Watch out, uber Uber Eaters: Online food delivery can lead to overspending and isolation

CMA Awards week is a whirlwind for 27-year-old Music Row publicist Taelor Owen.

"The emails never stop, the events and parties never stop, and often they don’t have food, just lots of alcohol," she said. "And I’m exhausted and hungry when I get home."

So Owen calls Postmates delivery service to bring her favorite shrimp appetizer — "uh, it’s the best" — from upscale restaurant Virago.

Which is only a 12-minute walk from her place.

GRUBHUB:Nashvillians really love bourbon chicken and chili cheese fries

Then there's the staff at the White Bridge Road doctor's office that has lunch delivered nearly every day — from restaurants that are practically next door.

"I mean, it’s a short walk, but then I have to go down elevator and walk across the parking lot," said 21-year-old Nephrology Associates office assistant Leah Jones.

"And right now, it’s scorching hot outside, ya know?"

Delivery services like Grubhub, DoorDash, Uber Eats and Postmates are growing rapidly in the U.S.'s competitive $17 billion online food delivery market. The platforms wouldn't release numbers for Nashville area.

But Uber Eats had $7.9 billion in total food sales in 2018, according to company filings. And, like its competitors, its revenue is rising quickly. The company had a 31% bump in the first quarter of 2019 compared to that period in 2018. 

Grubhub enjoyed a 39% year-over-year boost in the first three months of 2019, posting revenues of $324 million. In 2018, Grubhub had $5.1 billion in total food sales. Uber Eats has offices around the world, while Grubhub operates only in the U.S. 

Grubhub said its most popular restaurants in Nashville are mostly local comfort food options: La Vera Pizza on Charlotte Pike, Tazza Cafe in Hendersonville, and Tower Market and Deli in East Nashville. 

Ordering food online can be addictive

Those restaurants, like all participating eateries across town, are increasingly urged to shift their traditional business models to accommodate more and more online orders for convenience-hungry customers. 

But there can be too much of a good thing — the accessibility of so many at-your-fingertips meal options comes with psychological and personal finance pitfalls, experts say.

It can even become an addiction.

"When it comes to internet addiction, necessity is not the mother of invention. Convenience is," said David Greenfield, founder of the Center for Internet and Technology Addiction.

"When you find something desirable (online), there is a small blip of dopamine released in your brain. And that increases the likelihood you're going to do that behavior again. It's addictive," said Greenfield, also an assistant clinical professor of psychiatry at the University of Connecticut.

For many, the draw of a tasty dinner a few clicks away can lead to a painful drain on their bank accounts. 

Food-delivery services increase the cost of menu items and charge delivery fees on top of that. Customers also usually pay a tip for drivers.

Tennessean newsroom staffer Dustin Barnes, 35, often pays Uber Eats $10 to deliver about $3.50 worth of fast food to his apartment — from a McDonald's about 80 yards away. 

"I feel guilty," Barnes said, adding he can rack up about $500 a month in food delivery charges. "I spend too much."

Avoiding others

Music Row publicist Owen also thinks she spends too much on restaurant food delivery, which she uses an average of three times a week.

"I get that credit card statement, and I’m so ashamed," she said. "You’re like, 'I literally could’ve bought a flight to Switzerland.'"

For younger generations, though, the convenience is often worth the cost. 

"Millennials didn't like cooking before Postmates was a thing," said Kelly Goldsmith, associate professor of marketing at Vanderbilt University. "Now that they've got some money in their pocket, it's no surprise they're not cooking. People are placing a higher premium on their time and convenience."

The vast majority of Grubhub food deliveries are to homes, according to the company's survey. 

Single parents, busy professionals and other demographics bring a built-in demand for such services, said Ernest Baskin, assistant professor of food marketing at Saint Joseph's University. 

That comes with a growing tendency to avoid other people, he said. 

"Now, consumers have a definite preference for getting the human out of the equation as much as possible," Baskin said. "People would much prefer to click a few buttons rather than go up to a human and make an order."

And that can be dangerous, Greenfield said.

"We're social creatures and thrive in a social matrix," he said. "We do not do well when isolated."

Experts recommended being alert to the drawbacks, from decreased social life to a diminished bank account.

"The first question I would say is: Is it impacting my ability to live a quality life in other ways? Am I spending money I don't have?" Greenfield said.

Sometimes that answer is no, he added.

"If I have discretionary income to do it, then it's a matter of values in terms of how I spend my money. Just because it's new technology doesn't mean it's bad."

Sandy Mazza can be reached via email at smazza@tennessean.com, by calling 615-726-5962, or on Twitter @SandyMazza.

Reach Brad Schmitt at brad@tennessean.com or 615-259-8384 or Twitter @bradschmitt.

Want to read more stories like this? A Tennessean subscription gets you unlimited access to all the latest dining news, newsletters like Eat Drink Nashville, a personalized mobile experience and the ability to tap into stories, photos and videos from throughout the USA TODAY Network's 109 local sites. Click here to subscribe.

​​​​​​​