JustEat: Expensive terminal?

[kate_r]

Hi

For a restaurant to take orders from JustEat, is the "JustConnect Terminal" necessary? I've heard that they cost so much (£700 + vat?) though. Does JE offer cheaper terminal options like SMSes?

Thanks

 

[TomJ83]

If I understand you right, you want to have the orders through sms instead of having a terminal which will print the order when an order has been made. I'm not sure if they are flexible enough to offer what you require. After all, they make a lot of money on the terminals. But the best thing is to ask them directly.

 

[naxtech]

In theory it's possible but the real question is would just-eat let you and tell you how to do it? The answer probably is "quite unlikely".

 

[Poppy V]

The costs are for the joining fee which includes the just eat terminal they take it off your initial card payment takings so it can be done in stages. Although it is expensive it will help get your business off the ground. We are now looking for an alternative platform to run along side until we get established and do not need to rely on just eat as their commission etc is turning out to be very expensive.

 

[naxtech]

Also one thing to consider would be the purchase of software for online ordering for your own site rather than paying for an ongoing service.

 

[Nochexman]

For a restaurant to take orders from JustEat, is the "JustConnect Terminal" necessary? I've heard that they cost so much (£700 + vat?) though.

I think you can ask JE for a quote - have you done so already?

 

[Leigh White]

I think of all the services available Just Eat is definitely the one that you could do without, and the price of the terminal is ridiculous. For such a big operator the overall service is so incredibly amateur in comparison to the competitors. In fact I would say it was diabolical and almost comical. I ran it alongside my Deliveroo and Uber as the commissions are lower, however now I have done this for 10 months I can reflect upon it. I was initially put off by the higher commissions of Deliveroo/Uber Eats.
The first problem I have with just Eat is that this £700 device reminds me very much of the old phillips phone I had in 1997, and about as high-tech. I had to leave the kitchen one night during peak time and sit for 20 mins, which may sound like an exaggeration but is not, to decipher a 1 metre long ticket. The conclusion was a total of 6 burgers on the ticket. This reduced kitchen staffing during a busy Friday night at 8pm. It blows my mind how a company so big, can charge so much with a straight face and send something so incredibly old to work with. At least the professional companies who charge almost half the price equip you with an iPad..,
So yes the commission appears lower than Deliveroo and Uber Eats but there are nights that I will have approximately 4-5 drivers at any one time collecting food at no further cost with Deliveroo, if I even put on just 2 drivers paid hourly, the Just Eat commission + 50p transaction fee is higher.
The other issue is when you enjoy the simplicity of logging into Uber to update your menu or emailing your changes to Deliveroo and getting an almost immediate reply, then you try and update Just Eat, but they ask you to jump through numerous hoops before finally emailing you a confirmation stating that your updates will be live within 7 days, then that can be frustrating.
For damage limitation to my business I have decided to remove Just Eat and focus my energy on just Deliveroo & Uber Eats. Just Eat have told me that I must return the device so they can send it to some other sucker, but I am not entitled to any kind of refund. £700 + VAT for 10 months rental of the lowest tech device in the country, I guess that's why they are growing so fast, free money can only be good for business!

 

[soundengineeruk]

The first problem I have with just Eat is that this £700 device reminds me very much of the old phillips phone I had in 1997, and about as high-tech.

To be honest for role it needs to play, it does not have to be high tech. The end result is order is received and printed. Plus, it’s visible as the paper pops out. Compared to being an app on a device, things could be potentially missed or overlooked; including the cost to maintain the app when Apple or Google update their operating system.

Does JE offer cheaper terminal options like SMSes?

This could become expensive in the long run as who would pick up the tab for cost sending SMS?

Plus, there could be an additional cost of sending the message back to confirm the order.

Please note I don’t operate any takeaway/restaurant business and not affiliate/work for just eat. View is just from my technical expertise.

 

[Toby Willows]

If you want to use Just Eat then pay the fees. There are so many threads about Just Eat/Amazon/eBay etc all charging to much and/or having unfair T&C’s. The choice is yours. These companies wouldn’t be there for businesses to thrive off if they gave their services away for next to nothing.

Saying that there are many towns where Just Eat have little or no presence at all. Set up shop in one of those locations.

 

[kate_r]

I think of all the services available Just Eat is definitely the one that you could do without, and the price of the terminal is ridiculous.

Do Uber Eat and Deliveroo provide terminals as well then? But for free?

 

[Leigh White]

To be honest for role it needs to play, it does not have to be high tech. The end result is order is received and printed

.
Not necessarily high tech but at least designed in such away that the print out has been considered from a user perspective ie busy chefs. My main frustration is that the print out is not designed with chefs in mind. There is so much unnecessary info printed out instead of just the dishes required eg. saes jargon for the dish as written in the menu. Chefs don't need this bit. This is why on one occasion that I was covering a chef in the kitchen I had to leave for approx 20 mins to decipher what the 1 metre ticket said and it was only six burgers listed in a strange jumbled up fashion and confusing order of what salad went into each burger. I really wish I kept that ticket to show it here.

