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DoorDash: Is It Any Good?

Is the popular app a good way to make money? I tried it and here's what I learned.

By Joe MertensPublished 2 years ago 4 min read
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Since it’s creation in 2013, DoorDash has become quite popular with people who don’t feel like going out to eat or making food themselves, and with people looking for a part-time job with the benefit of not having a set schedule or even a boss. With the arrival of Covid-19, usage of the app on both sides has increased exponetially. But, just how much money can one make with DoorDash? How does one get hired? And, how does it work? Well, recently, I tried the app myself and here’s what I found out.

Becoming a Dasher: To become a “Dasher,” you must first install the Dasher app onto your phone. Then, you’ll be instructed to create an account. After filling in a bunch of personal information, there’ll be a background check done on you to make sure you’re a safe driver. After several days, a package will be sent to your address containing everything you will need to start working. In said package, will be a DoorDash bag, to keep the food you’re transporting hot or cold, depending on what food it is. Also included, is a RedCard, which you’ll use to pay for some (but not all) payments. Most of the payments will be paid by the customer beforehand with their credit/debit card. If it isn’t, that’s where the RedCard comes in. All you have to do is use it the same way you would a credit card at the restaurant you’re at. You’ll also receive a DoorDash mask and hand sanitizer. Overall, the process is really simple and only takes about a week.

Dashing: To start, you’ll open up the app and schedule a shift. If it’s really busy in your area, you should be able to start without having to schedule one. Once your shift is about to start, the app will tell you to make sure your phone is charged, you have your DoorDash bag, and that your car has plenty of gas. If you have all of these things, your shift can start! Depending on how busy it is, you should get your first order within a minute or so. The app has Google Maps integrated into it, so directions won’t be a problem. The order will pop up onto your phone and you’ll accept it. Let’s say it’s an order for a Crispy Chicken Sandwhich Meal at McDonald’s. Simply drive to McDonald’s and tell them you’re here for DoorDash. They’ll ask you the order number, which you can find under the order in the app. Then, when ready, they’ll hand you the order and you can start driving to the customer’s address, which the app gives you. Again, this is pretty simple. But how much will you get paid and how does it work?

Payment: You may see some ads saying you can make up to $21 an hour, which is true, but it varies greatly. Multiple things go into how much you’re paid, like how big an order is, or how far away the customer is. You also get paid by tips. So, if you get three $7 orders in an hour, you’ll have the $21 promised by the ads. But, this isn’t consistent. Some hours that I worked I made only $8 an hour, which is still above minimum wage. I tried this in my hometown, which has a population of 19,000. So if you’re in a big city, you’ll probably have a lot more orders and a better chance of getting the $21 an hour.

Consumer: If you’re only looking to order from DoorDash, that process is pretty simple too. You’ll download the DoorDash app, which is different from the Dasher app and enter some personal information in, like your address and a form of payment. Then, you’ll be able to order from all the restaurants in your area that use DoorDash, which should be most of them. Your order will be sent to a Dasher and you’ll be able to track where they are and how long it will take for them to get to your address. Your Dasher will be able to contact you if they’re having problems finding your location or if there’s a problem at the restaurant with your order.

Consensus: Overall, using DoorDash is an easy and convenient way to get food delivered to you. It’s also good for those looking for part-time/full-time work. The benefit of not having a set work schedule is great and if you schedule a shift but no longer want to work it, there’s no consequence. If you’re looking to use DoorDash for full-time work, it’ll be better served if you’re in a big city. Because I live in a smaller town, it wasn’t always busy and I ended up reaching the $21 an hour mark only once or twice. If you’ve seen the ads and thought about trying DoorDash, I’d say go for it. The process is simple enough and the benefits are great.

As always, thanks for reading!

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About the Creator

Joe Mertens

Filmmaker - Writer - Enjoyer of Life - Officially the same height as Tom Cruise.

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