My first Doordash order is on the way...

[NurseJackie]

... I'd heard mixed messages with regard to whether or not it was good for local restaurants, or harmful. So I'm not sure if it was just someone being needlessly "concerned" or if there's a genuine problem.

Anyway, I got $10 off because I'm a new customer, and free delivery. (Which means a bigger tip for the driver.)

What's your experience with Doordash (or the other one from Uber, or any other services like this)?

[Demsrule86]

1. I like it...and my then pregnant daughter in law racked up quite a bill order door dash...she could

barely move last year about this time! My son is a keeper like his Dad said that was OK with him if it made her feel better.

[NurseJackie]

6. Sounds wonderful!

Not the "barely able to move" part but the TLC part.

[MissB]

2. generally good!

I make sure to tip heavily in cash. They're pretty efficient and friendly. I've seen the gamut of folks, young and old, clear immigrants, college kids. They're all trying to make a buck, and we're comfy enough to tip well.

[NurseJackie]

4. I tipped online... assuming good service. I wasn't sure if...

... they're allowed to take cash from customers, or if my only opportunity to tip is online. (Also, I was thinking if I wanted to tip in cash, my online order would say "$ZERO" for the tip... and that might be discouraging for the driver.)

[Arkansas Granny]

3. I've used Door Dash and Waitr many times in the past year and a half.

There have been a couple of hiccups, which were quickly taken care of, but I've been very satisfied with the service.

[NurseJackie]

5. I hope I have the same experience you do.

[snowybirdie]

7. My first time

They went to the wrong address. Never got our Anniversary dinner. My last time too.

[NurseJackie]

9. Yikes! I hope you got a refund.

[Zeitghost]

14. This has become increasingly common unfortunately

My home shows correctly on Google and on the Doordash website, but I consistently (~20%) have an issue with them delivering it to a completely wrong area of town.

Thankfully Doordash has either canceled and refunded or on this last time I got a reorder at no cost after making a fuss about my lost 90 minutes waiting for food.

[Chakaconcarne]

8. It's not very green at all....

The amount of packaging that comes with these orders is terrifying (unless it can be recycled).......and you definitely pay for the service... 20%+ more. I've used this and similar services about half a dozen times... 2 of my orders were incorrect and getting that fixed can be a pain...

Based on my experience, I avoid them and eat out.

[wryter2000]

10. I find it way too expensive

Somehow, something that says it costs $16.95 ends up being over $30. Just not worth it.

[smirkymonkey]

20. Yes, I use it sparingly just because of that reason. I am questioning

having my groceries delivered for the same reason. I don't mind an extra $5 or even a little more, but when we are talking an extra $20 to $25 over the cost of what you are purchasing, it's just ridiculous.

[DetroitLegalBeagle]

11. I use mainly grubhub

But that's more due to the restaurants we order from are on grubhub only. I've had a few incorrect orders but refunds have always been quick. Had a couple orders take a long time but that was entirely due to the restaurant taking forever(Popeyes...). I use it quite a bit when traveling. Sometimes it's just easier to order something and have them bring it to my hotel instead of me driving around some unfamiliar place or dealing with a uber there and back.

[Freddie]

12. I like to use Slice if I can

Local restaurants (mainly pizza places) with their own drivers. All the $$ goes to the restaurant and driver.

[W_HAMILTON]

13. I've become reliant on them -- don't get addicted like me!

They are a pretty good service. They charge a bunch of fees and the like, but if you use it rather frequently (maybe three or more times each month?), their DashPass monthly premium service more than pays for itself.

As for how it affects local restaurants, I can't say in the macro, but I can tell you right now that there are plenty of restaurants that I have ordered from through DoorDash that would never have seen my business if not for the delivery service.

I tip relatively well (usually ~20%, with at least $10 for every delivery) and the Dashers seem to like me and appreciate the transaction. I also like how you can do a charge back to the restaurant if they forget something, which happens quite a bit. If I ordered food myself and went to pick it up, I'm not the type to take everything out and check it right there, so odds are I would just end up out of luck if they left something out.

[NurseJackie]

15. FOLLOW-UP: DoorDash ROCKS... local Bojangles Chicken needs help!!

The driver was speedy and friendly. What arrived, arrived fresh and hot. --- What didn't arrive was the other 2/3rds of my order.

That particular location is troublesome anyway! Every time I go in (or use the drive thru) they screw it up. I'd learned to check EVERY bag and EvERY box before leaving the counter.

I pressed my luck too far this time.

But the friendly DoorDash customer service rep re-submitted the order for me... so we'll see what happens.

I just got a text from DoorDash letting me know that the re-order is on the way.

[BannonsLiver]

18. Mmmmmm Bojangles.

Fast food is a mine field of inconsistency these days.

[LanternWaste]

16. I used it for the frist time last year when company furloughed during pandemic.

To an extent, I still see it as an extravagance I should avoid, but it's soooo convenient and efficient to my household that I still cave in once a month or so and order an excessively large amount of BBQ and sides for those weekends I just don't feel like getting out.

I like it, but it's a guilty pleasure for me... kinda like Stephen King novels-- not anything I brag about, but something I enjoy much more than enough to keep coming back to.

[Mme. Defarge]

17. Just placed an order,

which is something I treat myself to every few weeks. It’s pricey but it supports local restaurants when I otherwise might not, and it’s paid work for the drivers. Since I am way under budget for the past two years in other spending categories, and have resumed my isolated ways during the Delta wave, it’s something I can afford and something to look forward to.

So, enjoy!

[48656c6c6f20]

19. OK. Here's my rundown.

Door dash = they're OK, but seems the fastest of the bunch. The shopping, and restaurant combo delivery is weird though.
GrubHub = Lots more variety. Lately delivery issues. Pricey. But the biggest of them so they do refund when stuff is messed up.
Chowbus = New one for me, and I use it to get those hard to find Asian delicacies. it's pretty damn awesome. You can also bundle deliveries from multiple Asian restaurants.

Uber? Used it once, delivery person was an ass. Made me walk a block to pickup because they didn't want to park near the building.

[beaglelover]

21. We use them once or twice a month when we order Chinese food.

I used them for delivery from an Indian restaurant in June and there was a message stating that the restaurant used it's own drivers and not Doordash drivers even though I ordered through Doordash. So I guess restaurants have that option when they sign up to use Doordash's services.

We've never had an issue with them.

[Bristlecone]

22. I've used DoorDash many times in the last year. I like it a lot

My company went 100% virtual since Covid and we have used DoorDash for “lunch meetings” quite a few times. It has been a nice perk.

[lapucelle]

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[JudyM]

24. We used it a few times. Twice, my mom's food deliveries were missing portions of the orders.

The restaurants told me they absolutely gave us complete servings, and that they get this complaint sometimes. I checked out the issue on line and found info such as this: https://www.npr.org/2019/07/30/746600105/1-in-4-food-delivery-drivers-admit-to-eating-your-food
We stopped using DoorDash after that.