Unaffiliated couriers are capitalizing on demand for delivered burgers, but customers risk high fees, cold food, and orders that never arrive.
Illustration: Inc.; Photos: Adobe Stock
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In-N-Out’s no-delivery policy hasn’t stopped fans from finding a way to get its burgers brought to them.
According to L.A. Material, Facebook Marketplace has become a workaround for In-N-Out fans who want their burgers delivered. Unaffiliated couriers, operating much like Uber Eats or Grubhub, are bringing the beloved menu items to customers’ doors.
A two-week search of the platform turned up 11 such drivers in Los Angeles County, Orange County, the Inland Empire and as far north as Santa Barbara.
After five months of deliveries, one driver said business is booming. He mostly picks up at the Hollywood High location and delivers in central L.A., with trips as far north as the San Fernando Valley. Things were going so well that he has even enlisted a longtime friend who lives farther south to cover Orange County residents who see his Facebook ad.
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“I love In-N-Out,” he told L.A. Material. “I eat it a lot. Every other day, pretty much. So I said, maybe someone wants In-N-Out but they’re not able to get it. Maybe they’re handicapped or too busy during their day.”
However, the workaround isn’t without risk. Some patrons have reported paying as much as $50 for a delivery that never showed up. Since the service isn’t offered by In-N-Out or a major delivery platform, there’s no official way for buyers to get their money back.
This isn’t the first time fans have improvised to get their hands on In-N-Out, with users detailing the lengths they’ve gone to. “Many years ago one of my best friends moved to NYC from L.A,” one user shared. “He missed INO so much. So I went to the LAX location, got 4 double doubles, safely secured them in a plastic tupperware, and took them on my flight to New York.”