Customers who don't tip DoorDash drivers will wait longer for deliveries, company warns
DoorDash has entered the chat to share its stance on tipping, adding new pop-ups for people who put $0 on that tip line. Already a point of contention between the company, drivers and customers, this new feature has seemingly caused a split amongst the app's users.
Tipping culture is a hot topic in America. The U.S. approach to tipping is markedly different than other Western countries, something any social media user can attest to after scrolling through a few videos of flabbergasted Europeans recapping trips to the states.
A survey compiled by company Blueprint in partnership with OnePoll found that as of September 2023, close to half of Americans are tired of tipping, with a majority (63%) feeling too many places are asking for tips. Even so, the Fair Labor Standards Act still only mandates tipped workers make a minimum base wage of $2.13 an hour, though these numbers can vary from state to state and company to company.
DoorDash now warns customers that orders without a tip may take longer to be delivered:
“Orders with no tip might take longer to get delivered — are you sure you want to continue?” pic.twitter.com/lB782wEtUn— Pop Base (@PopBase) October 31, 2023
DoorDash has apparently taken a stance in favor of tipping with the addition of new warning messages. When people attempt to place an order without adding a tip, a message appears on the screen, saying in bold lettering: "Orders with no tip might take longer to get delivered – are you sure you want to continue?"
Below, the message continues, "Dashers can pick and choose which orders they want to do," the notification reads. "Orders that take longer to be accepted by Dashers tend to result in a slower delivery." This notice is accompanied by two button options to "add a tip" or "continue without tip."
DoorDash Spokesperson Jenn Rosenberg reiterated Dashers' independent contractor status in a statement to USA TODAY, saying they have full freedom to accept or reject offers based on what they view as valuable.
"Everyday, Dashers go the extra mile to help connect consumers with the best of their local communities," she said. "That’s why we encourage customers to show their appreciation by tipping. "
While the vast majority of customers do leave a tip, she said, orders that don’t include a tip can be seen as less desirable, leading to longer wait times for customers, orders sitting longer at merchants, and less value for Dashers.
"This reminder screen is something that we’re currently testing to help create the best possible experience for all members of our community. As with anything we pilot, we look forward to closely analyzing the results and feedback," she said.
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DoorDash's opaque payment model
DoorDash has historically been criticized for a lack of transparency around pay, causing the company to change their model in 2019. Even so, the merits on which pay is calculated are still unclear.
According to DoorDash's website, a combination of base pay, promotions (such as peak pay when it's busy) and tips make up a Dasher's total earnings. Base pay ranges from "$2-10+" and depends on the "estimated time, distance, and desirability of the order."
In theory, deliveries that require longer travel distances and times pay more on the base level to compensate drivers for the gas and time spent completing the order. Less desirable deliveries likewise come with a premium to encourage Dashers to pick them up. Some workers also have the option to select the "earn by time" mode which splits pay into an hourly wage.
The changes have not solved all the issues, however, according to anecdotes and available data. In 2020, one study by Working Washington evaluated the pay of 229 dashers around the United States and found that even post-2019, workers were making an average of $1.45 an hour after factoring in the costs of mileage, payroll taxes and lost time spent waiting for the app to offer the next gig.
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Customers react to DoorDash tipping warning
Usurpingly, netizens were just as split on this practice as they are on tipping at large. X, formerly Twitter, was filled with comments arguing over where the root of the issue lies and who is responsible for solving it.
What’s crazy is we don’t tip at other jobs so why is it that we have to tip door dash drivers. Your mail gets delivered without fail we don’t tip them. Our trash gets picked up weekly we don’t tip them. Everyone knows how hard amazon drivers are pushed no one tips them. https://t.co/wfxml3zhae
— height-ist to the highest degree (@scott_thehooper) November 1, 2023
Some believe Dashers' reliance on the customer to supplement their pay is indicative of failure by DoorDash, a $16.8 billion company that should be offering more upfront to workers.
Tips are based on service not the working conditions.
Door Dash needs to pay them more first and foremost. https://t.co/VahcWEpNQo— Gom Jabbar Survivor (@MrAviator1906) November 1, 2023
Others pointed out that customers and restaurants already pay high fees for using the app, significantly jacking up the cost of an order before tips even come into play. Delivery fees, service fees and tips make up about 36% of total food delivery costs, according to a 2022 survey of 1,021 delivery customers by route-planning software company Circuit for Teams.
People don’t tip on these apps because they feel that delivery and service fees are too high.
DoorDash warns customers who don't tip that they may face a longer wait for their food orders - CBS News https://t.co/Pd849gVwk4— Serge Kovaleski (@sergenyt) November 2, 2023
Others argued that tips are meant to reward and reflect good service and therefore shouldn't be a prerequisite to receiving it. Tipping beforehand is not standard practice elsewhere, they said.
After a bad experience with DoorDash, I NEVER tip before delivery, I tip afterwards.
I tipped $11 once on a McDonald's order. Not only was the food cold, but this woman ate out my little sister's happy meal, thinking we wouldn't notice but you can tell the box was opened. 😭 https://t.co/4FWVrDbKX6— JOLLY J✨ (@DynamoSuperX) October 31, 2023
Other posters, however, said delivery services are a luxury and therefore should only be used if you're able to properly compensate drivers for their time.
doordash, uber eats, instacart, postmates — these are all LUXURY services. you are paying a higher rate and expected to tip because you are getting a service designed for convenience. you are making a human being be at your beck and call for pennies. the least you can do is tip.
— dan goose (@fatstevebuscemi) October 31, 2023
Still, others pointed out that whether you agree with tipping as an overall practice, if you choose to use a service you know requires tipping, you are knowingly taking advantage of workers providing a service for you.
Not wanting to tip door dash drivers and still wanting fast service is actually insane. You deserve cold food every single time.
— 🩵✨ (@luckyyyjay) October 30, 2023
Dashers themselves even chimed in, letting customers on both sides of the aisle know what the reality is for them on an average workday and offering a glimpse into what they see on their end of the app.
I’m gonna chime in here as a DoorDash driver but the typical base pay is only $2.50 so we do rely on tips. Here’s the proof. Please tip your drivers 🙏🏻 https://t.co/uyiyPmi8b0 pic.twitter.com/91AUM45615
— Brittany Sdao (@besdao) October 31, 2023
Users of the r/DoorDash subreddit, who are largely Dashers themselves, chimed in as well, some praising the move while others said it was a distraction from the bigger problem.
"Wonder HOW MANY no tip customers had to complain and how many drivers refused those orders for Doordash to take this step. This is basically 'tip or beware,'" said one comment.
"Several restaurants in my area have said they normally have to throw out food because nobody ever picked it up, we have tons of people that order 20 miles away and tip nothing so I believe it," read another.
Some expressed dissatisfaction with the company's practices, saying, "They lower our base pay and then tell customers to tip more...the nerve of this damn company" and "but they still hide the total amount from drivers so how does this help?"
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: DoorDash issues tipping warning to customers: Expect slow delivery
