If you want your food fresh and fast, you better be willing to pay up. DoorDash is warning customers that if you don’t tip ahead of time, you may have to wait a while.
A pop-up was added to the delivery service app in some regions this week telling customers that orders with no tip may take longer to get delivered.
"Orders with no tip might take longer to get delivered — are you sure you want to continue?" the pop-up says, according to The Verge. "Dashers can pick and choose which orders they want to do. Orders that take longer to be accepted by Dashers tend to result in slower delivery."
While some users may prefer to wait until after their food is delivered to tip their driver, pre-tipping on orders gives you an advantage. The company says drivers will likely prioritize more profitable orders and may not even take a job if they do not see a tip.
DoorDash spokesperson Jenn Rosenberg confirmed that the company is currently testing the tipping reminder screen as a way to "help create the best possible experience for all members of our community."
"As independent contractors, Dashers have full freedom to accept or reject offers based on what they view as valuable and rewarding," Rosenberg said in a statement to The Verge. "While the vast majority of customers do leave a tip, offers that don't include a tip can be seen as less desirable – this impacts our entire community, leading to longer wait times for customers, orders sitting longer at merchants, and less value for Dashers."
"We encourage customers to show their appreciation by tipping," Rosenberg added. Especially since it appears the larger the tip, the faster you may receive your food.
The company says drivers get 100% of customer tips on top of their base pay -- which ranges from $2-10+ per order, depending on the estimated time, distance and desirability of the order.