More than 10 years after In-N-Out sued DoorDash for delivering their products without permission, an online network of independent delivery drivers specializing in serving In-N-Out food has sprouted on Facebook Marketplace.
A quick search reveals a variety of users offering services across all of Southern California. The prices listed range from $10 to $50, plus the cost for the products themselves. AI-generated images featuring a double-double and a generic California backdrop provide all information pertaining to these services and claims such as “Fresh Burgers. Same Fresh Taste.”
Delivery and store pick-up services have exploded in recent years. Most big fast-food chains have an app where users can order products or are simply available in food delivery apps such as DoorDash and Uber Eats.
In-N-Out stands out because, despite its popularity, it cannot be found online for delivery. The company has been clear about its opposition to having products delivered. Earlier this year, In-N-Out Burger owner Lynsi Snyder-Ellingson spoke at Pepperdine University in Malibu, where she explained why the company refuses to serve outside its locations.
“We have, for sure, had that put in front of us, and the answer is no,” said Snyder-Ellingson when asked about plans to adopt a delivery service in the future.
“A big part of what makes In-N-Out special is the interaction… the smile, the greeting… that warmth and feeling. Mobile ordering would take a piece of that away,” she added.
Their refusal to allow third parties to deliver their products was also explained in their 2015 lawsuit against DoorDash, which In-N-Out dismissed in 2016.
“[In-N-Out] has no control over the time it takes [DoorDash] to deliver [In-N-Out]’s goods to consumers, or over the temperature at which the goods are kept during delivery, nor over the food handling and safety practices of [DoorDash]’s delivery drivers,” the complaint stated.
The company has not provided a statement regarding whether or not it will take action against the online delivery black market. Users should be careful when buying these services, as there is little to no protection against scams from these independent users.
The post There is Now an Online Black Market for In-N-Out Delivery appeared first on LAmag.
