DoorDash: Customers who don’t tip may have to wait longer for their orders

A warning for DoorDash customers who don’t usually tip: you may be waiting longer to get your food. The delivery service has announced it is testing out an alert system notifying users who are not planning to tip that without that incentive, orders are less desirable for dashers and could lead to longer wait times.

The alert will say: “Orders with no tips might take longer to get delivered – are you sure you want to continue?”

DoorDash is warning non-tippers to expect slower delivery, or no delivery at all, in a new update.https://t.co/ZHhNjj5LT2 pic.twitter.com/Q6CJAKMCr9

— TechCrunch (@TechCrunch) November 2, 2023

DoorDash said not every non-tipping user will receive the alert, adding that it is only testing some customers across the country.

The company added it will analyze the results of the pilot to see if this is something they will roll out nationwide in the future.

Because DoorDashers are independent contractors they have the power to accept or reject deliveries based on how rewarding they deem them. Orders that don’t offer a tip are less rewarding and sometimes take longer to get accepted by dashers.

The longer it takes for a Dasher to accept an order, the longer the food sits out, and the longer the customer hungrily awaits their food.

DoorDash spokesperson Jenn Rosenberg told Fox Business that leads to a poor experience for everyone involved, including the restaurants that make the food.

The warning comes as DoorDash beat Wall Street’s top- and bottom-line expectations. The company reported earnings of $2.2 billion in revenue in the third quarter, up 27% year to date.

The company also reported, year over year, orders are up from 439 million to 543 million orders, a 24% jump.