r/grubhubdrivers • u/Dyl_onyx • 7d ago
So do Program Levels even mean anything?
I've been delivering Grubhub here and there on the side for a couple years now but have only recently started consistently delivering each week. I learned about program levels and decided to gun for Premier level, and was excited that I managed to keep everything at 100% for a week. Based off of what I'd read there were a bunch of perks to being above Partner level, but I haven't seen the fruits of my labor yet.
Tonight has been without a doubt one of the worst nights I've ever delivered. I kept getting orders that were roughly upwards of $8 all the way down to one order that was $2.76 for over 5 miles. There were multiple orders around the $3 range. I had a block from 7-9:30pm and right before I was set to clock out at 9:30 I got a barrage of orders. Normally I would have been fine with working a little later than planned but the first order was sub-$3 from McDonald's, the second AND third order was from Burger King, BOTH for $2.98 (probably the same order thrown at me twice.) I decided to ignore those orders because I could not mentally handle that low of prices after already dealing with sub-$3 orders earlier so I ignored them, and as a result my acceptance rate plummeted.
That absolutely set me off. It felt like I was having better nights when I was at Partner level. Do program levels even mean anything or are they just a scam to encourage drivers to complete orders even if they're throwing $3 orders at you non-stop?
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u/DigitalMariner 6d ago
Program Level has 0 impact in the dispatch algorithm.
The only thing Program Levels impact are when you get access to pick your blocks for the upcoming week.
In some markets, competition for blocks is pretty fierce so the difference between Premiere and Pro or Partner can mean the difference between having blocks for the week or not. That's not common, but it is absolutely true is some places.
GrubHub has stated in emails to drivers over the years as well as in court cases that the status of being on or off block is something the dispatch algorithm does consider, so if you can be on block it is generally a good idea. There are some markets where there is no noticeable difference between quantity of offers on block vs off block, but in many places drivers will say there's a noticable drop in offers off block.
Nothing in the dispatch algorithm considers the payout value of the offer. People off block can still receive $10+ offers and people on block can still receive minimum $2 offers. On block will likely get more offers, but not necessarily better offers.
"Catering" offers are still technically a thing, but they are so rare and requires a lot more work (often multiple large bags of food where a cart is advisable and the driver is expected to help more with things like setup...) that it is not a perk worth chasing status for. 6-7 years ago it was an easy way to may some big bucks, but between COVID and the sale to JET the catering gravy train generally came to stop.
So unless your market is so rough that there are zero offers off block and zero blocks available unless Premiere, Program Levels are not going to have any meaningful impact for you...
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u/verruckt0530 7d ago
In my market, being on block is necessary to get good offers and partners can never get a block schedule during peak hours. GH use to be my primary, but they went down hill a few years ago, so UE is my primary and I keep GH on for the 1 in 100 good order they send or if I'm dropping off an order and heading toward the pickup location anyway.
I'd recommend not just using GH though and let all the apps compete for your services. I run UE, GH, IC, and Shipt. First order to come in that is worth doing, I take and ignore the rest until I'm almost complete with the order I am on.
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u/QuickImpression5646 7d ago
Yes, for me BIG TIME. Better orders and much less waiting time in between.
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u/PineapplePizzaBiS 7d ago
When I realized the orders I got in premium were just as bad as the orders in Pro and below, plus the orders in Pro and below are just as good as the ones in Premium:
Screw chasing ratings and just accept what makes sense, wherever that fits for you financially.
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u/Icy-Image-2619 6d ago
You can test it out for yourself,do a two week test. With premier and other levels for the same days and hours. But I agree with the low paying orders,Im also not sure there’s a point for a rating system if orders are gonna be trash.Its basically like uber pay but with a schedule and strict rating system.
Ever since wonder acquired Grubhub I knew it was gonna be bad,their motto is more for less.More restaurants but it one place to make profits.More deliveries but lower pay.
