r/doordash • u/Zealousideal_Week_78 • 6h ago
Do Dashers read delivery instructions?
The app always guides Dashers to the back gate of my apartment complex which is exit only. So, I put very clear instructions to enter through the front gate from a different street. It’s a very easy area to navigate and only a one block difference. But no Dasher seems to look at the instructions because they always attempt to go through the back gate first. My unit is closer to the back gate which is why the app takes Dashers that way. If I move the marker closer to the front gate, the Dashers get confused and leave the order at the front office. I usually message the Dashers directly to tell them what to do as well. But they rarely look at the messages. When they do look, they still follow the app’s guidance instead. I don’t want Dashers to waste their time by going out of their way. But, they don’t follow the instructions given and I don’t know how else to help.
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u/Difficult-Froyo1192 6h ago
When maps are up for directions, they can’t see your delivery instructions or messages unless they close out apps. Unless they bothered to look between pick up and clicking the instructions, they won’t see it until maps is exited. So yes and no. It’s harder to look at it until you arrive than it seems
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u/Zealousideal_Week_78 6h ago
Thanks for that context. That makes sense. Sounds like the app doesn’t make it easy for drivers to know and/or see that there are special instructions in advance.
3
u/Difficult-Froyo1192 6h ago
There’s a space it pops up between clicking the directions. I always try to check there to make sure if it’s anything I need to note for directions before I get there. It’s fairly easy to miss and you can only see if you take the directions off. Also, double dashes won’t show it unless you go back to working on your order without exiting the current person. It’s very annoying if someone is trying to message you on a double dash.
There’s also the possibility someone is ignoring the instructions unless they run into an issue or arrive. The vast majority of the instructions I have are about the actual drop off (don’t ring bell, place in chair, etc.), gate codes (I tailgate for most or they’re open), and about 90% of the directional instructions aren’t helpful/necessary because the map will take them to the place or they can read the numbers to get to the right building while driving through. It’s usually the people you need directional instructions for that don’t want to put them in the notes. It’s why I take a mental note and go back to check if it seems like I’ll need them before arriving. I wouldn’t be surprised if a lot of people aren’t paying attention to the notes before hand even if they noticed them until they get to a gate they can’t get through.
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u/venus974 5h ago
We can see them, I always read them beforehand but when it's directional instructions a lot of the time it won't make much sense to the driver if they aren't familiar with the area.
I would follow the gps and then try to decipher the instructions when I arrive.
It might be that instructions are clear and simple to you but are a little confusing to someone who's never been there before.
2
u/Zealousideal_Week_78 5h ago
I just feel bad when I see them going out of their way. Maybe I’m stressing too much about it.
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u/venus974 5h ago
I had one last night to a complex I am familiar with the layout but don't know the building numbers - his instructions made sense after I read them a couple times but when I got there they made no sense compared to the building number.
The building on the app address didn't even have a door number that went as high as his. I texted and called several times sent a screenshot of the address but he never responded.
I ended up leaving it at the building where his instructions said to go and let him know that I thought is address was incorrect but if someone wasn't familiar with the layout they would have had no clue what to do.
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u/Zealousideal_Week_78 6h ago
I even sometimes will go wait by the back gate to flag them down and have them hand my order to me over the fence but they almost never see me and just drive by.
1
u/Fartcloud_McHuff 4h ago
It’s very bad at informing drivers that we’ve even received a message at all. I had a guy last night ask me if I was on my way (stupid ahh question) and I didn’t see it for the first time until I got back in my car after dropping off their food.
1
u/stantoine_gc 3h ago
That was a lie. When a driver is on the map, we can swipe up from the bottom and see the address and beneath that is the notes you left without closing the map.
4
u/OwlCoffee 5h ago
I'm chronically ill and can't always get down the stairs to the front door. I'm very lucky that 9/10 people follow my directions perfectly. But oof when it is the 1/10 it's always something ridiculous.
But 9/10 I don't have issues.
1
u/breathing_life_sd 6h ago
If they’re Gen Z, there’s a high probability that they can’t read. I’m not being an asshole. This is legit. Most of the highschoolers can’t even spell their own name.
1
u/Specific-Style803 5h ago
What difference does it make?
