DoorDash Diaries

[Cole]

everyone's got fun doordash stories right?

here's one entitled

Door dash Taken Away, DoorDash Giveth

last week, they missed half of our Taco Bell order.


just. now, however.

 

[Mark]

everyone's got fun doordash stories right?

here's one entitled

Door dash Taken Away, DoorDash Giveth

last week, they missed half of our Taco Bell order.

View attachment 2022
just. now, however.
View attachment 2023

That is glorious. One of the true unsung benefits of those delivery services.

Background: My better half had a visitor that required her to consume chocolate. Me, being a goddamn “genius” (I use the term loosely), knows exactly what chocolate to get. I see a sale… the Bueno bars that have two to a pack on for $.80. When was the last time you saw any full sized candy bar on sale for that cheap? Exactly. Gimme 6.

The Twist: They’re out of stock. Fuck. Notification comes through late, no big deal. Substitutions were already selected… one bag of the minis, or one of the “king size”, which is one package with two packages with each containing two individually wrapped bars. This store substitutes ONE item and refunds the rest.

The Finale: The bag arrives, 6 of these:





So, I’m sitting there thinking I just paid $20 for fucking chocolate bars for a few days until the transaction updates and my total ends up being CHEAPER than the original by about $25.

Long story short… the Kinder bars are gone, the transaction posted, and I got a bunch of them for the price of 6 that were marked half-off.

 

[Jawneh]

Speaking of Kinder Bueno, i got a redemp center fairly close to me that has a store tied to it that sells a bunch of candies and foodstuff for cheap. You can get a bag of those Kinder Bueno bites at 2 for 7. And it's like nearly 100ct bag each. One of those bags barely lasted two days.... they're dangerous. Second one I smartened up and put it out of reach.

As for dashers, I live slightly too far from civilization to make it worth it to use any of those. A buddy at work though, he had gotten some party size bags of assorted candy for the price of a regular one as well as somehow getting larger cases of bottled water. Mightve all been from Walmart.

 

[Crystal]

Damn, I never get that lucky. Congrats to both of you.

 

[Kat]

Man, I never have anything like this happen and I use Door Dash all the time. I feel like they just give up looking for half my order when I order stuff from the grocery store (not that I blame them, I can't find anything in that store either).

 

[Cole]

Man, I never have anything like this happen and I use Door Dash all the time. I feel like they just give up looking for half my order when I order stuff from the grocery store (not that I blame them, I can't find anything in that store either).

I've had my share of that happen.

but I've also had people that went above and beyond. like looking for one last something on a shelf or even asking employees if they have more. I always try to tip extra if someone really tries to help.

 

[Foxy]

I use grubhub more than doordash so I hope you don't mind me sharing a grubhub story here. After countless, mostly eventless deliveries, something strange happened to me. I always specify that I want the delivery person to knock on my front door and leave the food bag either hanging on the front doorknob or left right in front of the door. The delivery person takes a photo of the bag in front of my door and texts it to me as proof of delivery. So far, so good. Except about two weeks ago, in the early morning I got the knock and the text with a picture of my order left at the front door. I opened the door seconds later and there was nothing there. I looked up and down the street but there was no one in sight. I contacted grubhub and they double checked my contact information, all was correct. They offered to have another order sent to me right away or refund my money. I chose the refund plus they gave me a ten dollar credit. Then I googled missing deliveries after a picture of the delivery is sent and found out some delivery people from food pick up services as well as fed ex, ups etc scam customers by stealing their order and covering themselves with the proof of delivery photo. I also found out loose food items sometimes get sampled - ugh!

Anyone ever had that happen?

Caught on someone's doorbell camera (the internet is full of these)...

 

[Crystal]

I use grubhub more than doordash so I hope you don't mind me sharing a grubhub story here. After countless, mostly eventless deliveries, something strange happened to me. I always specify that I want the delivery person to knock on my front door and leave the food bag either hanging on the front doorknob or left right in front of the door. The delivery person takes a photo of the bag in front of my door and texts it to me as proof of delivery. So far, so good. Except about two weeks ago, in the early morning I got the knock and the text with a picture of my order left at the front door. I opened the door seconds later and there was nothing there. I looked up and down the street but there was no one in sight. I contacted grubhub and they double checked my contact information, all was correct. They offered to have another order sent to me right away or refund my money. I chose the refund plus they gave me a ten dollar credit. Then I googled missing deliveries after a picture of the delivery is sent and found out some delivery people from food pick up services as well as fed ex, ups etc scam customers by stealing their order and covering themselves with the proof of delivery photo. I also found out loose food items sometimes get sampled - ugh!

