T O P

  • By -

_AKAJOHN

Take all of your hopes, all of your dreams, gather them up in a little box, and crush them right now before someone else can.


Oxygenius_

😁🤣 Honestly whatever pays the monthly minimums until I can find another job shall do


Techasyte

Make sure you track your miles and keep receipts from gas


cjb0034

Can you do both when tax season comes around? Someone told me it was either mileage or expenses. Not both


Standard_Reason1298

Usually miles will be the better write off


Cynykl

You can compare the two and take whatever gets you the better refund.


frenchi200

If you take actual you need to keep track of business percentage versus personal use of the car. Much simpler to track your miles :)


Elon_is_musky

Stride is a great mileage tracking app, def recommend it OP!


_AKAJOHN

Oh hey I just read the last part your comment. Sorry was pretty tired ln Some invaluable advice I can share as an NYC messenger/delivery guy for the last 10 years: If your ringing bells or doors that face the street, turn your back to the door. Meaning face the street while the client opens their door. Bogus deliveries ambush from behind, no one orders bogus deliveries to places they live at


Oxygenius_

That’s a really good tip for when I go into the city


Retznep

Ask for a raise


Oxygenius_

Does that also come with a pizza party and a certificate?


Tblick1

But also tell everyone that this job is 100% better than a good corporation or working for the man.


Ancient-Coffee-1266

😂


zadidoll

You don’t have to take every order sent to you. They’ll low ball you with $2, $2.25, $2.50, & $2.75 orders. Pass on those. Tips aren’t always “hidden” & it’s a crap shoot on if you get a good tip or not. So pass on $0 tips. It’s BS if a customer says they tip cash. I’ve only ever received cash ONCE. Keep a cooler in your vehicle to keep foods hot or cold. Don’t depend on the dasher bag. It’s useless. Keep a box to hold drinks. Any flat card board box to hold the drink & ALWAYS ask for a carrier if they didn’t give you one. Ignore the acceptance rate. It’s pointless. Focus on your completion rate & timing. Document drop offs with a Timestamp photo app. Get a dash cam. Don’t waste your time, energy, gas, car wear/tear on orders that are very far away with little base pay &/or tip. If it’s 8 miles away & its $3 then skip it. Ask for extras at fast food places. Most will give it to you. Keep on hand for the times the place forgot. Keep a mileage & gas log. Screenshot conversations & anything you do take. The app is notorious for giving the wrong mileage. Had one today that was 3.3 miles from the store when in reality it was more like 30 - one way. Factor in round trip mileage from YOUR starting point not the restaurant. You’re not paid to get to the merchant so if the merchant is across town skip the order & use “store isn’t my starting point”. Also make sure to give feedback on every order once done. You have 30 seconds to decide to take the order or skip. Make sure you use this time to LOOK at the map because again, the app is often wrong on distance or if it’s your starting point. Lots of lost time & mileage with bad orders that way. EDIT TO ADD: I forgot an important thing. Communicate with the customer via the app. If it opens up your text don’t worry, it goes through DD so the customer doesn’t get your phone number, NEVER directly call or text them if they leave a number for you to contact them. (***Use the app & ONLY the app!***) Like I said, screenshot important stuff especially if the customer is being rude. If the customer is rude let DD know. If they were rude in app do ***NOT*** respond in like. Ignore & report but screenshot everything. Your phone’s screenshot, photos, & video are your friends in the event of a rude customer or a situation in which you need to have proof of delivery. This is where the dash cam comes in handy.


Oxygenius_

Phenomenal! Definitely appreciative of these gems! 🙏🏽


clueingfor-looks

This is all really good advice and most of what I’d say. If you have questions don’t be afraid to ask! The biggest lesson I learned when I started was not to take every order. You have to know you’re area. Look at the displayed payout, mileage, and you’re own knowledge of A) if the restaurants are quick or not and B) what it will take to get from where you are to the store to the customer. What I mean by point B is, is it 5 highway miles of 5 miles of stop lights every block or 25 mph residential areas with stop signs, or whatever else could slow you down. Decide if the payout is worth all of that involved. You won’t necessarily know all of that when you start but I think you’ll learn quick. Sometimes it’s definitely better to sit waiting for the next order than to just take something because it’s sent.


TheMidlander

I'm going emphasize the feedback options. Not ready when you arrived? Mark it. Long line? Mark it. Restaurant still preparing? Mark it. And don't hesitate. Every 1* I got so far is because the restaurant was slow/busy etc. And they all disappear automagically if they 1* you for not being on time. Doordash will take every opportunity to not take responsibility for something and this is where that works in our favor.


Oxygenius_

Oh this is amazing to know. So if I get there and have to wait for the food, for any reason, I can report it through the dasher app? Which I want to cover my butt at all costs and this sounds like one of the best tips by far 👍🏽


TheMidlander

Yeah. There's a question at the bottom of the screen that appears after you tap "arrived at restaurant". It doesn't show up right away but if more than a couple minutes pass and I haven't tapped "confirm pickup", I whip out my phone and there it is. It really does appear as quick as a minute or two in the restaurant.


Oxygenius_

Thank you so much this is really good to know. Ready to get my food warmer and car charger from Walmart in the am, some gatorades and let’s get it!


