DoorDash and Waymo launch autonomous delivery service in Phoenix

Pricing, Business Model, and Who Captures the Savings

• Many expect prices won’t drop despite removing drivers, because platforms already underpay humans and will keep charging “what the market will bear.”
• Some compare Waymo ride prices to Uber: currently similar or slightly cheaper, so there’s no incentive to discount autonomous service.
• Tipping is a major cost: users note “no tip” is a big savings, but others expect platforms to try dark-pattern “tip your robot” prompts.
• Several comments highlight hidden economics: higher menu prices on apps, delivery fees, “service fees,” plus subscription passes that obscure the real markup (often 20–30%+ per item).
• One detailed back-of-the-envelope calculation argues that current Waymo hardware (~$200k/vehicle) is more expensive than gig drivers; rebuttals say cars can last far beyond 100k miles, insurance cost per mile should drop with safety, and this is partly a long-term strategic bet, not a current cost win.

User Experience and Demand for Autonomy

• People who’ve used Waymo in Phoenix/SF report strong satisfaction: defensive driving, no small talk, no safety concerns, especially valued by some women after bad rideshare experiences.
• Others push back: 5+ minute wait times and short trips make personal car ownership still attractive; likely outcome for many is going from two cars to one, not zero.
• Some see this as the next “Uber pattern”: start cheap, then raise prices once entrenched.

Last-Meter Delivery and Accessibility

• The announced flow: restaurant staff load the car; customer walks to the vehicle and unlocks the trunk via app to grab items.
• Critics say this degrades service vs human couriers who bring food to the door—especially bad for people in large apartment buildings, bad weather, or with mobility impairments.
• Supporters counter that in many buildings deliveries already go to lobbies, and some would happily trade a short walk for lower tips and fewer issues with drivers.

Urban Form, Environment, and Alternatives

• Large subthread argues the “real” solution is walkable, mixed-use neighborhoods and public transit, not 4,000 lb robots moving 1 lb burritos.
• Others note US zoning, car-centric design, and “food deserts” make delivery genuinely valuable, especially for carless and elderly people.
• Sidewalk robots, e-bikes, and drones are discussed as more efficient options; concerns include sidewalk clutter, vandalism, noise, and regulatory hurdles.

Impact on Workers and Restaurants

• Many see this as the next step in automating away already-precarious gig work.
• Several claim app-based food delivery is fundamentally extractive: platforms sit between customers and restaurants, capture a big share of margins, and push prices up while quality and working conditions suffer.