Compared to being an app on a device, things could be potentially missed or overlooked; including the cost to maintain the app when Apple or Google update their operating system.

Both Deliveroo & Uber Eats print out clear concise tickets that blend in with the main restaurant tickets, my chefs are more likely to miss items from Just Eat orders because the tickets are so jumbled up in appearance. I haven't had any upgrade costs in the 15 months that I've used Deliveroo or Uber Eats.

If you want to use Just Eat then pay the fees. There are so many threads about Just Eat/Amazon/eBay etc all charging to much and/or having unfair T&C’s. The choice is yours.

I'm happy to pay fees for a good service, but the minimal effort and expenditure assigned to the services from Just Eat just don't warrant the costs. I use Amazon for the whisky side of my business online, the fees are huge but the service is second to none and therefore fair.

Do Uber Eat and Deliveroo provide terminals as well then? But for free?

They give quality iPad devices for a lot less £300 (Uber) & £500 (Deliveroo) were the prices when I signed up.

 

[Gingerbreadmen]

Many local takeaways are going down the line of developing their own app and giving a % off. My local one is doing 15% off the order and he was saying it was costing just the same as justeat taking into consideration the cost of the terminal and the fee on the takeaways end. Interestingly Justeat have re branded there 50p card fee into a 50p service charge to avoid any problems now the rules have changed around card fees. So Justeat are getting double bubble 50p from customers and a % of the order at the takeaways end. The terminal is just outdated chip and pin machine that is running justeat software again my local takeaway was saying it shows being offline every time he switches his microwave on.

The other problem can be that it drives prices down as local takeaways get into competition on orders with some paying the extra for sponsored listings on the Justeat website.

On balance I would suggest avoiding it. Its just too expensive for what it is and the only way you wil change its market dominance is by using other platforms along with your own.

 

[Toby Willows]

.
Not necessarily high tech but at least designed in such away that the print out has been considered from a user perspective ie busy chefs. My main frustration is that the print out is not designed with chefs in mind. There is so much unnecessary info printed out instead of just the dishes required eg. saes jargon for the dish as written in the menu. Chefs don't need this bit. This is why on one occasion that I was covering a chef in the kitchen I had to leave for approx 20 mins to decipher what the 1 metre ticket said and it was only six burgers listed in a strange jumbled up fashion and confusing order of what salad went into each burger. I really wish I kept that ticket to show it here.

Both Deliveroo & Uber Eats print out clear concise tickets that blend in with the main restaurant tickets, my chefs are more likely to miss items from Just Eat orders because the tickets are so jumbled up in appearance. I haven't had any upgrade costs in the 15 months that I've used Deliveroo or Uber Eats.

I'm happy to pay fees for a good service, but the minimal effort and expenditure assigned to the services from Just Eat just don't warrant the costs. I use Amazon for the whisky side of my business online, the fees are huge but the service is second to none and therefore fair.

They give quality iPad devices for a lot less £300 (Uber) & £500 (Deliveroo) were the prices when I signed up.

I don’t think you understand what you are paying for with Just Eat, it’s not for the equipment. And I’d wager Just Eat’s expenditure is far far higher than their competitors.

 

[Gingerbreadmen]

I don’t think you understand what you are paying for with Just Eat, it’s not for the equipment. And I’d wager Just Eat’s expenditure is far far higher than their competitors.

You are right Toby you are also paying towards the £10m that they have given to X Factor to enable it to be on TV. They could instead reduce the costs associated with use to takeaways or the 50p customer service charge.

 

[Toby Willows]

You are right Toby you are also paying towards the £10m that they have given to X Factor to enable it to be on TV. They could instead reduce the costs associated with use to takeaways or the 50p customer service charge.

So that’s two that don’t understand what you are paying for. Think about what you just posted and it may dawn on you!!

 

[Gingerbreadmen]

I fully understand Toby. Prime time Sat night TV advertising. However £10m is excessive in sponsorship and could of been better spent elsewhere. Would be interesting to see what the conversion rates were on the Saturday nights that they sponsored compared to like for like Saturday nights but don't think that will be forthcoming.

I still think that some of the £10m should of been used to reduce charges!

 

[Toby Willows]

I fully understand Toby. Prime time Sat night TV advertising. However £10m is excessive in sponsorship and could of been better spent elsewhere. Would be interesting to see what the conversion rates were on the Saturday nights that they sponsored compared to like for like Saturday nights but don't think that will be forthcoming.

I still think that some of the £10m should of been used to reduce charges!

In your opinion. Who has the multi-million pound business? I think Just Eat know exactly what they are doing and it’s not all about conversion rates on a Saturday night but the longer game. Although I’m sure those Saturday (and Sunday) conversions were impressive.