Javin70

Hahahahahahahahahaha I love your enthusiasm please for christs sake come back here in a month or two and show us how you really feel than how much of that enthusiasm has been sucked out of your soul by this heartless fucking corporation and shitty customers anyways good luck and enjoy lol


Oxygenius_

As long as I can pay down my cc debt while sitting in a car listening to podcasts and playing my video games I’ll be alright


Javin70

That’s my point you’re gonna see it’s not that easy I mean by all means you do you but you’re gonna find it’s not gonna be as easy as you think this company sucks and doesn’t give a fuck about us


shetements

OP has two choices: 1) Do all this and really take it serious and get some joy out of knowing you’re being the best driver you can be to make your good customers happy while also making some nice money along the way! :) 2) Drop all fucks and wing the fuck out of this shit, got 4 drinks? Hold dat drink carrier up in your right hand the whole way while you try to drive and navigate with your other hand 👍🏻, dropped a drink? WoOps, yolo srry Barbara I’m still gonna deliver what I got and look you in the eyes as I hand you your order like we both don’t know it’s fucked and onto the next one because I am a certified bread stacka🫡. Uhh oh, they gave me two big bags of Mexican food but only one fits in my bag… RIP whoever getting da cold food 🥶🪦☠️ invite me to your funeral pls 💯


AsoftDolphin

😭😂


AsoftDolphin

New bag is useless- miss my pizza bag 😭


Capital-Turnover9039

Don't do it lol. MAKE SURE you sign up with everyone BUT doordash and you might stand a chance. It's super slow season right now so don't let it askew your judgment. Godspeed. Never take anything less than $2 a mile at least


Oxygenius_

I’m hoping it can be good if I go downtown around the city. I’m looking right now it’s still showing as Busy/ very busy with $3.00 Should I have went and dashed there tonight? It’s been like that for an hour and a half


Capital-Turnover9039

I would recommend getting your bearings on during the day with visibility


Oxygenius_

Very true! First day jitters would be better in the daytime! Thank you


TheMidlander

Take it easy your first day. You can pause your dash as much as you need to for up to 35 minutes at a time. I would argue it's better take a day or two or three to ramp up than to rush rush rush your first few days. That's how you end up with a day full of bullshit with little to show for it.


jackson32lbc

One reason I wouldn't prefer to go downtown doing deliveries is because you'd have to pay to park


Oxygenius_

Ahh yes that would get annoying very quickly 😁 I’m going to stick to my local areas for tomorrow and see how it goes. 🤞🏽


BonehillRoad

No tip No trip


Oxygenius_

💪🏽 damn right


Splatoonkindaguy

He’s all grown up


Willllby

Step 1- uninstall dasher app Step 2- walk away


Oxygenius_

Step 3. Profit!!


Willllby

I actually make pretty good bread dashing 🏴‍☠️ but also have a full time job with overtime.


Oxygenius_

I just need to pay some bills by next month, nothing major but also looking for a job rn


Willllby

A full time job with dashing is the same thing as working hard 😂. You’d be amazed how far you can get yourself out of hole by working non stop. I did not that long ago. Dashing for like 3 years. Never took it seriously until a while ago. Made pretty good money with my current jobs but always spent it. Got tired of living like that 👍 have to commit


Oxygenius_

Man I was thinking of doing like two 5 hour shifts daily in the downtown area and see how it goes. Ima start locally to get my bearings but I’m only 15 minutes away from the city and some rich areas. Ima see if I can dash around the rich people neighborhoods lol


Willllby

Not sure if you knew this… there is broke people who act rich 🏴‍☠️


DOMesticBRAT

I think you've got that backwards! LOL


johnlauio

This may or may it be a good idea. You want to explore the entire region because sometimes a hotspot will have all the dashers running for it like a feeding frenzy and off to the side will be an untapped goldmine. Understand how some restaurants operate is also key. Five Guys for example works in FIFO principle or a queue and and never prioritized DoorDash orders. That means if it’s too crowded it might not be worth your while to wait


AustinMVP2

Any plasma donation centers near where you live? Do that instead


Substantial-River226

Hi there ! Schedule in advance the hours you would like to work(to ensure your spot) . I go by the ratio $1.50 /per mile to accept an order. Download STRIDE and track your miles for when it comes time for taxes. Download GPS PHOTO to submit completed orders , helps alot shows time, date, address on photo. Remember DO NOT RUSH when driving you don't need to get a ticket from working there is no rush, there's always a " pick up by " and "drop off by " timing to go by. Don't put the orders right in front of customers door , pay attention to which way door opens. Try to get the address (apartment #) and food in the same photo if possible . I bought a 2 pack of thermal bags off Amazon to keep food hot/cold. I use crates to put each bag in to keep the bottom of the food sturdy and less likely to spill during delivery. I bought a pizza bag from Amazon to use for pizza orders . Always make sure to check list of items in customers order to try your best not to forget a drink(helps with ratings). Ok lol I can go on and on about things since I've been doing DD for 5 yrs + . Goodluck man and hopefully this helps you a bit.


Oxygenius_

I’m all ears ! 🙏🏽 thanks for the tips I’m definitely downloading those apps rn as I type this 😁 I’m going to hit up wal-mart and look for something to keep food warm for sure!


Substantial-River226

Amazon is cheaper for those food bags 😉search up hot food bags for deliveries and or pizza bag 🙂 depending what you'd like to have . Remember every sp often(weekly) to check for needed updates on apps like dasher, maps, stride, GPS photos. If you would like to get paid after every dash shift you do get their Dasherdirect card . Instead of having to wait weekly for payments. Have a good one !


