Local Dudes Delivery seemingly ceased service in Denver the day Westword contacted the platform, according to its website. localdudesdelivery.com
How much does it cost to buy a pizza from Marco’s Coal Fired in Denver? That depends on where you order it. If you bought it via Local Dudes Delivery, the same pizza costs up to 24 percent more than the restaurant charges.
Management at Marco’s Coal Fired says the third-party delivery company has sold its food without permission for months, upcharging customers on nearly every item on top of delivery and other fees. Identical delivery orders placed by Westword amounted to $69.92 from the Marco’s website and $96.06 from localdudesdelivery.com (for a gluten-free bufala margherita pizza, Manhattan pizza and mele fresca salad).
Some restaurants inflate menu prices on delivery platforms like Uber Eats to offset the fees they pay the platforms. But numerous Denver restaurants say they didn’t know they were featured on Local Dudes Delivery, meaning the company is setting and profiting from the hiked prices while putting the blame on restaurants. On its FAQ page, Local Dudes Delivery says menu items are more expensive because “the final decision is on the restaurant,” insisting they “encourage our restaurant partners to provide delivery at menu price.”
“It’s pretty scammy and scary,” says Samantha Monterosso of Marco’s Coal Fired. “That entire statement is a lie. We were never asked to participate. There’s no agreement. … Their cost is all made up, whatever they want to charge.”