MYNORTHWEST NEWS

Seattle council passes bill allowing restaurants to turn away food delivery services

Jun 14, 2021, 4:40 PM | Updated: Jun 15, 2021, 8:34 am

food delivery services...

A Postmates sticker is displayed on the window of a restaurant. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

(Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Seattle restaurants will soon be able to opt out of food delivery services, thanks to a newly-passed bill from city councilmembers.

How delivery apps use restaurants without owners knowing

The bill — passed unanimously on Monday — makes it so that food delivery apps have to get the consent of a restaurant in order to list them on their respective platforms.

This comes after complaints from restaurant owners, many of whom have said that too many third-party services were taking orders with no concern for mistakes or misrepresentation. That’s led to unhappy customers who blame restaurants, rather than the company that placed and picked up the order.

Restaurants listed on food delivery platforms also have little to no control over updating their menus on apps, or even whether they’re listed on the app in the first place.

“I have no control over our menu and the delivery services are always wrong,” said Miki Sodos, owner of Cafe Pettirosso and Bang Bang Cafe, in a written release. “The drivers will not communicate with the customers for us, so we sub to the best of our ability. Sometimes we end up with angry customers because they did not get the order they asked for, and it is completely out of our control.”

Seattle’s street dining is here to stay — at least for a while

In practice, this new bill requires food delivery services to enter into a written agreement with any Seattle restaurant prior to offering delivery or takeout, while offering restaurants the option to terminate that agreement down the line.

The measure was sponsored by Council President Lorena Gonzalez, who touted it as a necessary step toward helping restaurants stay afloat at the tail-end of a year-long pandemic that’s seen a significant uptick in delivery and takeout.

“During COVID, our small businesses and restaurants faced incredible challenges, and have used their entrepreneurial insight to pivot their business models,” she said Monday. “While some restaurants found success utilizing food delivery platforms, others restaurants that did not sign up for those platforms have found challenges to being on those apps.”

Should it be signed into law by Mayor Jenny Durkan, the bill would take effect on Sept. 15, 2021.

MyNorthwest News

Photo: On Monday, Mayor Bruce Harrell announced there will be 16 new preschool classrooms across Se...

Julia Dallas

Harrell’s office announces Seattle preschool slots for thousands of kids

Thousands more families will have the chance to start their children's Seattle preschool education earlier, thanks to a program launching.

7 hours ago

Digital...

Micki Gamez

How parents can help prevent children from falling victim to online sex crimes

Chances are, if your teen has a cell phone or tablet, they either know someone or they have been the victim of an online sex crime because kids as young as seven are online more than ever. My interest in this story began almost the same time last year when my daughter came home and […]

11 hours ago

Pierce County Jail...

Bill Kaczaraba

Pierce County Corrections chief at odds with the employee guild

The Corrections Bureau's Guild has issued Patti Jackson a vote of 'no confidence,' as reported by The Tacoma News Tribune.

12 hours ago

Image: A Seattle Police Department vehicle seen during the day...

Sam Campbell

Security guard stabbed, suspect barricades inside Beacon Hill apartment

SWAT officers surrounded a complex in Seattle's Beacon Hill neighborhood after police said a man stabbed a guard barricaded himself inside.

14 hours ago

seattle indecent exposure...

Frank Sumrall

Seattle man arrested for 14 counts of indecent exposure, most near schools

A 34-year-old man was arrested by Seattle police (SPD) in connection to 14 counts of indecent exposure near Lake Forest Park.

14 hours ago

Federal Way shootings...

Bill Kaczaraba

Federal Way Police say two shootings are related

Police believe two shootings in Federal Way are related.

16 hours ago

Seattle council passes bill allowing restaurants to turn away food delivery services