The only way this works economically is if the driver can batch up deliveries. Pick up multiple orders at one restaurant or a cluster of restaurants, then deliver them all to a series of residences along a route.

I’ve always assumed that DoorDash et al try to do this.

Uber has made it explicit by tossing in free delivery to a list of restaurants that presumably have an order going out near you. You get like 5 minutes to respond to a list of like 4 restaurants usually when you open the app at peak times.

That’s actually very clever. I have never used UberEats but among the dozens of delivery services I’ve used I generally try to minimize delivery/service fees so I end up buying from whichever decent restaurant has a free delivery “deal” going on. I don’t get how these middlemen are making any money from me. I’d see myself using this feature of UberEats if I bother to try the app in the future.

That drives the costs down, sure, but then you end up with food that's been sitting around as the driver goes from restaurant to restaurant and then travels from house to house.

TIL DoorDash actually delivers to where I live from quite a few restaurants--though the vast majority I wouldn't consider. I think they're the only delivery service that covers my address.

To your point, if I were to use them, quite a few of the restaurants are a good 15 minute drive from where I live. Which is further than I'd bother to go to get takeout. It's also further than I'd probably chance to get, say, a burger delivered as I suspect it would be getting cold by the time I got it.