DoorDash adds new feature which reminds customers to tip
Topics: DoorDash, Food and Drink, US News
Callum Jones
Featured Image Credit: Jackyenjoyphotography/Getty/Raphye Alexius/Getty
Topics: DoorDash, Food and Drink, US News
There is no doubt that tipping culture is very much a thing in the US, certainly more than other countries, anyway.
While it is not always required to tip someone in hospitality in the UK, for example, that is certainly not the case in stateside.
As a result, we've seen some pretty major outbursts surrounding tips in recent months - including a DoorDash delivery guy who was fired after saying 'f**k you' to a woman who tipped him 25 percent.
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Footage captured the guy delivering the pizza, albeit with a slight pause as the woman in the house got her dog under control, and telling her: "I just wanna say it's a nice house for a $5 tip."
Clearly the implication was that he didn't think the tip was enough, so while the woman said 'you're welcome' she got the response 'f**k you' in return.
DoorDash subsequently fired the driver, with a company spokesperson telling UNILAD: "Respectfully asking for a tip is acceptable but abusing or harassing someone is never acceptable.
"We’ve removed this Dasher from our platform and reached out to the customer.
"Our rules exist to help ensure everyone who uses our platform - Dashers, customers, merchants - have a safe and enjoyable experience.
"We expect everyone to treat others with respect and we will enforce our rules fairly and consistently."
While that customer may have tipped, Doordash is now encouraging those who do not tip drivers to do so.
In fact, many people have argued that the pressure to tip drivers is greater than ever thanks to a new feature on the DoorDash app.
The feature, which has been dubbed as 'tip-nudging', allows customers to increase their tip for drivers up to 30 days after their order.
But customers who have not provided a tip at all will be encouraged to do so, similar to nudging notifications that have popped up on the likes of Uber Eats and Starbucks in recent months.
At the time of the announcement of the new feature back in June, DoorDash executive Austin Haugen told press at a media event: "These new nudges and reminders will encourage customers to tip and show their appreciation after their Dasher delivers an order."
Meanwhile, Rajat Shroff, DoorDash's head of product & design, added: "Consumers who are waiting to see how the Dasher provides service… now have a way to actually reward Dashers."
While the prompt may annoy some customers, deliver drivers have often spoke about how much they rely on tips to make ends meet.