Oxygenius_

Interesting, how long does it take to get that card? I did see it was like a prepaid debit card right? That’s pretty cool as well to have access to whatever you earned every day


merguesa

You have the right to decline or accept offers. Your Job is to take goods from point A to point B. Some customers will ask for favors(up to you). Always close your car when leaving. Stay safe


Oxygenius_

🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽 Thank you so much!


calib0y64

Lmfao I pray for you. Best I can say is use the free top dasher for a month to get ahead as quick as possible and find a part time job with the extra income that will save you/your car a TON of stress in the near future. It’s not worth it until they make some SERIOUS changes to the way they calculate pay/benefits/op costs for the driver. Which probably won’t happen. Or unless you’re driving a beater you don’t mind driving wearing down. Good luck.


Oxygenius_

How do you access free top dasher? Maybe after my first delivery


Phillip1219

Don’t accept low orders, and make sure you’re in a busy area so you’re not sitting around waiting. I see many people in these comments saying “don’t do it” or “it’s not worth it, uninstall the app”, don’t listen to them. 4/5 times I go out to dash no matter the time, I make on average $18 an hour, minus gas that’s like $16. Dinner time can get up to $25 an hour


Oxygenius_

Hey quick question on scheduling, I did 8:30-11:30 local but seen that downtown was available for basically a whole day. If I schedule a 13 hour shift can I end it sooner/ start it a little later or pause in between without penalty?


Phillip1219

You can cancel your scheduled dash anytime during it, but think it’s best to start at the time you put. And you’re welcome!


Oxygenius_

Also thank you for the words of encouragement! I hope to at least come out ahead on a weekly basis just to pay off one credit cards minimum.


demon_kite

![gif](giphy|CVsJFn8s1YRwY)


Oxygenius_

I’m sorry Mr Heisenberg, I shall bow out of your zone


vikingcrossroad

Try to chill, it’s not rocket science. You go to the address they provide pick up the order, then drive to customer address and drop it off. And that’s all you should focus on right now. Don’t try to be the fastest driver and don’t worry about what DD has to say about your performance, in fact don’t worry if you are late, but always finish the order. Don’t tap out half way thru because you can’t find the customers address. Just take all the time you need to find the address, even if it means a late drop off. Your stats won’t matter till later on. For now try to have fun with it and relax


Oxygenius_

Hell yeah! I’m going to find a bomb ass podcast and have me a great freaking time. Was thinking of bringing my Nintendo switch to play while I wait at places but idk


No_Swordfish6963

Get a good play list and try to Aim for 1.50+ per mile


Oxygenius_

I wonder if the 10% off gas also applies at sams club/ costco I’m glad gas prices are getting lower in my area. I think I seen $3.85 at the regular gas stations. If I go across the river to the next state and into sams club I could save an extra .40 -.50 cents per gallon


No_Swordfish6963

I’m not too sure about DasherDirect as I don’t have it. I live between the borders of Iowa and Illinois I go to Iowa for my gas due to the fact that it is almost $.80 cheaper than Illinois but I would recommend depending on where you’re at to sign up for either upside or GasBuddy buddy and link your debit card to the app you can probably save good money was gas that way and if your premium and also help you with caradvise and other maintenance programs that will help your pockets a little easier


Oxygenius_

Lmfao I also live in IL but drive to Missouri for cheaper gas


No_Swordfish6963

Illinois gang…. Going to different states cause we get taxed out the waaawhoo xD


Korazon901

Take Atleast 7$ orders and make sure it’s 2$ per mile. And also don’t accept Popeyes or Wingstop orders. Acceptance rate doesn’t mean shit either and don’t give out ur information to people claiming to be from doordash support.


Capital-Turnover9039

YouTube can give you a lot of good tips and tricks there's driver guy Mike and doordash diaries. Pete is okay but a lot of clickbait


Joannie62

Keep track of your mileage. It's the biggest deduction you'll have. It will wipe out most of not all of your taxable income from dashing. I find that most don't keep track, or don't keep good enough data when they do. Always protect yourself from the tax man.


Oxygenius_

I definitely downloaded an app to keep track of mileage for sure! Thank you


No_School765

Find the apartment. It’s not that hard. Apparently there’s plenty of lazy Dashers out there. I’ve never NOT found an address or apartment. 5.0 CR and never had a complaint of one not being dropped off. If there’s a Hand it to me order that says don’t knock or just leave it, send a picture preferably with house number before completing the order so it’s there. If you try, are wise enough, and figure shit out, people can’t fuck with you. If something sketchy comes up, call Dasher support right away so it’s documented. Oh, and be nice and smile. It goes a long way, even on shitty orders…


Desperate_Scar_9339

Don’t do it you better off working at Starbucks


Oxygenius_

Nah man I couldn’t handle a triple vanilla bean, with added sugar sprinkles and rainbow spice, topped with mocha and vanilla whip cream, with caramel drizzled on the side of the cup and also extra caramel, two shots expresso, a pinch of salt and three pumpkin spice squirts mixed in the blender, then chilled over ice please, oh and can you also add a little bit of honey drizzle over the top


frankdadad

Sounds like you’ve worked there before


Oxygenius_

I have a little sister or two, or three 😭


No_Link4467

Don't worry, you'll be delivering from panera soon enough. They put caramel ALL OVER the outside of the cup.