 

[Gingerbreadmen]

My opinion comes from a small business struggling to operate with no real alternative to use the multi million pound businesses platform.

What if I do have a multi-million pound business? Does it make my opinion more or less valid? Didn't realise you had to quantify your right to an opinion on UKBF!

 

[Toby Willows]

My opinion comes from a small business struggling to operate with no real alternative to use the multi million pound businesses platform.

What if I do have a multi-million pound business? Does it make my opinion more or less valid? Didn't realise you had to quantify your right to an opinion on UKBF!

Simply saying you don’t have to use Just Eat. But if you find they bring you sales don’t knock the platform they have built, and continue to invest in heavily, so you can promote your business.

If you have “no real alternative” than to use Just Eat why did you start your business if you don’t like their model? Why didn’t you set up shop where Just Eat have no influence? You seem to like the business Just Eat can bring you but you seem adverse to paying for it? Odd.

 

[lesliedocherty]

Simply saying you don’t have to use Just Eat. But if you find they bring you sales don’t knock the platform they have built, and continue to invest in heavily, so you can promote your business.

If you have “no real alternative” than to use Just Eat why did you start your business if you don’t like their model? Why didn’t you set up shop where Just Eat have no influence? You seem to like the business Just Eat can bring you but you seem adverse to paying for it? Odd.

You are being a bit obtuse here, its pretty simple what he's saying, not hard to understand.

 

[Leigh White]

I don’t think you understand what you are paying for with Just Eat, it’s not for the equipment. And I’d wager Just Eat’s expenditure is far far higher than their competitors.

Seems to be we're paying for a website placement but no skill, expertise or consideration. All the JE expenditure seems to be in marketing to grow their poor service's reach, not research into how to actually be good, which is the reason why the service is so incredibly basic. Maybe they do match their competitors expenditure (however I very much doubt it) but whatever they do spend is quite obviously on promoting their bottom rung service, with nothing invested in trying to catch up to the competitors standards.

 

[kate_r]

.
They give quality iPad devices for a lot less £300 (Uber) & £500 (Deliveroo) were the prices when I signed up.

But do you get printouts from Uber and Deliveroo's devices though? I presume you don't since iPads don't print.

 

[fisicx]

We use a range of takeaways and pick up the phone and place an order. Talking to friends and none of them use just eat or any of the other apps. All the local providers seem to manage ok without paying for just eat.

 

[Toby Willows]

Seems to be we're paying for a website placement but no skill, expertise or consideration. All the JE expenditure seems to be in marketing to grow their poor service's reach, not research into how to actually be good, which is the reason why the service is so incredibly basic. Maybe they do match their competitors expenditure (however I very much doubt it) but whatever they do spend is quite obviously on promoting their bottom rung service, with nothing invested in trying to catch up to the competitors standards.

So you’d rather have a iPad than millions of potential customers? Their whole business IS promoting their service. Why do you use them if they are so terrible?

 

[Toby Willows]

We use a range of takeaways and pick up the phone and place an order. Talking to friends and none of them use just eat or any of the other apps. All the local providers seem to manage ok without paying for just eat.

In our town there isn’t one Just Eat place, as you say they all manage very well without them. I think they start to dominate when two or three outlets use the service then most others feel they have to follow suit. When I visit my daughter we’ll get a takeaway and pretty much every outlet uses Just Eat and their app is actually a excellent way to browse takeaways and order.

 

[fisicx]

So is picking up the phone and reading the numbers off the menu.

 

[Toby Willows]

So is picking up the phone and reading the numbers off the menu.

With the Just Eat app you have all your menus in one place and even menus from establishments you might not know even existed, you tend to try new places rather than stick with whoever’s menu you happen to have stuffed in a kitchen draw!! As such it’s no doubt hugely beneficial, and cost effective, for a new take away.

 

[Nochexman]

As such it’s no doubt hugely beneficial, and cost effective, for a new take away.

My kids love it, but I'm not entirely convinced it is cost effective for even a new take away. Their charges seem high, and suspect takeaways should be building their own loyal client base to maximise profitability..

 

[TotalWebSolutions]

My kids love it, but I'm not entirely convinced it is cost effective for even a new take away. Their charges seem high, and suspect takeaways should be building their own loyal client base to maximise profitability..

Have to agree with this. I would much rather a new takeaway tried to entice me as a customer (leaflet through the door with full menu, special offers etc). I know Just Eat etc are just a few taps but I'd much rather call and speak to the takeaway in person as to me this is just as easy and I can ensure all order details were understood.

 

[Toby Willows]

My kids love it, but I'm not entirely convinced it is cost effective for even a new take away. Their charges seem high, and suspect takeaways should be building their own loyal client base to maximise profitability..

I agree, but building a loyal customer base takes time. Just Eat will probably give a new take away extra business from the off whist they get on with their own promotions and marketing. It shouldn’t be a one-or-another deal.