After a customer shared a message from the app alerting them that failing to leave a tip could cause their order to be delayed, DoorDash has been heavily criticized online. “Orders with no tip take longer to be delivered – are you sure you want to continue?” the app asks the user in the screenshot that was shared on Reddit. “Dashers can pick and choose which orders they want to do. Orders that take longer to be accepted by Dashers tend to result in a slower delivery.”
The message quickly gained public attention and led to a heated discussion about delivery apps, tipping customs, and who should be in charge of ensuring that employees are paid enough.
What the warning says and why people are upset
The message’s blunt nature is the main reason for the complaint. DoorDash warns users that their food may arrive later if they don’t leave a tip. Which makes some customers feel under pressure to leave a tip before they have a chance to assess the quality of the service.
One person reacted furiously in the Reddit comments, stating that tipping is “going to destroy the restaurant industry.” Another commenter wrote: “I don’t use these companies unless I’m really sick or it’s an emergency. Even with tip service is still lousy.”
Others were concerned that a message like this could encourage customers to act dishonestly. “This will just encourage more tip baiting.” One user predicted. Tip baiting is when people leave a big tip on the app in exchange for quicker service, but then reducing or deleting it once the order has been delivered.
“I think the first step is to push them to pay a full minimum wage. This will help the servers not to rely heavily on tips. I know some states already started.” Another wrote, arguing that higher wages, not more pressure on clients, are the true solution.
DoorDash’s big changes and the role of AI
DoorDash is changing other aspects of its platform while the tipping controversy intensifies. The company released a number of user-friendly app updates in October, many of which were driven by artificial intelligence.
DoorDash’s vice president of consumer products, Austin Haugen, put the company’s mission like this: “It really comes down to one question: how do we make life just a little bit easier for our consumers?”
An AI system that suggests food to users based on past orders is one of the most significant changes. Additionally, the technology considers dietary preferences, budget preferences, and the time of day that a customer typically places an order. San Francisco and Manhattan have already implemented the AI recommendations, and more cities will follow.
Delivery apps, tipping, and how people respond
In the delivery industry, DoorDash is not by itself. Instacart, Amazon Fresh, Walmart Grocery, Shipt, Kroger Delivery, and Target Same-Day Delivery are just a few of the many apps that offer to deliver food and groceries right to your door.
Yes, all of these services make life easier, but they also raise the question of who has to pay for that ease. Is it the employee’s low base pay and erratic income, or the customer’s higher prices and tips?
The Doordash message, which describe how the system functions and why tipping is important, feel honest to some users. Others see it as guilt-tripping clients into paying more for standard service.
However, nearly everyone seems to agree that the system is complicated and often just unfair. Tips are a source of income for some employees. And businesses are attempting to maintain competitive pricing while still drawing in enough of drivers. But is it up to the client to find the balance?