Anyone ever had that happen?

Caught on someone's doorbell camera (the internet is full of these)...

Pretty disgraceful, but I can imagine this happens fairly frequently.

 

[Mark]

I've had my share of that happen.

but I've also had people that went above and beyond. like looking for one last something on a shelf or even asking employees if they have more. I always try to tip extra if someone really tries to help.

Absolutely. Some of the best Dashers I’ve had were younger college kids when I lived out in the county a few years ago, and people our age and older now that I’m in the city again. Most the Dashers around here are reliant on that as their primary income, and will tell you horror stories about delivering to the hood, getting carjacked or robbed, having their vehicles damaged, etc. Gotta look out for them, because DoorDash/Uber sure as fuck isn’t.

More often than not… my issues come from the stores themselves. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve had to get refunded because the store fucks up, tries to blame it on the driver, and then I have to submit pictures to prove it was the restaurant and not the driver.

I use grubhub more than doordash so I hope you don't mind me sharing a grubhub story here. After countless, mostly eventless deliveries, something strange happened to me. I always specify that I want the delivery person to knock on my front door and leave the food bag either hanging on the front doorknob or left right in front of the door. The delivery person takes a photo of the bag in front of my door and texts it to me as proof of delivery. So far, so good. Except about two weeks ago, in the early morning I got the knock and the text with a picture of my order left at the front door. I opened the door seconds later and there was nothing there. I looked up and down the street but there was no one in sight. I contacted grubhub and they double checked my contact information, all was correct. They offered to have another order sent to me right away or refund my money. I chose the refund plus they gave me a ten dollar credit. Then I googled missing deliveries after a picture of the delivery is sent and found out some delivery people from food pick up services as well as fed ex, ups etc scam customers by stealing their order and covering themselves with the proof of delivery photo. I also found out loose food items sometimes get sampled - ugh!

Anyone ever had that happen?

Caught on someone's doorbell camera (the internet is full of these)...

It is EXTREMELY common here. Porch pirates, Dashers stealing your orders, and even having your food delivered by people who “buy” approved DoorDash accounts from people who aren’t using them anymore.

 

[Foxy]

Really. It's that common @Mark? You would think living in New York City I would have been aware of this, and yet this was the first time in several years worth of deliveries I've had my food stolen. I've even had packages sit on my steps overnight and they've never been touched. Welcome to the dystopian future I guess, it was bound to catch up to me.

 

[Mark]

Really. It's that common @Mark? You would think living in New York City I would have been aware of this, and yet this was the first time in several years worth of deliveries I've had my food stolen. I've even had packages sit on my steps overnight and they've never been touched. Welcome to the dystopian future I guess, it was bound to catch up to me.

Oddly enough, I’ve experienced more etiquette and common courtesy in all my time spent in NYC than I EVER experienced in Baltimore. If you’re curious, do a quick Google search of Baltimore and ride-share carjackings or porch pirates/Amazon robberies and you’ll get a bunch of results.

 

[Kat]

It is EXTREMELY common here. Porch pirates, Dashers stealing your orders, and even having your food delivered by people who “buy” approved DoorDash accounts from people who aren’t using them anymore.

It seems like the dashers themselves stealing them isn't a great plan. I'm sure doordash keeps track of whose orders go missing and quickly cuts off those accounts from delivering.

I have had an entree in an order go missing once, but it was from a place that tends to mess up orders (generally the wrong thing instead of missing entirely), so I suspect it was the restaurant. I've never had my entire meal get stolen.

I have sent my food to the wrong address or ordered it for the wrong day, but unfortunately I can't figure out a way to blame that on doordash.

 

[Mark]

It seems like the dashers themselves stealing them isn't a great plan. I'm sure doordash keeps track of whose orders go missing and quickly cuts off those accounts from delivering.

Well, the problem here is people “selling” their accounts that they don’t use, and then THOSE people who buy the accounts stealing because there are no real repercussions for them. The food delivery services don’t require the same identity verification upon delivery that the rideshare side of the business does, the most you’ll get is a license plate and make/model along with a first name.

I have had an entree in an order go missing once, but it was from a place that tends to mess up orders (generally the wrong thing instead of missing entirely), so I suspect it was the restaurant. I've never had my entire meal get stolen.