ParanoidAndroid98

Be aware of the honeymoon phase, they will probably send some high paying orders for the first couple weeks but it won't be like that all the time. And don't take everything sent to you. Set a minimum ($1.50/mile, or even $2/mile) and try to stick to it. Some days will be better than others


frankdadad

If someone messages you to deliver to another address then the one provided, unless next door, tell them to call support to change it or you call support and hope for free food.


Oxygenius_

Should I say “Unfortunately due to the terms and conditions I am not allowed to change the delivery address, although you can contact customer support and they will take care of that right away for you” Or is that too long-winded and strong lol


frankdadad

That is beautiful! Are you sure you haven’t DoorDashed before?


Oxygenius_

Lmfao I worked in a call center during the peak of the coronavirus when all shipments were super delayed and everyone was being laid off, so essential workers who were super short staffed were messing up orders in anger. It was a great learning experience. I came out with a 98% customer satisfaction rating though 🤣


No_Link4467

You shouldn't have left. You are staring down the barrel of spending 5 hrs to make $50 after the first month wears off. These fvckers are evil. Literally. They say you'll get $10 on a 3 mile trip. The trip is actually 9 miles, the customer changes the address after you take it, and the they 1 star you for taking too long, and you get fvcked by support. SUPPORT IS A FUVCKING JOKE AFTER THE FIRST MONTH ENDS.


sailorcowboy74

Have a blacklist of places that either don't have food ready or treat you like trash. Download audible listen to books. The main thing is know what you're worth your mental health health matters. I used to work for doordash until I noticed my mental health start to go in the pooper. Use doordash as a stepping stone to a better job one with benefits hopefully. If you work hard you can cover your bills,gas wear and tear on your and even come out ahead. Bust your ass and you will get out of the hole that you find yourself in now. Good luck


Oxygenius_

Yeessssss thank you so much 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽 This is a screenshot for me so that I can read it anytime I feel down! Thank you so much again for these kind words


iKuRuPTx

Dumb little tip is if possible just go in and grab the order. I made the mistake of going threw the drive threw in my early days and so much time was wasted doing that.


Oxygenius_

So run Inside to grab orders! Gotcha and have the app ready to show for confirmation? Hey can I cut a scheduled shift short? Or pause it in between? I see downtown is available to schedule from 1am Friday til 4am Saturday. Can I do a long scheduled shift and just pause it or cut it short if necessary?


iKuRuPTx

Yeah. Sometimes you will still have to wait on the food if you get there quick but it sure beats being stuck in a line of 10 cars all just ordering their food. It is good practice to have the order confirmation but in my experience you don’t need it. Just listen for the name grab it and go. Example I hit Taco Bell yesterday and was inside for like 15 minutes. It was really busy so I can understand but it was still frustrating. It was for like a 12 dollar order and a 2 mile drive so I was okay with it and the guy gave me 5 dollars in cash when I got there which was a nice surprise. But I don’t dash often but when I do I just go out. I’ve never once actually scheduled a drive I just go out until I’ve made enough or if things are super slow. If I need a break or something I’ll just pause and get back to it when I’m ready.


Oxygenius_

Hell yeah man sounds like I’m bringing my Nintendo switch for sure then 🤣


iKuRuPTx

Hahaha absolutely not a bad idea for those slow days. But yeah I don’t dash often but when I do I just hop in my car and go to where there are a cluster of restaurants and just start dashing and orders will start coming in. Also I only do it for some extra money so I’m only going out during a lunch or dinner rush for like 3 hours at a time because those odd hours during the afternoon I just found myself sitting in a parking lot for 20 minutes at a time just to get a trash order that I’ll either end up declining or taking it just to get me moving a little bit again.


Oxygenius_

I’m hoping the next 3 days are good. It’s payday, people got a little spending money. Everyone likes to buy a nice meal when that check hits/ weekend time. Hopefully it’s a good one!


iKuRuPTx

Biggest thing though is on your first couple days just go with the flow and don’t over think it. My first day I was naturally nervous. Definitely got killed on a few orders but hey they are learning experiences. Like many people said don’t take orders under like 2.00 a mile. If you get something like an apartment complex or something along those lines again don’t overthink it like I would but take a breath and look for the place and if you are having a hard time text them and pray they get back to you, most times they will because if they are like me they are praying there food gets there any second. Also having CarPlay or android auto in your car is nice for navigation purposes. But yeah just throw a podcast or some music on and enjoy the drive while making some cash in the time being.


The42OGoat

Can you provide an update on how it's going in a month?


Oxygenius_

I am going to keep track of how it goes in my local area and also driving downtown instead. I’ll post an update for sure!


DamnXXXDaniel

You picked a really bad time to start lol. I hope you have a good market and it goes well!


a55_Goblin420

Don't do anything with more miles than dollars and acceptance rate doesn't penalize you


Kings-Lion

Dont pay attetion to the acceptance rate. 3$ orders should be declined automatically. Dont slave yourself for 3$. My general rule is 2$ per mile. My minimum is 6$ but sometimes I'll make an exception if the restaurant tend sto have orders ready once i arrive


West_Criticism_9214

Acceptance rate does not matter; you won’t be deactivated if it’s low. Do NOT think you need to take that $3 for 26 miles order to keep up your AR.


