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Comment by toomuchtodo | Hacker News Reader

Delivery platforms can stay solvent due to capital markets longer than restaurants and drivers they exploit. Regulation is required.

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> Food delivery startups: Hey we'll handle delivery for you for a fee, sounds good?

> Restaurants: Ok! / No, thanks.

How is this exploitation? Please.

https://ilsr.org/biting-back-delivery-apps-are-gobbling-up-r...

https://ilsr.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/ILSR_SpecialDeli...

https://thecounter.org/grubhub-domain-purchases-thousands-sh...

https://www.eater.com/22228352/convenience-of-delivery-apps-...

https://www.economicliberties.us/our-work/rescuing-restauran...

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/09/technology/delivery-apps-...

Exactly the point - when apps charge too much, people will complain and alternatives will arise.

From your second source: > "Dozens of locally owned services are proving there's a better alternative"

Absolutely, local platform competitors can pop up, but the network effects of national platforms is powerful and their influence and actions damaging in the interim. We may just disagree on this, and that's to be expected. As previously stated, I believe more regulation is required, even if that puts national platforms out of business.

In the interim is fine. They also provide a vital role in establishing how online shopping for food should work. It's easy to copycat after, as is evidenced by even local providers being able to do it.

And they will become irrelevant if there are no good restaurants on their platform

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