Please keep in mind that this post was originally published in December of 2017, and no-contact delivery was unheard of at this time. With Covid 19 in our world, things have certainly changed. It's a whole different world we live in now.
During our Pre-Covid days, Doordash drivers would occasionally receive a message or note from Doordash customers that wanted their food dropped off at their front door. When I first seen this note, I thought it was kind of weird and wondered why anybody would want me to do this. Again, this was in our Pre-Covid days so they were not worried about catching Corona.
The very first thing that came in my mind when I first seen this note was that the customer was trying to rip Doordash off. I thought that the customer would try to claim that they never received their food. I was not going to feel comfortable just leaving the food at someone's front door. Then again, I was not going to go knocking on their door when they requested for me not to. The very first time I received a message like this, even though I did not want to, I did leave the food at the customer's front door. There was nothing to put the food on, so I placed the food right there on the floor. Once I got back to my car, I texted them that the food has been delivered on their front door as they requested, and they immediately replied with a thank you.
The very first thing that came in my mind when I first seen this note was that the customer was trying to rip Doordash off. I thought that the customer would try to claim that they never received their food. I was not going to feel comfortable just leaving the food at someone's front door. Then again, I was not going to go knocking on their door when they requested for me not to. The very first time I received a message like this, even though I did not want to, I did leave the food at the customer's front door. There was nothing to put the food on, so I placed the food right there on the floor. Once I got back to my car, I texted them that the food has been delivered on their front door as they requested, and they immediately replied with a thank you.
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| Just leave the food on the front porch as requested and be on your way |
Eventually, I would learn that this request was a common thing that many Doordash customers did. I began to wonder why, and the best thing that I was able to think of is that parents are ordering food for their children. Either that, or they were just not in the mood to see anybody. Maybe they were a person who did not want to feel the pressure of a Doordash driver expecting a cash tip. Who knows? I can understand the parents that order food for their children and do
not want their children opening the door. I would make this request
myself if I was not home and wanted to order food for my children. I
wouldn't want them opening the door for some stranger. In this day of
age you can never be too cautious.
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Whatever their reason is, it is certain to happen to all Doordash drivers. You will see the Doordash note saying "Please leave food at front door." Go right on ahead and do it, don't worry about anything. If a situation were to arise, Doordash surely has a copy of the customer's note. At least I think they would. If there is a chair or a bench on the customer's porch, it is probably best to leave the food on there. If there is nothing on the porch, it may feel weird, but just leave the food right there on the customer's doormat. It feels kind of weird sometimes, and there are times when I feel like the customer is watching me and just waiting for me to leave so that they can come out and get their food. What are you going to do though. Just leave the food, maybe send them a text message, slide the order as delivered and be on your way.
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Whatever their reason is, it is certain to happen to all Doordash drivers. You will see the Doordash note saying "Please leave food at front door." Go right on ahead and do it, don't worry about anything. If a situation were to arise, Doordash surely has a copy of the customer's note. At least I think they would. If there is a chair or a bench on the customer's porch, it is probably best to leave the food on there. If there is nothing on the porch, it may feel weird, but just leave the food right there on the customer's doormat. It feels kind of weird sometimes, and there are times when I feel like the customer is watching me and just waiting for me to leave so that they can come out and get their food. What are you going to do though. Just leave the food, maybe send them a text message, slide the order as delivered and be on your way.
I prefer it to be just left at the door I mean is faster for the dasher also. I mean its called door dash if I really want to greet people and see them I could always just go to the store and order.
ReplyDeleteI understand your point of view. You just want your food! Nothing wrong with that.
DeleteEverytime I put this in the instructions and text the driver to please just leave order on the porch they call me from the end of my driveway and ring my doorbell and make me come get it which is annoying when 90% of the time it is because my dogs bark and go nuts
DeleteTotally agree, I thought I was the only one who does this until now. We are paying a premium for this privacy so I want all the benefits of this.
ReplyDeleteI would assume besides the convenience factor, that people would pay the extra money so they wouldn't have to interact anyone. We all get introverted from time to time and I feel like people should be entitled to their privacy when using this app, otherwise they would just order the food themselves.
ReplyDeleteI order in advance so the food would hopefully be at my doorstep when I get home
ReplyDeleteI order it before starting my drive home. It is hard to judge the time to arrive home in heavy traffic, so I just request the dasher to leave food at the door.
ReplyDeleteAs we can all see here, asking your dasher to leave food at the door step is a very common thing, and I'm sure besides what has been mentioned here, there are many other different reasons why customers make this request.
ReplyDeleteI just did this today because I knew I would be upstairs and with my bad knees, I knew I wouldn't make it downstairs very fast. Mostly did it for the convenience of the dasher so he could go on his way!
ReplyDeletePersonally, I'm retired and sometimes I've been in my not-quite-company-appropriate jammies all day, and don't want to have to dress to make the two second food handover. Just sit in on the porch. Its in a container inside at least one bag.
ReplyDeleteI rent a room in a house, so any time I order past 9, the family I live with is usually asleep. Wouldn't want the dasher waking people up!
ReplyDeleteSome customers may have social anxiety, so leaving food at the door alleviates any pressure to interact.
ReplyDeleteso, should we not even knock. Just leave it and mark delivered. or text and hope they are able to get a text and are looking at it. I had three of these, I assumed it was because of Covid. So i knocked and moved away from door to make sure someone had it.
ReplyDeleteMy issue with this is putting the food on the ground where there are bugs, and if it is wet, then then bag gets wet? There is a sanitation issue to this. I know as a driver I am held responsible, basically the middle man, for ANY problem. This just seems like a set-up to me to be asked to leave the food on the ground.
ReplyDeleteHave had a few DoorDashers downright snub the request. It’s invasive because it impedes privacy and interrupts the recipient. You wouldn’t approach a person with Do not Disturb on their handle. Same thing. Good post.
ReplyDeleteI have anxiety! Along with wanting contactless delivery, it freaks me out when the dashers sit in my driveway waiting for me to pick up my food. I don't want to be seen, okay? Some days I have serious issues about that, and it's rude to ignore my request to drop it off and go.
ReplyDeleteAs a door dasher the first order I left without waiting for the customer to come out, was left at the wrong address. I left it at the address on the order and took a picture. 2 hrs later I got a text that their food never arrived. I went back the food was still there, door dash support confirmed the address. I feel awful and now I wait or call because I never want someone to not get their food. I have been given the wrong address more than once.
ReplyDeleteI understand this, but if the customer states that they want it delivered to their door, the best thing to do is just leave it at their door like they stated. If you are delivering to the address that is on the app, you have done your job and will not have a problem. Also, it's best to always use a time stamp camera just in case anybody tries to cause any problems.
DeleteMay I make a suggestion? If the order is to be "left at the front door" that does NOT mean leave it right in front of the door so that the order (beverages and everything) don't have to be knocked over when you open the door to get the order!!! Thank you!
ReplyDelete