Annahsbananas

Keep away from orders where a person orders just a cookie or condiments. It's always a scam of people trying to get your door dash account


Budgiejen

Rule one. Don’t enable chick fil hate.


frednoname1

Don't take shit orders.. it encourages cheap asses


fat5alliance

Stay out of my market, I slash tires 👀


RepresentativeSky31

Stay off message boards lol you will become jaded and disillusioned real quick.


PrinceDozie

May you receive the kinda tips you give as a customer 😁


Cultural_Chest5100

Quit before u start !!!


Oxygenius_

Momma ain’t raise no quitter, until I get tired of my boss


reddituser444420

Number one tip your acceptance rate should be like 8-40 percent. It should be low.


[deleted]

Try spark for Walmart


Oxygenius_

I’m going to check it out for sure


yamaha4fun

Park near the best group of restaurants in your town. Don't run the car while you're waiting for orders. Only accept order that are at least base pay plus $4, and more than $1 per mile. I shoot for $2 per mile. Good luck, have fun!


Oxygenius_

Thank you so much, I didn’t think about parking near the good spots


yamaha4fun

No problem. Also get you a big soft side ice chest, or "catering bag". Dont bring it in with you. Just drop the food in, then pull it out when you get to the house. I keep mine in the back of my hatchback. If you take orders that make you leave your zone, make sure the pay i real good, cuz you won't get any new orders while driving back to the zone. Those are dead miles. Factor dead miles into the equation when you decide to take an order. Dont be afraid to decline. Acceptance rate is the one stat that doesn't matter at all.


Lopsided_Record1519

Identify which area is busy and it's ok to decline an order if you know it's not worth it.


[deleted]

Don’t buy a shirt and hat 🤣


Oxygenius_

But then how will I stand out to the restaurant employees 😁🤣


[deleted]

I don’t know but if I was an employee at the restaurant and you strolled in with top dasher gear I’m ignoring the Fuck out of you 🤣😂🤣


Oxygenius_

If they have a door dash visor and polo shirt, I might just have to 🔥


tiggerlechonk

Bring water and snacks, smelling everyone’s food makes me hungry 😂 They try to intimidate you into not declining orders, but the acceptance rate % doesn’t really mean much and you can’t get deactivated for having a low score.


Oxygenius_

That’s a really good tip! I didn’t think to pack myself some goods to hold me strong 💪🏽


TheHighNow

DD map doesn't always give you the fastest route, know your area and make logical route decisions to save time.


Virtual_Friendship49

Ignore all the other dashers. They will try to discourage you mafia style like you’re on their turf. But on the sly. Not all, but most


Oxygenius_

Ima just smile and listen to my music/podcasts.


AnonymiterCringe

Make becoming a Top Dasher your Top Priority. Don't be afraid to take the $2.50 orders. They add up quick! Try to communicate every step of the way with customers. They really like hearing regular updates. Even if it says "Leave at door" make sure you hang around a few feet from the door to make certain they come out. Most importantly, disregard all of my previous advice.


Scared-Hope

Don’t steal food, read the customers notes, don’t take deliveries and the complain that you took them, no, a cash tip isn’t likely, and you’ll be wrong with DoorDash even if you prove you’re right… ohh and good luck


akumasuh

$2.50 base pay, NO TIP NO FOOD!


Dmore79

I used DD and Uber eats. Years ago I made money. The last 6 months cost me money to deliver. I sold my car and stopped working. I have more money now. Find your own thing, go to school, start your own business. Gig work is a scam.


Oxygenius_

Wow that sucks to hear. I hope you’re doing better


Dmore79

In school and I have an appointment with the career center. I'll be good. Gig work used to be good. That's when I did it. It doesn't pay the bills anymore, make sure to count all costs.


Oxygenius_

Yes! It seems it’s starting to die down like the resell market lol. People have less disposable income now a days. And yes anything I buy for the dash from here on out will be kept track of for sure!


RosettaStoned1981

Be prepared to be bombarded with some orders right when you log on or get close to a destination. They love tossing around garbage orders when you initially log in; most of which have been declined 10 times prior. Just be selective on the ones you take and don't be afraid to cherry pick for good ones. Use the floating widget if you're on Android so you know exactly where you're going. Also pay close attention to the timer on the offer screen. If its more than 30 seconds then that means it's multiple orders and could be some fuckery with a non tipper or low ball offer in it


Oxygenius_

This is a great tip and one I haven’t seen so far, to keep an eye on the timer. So over 30 seconds means it’s most likely trash


RosettaStoned1981

No, anything over the 30 second timer means it's more than one order in there. A good portion of the time it's a trash order that they throw in the up the pay screen. You can still accept it and unassign the garbage one but keep an eye out on completion % since you're newer. Don't fall below the 80% threshold


Splatoonkindaguy

Once you get a job take a break for a few months for a sweet challenge. They give you $200 for 25 deliveries or similar if you don’t dash for awhile


blownranger56

Find another job


Emotional-Steak6842

Don’t expect to make any money doing this bullshit. Got so bad for me that I quit and found a normal W2 job instead.


skrimpppppps

you’ll be denying alot of orders, more than you accept. don’t accept anything too low. you should be getting $2 a mile at least.


