DoorDash drivers delivering food rely on a pretty unpredictable payment system for their work. Since they’re not traditionally hired by DoorDash, which classifies them as independent contractors, they can be paid in two ways.
One is the Earn per Offer model, where Dashers typically get $2 to $10 or more in base pay per offer. The other option is Earn by Time, where a driver gets a fixed hourly rate for the time they’re actively completing deliveries.
Tips and promotions are added on top in both models.
Without a doubt, a big part of many Dashers’ earnings comes from customer tips.
According to one DoorDash customer, however, one driver tried using some pretty abrasive methods to get even more from him.
In a clip that got over 214,800 views, TikTok creator @kneegroluffy2.0 shared screenshots of an unusual conversation with his DoorDash delivery driver.
What did the DoorDash driver allegedly do?
The TikToker says he had ordered food for his child’s birthday and had already tipped through the app.
“Mind you, I always tip,” he says. “It might not be like the greatest tip, but I always tip the maximum, like 20%.”
Then, he says, the driver sent him an unexpected message.
“Cash tip is really appreciated as card tips may take up to 48 hours plus it’s my birthday 🙂 just trying to buy myself honestly a personal ice cream cake stay blessed,” the message read.
The creator says he had previously worked for Uber Eats and was confused by how long the Dasher said it would take to get her tip.
“I know any tips I got, I was able to use that money right away,” he says. “I don’t know how DoorDash works, so y’all let me know if y’all can do the same.”
He responded to the Dasher, “Im sorry i don’t have any cash on me :(.”
According to the screenshots, the driver then replied, “Waiting for your order btw.”
She followed up by asking, “Venmo, Apple Pay?”
“I was like gobsmacked, so I didn’t even respond,” the creator says.
But then she sent another message.
“I need a cake at least something good to happen to me today,” the driver allegedly wrote.
The customer says he technically could have sent her more money, but doing so would have meant dipping into money he needed.
“I could have sent something, but that would have came out of my room money for tomorrow,” he says.
He says he removed the driver’s name from the screenshots because he didn’t want to get her in trouble if it did.
“I know I’m probably not the only person she’s done this to,” he says. “So imagine… somebody let me know something.”
Viewers think the DoorDash driver’s behavior was unacceptable
“Don’t text my phone with all that extra stuff bring my food now or cancel my order,” one viewer wrote.
“Wouldn’t even want the food after that,” another added.
Some commenters with DoorDash experience also questioned the driver’s tip delay claim.
“I dashed for a bit, and we could cash out at the end of the day. all of it,” one person wrote.
Another viewer said they had received a similar message after already tipping.
“Got this message after I had already tipped like?? The restaurant is down the street why are you tryna guilt me for more,” they wrote. In the comment, they attached a screenshot of a Dasher asking for a tip to help pay for gas.
Are Dashers allowed to message customers for non-delivery reasons?
According to DoorDash’s Community Guidelines, this likely would qualify as inappropriate.
The company states that users shouldn’t “[manipulate] the platform for monetary gain,” or “engage in other bad faith behavior that could negatively impact other users.”
Additionally, DoorDash has a feature it calls SafeChat, a monitoring system that screens all chats for offensive language.
For unsafe chat interactions, the company advises users to contact customer support or use the in-app prompts after a delivery is completed.
@kneegroluffy2.0
Subplot News has reached out to DoorDash via email and the TikToker via TikTok messages for comment.
