Have you ever food ordering service like Door Dash or Uber Eats, but it says that no one is available for the delivery? Well, a TikTok is going viral that claims that those orders are being declined. There’s something more going on behind the scenes.
Most of us are familiar with DoorDash or Uber Eats that do these food deliveries. So, a courier from DoorDash posted on TikTok that explains why the unavailability may be a lie in some cases. Simply put, couriers who are on duty can choose not to do the delivery. It is up to them to choose which deliveries they want to take.
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The Controversial Truth Behind Deliveries
“Jhordan the Model” is the TikToker who posted the video. He explains that workers of DoorDash are independent contractors. So, their contract does not legally compel do all the deliveries that are requested.
But why would Dashers not choose to do deliveries? Well, that comes down to the tipping option on the order. On DoorDash, customers can choose to tip a certain amount for their Dasher. Dashers can see this before they select to deliver an order.
So the TikToker explains:
“We can pick and choose which orders we want to take so if you don’t tip us we don’t have to take your order.”
But then, what happens to the food? Well, according to Jhordan the Model, it “just sits there”. She then pans the camera to show a room filled with several dozen McDonald’s bags. They are all lined up and untouched. Apparently, these are all the deliveries that no dasher picked up because there were no tips with them. Unfortunately, the account seems to have been deleted. However, here is a YouTube video covering the clip:
Jhordan explains that these orders will just sit there until someone chooses to do the delivery. According to her:
“You don’t have to tip, you’re not obligated to tip, we’re also not obligated to take your orders because we’re independent contractors.”
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The Video Has Fueled A Debate
The opinions in the clip have left some customers enraged while others were in complete agreement with the Dasher.
Among those who supported what was happening, one explained that the customer was bidding for the Dasher’s service:
“Dashers are not waitresses the power dynamics is on the dashers side. You are bidding for their time. They are not bidding to service you.”
Another said that it makes sense to tip before the delivery because the dashers pay for their own fuel while doing the deliveries:
“In a restaurant I tip AFTER the service. DoorDash/Ubereats I tip BEFORE cause they using their gas I’m not using mine. I’m paying to not leave the [house.]”
However, other commenters disagreed with what was happening.
Some called it childish and said that the dashers were not performing the service completely by using the excuse of being an independent contractor. Here is one comment:
“So tips are mandatory because if I don’t tip, I clearly wont get my food. You may not be saying it. But you’re definitely implying it.”
DoorDash says that all Dashers are their own boss:
“As an independent contractor, you have the flexibility and freedom to drive whenever you want, wherever you want.” [2]
The service industry is famous for underpaying, and therefore relying on tips. So, we understand dashers refusing to do the deliveries if they are not tipped. But, as someone said, tipping is not supposed to be compulsory. What do you think? Let us know in the comments!
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Sources
- “Viral Video Shows Workers Not Taking Deliveries Without Tips, Sparks Debate: ‘We Can Pick and Choose’.” Entrepreneur. Emily Rella. December 13, 2021.
- Door Dash