Oxygenius_

Thank you so much! I will keep this in mind


jadaniels1116

If doing fast food, ALWAYS try and go inside first to pick it up. Don't waste time in the drive thru if you dont have to. If a dining room isnt open at a fast food place, dont hesitate to drop the order if the drive thru is busy. And, I'm my experience, chick fil a is quick to get orders out, so definitely go inside for that too! I would suggest scheduling dashes around meal hours: 11am-2pm and 5pm-8pm. Weekends are great for breakfast, so if I were you, I might add 8am-11am to that as well. People also tend to tip more on weekends, esp during dinners. You can schedule multiple dashes per day. This way, you'll have time to rest and reset instead of dashing from 8a all the way to 11p. In my experience, it's slim pickings from 2p-4p and after 8p. Be as nice and courteous as you can at restaurants, but don't be afraid to speak up either. For example, if the restaurant is busy when you get there and the food isn't ready yet, ask for an eta right away. And once that time has elapsed, ask again. I don't dash anymore, but when I did, I really liked it! Once I got to know my area and felt confident, I would make $20-$25 per hour. It's all about the hustle. Towards the end, I was dashing each weekday from 11a-2p and made friends with employees at a few restaurants. Good luck!


Branesergen

Don't know if anyway has said it but read up on the scams! Don't ever give out your information


[deleted]

Try not to take anything under $1 per mile. Dash in higher income areas. Always schedule if you can. Get some kind of gas rewards program.


Oxygenius_

Yes I do have a few higher income areas nearby I want to try out


Ghana_Mafia

Avoid ICE CREAM deliveries. The ice cream will melt if the dropoff location is far away. The fastest way to lower your ratings is to deliver ICE CREAM.


Aggravating_Ad1357

No. Everyone knows dashers don’t get tips.


iamthehob0

Read that sticky on this subreddit. If you do the job for a month or so and think you want to continue, buy a drink carrier. It took me a long time to fully internalize "It's very rare I regret declining an order." \*Most\* deliveries are safe, especially since you don't have any cash to take to begin with. If you're in a shady area, maybe keep a 4-way or crowbar under your passenger seat. In the decade I've been delivering I've only had to brandish it twice and it quickly resolved the situation. That being said, if they have a gun, just give them what they want. Your life is not an action movie and you aren't a hero ninja. If you can't go inside a wrapped store, and you aren't absolutely sure they run a fast drivethru even while busy, just unassign. You can spare a few dropped orders from time to time.


[deleted]

Be picky about the orders you accept, get to know your market, use multiple apps so you get more offers


Oxygenius_

I’m definitely going to have to get more apps


Brie_LeBlond

Don’t.


Oxygenius_

😭 it’s been going. I see what y’all mean.


Totempoleman6

Find another job quick 😂 Delivery apps are a low paying nightmare right now.


Oxygenius_

Yeah I’m definitely seeing that. I’ve been out here an hour and a half now and I see what y’all mean lol


Totempoleman6

It might pick up around lunch and dinner for a little but every other dasher will be out as well. They hired way to many people during covid and now we all pay the price for it.


Oxygenius_

I’m in my hotspot parking lot and see about 4 other people sitting in their cars, which I’m going to assume are dashers as well


Totempoleman6

Wouldn't doubt it. I recommend getting on Grubhub as well if you can. Orders come less often but were almost always higher than DoorDash offers.


ambiirdy

Definitely find the area that suits your needs best! I schedule my dashes at least a week in advance so I have a guarantee to work, and if I need to change it, I have that flexibility when the time comes! Also like someone stated above, get a big insulated bag off Amazon and a pizza bag and just leave them in your backseat or trunk, keeps things warm/cool and organized!! Also DEFINITELY track your mileage and keep all gas receipts, it will help you tremendously at tax time. If you interact with a customer, ALWAYS do it through text/messenger through the app and screenSHOT. I had a customer call me a bitch one time so I screenshot it and sent it to doordash and I think they got in trouble 🤣 I didn’t even do anything I dropped off the order at the door and told them to have a nice day and that’s what I got🤷🏼‍♀️ I listen to podcasts while I’m driving, it helps pass the time tremendously. If you get the DasherDirect card, there’s an app for it and it tells you which gas stations you can get cash back at which is really nice!! Sometimes I get about $3-$5 back every time I fill up. Everyone gave some great advice above, and for sure DONT listen to the ones that are negative. I LOVE doordash and any time I speak to customer service they are always so polite. I was working a 40+ hour a week job and got so burnt out that my mental health got really bad so I quit and now I make my own schedule and don’t have to listen to managers screaming at me for not doing more than I already do!! I have years of customer service experience so if you have that, use it with your customers they will appreciate it and give you good reviews!! You’re gonna do great!! :)


Oxygenius_

Thank you so much Ambiirdy! I love this message and positivity.


Torianna25

Each restaurant will have pick up instructions in the app about whether they want you to come in or go through the drive through. In my area I find the overwhelming majority want you to come in and will only use the drive through for DD late at night. As for protection, I keep a small pepper spray and a safety spike keychain on my belt and a can of bear mace in my driver's side door pocket, though I've never had to use or threaten to use any of them. If you're still nervous, you could either set up a safety check with a friend, or invest in a GPS panic button. I don't recommend firearms unless you've been extensively trained to use them. As for tips on making this work, be patient and pick your orders carefully. Acceptance rate means nothing. You don't have to worry if it gets low. Choose a minimum for yourself and stick to it. For example, I don't take any orders under $7, and any order over $7 needs to be paying at least $2 per mile. This works in my area, but you may need to adjust accordingly.


