Dashers are the essence of food delivery services, especially those as popular as DoorDash. What happens if DoorDash can’t find a driver? Believe it or not, this risk also exists, so it is not bad to think about that possibility and feel worried about living that experience.
Cases of driver absence are rare. When it happens, the order is canceled by the company. The customer receives a full or partial refund; it depends on the restaurant and the agreement reached by the parties.
There are many reasons why DoorDash is forced to cancel an order. Despite that, it remains one of the most in-demand ordering companies. Its extensive roster of restaurants and national chains keeps it in the top ranks of nationwide delivery services in the United States.
What happens if a Dasher is not available?
When you place an order at your favorite restaurant, time passes without arriving. You may wonder what happens if DoorDash can’t find a driver; the answer is simple, the order is canceled, and a refund is issued, as we have already explained.
DoorDash usually waits 30 minutes to remove the order if its Dashers are unavailable to deliver. This single step is done automatically by the company, depending on the time elapsed from the purchase.
The customer can also decide; if DoorDash can’t find a driver for delivery after 30 minutes to one hour, it will automatically remove the purchase and issue a refund.
If the order is not automatically canceled in the allotted time, the individual may contact the delivery company directly and request that they cancel the order instead. It is recommended to wait 30 minutes before canceling the order.
It is also advisable to stay informed about the order’s status through monitoring. This way, you will have better options for obtaining a refund. The order cancellation should be made automatically by the customer or by contacting a chat agent to know the steps to follow.
Reasons DoorDash can’t find a driver
There are different reasons why DoorDash can’t find a driver. There may also be a delay in delivery due to delays in the preparation of the food in the restaurant, so before canceling the order, you should make sure it is due to the absence of the Dasher.
Among the most common reasons for can’t find a DoorDash driver are:
1. No driver available in the area
There is a high probability that DoorDash can’t find a driver because of the lack of Dashers in the area when the order is placed. To avoid canceling the order and having a hard time, you must consider the busiest time of the day.
When there are no drivers available in the area where you are, check that it is not so early in the morning. Although this is not always the case, you should be aware of the possibility. Late at night and peak traffic hours are times of increased movement and the presence of drivers.
2. Did not tip the driver
A common reason for not finding a driver is that the client forgot to tip. Remember that Dashers are independent contractors, so they have the right to refuse any delivery request.
If you didn’t know, DoorDash drivers’ pay comprises base pay, tip, and a bonus the company offers. On average, a Dasher earns $2 to $4 as base pay, which means if you don’t tip, the driver will make very little for completing the delivery.
Drivers can refuse the order if it does not exceed the base pay. If you order a meal, you should tip as it is the right thing to do, increasing the likelihood that they will deliver your order.
3. The distance between the restaurant and your location is too long
Because drivers are paid on a per-order basis, they are within their rights to refuse if they feel the distance is too long. Dashers can visualize where the customer is located and evaluate whether it is worthwhile or not to deliver the order.
If you live far away from the restaurant, make sure your order is really attractive and on top of that, make sure you give a substantial enough tip so that the driver accepts, without complaints, to travel a long distance to deliver the order.
4. The driver does not want to accept the delivery
Beyond distance and lack of tipping, DoorDash can’t find a driver because he doesn’t want to accept delivery. Within this point, there are several reasons why Dashers do not wish to fulfill the assignment. Being independent figures, they have the freedom not to accept.
If there is too much traffic, they have too many deliveries, the weather or location is unsafe, or the restaurant is too busy, the driver may decide not to make the delivery.
5. DoorDash App is found to be idle
Sometimes the DoorDash App crashes. There is also the possibility that it works fine, but Dasher’s app does not. In these cases, customers can make their purchases normally, but the restaurant does not receive the order, or no driver can see it because your app is inactive.
It is advisable to inform yourself before placing the order. On the DoorDash Twitter account, there is always an update about app failures. This happens very frequently, so you should apply this advice every time you intend to make your purchase.
What to do if DoorDash can’t find a driver
If you keep asking what happens if DoorDash can’t find a driver, the quickest answer is to cancel the order. But you can also place a repeat order with a more substantial tip.
When DoorDash can’t find a driver to deliver your order, you can cancel it and request a refund as long as it has not been confirmed by the restaurant and has not been assigned to a Dasher. In this way, the refund is full.
The refund is partial if the restaurant has confirmed and established the order, but a driver can’t be found. This last alternative may seem annoying, but in the end, it all depends on where placed the order and the time that has elapsed since being sent.
Try to redo the order by including a higher tip in another instance. Remember that drivers earn per order, so if they notice that the end is unsatisfactory, they may refuse the delivery. It is recommended that the amount be 15-20% above the total amount of the purchase.
If you feel that your tip is good enough, but you still don’t receive your order, consider that DoorDash does not have Dashers available in the area at the time of your purchase.