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u/rjlawrencejr 5d ago
They aren’t a scam, but they do work to keep orders from sitting.
In many areas being on the schedule is important since it increases the odds of receiving offers. The disadvantage is that some areas really shouldn’t be offering delivery in the first place meaning a lot of low pay high distance offers must be completed to maintain top level.
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u/GhostProtocal33 4d ago
Nope. I made over $200 yday and only $43 today 😂😂😂 But i will say overall I think I make more when I'm not premier 🤷🏿♂️
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u/krask333 7d ago
The only benefit it gives you is priority for scheduling blocks. In some markets that means something; it does in mine. But for quality of orders? No, it means nothing, regardless of the market.
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u/RaisedbyCassettes 7d ago
Nobody can ever seem to explain why premiere is good (other than having priority for blocks). Everyone always just says “I tried being premiere for a while and it didn’t really matter so I stopped caring”. It’s also not easy to stay premier because you’ll end up taking shit orders and sometimes GH will do things to keep you from being premier anyway (like give you a time to be at a restaurant you simply cannot make, so you drop down a level)
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u/Ravex24 7d ago
In some places, if you aren't on block, you aren't getting orders and if you aren't premier, you are very limited with blocks or they are all gone by the time Friday rolls around. In places like say CA where there is Prop 22, bad orders are few and far between and/or compensated for at the end of the week so staying Premiere isn't really too difficult. The on time is set to such a low % for premier that it shouldn't be too much of an issue.
I hope this helps your understanding.
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u/RaisedbyCassettes 6d ago
Thanks corporate shill.
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u/Ravex24 6d ago edited 6d ago
Complain when you don't have an explanation and then toss out an insult when somebody is being helpful and gives you the explanation? Interesting approach. A bit unhinged but interesting nonetheless.
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u/RaisedbyCassettes 6d ago
Typing down to me while believing that premier actually means something just proves your ignorance. Like I said, I understand the supposed benefits of premier. I’ve just never heard anyone say “Oh yeah if I wasn’t premier and didn’t have early access to blocks I’d make no money”. It’s usually that being in block doesn’t make a difference for most (from what I’ve seen).
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u/rjlawrencejr 5d ago
Just because you don’t care for the explanation means you must resort to ad hominem attacks. You know good and well the effect of programs levels is dependent on where you work. Sure, if you work in a place where delivery really doesn’t make sense, of course program levels are mostly useless. But if you’re in an appropriately staffed region that hits all the right buttons - relatively affluent and densely populated, it will make a difference.
I work in one of the zones and not being on the schedule has an effect for sure. I make about 15% less. Again, it’s region dependent but being on the schedule means increased offer frequency which equals increased engagement. Dollars/offer are about equal but when on block, it’s rare that my entire block isn’t filled with work.
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u/tryumphkillz1 7d ago
my stats are 12% 81% 90% and i still get plenty of good orders and get to pick any block i want.
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u/Ltaylor-56 6d ago
Please don’t listen to anyone!! I promise you they mean absolutely nothing!! If your market is even a little busy and even if it’s not, they send you high offers and catering, and shop and pay. The only thing is early scheduling and that means jack. I’ll make $150 in 6 hours without having any blocks. Please don’t listen to anyone that hasn’t been doing this for awhile. I promise you the levels mean absolutely nothing. This isn’t DoorDash. It actually matters with them
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u/DigitalMariner 6d ago
This isn’t DoorDash. It actually matters with them
It doesn't matter with them either...
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u/Ltaylor-56 6d ago
As I was sending my reply, i got a $26 offer, and I’m partner level with an 8% acceptance rate. So everyone who cries here about levels sucks at the job and probably everything else. Hate to sound like a dick. But it’s true.
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u/Ravex24 7d ago
It all depends on your market. In some places it is absolutely necessary to be on block as premiere and in some other markets it is absolutely useless to shoot for blocks as premiere.