Consumer Alert: The Cost of Convenience. This will make you think twice before you order takeout.
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ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WHEC) — Today’s Consumer Alert takes a look at the cost of convenience. Want it delivered to your door? You’re going to pay much more.
I get it. When it’s 5 degrees outside and your driveway is an ice rink, you’d rather camp on the couch and let your fingers do the walking. But if you’re trying to save money, sometimes inconvenience is best.
These days you can shop for everything from trousers to toilet paper and takeout and never leave your house. But when you order meal delivery, you pay for it twice over. I decided to take a look at the price of convenience when Uber Eats sent the station a sampling of their Super Bowl ads.
One of them features Jennifer Coolidge. She’s rummaging through a bag delivered by Uber Eats and pulls out a lipstick. She’s completely flummoxed. First, she smells the lipstick; then she takes a bite. The ads are trying to sell you on the fact that you can use Uber Eats for more than food.
But when you order your meal through delivery services like Uber Eats, DoorDash, Postmates or Grubhub, you pay for delivery many times over. Even the menu prices are higher when you deliver.
For example, I went on the McDonalds app and looked up the price of a Big Mac large combo meal.
I picked it up at the restaurant, it’s $8.79 plus tax. But the same meal costs $13.31 if I order through Uber Eats, Grubhub, DoorDash or Postmates. That’s 66% higher than going to the restaurant. And that doesn’t include the delivery fee, service fee, the possible small order fee, and of course the tip.
So while your couch may be comfy, convenience is costly. Keep that in mind the next time the family wants to order in.
Another convenience that’s going up? Your cup of Joe. Starbucks is jacking up its prices again.
Executives made the announcement Tuesday, much to the chagrin of latte lovers everywhere.
They blame, you guessed it, supply chain problems and a sharp increase in the price of labor.
Starbucks raised prices in October, then again last month. So this will be the third time in less than a year. Executives won’t tell us which items are going up. So my Starbucks caramel macchiato is one of those treats I’ll enjoy in moderation. But most days, my cup of Joe will come from my kitchen.