The vast majority of us wouldn’t dream about leaving a restaurant without tipping our server. So why is it that so many people don’t apply that same philosophy to delivery drivers?
Not surprisingly, an overwhelming majority of DoorDash/UberEats users don’t tip. Now, thanks to a recent video from TikToker/DoorDasher @jhordanthemodel, we now have proof that McDonald’s orders without tips — just sit there.
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Over the past decade there has been a drastic shift in the way we as a society consume our food.
According to statistics issued by Mintel: Global Market Research & Market Insight — 63% of all consumers agree that it is more convenient to order take-out than it is to dine in at a restaurant.
On top of that, a staggering 31% say that they order from a third-party service, such as DoorDash, at least twice a week.
You don’t need to be an analyst to be able to spot the trend: more and more people are choosing to enjoy their restaurant food in the comfort of their own homes.
One aspect of food culture that hasn’t carried over to the online world is tipping.
The choice of whether or not to leave a tip is completely up to the user.
However, if you’re someone who doesn’t tip and have noticed increasingly longer wait times for your food to arrive — there’s a reason for that.
In a recent TikTok video uploaded by DoorDasher @jhordanthemodel, they explained how Dashers can select what orders they take.
Unlike Uber drivers who have no say in what orders they can accept or reject, DoorDash works differently.
As Jhordan explains in their video, Dashers are independent contractors — not actual employees.
What this means is that they can choose which orders they want to take and which ones they don’t.
Not surprisingly, one of the first things that a driver will look for is whether or not the person ordering food has left a tip.
Jhordan goes on to say that if an order doesn’t have a tip, it’s liable to sit unclaimed for lengthy amounts of time.
“There’s a whole section dedicated to people who don’t tip, and their order just sits there until a Dasher decides that they want to take the order,” they explained .
How much you should tip your driver varies depending on location.
For instance, in North America, it’s customary to tip anywhere from 15-20% when dining out.
This same metric should also be applied when tipping your driver, according to experts at HyreCar.com .
Fellow TikToker @redee02 was one of the few users who sided with Jhordan.
“I make sure to give a generous tip,” they began . “You are saving time and the hassle so it is worth something.”
This was, however, the minority opinion.
Most of Jhordan’s followers and fellow TikTok users were absolutely outraged to learn that Dashers were doing this.
“This is why I love UberEats,” @caoiroluvslinda said. “I’m not tipping before I get my food. I’ve tipped DoorDashers before and got HORRIBLE service…yea not sorry.”
Another TikTok user accused DoorDash of manipulating their customers into leaving tips.
TikToker @pinkmeplz wrote, “So tips are mandatory because if I don’t tip, I clearly won’t get my food. You may not be saying it, but you’re definitely implying it.”
While others questioned whether or not it disincentivizes a delivery person to do a good job.
It seems counterintuitive to tip for a service that you haven’t received. Money is the motivator.
Without it, we’re no better than the mouse who asks for a glass of milk with its cookie.
