Uber vs. DoorDash: The Food Delivery Feud Just Got Spicy

Photo by Robert Anasch
In a twist that’s more dramatic than your favorite reality show, Uber has decided to take off the gloves and throw down against its biggest rival, DoorDash. Filed in California’s Superior Court, Uber is claiming that DoorDash has resorted to some shady, bully tactics that would make even the biggest high school mean girl cringe. The accusations are pretty shocking: DoorDash is said to be pressuring restaurants into exclusive contracts, basically forcing them to put all their eggs in DoorDash’s basket. Can somebody say ‘conflict of interest’?
According to Uber, DoorDash, who’s currently sipping from the cup of food delivery market domination, is allegedly using threats of financial ruin against restaurants that dare to even think about diversifying their delivery services. From raising fees to demoting restaurant listings, DoorDash is playing hardball and apparently, it’s not afraid to bring the hammer down on its competition.
A DoorDash spokesperson, probably clutching their pearls, responded by saying Uber’s lawsuit is “unfounded”. Apparently, they think Uber is just upset because they can’t keep up with the rapid demand customers have for easy food delivery. Ouch! It’s like DoorDash just lit a fire and threw Uber in the middle of it.
Both companies have their own delivery platforms, Uber Direct and DoorDash Drive on-Demand, which try to make life easier and cheaper for restaurants. They allow diners to order directly from restaurants’ websites, while the delivery companies swoop in as the knights in shining armor. But with a reported claim that DoorDash has over 90% of the heavy-hitters on their side, Uber’s case seems like an uphill battle.
In a particularly spicy part of the lawsuit, Uber shares a juicy tidbit about how a “significant restaurant company” was reportedly threatened by DoorDash if they dared to explore Uber Direct. Talk about holding restaurants hostage in a corporate game of chicken. Doors and feelings are being shut down faster than a Tinder date when the topic of student loans comes up.
Uber insists that not all hope is lost, their lawsuit not only aims to clear the air of DoorDash’s alleged bullying but also seeks some form of recompense for the millions they claim they’ve lost due to these tactics. If Uber’s lawsuit is successful, it could change the delivery game for everyone, and who knows, maybe one day we’ll see a little less monopoly and a lot more options when it comes to getting our late-night pizza binge from A to B.
As San Francisco millennials and Gen Z powerhouses, let’s keep our pizzerias free and our delivery options diverse. Because if there’s one thing we can agree on, it’s that everyone deserves a slice of the pie.
AUTHOR: cjp
SOURCE: TechCrunch