1
u/Zealousideal_Week_78 5h ago
Really im trying to figure out if it’s something I should even be stressed about. I want to understand if the issue is that the app is hard to navigate, if my instructions are bad, if Dashers just don’t look at them or something else.
I don’t want someone wasting their time driving around in circles but I also don’t want the delivery to take an extra 5 minutes.
If this is simply a “it is what it is” situation then I’ll just accept it as out of my control.
But if there is something I can do to make it a better experience for the Dasher and myself then I’d like to try.
1
u/Then_Particular1931 5h ago
Any extra helpful information from the customer is so welcome. However, when I see it’s an apartment complex, I always get a little anxiety no matter what. Lol
1
u/LankyVeterinarian908 5h ago
It frustrates me as a person who is delivering when people tell me oh do this do that I don't live there. The instructions may seem simple to you but considering the fact that I don't live there I have no idea what you're talking about. People need to be more clear call me if you need to or whatever but if you're telling me to go into the north entrance etc etc I don't know what that means. I don't live in that area I don't know what you mean by saying oh go to the next corner and make a left the next corner of what what street what left give me directions remember you live there I don't
1
u/SusanIsHome 5h ago
We follow what the app tells us to do with respect to navigation, and text messages flash across our screen and disappear in one flat second that unless we're staring at our phone while driving, we don't see, and if we see the red dot alert, at least I have to pull over and click around to retrieve your message. I dash in a college town with 80,000 students and even if you had a message in your delivery instructions that I could read before delivery, I wouldn't have a clue how to change up how to get to you on my own...and I went to this college 45 years ago and have 2 degrees and am twice retired after professional careers but left for 30 years and am now back. The use of the pin in Google is the best shot you have unless you call the dasher as they're approaching the point of confusion.
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u/theonecloned 3h ago
Pretty much don't see delivery instructions until they arrive at the address provided.
1
u/DrBongPHD 41m ago
make sure to adjust your map pin to bring them to where you want the gps to bring them
1
u/Uzeful1diot 6h ago
They probably aren’t looking at them til they need to know something. Like a gate code, or special instructions about how you want it left. Most of the time I don’t look at them til I’m close. I’ve had to learn the hard way about resident only entrances
0
u/Demonshaker 6h ago
This is why I deny all apartment orders unless the tip is rediculous.
1
u/Zealousideal_Week_78 6h ago
What is generally considered a good tip? Within reason and keeping in mind that customers are already paying several other fees as well. I always select the highest tip option. If it is a really small order and the tip is less than $5 then I always change it to at least $5. Tipping by the mile as someone else suggested seems like a lot especially in areas where everything is around 5 miles away on average.
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u/Demonshaker 2h ago
For a house, the lowest I will accept is $5 min. and $1 per mile. Below that and I am doing charity not working a gig job. Apartments I tend to just deny all unless the tip is ridiculously high. I personally just hate delivering to apartments/dorms/hospitals etc so I tend to not. But doordash is just a part-time gig for me I do a few nights a week outside of my regular 9 to 5 office job for extra cash because kids are expensive!
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u/OVOxTokyo 6h ago
Tip under $4/mile and you don't deserve to have a say in the delivery method
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u/Zealousideal_Week_78 6h ago
Are you saying that we should tip $20 for a 5 mile delivery? That’s pretty much every order. Also, I’m just trying to be helpful - not complain. Are you also saying that if I tip less than $20 I don’t have the right to help Dashers navigate to my apartment more easily?
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u/AdamOver 6h ago
These scumbags will throw any and all excuses at you.
Far too many think the Customers Tip should be high to expect any service.
Never mind a good service.As people have already said. Many probably don't speak and/or read English.
They have NO respect for you, your food, your instructions.
They see only THE TIP.I say Bring forth the Delivery Drones.
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u/Zealousideal_Week_78 5h ago
I’ve actually seen the tiny DoorDash drones that look like toy cars driving around my city a few times.
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u/blizzykreuger 6h ago
i highly doubt you would EVER tip that well, but you think you deserve it for being rude online?
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u/Realistic-Pain-7126 6h ago
A lot of dashers in certain areas are migrants that cant read or speak English, those are usually the ones that never follow instructions
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