Tipping a DoorDash delivery driver who delivers an order is considered a personal choice rather than an obligation. Especially in Australia, where there is no tipping culture and providing good service is the standard, not contingent on the promise of a tip.
Most Aussies who do not tip believe that delivery drivers are already paid a fair and decent wage by their delivery platforms, and consider tips no longer necessary to supplement their income.
However, DoorDash customers are free to choose to tip Dashers or not when they receive excellent service. Tipping is a personal preference here, but it can make a big difference for the driver.
Can you tip on DoorDash?
Yes, now Aussies can tip Dashers directly within the app. Tipping is one way for customers to appreciate drivers for their hard work and good service. Unlike in the US market where the platform will warn customers who don’t tip will wait longer for deliveries, things like this will never take place in Australia.
Tipping is optional here, but no matter how much you tip, it might positively impact a Dasher, especially those who rely entirely on gig economy platforms to make ends meet.
Just so you know, when DoorDash first arrived here, they did not provide an in-app driver tipping feature, even though in other markets such as the US and Canada this feature has been available for a long time. They finally opened this feature after getting enough feedback from Dashers in Australia.
How to tip on DoorDash Driver in Australia?
Customers can tip Dashers before checking out, during or after delivery is completed. Just find the add tip button on the order or delivery details page inside the DoorDash app. Apart from that, you can also adjust your tip by contacting support.
Before the in-app tipping feature was introduced in Australia, a DoorDash customer had to contact the support team to tip a driver. This old procedure appears to be less efficient and reduces the potential for drivers to get tips.
If the customer provides a tip after checking out the initial checkout total will be refunded, and the amended order total, which now includes the tip, will be charged. But sometimes it will also appear as a separate charge.
How much to tip Dasher?
Giving delivery drivers a tip is a common way to show appreciation for their service. There is no hard and fast rule on how much you should tip, but 10-15% of the total order is considered generous and fair.
For example, on an order that is worth $40, a customer might leave a tip of $4 or perhaps round up to $5. Unlike in the US, in Australia, there will be no drivers who complain when a customer gives a tip with a percentage or amount below that.
Customers are free to adjust the tip based on their experience. However, there are several factors to consider before giving a tip to a delivery driver, for example, service quality, order complexity or distance.
How much tip does DoorDash Driver get?
Several fellow Dashers in Australia said that the minimum tip they often receive is $5 – $10. Although some of them also get less or more than that.
The biggest tip I know from fellow Dashers in Australia is $50, $40 or $20. However, these amounts are very rarely given by customers here. They may get it maybe only once or twice during their time as a Dasher.
However, drivers also often receive small amounts like $1 or $2. They do not mind the amount and keep smiling because they know that tipping is not seen as an obligation here.
Apart from serving food delivery orders from restaurants, DoorDash also serves grocery deliveries, mostly from Coles stores. Interestingly, customers who order groceries have the opportunity to give tips rather than restaurant delivery orders.
Maybe this is related to grocery order complexity, where a Dasher has to shop first at the store to complete the order. In addition, grocery deliveries are usually large quantity orders.
What happens if customers don’t tip DoorDash Driver?
As I said previously, tipping isn’t mandatory in Australia. It’s common practice to order food or groceries from DoorDash around Australia and not tip the delivery driver.
Most delivery drivers in Australia do not expect to receive tips from customers, but if they are given one, they will be very happy to receive it, no matter how much it is, whether it is a cash tip or via an in-app feature.
Don’t worry, customers will not notice differences in delivery drivers’ behaviour based on tipping. Apart from the fact that tipping is not part of most Aussie culture, Dashers will not be able to see whether a customer has tipped or not until they have completed the order.
