being represented on the internet.”
But with restaurants now having to survive off of takeout and delivery, the problem has only gotten worse.
“My general sense is it’s actually gotten more chaotic,” he says of the many hidden fees and charges that delivery services levy on both customers and restaurant owners.
He says for diners who want to support their favorite local businesses, there is a workaround.
“If you’re able-bodied and you live relatively close to the place you want to visit, call the restaurant directly, order from them and come and pick it up.”