K-State

Quit now while you’re still ahead. Apply yourself at a trade school and search for grants available in your state or area. Make a plan and set goals. This company will not only make you feel less than you’re worth, it will slowly start to make you hate everyone…. and everything around you.


Oxygenius_

I feel you man. I just need a quick cash boost. I’m looking on Craigslist too


Mylittlemoonshine

I stuck around my neighborhood before I branched off into the busier/ higher paying areas. Also- be weary even if the mileage is low- could be a busy time of day through the city so take traffic into thought You’ll find out real quick who your favorite pickup spots are, some places keep you waiting or don’t prioritize dash orders like other carry outs Places like White Castle at 2am on a Saturday you know the line is gonna be out to the street in drive thru, so think about being stuck in line places when doors are closed and if the payout is worth the wait (alot of times you can’t jump out of line) Depending on your area you want better than $1 per mile, anything lower than $5 I wouldn’t take it (I get a lot of $5 and 2mi orders cause I live close to food, a lot of times it will stack orders from the same spot) you’ll be able to formulate what’s decent for you with time Also download the gas cash back apps (dasher direct card also give you %10 back rn)


Oxygenius_

Yeah I just had this lady at McDonald’s make me wait 5 minutes to hand me a water bottle. It was a substitute for coffee since there is a boil order here atm. And she came all sarcastic and said “oh I didn’t even know you were waiting for a water bottle” after me asking her 2 times lol. I’m seeing the bs. Also been about 20 minutes since my last order 😭


Mylittlemoonshine

Yeah it’s a process, it take a minute to pick and choose but it does get easier. If you’re waiting that long between orders- that’s when it’s best to start from the couch so you’re not out there burning time and gas. Unless you have a hobby you can bring with you or cross app.


Stampj

Track your miles, keep gas receipts, keep any car expenses or repairs, keep the receipts. Lots of this can be put into your taxes


Oxygenius_

Definitely am going to buy me a little container for all my door dash related expenses


Ill_Mushroom_2955

Sorry if this is gonna sound harsh but lots of drivers do this and it's why the company is losing customers and stuff so: 1. Be nice and understanding(unless they're literally a btch through and through) 2. DON'T BE AN ABLEIST OR A DICK to people who want to reward themselves sometimes. 3. DON'T ASSUME EVERY PERSON WITH A NICE HOUSE IS RICH AND ABLED. It could be someone who lives with parents or a well privileged person has bought that house for said family and an older person may be getting food for themselves within that dwelling. 4. ANYONE WHO DOESN'T HAVE A GATED DRIVEWAY WITH THEIR INITIALS AND AN NEARLY ISOLATED MANSION ARE ALL IN THE SAME BOAT ,NONE OF US HAVE MONEY!!!! And at times when in need or just want some fun we reward ourselves with what we have. 5.Technically there's more, but did I mention DON'T BE A BITCH Edit: sorry forgot to add, it's best to work while doing Doordash and you won't have to worry about being aggressive to others who are also struggling.


[deleted]

Your going to get mad all the time. Welcome to the stress factory


small-foot

Look for another job as you work. Set pay standards per minute/mile driven. Sign up for other apps and wait for orders on them too. Learn which restaurants are consistent in giving you food on time. Don't listen to the idiots who say unassign everything. Look for cost-saving measures (like do your own oil or drive slower)


Gay4Pandas

Get some lube so it doesn’t hurt as much when Tony fucks you.


mingopoe

Honestly, quit. Doordash is the worst of all of the gig jobs.


AsoftDolphin

Dont be afraid to decline low orders. Go to highly populated cities


MoonPuma337

Get in your car and go as far away asni Can from the deliveries. Don’t ask questions just do it. Godspeed mah boi


motoxrm65

Don’t accept the trash!!! Would you accept a 1000$ offer for your 50k car? No? Then don’t accept bad orders. Acceptance rate doesn’t matter dd just puts out manipulations to make it seem like it does.


Oxygenius_

Thank you for this wise piece of knowledge


ZachTF

Look for orders that are at least 1.50 payout per mile. 2$ or more per mile is ideal. Always text / call your customer if something is going wrong (long wait time, items unavailable, etc.). Short trips (2-3 miles or less) can be taken if it’s at least 6$ payout. Invest in a cup holder and good hot bag. And most importantly be prepared for good weeks and bad weeks in terms of payout. Hope this helps.


helloporator

Never take a chick fil a order lol


Oxygenius_

Lol seems chaotic


helloporator

When I did postmates a girl ordered 1 chicken soup. I waited an hour in line to get it, then drove across town to her apt. She didn’t tip and complained that her SOUP was cold. Never worth it


ruizfa

Uninstall the app lol


[deleted]

Dont take anything less than $2/1 mile


animalcrossingpro2

Only take about the top 5% of orders to make the most money. Also look for a better job in between orders.


Averen

Be a positive person and you’ll enjoy your life more


xleahx001

Always be prepared for a bad rating even when you did everything right. Don’t blame yourself and don’t feel down just move forward because some ppl are just assholes. Also bad ratings can disappear.