That’s not uncommon here, and the problem comes from the unavoidable fees you can’t recoup from some locations when they fuck up. Nah, I don’t want the tip to come back from the driver since they already did their part… but I’ll be damned if the restaurant or service should see a cent for a fucked up order.

I have sent my food to the wrong address or ordered it for the wrong day, but unfortunately I can't figure out a way to blame that on doordash.

You can’t. You can just blame your aging mind like the rest of us.

 

[Kat]

Well, the problem here is people “selling” their accounts that they don’t use, and then THOSE people who buy the accounts stealing because there are no real repercussions for them.

Still, how cheap are those accounts or how terrible is doordash at figuring out that happened? Surely the new owners will switch over the payment details to their own bank accounts, so it should be obvious the account changed hands. Unless the new owners plan to steal all the food until they get caught? But if they steal even three in a row, that should raise tons of red flags. It just doesn't seem like it's possibly worth it.

 

[Mark]

Still, how cheap are those accounts or how terrible is doordash at figuring out that happened? Surely the new owners will switch over the payment details to their own bank accounts, so it should be obvious the account changed hands. Unless the new owners plan to steal all the food until they get caught? But if they steal even three in a row, that should raise tons of red flags. It just doesn't seem like it's possibly worth it.

One of the neighborhood groups I’m in I’ve seen them go for as little as $75-$100 outright depending on the rating, and as little as splitting the profits 50/50 for however long they use it. The most common is the splitting the profit route, and it’s usually done by the weekend/week. I’d imagine that changing payment details doesn’t matter so much to DD so long as the orders keep getting completed and no questions are raised. I couldn’t tell you how many times I’ve gotten a delivery from someone who was clearly not the person on the photo associated with the account, but as long as my order is correct… I could care less. Same goes for delivery duos… I see a lot of friends/couples working together juggling apps in the same vehicle doubling their profits, too. That’s also against the policy, but VERY common since those drivers unfortunately don’t typically make enough to sustain themselves off of one app.

 

[shortkut]

I use grubhub more than doordash so I hope you don't mind me sharing a grubhub story here

I believe that should go in the “grubhub gossip” thread

 

[Kat]

I’d imagine that changing payment details doesn’t matter so much to DD so long as the orders keep getting completed and no questions are raised.

Sure, but if the payment details do change and orders suddenly start disappearing, then it should get caught quickly. If that's falling through the cracks then that's 100% on doordash.

Does the refund you get when your order is messed up come out of the driver's tip? I always assumed it was the food charge plus delivery charge, not the tip. Imo they should do a quick check to make sure all the entrees are accounted for (I mean simply count them), but obviously they can't tell if I was given white or brown rice or whatever.

 

[Mark]

Sure, but if the payment details do change and orders suddenly start disappearing, then it should get caught quickly. If that's falling through the cracks then that's 100% on doordash.

Generally, they’re more proactive towards fraudulent refund activity than driver activity since it hits their bottom line more frequently and heavier. I’ve had my account flagged twice now for back to back botched orders from places, one where the food was completely incorrect and another where half the order didn’t show and wasn’t included on the kitchen ticket independent of the POS receipt.

Does the refund you get when your order is messed up come out of the driver's tip? I always assumed it was the food charge plus delivery charge, not the tip. Imo they should do a quick check to make sure all the entrees are accounted for (I mean simply count them), but obviously they can't tell if I was given white or brown rice or whatever.

That depends on WHAT you’re requesting a refund for. Undercooked/bad food or missing order? Full refund on fees and everything, the service will even credit you the tip amount in most instances. Inedible or cold food? Just that item, still get hit with the fees since it wasn’t for the whole order and you’re still responsible for the tip.

 

[Cole]

Honestly I don't worry too much about drivers stealing food, but I am diligent in reporting ANY errors in an order.

accounting for genuine mistakes and store fuck ups, I am sure there is a fairly low tolerance for drivers that get repeatedly flagged for "messing up" orders.

 

[Mark]

Honestly I don't worry too much about drivers stealing food, but I am diligent in reporting ANY errors in an order.

Nah, man… if they’re hard up enough to steal a meal, they can have it. I’ll go through the app and get it replaced and play dumb like porch pirates nabbed it or something.

accounting for genuine mistakes and store fuck ups, I am sure there is a fairly low tolerance for drivers that get repeatedly flagged for "messing up" orders.

Absolutely, I have a few friends that have been reprimanded for delivering at apartments and not confirming delivery method as specified in-app. One even got immediately terminated for having his girlfriend with him while delivering food.