Driven to the Brink: How Doordash Penalizes, Exploits, and Neglects their Drivers to the Point of Financial Ruin
Unveiling the Dark Reality of Doordash’s Treatment of Drivers
In the era of the gig economy, Doordash has emerged as a dominant player in the food delivery industry. With promises of flexible work hours and the allure of earning additional income, many individuals have eagerly signed up to become Doordash drivers. However, beneath the surface lies a deeply troubling reality: Doordash’s treatment of drivers often leads them to the brink of financial ruin. This article aims to shed light on the punitive practices, exploitative policies, and neglectful behavior that drivers endure, and the consequences they face as a result.
1. The Punitive Rating System
Doordash Acceptance Rate is the biggest ongoing issue regarding ratings. Although it says there’s no minimum Acceptance Rate […that could cause your account aka your money any harm], and drivers are offered “incentives” on “high-paying orders”, drivers are telling a different story. On the surface, this may seem like good news. In actuality, it inherently means drivers are forced to take low-paying orders to have a chance to make a fair wage.
For example: if an order comes in at $3 for a 10-mile delivery and the driver chooses not to accept, their rating goes down. Let’s say their percentage is a fair 75% one moment, which Doordash promises to reward with orders that have a much more reasonable tip-to-mile ratio. This theoretically, makes it worth it for drivers to make the effort to deliver to the customer and do a good job while they’re at it. However, on a single shift, Doordash may send a rash of $3 orders with excessive mileage back-to-back, or any other combination of unfortunate “options”, effectively limiting future earning opportunities along with your Acceptance Rate.
For drivers, overnight, “Doordash can go from fair to nearly criminal”, according to the drivers we spoke to. Easily, a 20-mile delivery for $8.80 could conceivably become a 40-mile trip if the driver doesn’t get another order when returning to the busier areas. To add insult to injury, the delivery itself could take an hour or more depending on traffic and possible wait time during restaurant delays.
Because of high delivery rates for customers (which can be upwards of $6 in some areas), customers are under the false impression that drivers get that money and often choose to tip less. There are also discount programs like DashPass for customers and coupon codes. This often means customers want to feel like they’re paying less, and, according to a growing number of drivers, this translates into longer hours, higher mileage, and lower tips.
As ratings directly impact a driver’s ability to receive lucrative orders, this system places an immense burden on drivers, who constantly live in fear of being penalized unfairly.
2. The Illusion of Flexibility and Perilous Weather
Angela L. Pagán wrote the following, on thetakeout.com “A post in an unofficial DoorDash Reddit thread from December of 2021 posed the question, “AITA for ordering food when the weather’s bad?” (AITA meaning am I the asshole). A surprising amount of respondents in the thread said they actually prefer to deliver food in bad weather because it almost always guarantees them better tips.” So drivers, bikers, and scooters have to put their lives, and others, on the line for the privilege of affording their own meals.
While Doordash boasts about its flexibility, the reality is far more restrictive. Drivers are often subjected to arbitrary performance expectations, compelling them into hazardous weather conditions, and dangerous driving habits just to maintain a decent income. The pressure to accept low-paying orders to boost their ratings and secure better opportunities leaves drivers with little control over their schedules and personal lives.
3. Insufficient Compensation
The Doordash pay structure has long been a point of contention. It appears that the devil is in the details. Many don’t realize the little things that affect their deliveries. Often a driver is notified of an order, then travels to the pickup location only to find that the order isn’t even ready. And well, time is money. Despite the promises of earning potential, many drivers find themselves struggling to make ends meet. The combination of low base pay, dependence on customer tips, and hidden deductions for expenses such as gas and vehicle maintenance leaves drivers earning far less than expected. This lack of fair compensation further contributes to financial instability and the potential for drivers to spiral into debt.
4. Lack of Support and Communication
There are no shortages of bad reviews either. All you have to do is look, and not that hard apparently. According to many drivers, on sites like Glassdoor and TrustPilot when they encounter issues or require assistance, they are often met with a dismal lack of support and Stepford-style communication from Doordash. Whether it’s a problem with a delivery, a glitch in the app, sudden inexplicable deactivation, or concerns about their earnings, drivers often find it challenging to reach a knowledgeable representative who can address their concerns expediently and effectively. You know, the way Doordash expects orders to be delivered. This lack of support leaves drivers feeling isolated and abandoned, and too often, it can leave them totally broke, which exacerbates the already precarious nature of their financial situation.
5. Inadequate Safety Measures
Doordash’s negligence towards driver safety is deeply concerning. Drivers are frequently exposed to dangerous situations, including late-night deliveries in unfamiliar or remote neighborhoods, disrespectful restaurant staff, and encounters with hostile customers. Drivers are also encouraged by the culture of the app to take risks by receiving orders while driving.
Although the app can detect the motion of the vehicle, Doordash sends new orders while in transit. The additional high pressure of the order coming while driving, each order offer has a time limit of a few seconds and the need to get the money now because it may not come later is requiring drivers to completely focus on their phone in that moment. If you miss the order, your acceptance rate may go down as well, let’s not forget that little detail.
Despite these risks, Doordash fails to provide adequate safety practices and protections, support, or resources to protect its drivers. This disregard for their well-being, and yours, further contributes to the overall exploitation and mistreatment of not only drivers but the public at large.
The stories of Doordash drivers struggling to make a living wage, facing punitive measures for factors beyond their control, and being left without proper support or going into hyperdebt are distressingly common. Doordash’s duplicitous practices of penalization, exploitation, and neglect pushing some drivers to the brink of financial ruin, undermine the very promises they make to entice individuals into joining their platform. It is imperative that Doordash reevaluates its policies, addresses the concerns raised by drivers, and takes meaningful action to improve the working conditions and livelihoods of those who contribute to its success. But will they? Based on its treatment of drivers and customers alike, it seems like Doordash thinks it’s too big to fail. So, I guess the rest of us can just eat cake.
As consumers, it is essential to consider the human cost behind the convenience of food delivery services. By supporting fair treatment and advocating for better conditions for Doordash drivers, we can contribute to creating a more just and equitable gig economy. If we don’t do it, who will?