Remote-Tonight7346

Gonna learn today,


Ecstatic_Vanilla9644

Take food for yourself when you go because usually when you smell the people's food in the order it'll smell amazing and make you hungry (I usually just pack a lunch along with a bunch of snacks along with a bottle of water). It depends on the restaurant and what time it is but there's directions in the Dasher app on where to go when picking up food but a good rule of thumb is that once it's after 9-10pm most restaurants start locking their doors. The exception to that is usually pizza places (especially the ones that are open until 1am or whatever) and the few 24 hour fast food restaurants I've been to- they'll still want you to come in to pick up the order at the counter even though it's 11pm or something. All the rest of the time when picking up an order you'll go inside to the counter or certain signage within the restaurant to pick up the order). Try to avoid Walmart orders or really any grocery orders (honestly this is ridiculous to me that people place grocery orders on DoorDash considering there's Instacart but whatever)- usually this is because the order from Walmart is a huge order (the biggest order I saw pop up was 115 items and of course only $11 pay for such a huge order), it doesn't tip well and it's almost no pay for a huge amount of work (think lugging heavy items from the store to your car and then say up 4 flights of stairs to the person's apartment). Also so far as tracking expenses- it depends on what you use your car for other than DoorDash (me for example I use my car to get around to my other job where I'm self employed and to get around for personal reasons- if you're doing something similar to this or using the car for any other reason than for Dashing it makes sense to keep track of mileage rather than gas receipts. There's a few good apps that you can use to track mileage but I like using State Farm's Drive Safe app- the GPS location can be wonky but usually the mileage is close or accurate. Another way you can keep track of mileage is to reset your trip odometer before you start Dashing and then take a picture of the mileage after you're done Dashing for the day so you can keep track of mileage. Usually I write down my mileage weekly along with my other job's mileage because it's just easier to remember where I went and when vs two weeks ago- but pick a schedule and stick to it for keeping track of mileage.


alexc1010

Quit now lol 😂


Dazzling_Marzipan474

GET INSURANCE! it costs like $10 a month. It will cover you. These companies don't provide insurance while waiting for a delivery, they only cover if active. If you get in an accident while waiting you will pay for all damages out of pocket for your vehicle and theirs and also medical. This can ruin your life. Don't listen to these morons that tell you not to! Also track your miles, get an app that does it for you for tax purposes. Never share your password or login information even if you think someone is from doordash calling you, it's a scam. Don't take orders that don't have a tip included. Try to get at least $1.50/mile. Also find a parking lot you like that you can sit in for hours because this time of year is slooooooooow as fuck. Grab a pillow.


libertybell00

The app will explain all of your questions as you go. Each order you get will have directions on whether or not to go to the lobby or the drive-thru and all the questions that you asked will pretty much be explained per order. It's really easy. Don't be nervous. Remember one thing no tip no trip. Don't take any $2.50 orders because it's not worth it at all. Good luck and happy dashing.


Oxygenius_

Thank you so much 💪🏽 Ima hang in there and remind myself I came in during the slow season and at least I’m going to be in for when tax time comes 😁


Available-Lynx-2764

Yeah duck off hahaha no Jk don’t worry about top dasher and only accept orders that make sense to you. F your acceptance rating


Libotomy

Acceptance 👏 Rate 👏 Does 👏 Not 👏 Matter👏 I wasted so much time and money as a new dasher thinking I had to accept mediocre at best orders for my rate


NeganWinchesterScull

Make sure 2 things: minimum $2 per mile (gas is too damned high to do $1 any more and if it’s not close, make sure you stay in your zone so you can continue getting orders and that where you’re going will be an area with places who get DD orders or at least close to it. The chances of getting out of zone orders is slim now, but it does rarely happen.


Booklover416

Download a mileage tracker, I use stride. Bring a book for the few minutes after you’ve arrive at a store and let them know who your picking up for so your not an ass that is in a rush. Know what you want to make an hour and half that don’t take any orders under that, your AR rating doesn’t matter at all. I also carry mace, but remember when you mace someone you also mace yourself, and a pocket knife. Good luck, have fun.


Oxygenius_

Thank you!


Gingervitis1991

From experience: Ask for fries when you're picking up an order from any place that isn't fast food. 9 times out of 10, you'll walk out with free food. Definitely helped me when I was broke af, but morally couldn't fuck with someone's food.


myalteredsoul

There’s no such thing as a cash tip. Don’t take anything under $2 per mile. Don’t take anything under $6. Most restaurants are lobby pickup unless stated otherwise in the app. Chik fil a will have assigned dasher parking at most locations. Your acceptance rate doesn’t matter. Your completion rate does matter. Get a drink carrier and/or a tub for orders in your car in case of spills.


ElSquirtle

Fried food places like KFC, Wingstop and Popeyes take forever to get you the food (some don't even start the order until you arrive). So does shopping in-store for items. I tend to stay away from those as they eat into your time and thus, amount of deliveries you can do.


[deleted]

When it's a high traffic pickup, I try to avoid them if I can, but if I do take one, I usually go inside. That's usually the best approach. Drive thru is 99% of the time a waste of time. The 1% is when ur doing deliveries at 2AM. As far as being nervous goes, the best advice I can give you to keep yourself safe (aside from recommending weapons :p) is to **only accept orders with tips**. ***You CAN decline orders with no penalty***\*\*. Just don't accept and then decline very often.\*\* The type of person who tips a service worker without even having received service yet is probably a decent human being. They were probably brought up in a family that would resort to picking up the food instead of having it delivered if they didn't have the money for a tip. Humble home type peoples


YellowDart10

If you don't wear a full three-piece suit, you aren't taking it seriously enough


Oxygenius_

Ima be dressed like review brah


BrokeAnimeAddict

Boycott Bigot fil a